The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

rwre- ebtri) Mbitton. SUIV OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. TATTERSALL'S, (THIS EVENING.) LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. sto 1 agst Miss Mowbray (11 to 2 taken fr.tely), 7to 1 agst Bourton (taken). 12 to 1 agst La Gazza Ladra (taken). 13 to 1 agst Half-and-half (taken). 16 to 1 agst Oscar (taken). 16 to 1 agst Maurice Daley. 30 to 1 agst Burnt Sienna. CHESTER CIIP. 25 to 1 agst Peggy (taken). 40 to 1 agst Doctor O'Toole (taken). DERBY. 20 to 1 agst Acrobat (taken). 22 to 1 agst Wild Huntsman (taken). 40 to 1 agst Bessus (taken). OAKS. - 4to 1 agst Meteora (taken). Business very slack. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(THIS EVENING.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. COUNTY COURTS. Lord BROUGHAM brought in a bill for the purpose of extending the operation of what is cailed the " optional clauses" in the County Courts Act, in order to extend the jurisdiction of these courts over all actions, irrespec tive of the amount in dispute, or the nature of the question involved. The bill was read a first time. OXFORD UNIVERSITY REFORM. The Earl of DERBY said it appeared from what transpired in the House of C.nurnons yesterday that the plan of reform which was to be submitted to the Convo cation of the University of Oxford to-morrow would not receive the assent of the Government. He now to ask whether the Govtrnr.7ei:t would communicate their own plan of reform to the University before they made it known to Parliament? The Earl of ABERDEEN said that her Majesty's Government had already received such information as they felt.would justify them in proposing their measure of reform to Parliament. He could not pledge himself to submit such scheme to Convocation for their ap proval. - TROOPS FOR THE EAST. The Eaal of CARDIGAN inquired whether. the Go vernment could not avail themselves of steam•vessels instead of sailing•vessels, as was intended, for the con veyance of troops to the East. The Duke of NEWCASTLE replied that a sufficient number of steamships for the accommodation of such a large body of troops a: it was propo.ed to send to the seat of war could not be obtained without deranging the shipping trade of the country, but every possible effort would be made to convey the troops with the utmost despatch, and where sailing ves sels were used, no doubt arrangements would be made to take them in tow in stormy or unfavourable weather. (LEFT SITTING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS EVENING.) The SPEAKER took the chair a few minutes before 4 o'clock. PETITIONS. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition from the Australian Agricultural Company, praying a semi monthly communication with that colony. Mr. M. GIBSON presente 1 a petition from a person named Cooper residing VII Manchester, stating that he was in the receipt of 30s. a-week from his industry, as a mechanic, and that his wife had absconded from him, and was living in open adultery. The cost of obtaining adivorce, however, was beyond his reach, and he therefore praying the house so to amend the law as to make it available to parties in his sitiation of life. Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition from Mr. Bramley Moor, one of the candidates at the last election for Kingston-upon-Hull, complaining of the report of the Hull commission, which stated that he had acknow ledged several acts of bribery. The petitioner denied that he had ever done anything of the sort, and prayed for redress, or an opportunity to refute the charge. Mr. MACAULAY presented petitions from certain educational institutions in Scotland in favour of national education. Several honourable members presented petitions from the proprietors of various local newspapers praying for the repeal of the paper duty, including one from the Brighton. Herald, and another from Woolnier's Exeter Gazette. Sir J. SHELLEY presented three petitions from the Strand Union, St. George's, and St. James's, West minster, praying for the abolition of the duty on stage carriages. Lor - d. J. RUSSELL presented a petition from the corporation of B trnstaple, praying the house not to re issue any writ for that borough until the charges of cor. ruption preferred against it have been further inquired into. ARMY ESTIMATES, Sir J. WALSH gave notice that on the motion for going into committee of supply on the army estimates he should call attention to the inadequacy of our present military establishment to meet the exigencies of the war we are about to enter into. JUDGIIE.NT EXECUTIONS. Mr. CRAUFURD give ;;Cice that ou an early day he should move fur leave to bring in a bill to sanction the issuing of executions in any part of the United King dom under a judgment obtained in any of the superior law courts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. OATHS. Mr. A. PELL A.TT gave notice that, on the 9th of March, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to allow persons who, from conscientious scruples refuse to take an oath, to make a solemn declaration in lieu thereof. THE WAR TREATY. Mr. F. FRENCH wished to ask the noble lord the member for the city of London, whether the recent treaty which had been signed between France and Eng land, and which bad been forwarded to Constantinople, Applied to the free tribes of Circassia, as well as Turkey. Lord J. RUSSELL said the treaty which had been communicated to Constantinople had no reference to Circassia. PRIVATEERING. Mr. HORSFALL repeated his question, relative to privateering, which he put to the noble lord the other night. He wished to know whether the Government intended to take any steps to prevent the sailing of privateers under neutral flags during the war. Lord J. RUSSELL—The only answer I can give to the question is that the relations of neutrals and the policy to be adopted towards neutrals by this country has been a subject of serious consideration to her Ma jesty's Government. The hon. gentleman, however, must be well aware that there are certain things per mitted by the law of nations, and that there are other matters by which different countries have pursued diffe rent policies. As to entering into an alliance with cer tain of these powers, it is a matter cif serious considera tion what should be the policy laid down for neurals, itis a a question of great difficulty and intricacy, but the hon. gentleman must see that it would be very unwise in us to take any steps which should provoke the immediate hostilities of all neutral powers. At the same time he may rely upon everything being done for the protec tion of the trade of the country that it is possible for the Government to do. (Cheers.) THE DUBLIN MAIL. Mr. VANCE wished to ask the Secretary of the Treasury, whether any and what steps have been taken to carry into effect the recommendation of the select committee appointed to examine and report upon the present state of the communication between London and Dublin, which committee reported to the house on the 11th day of July last, and recommended " that im mediate measures be taken by Government for acce lerating the mail communication between London and Holyhead, and for providing a class of steam veesela with adequate accommodation for passen gers, and with greater capabilities as regards speed than theme at present employed. Mr. WILSON said negotiations were on foot for ac a:aerating the transit of the half-past 8 o'clock mail both 1 1 the railway and the steam-boats which, if carried out, would render the 5 o'clock mail almost unnecessary. Th• mail would leave London at half-past 8 o'clock at sight and reach Dublin at 8 o'clock the following morn ing' a nd though this acceleration mi g ht b e a tt en d e d with increased expense to the country in the first in tion of ee ' yet, as it m i g ht u lti ma t e l y l ea d to t h e aboli the 5 o'clock mail, the Postmaster-General felt disposed t o rcpt the arrangement. Viscount C THE MA LLOW MAIL. tart' to the TreasuLEROSSE wished to aF.k the Seere , if nterit the intenti the is on of Post office authoriti es t o e into a new contract for the con veyance of the mail s by car between Mallow and Killarney, and, if so, for what eriod. Mr. WILSON said th e existing contract would expire on the 21st of ay, and if no arrangement could be th e contract for carrying w ade with the railway . if for carrying the mail, it by car wou l d haveto be re mewed. COPPER COIN. Sir DE L. EVANS wis hed to ask . the Secr e t ar y o f this deficieney the Treasury, in refere n ce to the inconvenient of copper money felt i n the t rade of this ti what steps were being t aken to re medy defici ent hi metropolis, Mr. WILSON rem inded the ho use that latealr he announced that a co ntract had been entereds 1 with a Birmingham house for the supply of 500,000 ° tens of copper coinage ; owing to the sc arcity of iron, Borne difficulty had been fait in carrying out the con• tract, but that scarcity no longer existed, and th e con. tract was now in the course of execution. (Rear, hear.) This, it was hoped, would be sufficient to remove the inconvenience that was now felt. (Hear, hear.) GREECE. Sir J. WALSH wished to ask the noble lord the member for the city of London, if her 'Majesty's Govern ment had received any inteiligence of a remonstrance hav ing been addressed by the Emperor of France to the Go ?ernment of the King of Greece on the subject of their interference with the Ottoman empire, and if so, whether Mr. WILSON said if members would look to the paper they would find the hon. camber had put a notice of motion for "Dublin Hospitals," without giving any notice of the specific nature of the::motion. But while find ing fault with the notice, he did not find fault with the rea sonable proposition of the hon_ member, and he could state the Government would offermo opposition to the com mittee which the hon. member asked fur. But while saying this, he felt bound to , ' say that unless Dub lin could show some special claim for exemption, he feared the Government could ncrt consent to the Dublin hospitals being put on a different footing from the hos pitals of other large towns. Mr. COWAN could not see any ground for the com mittee which the hon. member for Dublin asked for, because he thought increased grants of money to those institutions would have the effect of doing away in a great measure with private "benevolence and charity. He thought moreover that the hospitals of Edinburgh had an equal claim to those of Dublin, and he thought it unwise to make such institutions depend upon State support. Mr. VANCE differed from tb e last hon. member (Mr. Cowan) in his view of those institutions, and conceived that the system of centralisation. to which both Dublin and Edinburgh have been subjected, and to the evils of which the eyes of both Ireland and Scotland were now at last opened, had taken away front those cities those classes of inhabitants—the nobility and com• moners—who were to a large extent the moans of supporting their public institutions, though even now there was no city in the empiro which contributed more to charitable institutions than Dublin did. Mr. V. SMITH, as one of the committee who inquired into this subject in 1846-7, denied the accuracy of the Ilan. gentleman (Mr. Grogan) as to the course adopted b y that committee. But the question he conceived was one of principle, and he agreed with the hon. member for E dinburgh (Mr. Cowan) that public grants to those institutions was a bad principle, for in every other country they were supported by voluntary contribu tions. Mr. O'BRIEN next rose, and was [LEFT SPEAKING.] The facts of the case were shortly these. In the spring of last year the plaintiff shipped himself and his gold, at Melbourne, for England, on board a vessel named the Condor ; and which vessel had on hoard alto gether about 22,000 ounces of gold, besides passengers awl a general carg ). All went on well until they arrived near the Brazils, when the vessel was found to be on fire. This discovery was made at about half-past 11 a.m., on the 9th June, and in spite of all efforts the fire increased until about six in the evening, when they sighted a French vessel, the Charles A'Pauline. The French cap tain agreed to keep company during the night, but the fire progressed so rapidly that about midnight the pas sengers and crew wore removed on board the Charles A' Pauline. The gold was also removed, in which ope ration the plaintiff rendered considerable assistance, and the vessel proceeded to Pernambuco. Salvage was claimed by the French captain, and some dispute having arisen the English and French Consuls arranged that the matter should be referred to three merchants, one English, one French, and one German ; and although the French captain had been put to but little trouble, and although his vessel had been detained only about 12 hours, he was awarded for salvage the large sum of 12,000/. The plaintiff claimed to have his gold delivered up to him, but the consuls declined to accede to his request and said it should be sent to England. The plaintiff then sailed in the Fay, and soon after he reached this country he found that the whole of the gold had been consigned to Mr. Codd, who is an army agent at the West-end of the town. The plaintiff applied to that gentleman, who offered to deliver the gold upon his claim in respect of it being discharged. First he asked for 12,0001. which had been paid to the French captain for salvage ; two and-a-half per cent., the consul's charge for taking charge of the gold at Pernambuco, 2,0001. ; deposit, one per cent., 800/. ; commission on advance of 12,0001. at 5 per cent., 6001. ; and Messrs. Codd and Co.'s commis sion at two-and-a-half per cent., 2,0001., making a total of 17,400/. This sum was paid under protest, and the plaintiff sued to recover the part of this amount which had been paid by him. The Chief Justice suggested that the matter should be arranged. It was quite clear the jury would not sanc tion the large amounts which had been charged. He thought if 1,000/. were allowed, it would be ample. Mr. Sorjeant Shee said that the expenses incurred, and which had been paid out of pocket, actually amounted to between 1,2001. and 1,3001. After considerable discussion, it was arranged that 1,0001. should be taken, instead of 5,4001., which had been charged, and a verdict was taken for the plaintiff for his share, 2101. 14s. 3d. In two other a.ctions of a similar nature, by other owners of gold, verdicts were taken by consent. In the case of the "Bank of Australia v. Codd" the verdict was for 1,896/. Hs.; and in that of the "Bank of New South %Vales v. Codd " for 2,1071. 2s. 4d. Mr. 3erjeant Shee said, after what the plaintiff had stated as to the understanding that his gold should be free of any charge for salvage, the other plaintiffs had agreed that he should have the whole of his share of the 5,400/. free from any deduction in respect of the 1,000. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1854. the remonstrance was accompanied by a threat of ag gresive measures against Greece, and whether such a step had been taken with the consent of her Majesty's Government? (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL said the hon. baronet having given him notice of his question, he had endeavoured to see his noble friend at the head of the Foreign De partment about it. He had not succeeded in meeting with his noble friend, but he believed he might state that no such intelligence had been received. (Hear.) CHOBHAM BRIGADIERS. Col. NORTH wished to ask the Secretary-at:War, whether those officers who performed the duties of brigade majors to the different brigades in camp at Chob ham,Twere to receive the pay and allowances usually granted to officers holding that appointment ? Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, when the camp at Chobham was agreed to the Horse Guard authorities were anxious that the public should be put to as little expense as possible in carrying it out, and therefore they at first determined to select officers from the diffe rent regiments to perform the duties of brigade-generals, but they received several applications from officers for permission to undertake the duties without any increase of pay, as they were anxious to obtain experience in the discharge of such duties. (Hear, hear.) Ac cordingly, the officers who were appointed as brigade majors only received field pay and forage for their horse for the time being, without obtaining any claim to a continuance of the increase in their pay. (Rear.) DUBLIN HOSPITALS. Mr. GROGAN called attention, pursuant to notice, to the small amount of the Parliamentary grants to the Dublin hospitals. He reminded the house that all those hospitals were endowed liberally by the Irish Parliament previous to the Union, but since the Union a system of centralisation had impoverished Dublin, and, 'therefore, these hospitals were gradually dwindling away for want of adequate support. He now asked the house to re store the full amount, not the diminished amount of the grants which those institutions enjoyed before the union. In three years upwards of 46,000 patien'ts had been re lieved in those hospitals, and on the score of suffering humanity alone those inst tutions ought to be supported. In another point of view, they were: invaluable—that was in the large share of practice they afforded to the Jaculty in forming the Dublin School of Medicine, as to the excellence of which school he need not say one word. It appeared, from the Parlkineritary papers, that large numbers of soldiers of the Dublin garrison were every year received into those hospitals, averaging from five hundred to six hundred n year. (Hear, hear.) He thoui , ht, then, in many points of view, he was jus thied in urging on her Nlajesty's Government the abso lute justice of liberally endowing those institutions. He therefore asked tie house to appoint a seiect committee to investigate the claims of those hospitals to an in creased amount of grants. The motion having been secorsded, SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NOTTINGHAM RACES.- WEDNESDAY. HURDLE STAKES of 5 sovs. each. Optional selling weights.—Two miles and a quarter over seven flights of hurdles. Mr. Lamlaert's Leda (h. b.), 6 yrs. (201.), lOst. 41b. (W. Johnson) Mr. Lister's Fazely, aged (201.) lOst. 41b. (W. Marson) 0 Fazely refused the first flight, and Leda had it her own way to the end. HANDICAP HURDLE RACE of 7 sous. each, 5 ft., and 2 only if declared, &c., with 40 added. The second to save his stake.—CJrtain winners extra. Two miles and a half over seven fli4lits of hurdles. Mr. Edwards's Beech Nut, 4 yrs, Bst. (carried Bst. 21b) (Walter White) 1 Mr. J. Brown's Tom Gurney (h. b), 6 yrs. 9st. 41b. (T. Price.) 2 Mr. C. F. Boyce's Victress, aged, lOst The foll , )win,v, also ran :—Star of England, Mayday, Squire of Malton, Teddesley, President (h. b.(, Blue Bonnet, and Salopian. Betting-5 t , ) 2 agst Teddesley-3 to 1 agst Star of Eugland-5 to 1 agst Toni Gurney-8 to 1 agst Vic tress-10 to 1 agseßeech Nut, President, and Squire of Mahon. Won by a length ; bi.-1 third. Blue Bonnet fell at the hurdles below the distance, threw her jockey, and followed the leading horses in . The FOREST HANDICAP of 3 sous. each, with 25 added ; for ail ages. T.Y.C. Mr. Etche's Red Rose, 3 yrs. sst. 91b (Bates) 1 Mr. J. J. Henderson's Annabel, 3 yrs. sst 91b (Cliff) 2 Mr. Megsoies S mipter, 5 yrs. 7st. 91b (Wells) 3 The following also ran :—Lioness, Tonic, Surveyor, Game Chicken, and Lina. Betting-2 to 1 agst Songster-7 to 2 agst Annabel, sto 1 agst Tonic-6 to 1 agst Surveyor —7 to 1 agst Red Rose. Won by half a length ; a neck only between second and third, and between third and fourth. HUNTERS' STAKEs of 2 guineas each, with 10 added. Weight for age, certain winners extra. Gentlemen riders. Professionals 71b. extra. Two miles and a half ; over seven flights of hurdles. Mr. Maltby's Wild Hero, 1 3it (Owner) 1 Mr. Houghton's Little Boy Blue, 12st. 71b. (Pearson) 2 Mr. Lambert's Daisy, 13st. 71b. (including 71b. extra) (C. Boyce) 3 Betting-5 to 4 on Wild Hero. Won cleverly by two lengths. A length between the second and third. The CASTLE STAKES of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added. The second to save his stake. For two years old and upwards. Optional selling weights. About half a mile. Mr. Bloss's Jullien, 5 yrs. (201.), Bst. 41b. (Charlton) 1 Mr. Webb's Indiana, 3 yrs. (201.) 6st. 31b (Prior) 2 Mr. Smith's Proserpine, 2 yrs. (301.) 4st. 81b. (carried 4st. 91b.) (Priam) 3 The following also ran :—Lina, Lioness, and Jessa mine. Betting--7 to 4 a s st Jullien-4 to 1 agst essamine. Won by a head. Proserpine and Lina well up, and so close together that the Judge did not place a third. The winner was afterwards sold by auction for 35 guineas. _ _ _ - The Selling Hurdle Race was won by Mr. Poole's President, beating Leda and Fazely. NOTTINGHAM SPRING HANDICAP. —ln the hurry of transcribing the betting, Alonzo was omitted. At the close it was 3to 1 each agst Annabel and Alonzo-4 to 1 taken freely about the latter, 6 to 1 agst Wellsbourne, 8 to 1 agst Vixen, 10 to 1 agst any other. RACING FIXTURES FOR 1854. MARCH. Liverpool Spring 1 Doncaster Spring Salisbury Coventry Spring l4 AP . Croxton Park 4 Epsom Spring 6 Cheltenham Spring 12 Newmarket Craven 17 Warwick Spring 2l Catterick 27 Northampton 29 Abergavenny 30 Catterick Bridge 19 Abergavenny 2O York Spring 25 Malton 97 AY. Newmarket F S Chester Spring 9 Lothians& Eilinburgh 11 Newmarket S S l6 Shrewsbury l3 Lothians and EdinburghlB Lewes l9 Bath 23 Liverpool Hunt Spring ..24 Epsom . 30 lE. Kancheqter Ascot Heath... l3 Newcastle-on-Tyne 2O Hampton 2l Carlisle 26 Bibury Stockbridge ... ........ ..29 Ludlow 30 Winchester 3O Newmarket Worcester Lancaster Mansfield Liverpool Ipswich Stourbridge l7 Stamford 18 Nottingham 2O Goodwood 25 Ripon 31 Brighton Brighton Club.. 4 Wolverhampton Yarmouth Reading Odiham North Staffordshire Wolverhampton 9 9 14 SE ,PTE. Warwick Lichfield Western Meeting 7 Roche3ter and Chatham 7 Doncaster l2 Pontefract ..... . 18 UST. Egham 22 York Hereford 24 Eccles Chelmsford 29 Derby 29 Plymouth 3O ,Lincoln 3l :MBER. Bedford 19 Leicester 2O Manchester Autumn 2l Lanark Newmarket F 0 26 Northallerton 2B LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Feb. 22. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. LUMLEY V. GTE. On the conclusion of Sir F. Thesiger's address, Lord Campbell very minutely summed up the evi '.ence to the jury, and in so doing said there would be bree questions for their consideration. The first was, whether the agreement which had been entered into between the plaintiff and Miss Wagner remained in force at the time when it was alleged the defendant had in duced her to break it ; secondly, whether the defendant induced Miss Wagner to break the agreement, and whether she broke it in consequence of his inducement ; and, thirdly, whether the defendant at that time knew that the agreement between Miss Wagner and the plaintiff was then in existence. Upon those questions his (Lord Campbell's) direction in point of law in refer ence to the agreement was, thrt the payment of the 3001. on the 15th of March was a condition precedent and that, if it was not performed, she (Miss Wagner) was at liberty to renounce the agreement. But Miss Wag ner might have agreed that the time for performing the agreement should be extended, and it would be for the jury to consider, upon the evidence, how far she had done so, and whether the defendant had induced her to break the agreement before the extended time had ex pired. The second question was a pure question of fact for the determination of the jury. Upon the third ques tion, his (Lord Campbell's) direction was, that if the defendant bona fide believed that the agreement with the plaintiff had ceased to be binding upon Miss Wag ner, the scienter was not proved, and the defendant would be entitled to the verdict. His lordship then read over all the material parts of the evidence, and finally left the above three questions to the jury, with the ob servation that, if they should find a verdict for the plain tiff, they ought to give such damages as would be a com pensation for the pecuniary loss directly caused by Miss Wagner's breach of her agreement. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and upon their return into court found the first two questions in the affirmstive, and the third in the negative. This %mounts to a verdict fur the defendant. Verdict for the defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. (Sittings at Nisi Prius in London.—Before Chief Justice Jervis and a Special Jury.) BEDGOOD V. CODD. -ACCIDENT AT SEA. The plaintiff in this case was formerly a sailor, but some time ago he left that line of life, and went in search of gold to Australia. In this undertaking he wris so fortonat as to get 1,000 ounces of gold worth about 3,8001.; but on the way home the ship in which he was took fire, and although the gold was saved the plaintiff only obtained possession of It upon paying some charges which were mado in respect of it. The present action was to recover back the amount so paid, and the defendant in answer to the action, pleaded that he was never indebted. POLICE INTALLIGENCE. WESTMINSTER.— Adolphus Harrison, a low. looking fellow, of shabby exterior, about 40 years of age, who gave his a 'dress No. 116, Tatchbrook-street, Pimlico, and described himself as a general agent, was yesterday brought before Mr. Arnold, and charged with conspiring, with others not in custody, to procure the ruin of Alice Leroy, a young person under 21 years of age. Mr. Parry appeared for the prosecution, and detailed the facts as they came out in the evidence, with the addition of the important fact which does not yet, in consequence of the adjournment, appear upon the depo sitions, that a Madame Denis, from whose house the in jured girl escaped, took her to Paris, and introduced a man in the garb of a gentleman, who committed a cri minal assault upon her, Madame Denis not only stand ing by but aiding in her violation. Alice Leroy, the unfortunate girl in question, a very finely grown young woman of prepossessing and intelli gent demeanor, was plaCed in the witness-box, and gave her evidence in the French language. She said she was an orphan, in the 17th year of her age. She first saw defendant about three months ago, at Brussels, when with some young friends, working girls like herself. She was then living with a widow, and took in work from the shops. The prisoner made representations to her that he could bring her to a house of business in London, where she would have easy work and much more money than she could get in Belgium. She continued—l came to London with the defendant. ye paid the voyage. It was on a Saturday, I think it was in Novemb er , b u t I am not qu i te certa i n. Prisoner took me to Madame Denis's house. The ad dress is No. 3, Denbigh-terrace, Vauxhall Bridge-road. Defendant accompanied me to the house. Madame was at the window when we came up in the coach, and she came down and opened the door to us. Work was never spoken of nor the "house of business." I never asked about it, for I saw before I had been there long for what purpose I had been brought; for I heard Madame Denis say to defendant that he must write to this lord and the other lord, when he replied, "You must wait till parliament house opens." Nothing hap pened to me until a month after I was there, when a gentleman came. Defendant never told me what I was to do in the house. I was in a room with two other girls, but I was never allowed to go out of it. At the end of a month after I had been there madame opened our door, and told us to dress and come down. The other two girls went down first. I went down last. When I went down there was a French lady sitting on the sofa ; the other was sitting on the knee of a gentle man. They chatted together. Madame introduced me to the gentleman, and s a id, "This is my sister," and madame told me I must go up stairs. I got up. I was sitting on the music-stool. She said I was to remain ; it was not me to go, but the others. She said to me, "You must remain." The others went up stairs. Madame and the gentleman remained, and madame undid my gown. Madame Denis then took the gentleman's hand, and put it down my breast. The gentleman said, "Leave me alone with your sister, sh e i s no more your sister than mine. The gentleman said he wished to go, madame sr id he must stay, and she would call the Parisian lady down to him. The gentleman remained, and madame called the French girl down, and I went up stairs to undress. I had put on a good dress to come down, and I went to take it off. Nothing more happened to me that evening. The ladies I have men ti one d were the two girls living with me in the house. I saw this gentleman again after I was taken to Paris. I saw some other gentlemen be fore I went to Paris. I saw the first gentleman altoge gether three times. lie was called a Greek prince. I saw an old marquis at the house, but I can't say bow long it was before I saw him. When be came madame came up and said, "Make haste and come down, there is a gentleman below." Only one went in to the room to him ; it was the Parisian lady. I was not in the room. I only opened the door and saw him there. After I had been introduced to the Greek prince madame was very angry with me. She said I was like a great country girl because of my conduct and manner when my gown was opened. After I saw the Greek prince the defendant came ; it was a day or two after, and madame told him the Greek prince had been. Mr. Parry solicited a remand at this stage of the pro ceedings, as the girls evidence would probably take two hours more, and she was in a delicate and weak state, besides suffering exhaustion from her lengthened ex amination. Mr. Morgan would not object, as he entertained no doubt the result would be a remand, but he pressed the magistrate to accept bail for his client. Mr. Parry warmly opposed it ; there were persons connected with this house of mark and property, who would pay any amount of bail. Mr. Arnold peremptorily refused bail, and prisoner was remanded till Wednesday. The proceedings of the Oxford authorities in the work of self-reformation have been crowned by an act of pre sumption which, if it be not a simple suggestion of des pair, is evidence of a more profound political ignorance than ever was attributed even to that extraordinary body termed the Hebdomadal Board. The reader is aware that under this designation a certain class of College officers has hitherto exercised entire and irresponsible authority over the University of Oxford, to the exclusion not only of all learning, distinction, or other species of personal desert, but of all other official claims whatever. No professor, however renowned ; no tutor, however popular ; no. graduate,however celebrated in his sphere, could obtain admission to this governing board, nor could the unanimous suffrages of the whole University in convocation dispute a single member to take part in its debates. That such a constitution had long created universal discontent wf need not be at no trouble to remark ; nor was these .any point of the Ministerial measure which gave greateld satisfaction than the an nouncement that a reform in these institutions was to be a leading feature in the projected improvements. It is not likely to have leen forgotten what course the Hebdomadal Board' ptrsued when the designs of Go vernment were declared. They first opposed the inquiries of the Commission to the utmost of their power, and ac tually took the advice of counsel as to whether the pro ceedings of her Majesty's Ministers could not be treated as illegal. They then attacked and disparaged the report of the Commission, though it gave them infinitely more consideration than they really deserved. For nearly two years, while all the reflecting. members of the Uni versity were engaged upon this important subject, and while constitutional schemes of greater or less merit were propounded in various quarters, they turned to their own advantage that possession of power which they still retained by resisting everything, and staving off all decision. When summoned by Government in Decem ber last to report upon their progress, they suppressed the Ministerial letter as far as they could, and withheld this communication from the very constituency in whose interests it was framed. At length, when it was fairly announced that they were to be dealt with as refractory, and that a measure for the reform of their institutions was to be introduced to Parliament forthwith, they begged a respite of a few days, and on Friday last they published a constitutional scheme of their own, on which they require the decision of the University by Friday next. And what does the reader suppose is the sub stance of this project, which now, after two years' in action, is for the first time proposed to the University, with a peremptory demand of an answer within seven days ? Simply this—that the Hebdomadal Board shall remain as it is, with its composition and its functions exactly as they are at present. We yesterday published the details of this audacious proposal. To escape from the compulsion under which the just requisitions of Ministers had placed them, these authorities have devised the notable plan of having two governments —one constructed upon representative prin ciples according to demand, and the other neither more nor less than their own, which latter is to be the first in dignity and consideration, the new one being considered as " supplementary," and as coming second in all re spects to the senior esiablishment. Here follow the wor,:s of the "petition," under which form the project is to come before the University for consideration : "The constitution of the Hebdomadal Board remaining in other respects" (i. e., except in one quite unimportant) " as it is at present, a second board, or delegacy of Con vocation, shall be constituted, to consist of equal num bers with the Hebdomadal Board, arid to be empowered equally with the present board to consider and to ini tiate all measures requiring the sanction of Convoca tion." We think it must be acknowledged that a more preposterous scheme was never devised. It will naturally he wondered on what principles or with what views such a project could have originated, but this we can make clear to the public in a few words. The Universities are constituencies composed of their respective graduates, who form bodies of considerable numbers. These bodies, like all other communities or corporations, must needs depend for the administra tion of their affairs on some species of council or di rectory, and this governing board has been hitherto formed, both at Oxford and Cambridge, of a certain class of college officers exclusively. The object of the present reforms is to substitute for this obnoxious description of government a system based upon repre sentative principles. Ministers remitted the question to the Universities themselves, in order to obtain from these bodies some practical suggestions for improvement. The idea itself was very creditable to Government, but it will be seen from what we have said that the Univer sities, as at present organised, can only speak by, through, an in the words of, those very authorities against whom the pending measures are directed. The consequence is, that as thews authorities naturally clutch their own privileges will; the true tenacity of monopo lists, and are yet compelled to make some sort of sur render, the proposals ultimately proceeding from these quarters are inconsistent and impracticable in the ex treme. The true principle of action, as is perfectly understood in the Universities, though there are no means of giving regular expression to the conviction, would have been to set aside the existing authorities altogether, and to con sider their claims afterwards, in the formation of a new governing body, simply as one element of the academi cal composition, without any reference to their present powers. This was what was done in the scheme of the Tutors' Association. The present governors of the Uni versities are, at Oxford by statute and at Cambridge by usurpation, " Heads of Houses," that is to say, Masters of Colleges exclusively. But this office, while it conveys to the possessor no species of representative warrant from the University constituency, implies very little necessary fitness for University government. It is quite certain that all the best men of a college cannot obtain the mastership, and it is probable enough that not one of them may do so. These appointments, which are usually in the gift of the Fellows for the time being, are of some value, and are often decided by such natural considerations of favour, compromise, interest, or expe diency, as exclude any particular attention to' personal merits. Heads of houses, as every one in Oxford knows, are not necessarily, or even commonly, the most dis tinguished, experienced, or popular members of their own societies, nor is there any real reason whatever why they, any more than tutors, deans, bursars, or other officials, should pretend to privileges of Government. But in any case their claims, be what they may, should be considered in that governiiag board or council by which the University is to be administered for the future. To retain them as independent and co-ordinate authori ties, to clash and conflict with' another board, is evi dently absurd. When once VIA) second, or representa tive council, has been established, it will be perfectly impossible that a non-representative council can suc cessfully contend with it. The whole scheme, in fact, is based, not upon the requirements of the University, but on the desires of a class. :Its object is simply to preserve the place and satisfy the pretensions of the Hebdomadal Board—a board notoriously disqualified by its composition for the exercise of Government, and con• demned by the universal opinion of the community over which it has presided. HEALTH OF LONDON D;URING THE WEEK. ( From the Registrar - -a neral's Report.) The rate of mortality has re Gently undergone no ma terial variation, but a decrease : , though not great, indi cates an improvement in the puiblic health. The deaths registered in the metropolis, 'which in the week that ended Feb. 4 were 1,204, declined in the week following to 1,178, and last week to 1,15 t. In the ten corresponding we rks of the years 1844-53, the average number of deaths v ►as 1,085, which if raised in proportion to increase of population, becomes 1,194. The number returned last week is, therefore, less by 40 than the estimated amount. Last week the births of 775 'boys and 764 girls, in all 1,539 children, were registered in London. In the nine corresponding weeks of yea.re 1845.53 the average number was 1,452. _ _ At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the s reek was 29'757 in., the highest mean was 30.45 in. a n Monday ; the lowest 29.460 on Friday. The mean t emperature of the week was 35.1 deg., which is 3.7 deg-r,. below the average of the same week in 38 years. "..ehe highest temperature was 49.8 deg., and occurred on Friday; the lowest was 23.5 deg., and occurred on Tuesday. The coldest days were Monday and Tuesday, wl sen the mean temperature was 7 deg. and 6 deg. below tb o average. It was below the average on every day ex cept Friday. The mean dew-point temperature was 2 9.5 deg. There were se vere gales on Friday and Saturday. On Friday the greatest pressure of the wind was 13 lb. to the square foot ; on Saturday it was 171'13. The amount of hori zontal movement of the air on either of these days was about 290 miles. The amount of rain in the week was only 0 . 21 in. On Saturday the air was remarkably dry. THE NEW REFORM BILL. Last evening a numerous meeting of the council of the National Reform Association was held at their offices, 2, Duke-street, Adelphi. Among the gentlemen present were the president, Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P. (in the chair), Mr. J. Hume, M.P., Mr. W. J. Fe; M.P., Mr. J. Bell, M.P., Mr. J. Crook, M.P., Mr. W. Biggs, M.P., and many other gentlemen of local influence. Numerous letters were read from the local vice-presi dents of the association from various parts of the country expressing a hope that, although the bill was in some respects defective, there was so much in it that would be useful to the cause of reform that they hoped it would receive the earnest support of the council. The PRESIDENT explained in detail the various provi sions of the proposed measure, and earnestly urged the necessity of giving immediate attention with the view of a united course of action. He was followed by Mr. HUME, who entered into some explanations upon the conduct of the Liberal party at the time of the first Reform Bill as offering an example which should now be followed. He recommended that the pre sent measure should receive an earnest support, as it offered a large instalment of what was due to the indus trious classes. Mr. Fox, M.P., expressed similar opinions, advising that the necessary steps should be taken to rectify the errors of the bill, which, as a whole, he thought should be strongly recommended to the country. In reply to a question as to the probable intentions of the Government, Sir J. AVALIBLEY said ; he verily believed they were anxiously desirous of carrying the bill, and. looked to the people for support. Mr. T. J. SERLE, after commenting at length upon the bill, and urging its adoption, moved the following reso:ution :—" That the council, having carefully consi dered the Reform Bill introduced by Lord John Russell, are of opinion that, while it falls short of that which is due to the unenfranchised, and contains some provisions which the friends of progress cannot approve, and should exert themselves to amend in its progress through the House of Commons, it nevertheless deserves the strenu ous support of all Reformers, as a large and invaluable instalment of the objects they seek—inasmuch as it pro poses to apply a bold measure of disfranchisement to the smaller boroughs, to add largely to the electoral body, and by repealing the ratepaying clauses to remove one of the ,greate,t grievances of the existing system."—Mr. Serie impressed upon the council the impolicy of treating the Government with di-trust. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. S. AYRTON and carried unanimously. A sub-committee was then appointed to draw up an ad.lress expressing the opinion of the council as embo died in their resolution, the 'subcommittee to consist of Sir J. Walon-ley. M.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., Mr. T. J. &Ale, Mr. J. Redant, and Mr. H. Slack. Several members expressed their opinions of the bene ficial operation of the enfranchising clauses ; among them Mr. Le Bland, who stated that they would confer the franchise upon 78 persons connected with his establish• iner.t, and who are at pre,ient without it. The meeting was addressed by several other speakers to the effect that, while no off )rt , 3 should be spared to wards getting rid of the obje'•tionahle residents clause attached to the proposed 61. householders' franchise, and to promote other amendments, the safety of the mea sure ought on no account to be endangered by the want of union or activity among the great body of reformers. UNIVERSITY REFORM. (From the Times.) MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM /!LL CAUSES REGISTIRED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, FEB. 18. Zymotic Diseases .. 248 Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... .. 43 Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain. Nerves find Senses Diseases of the Heart ane Blood-vessels 35 Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration .. ..., ............ 217 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion ........ .... . ...- 77 Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. . Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, a:nd Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations ..................... _ ......................... 5 Premature Birth and Debility 23 Atrophy Old A4 - ,re Sudden Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 26 Causes not specified ........... .. DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in corre- Deaths Enumerated. sponsling week in the IMI. of 1853. Week. West Districts North Districts 490.396 Central Districts 393,256 East Districts 485,522 .•..,.. 249 South Districts Totals BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males 775 Females 764 Total 1,539 TIM PRICE OF COAL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—I have read your article on the price of coals in London, and cannot wonder that you should complain at the immense advance which has taken place, and at tempt to 'find out the cause. I will endeavour to point out, as far as relates to the northern coal trade, some of the causes of this rise in prices. In the first place, there is no doubt but that the price of coals has been materially influenced by the extension of steam navig,a• tion, by the rapid increase of railways both here and on the continent, and also by the generally prosperous state of every branch of manufacture, but more especially that of iron, in which immense quantities of coal are con sumed. There is no doubt but that these events first gave the impetus to the price of coal ; but, instead of the increased demand being met by an increased supply, it was met by just the reverse—by combinations of the coalowners, and by strikes of the miners ; the former to raise prices, and the latter to obtain higher wages -both to restrict the quantity produced. It was entirely owing to the example set them by the combination of coal owners that the pitmen were first led to form their union, of which nearly every miner in this district is a member. The object of this union is to regulate wages, and, by limiting the quantity of coal raised by each man, to find employment for the whole body, with out bringing one man into competition with his fellow. The consequence of this regulation is, that a strong, able, and experienced coal-hewer is allowed to earn no more money than another who may be the very reverse. This encourages laziness, and the result may be seen. Although the wages are now 50 and 60 per cent. higher than they were twelve months ago, yet the amount of money actually received by the coal miner does not ex ceed 10 per cent. more than he received last January. Instead of earning 60 per cent. more money, they work 40 per cent. less coal. Some of the large collieries which last year were raising 1,000 tons, are new, from this cause, only producing 700 tons per day, although double the quantity would meet with a ready sale at high prices. At the present time the coal miners' union is all-powerful here. .1f a man is discharged by the col liery owner, the remainder strike until he is again em ployed. Recently the union has been adopting a com plete system respecting strikes : it is arranged that a strike shall take place at one particular colliery where there is a large demand for coals ; work is discontinued ; the men are supported by the union during the strike ; and the colliery owner, having a large demand fur his coals, and seeing his neighbours at full work, is obliged to yield ; work is resumed, and another colliery is se lected fur another strike. It the working classes of London and other districts are subjected to privations from the dearness and scarcity of coal at this inclement season, they must blame in a great degree their brethren in the north. These are the principal causes of the rise of coals here : to London consumers the very high freights and the exorbitant City dues will form a very considerable item in the price. As regards the former, we cannot find fault, as it is entirely owing to the great demand that at present exists for shipping ; and this is more particu larly felt in the coal trade, owing to the great losses that have happened among the class of vessels usually em ployed, and which have not yet been replaced. As re gards the City dues, it is a matter chiefly affecting the London consumer, the policy of which you are better able to appreciate than we in the North, our opinion being that such a tax on a necessary of life is perfectly unjustifiable.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, VULCAN. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1854. THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLILMANT.-1110 decoration of the New Palace at Westminster with works of art is a matter of so much interest to the whole country, that a return which has just been issued showing the progress which has been made will be very ac ceptable. It presents a short account of what has been done, and gives a list of the several statues and paintings completed or in progress, with a statement of their destination and expense. The estimate of their cost is as follows :—House of Lords, fresco paintings, 4,8001. ; metal statues, 4,6801. ; upper waiting-hall, fresco paintings, 3,5001. ; St. Stephen's-hall, statues, 8,6001. ; the Prince's chamber, statues, 3,8351. ; bas reliefs, 750/. ; portrait of Henry VII., 501. ; the Queen's robing-room, 4,800/. ; the Peers' robing-room, 9,000/. ; the Peers' corridor, 3,6501. ; the Commons' corridor, 3,650/. ; sundry works, 220/. ; and adding 5,8001. ex pended in premiums in the exhibitions of 1843 and 1847, and for the purchase of two cartoons exhibited in 1845, the total cost of what has been undertaken will amount to 53,3351., of which the sum of 29,6601. has been already paid. The remainder will only be required by degrees, for a large proportion of the works are not com pleted. The Peers' robing-room, for instance, is not yet built ; but a sum of not less than 9,000/, is devoted to the nine fresco paintings which are to be placed in this apartment, and which the artist, Mr. J. R. Herbert, was to have nine years from April, 1851, to complete. They are to have Scripture subjects, the illustrations to " have reference to the idea of justice on earth, and its development in law and judgment." The subjects se lected are—Moses bringing down the tables of the law to the Israelites, the fall of man, his condemnation to labour, the judgment of Solomon, the visit of the Queen of Sheba, the building of the Temple, the judgment of Daniel, Daniel in the lions' den, the vision of Daniel. None of the eight paintings for the Peers' corridor have been begun ; they are to indicate the heroic virtues dis played on both sides during the civil war, and the Com mons' corridor is to continue and complete the subject. The commission have deterinmed that in the corridors or halls connected with the central hall, the chronolo gical order of subjects or of personages shall begin from that hall. THE LATE FIRE IN SOMERS TOWN.—We are requested to state that the two men referred to as being put in possession for rent in the show-room, 18, Goldington street. Somers Town, d es t ro y e d by fire on Thursday morning, were not in possession of the house occupied by Mr. Hampton. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Fifty thousand Cures have been effected by Du Barry'sdelicious RevalentaArabica Food, without medicine, inconvenience, or expense (as it saves tifty times its cost in other remedies). " Twenty-fiveyears nervousness, constipation, indigestion, and debility, from which I had suffered great misery, and which no medi cine could remove or relieve, have been effectually cured by Du Barry's Food in a very short time. W. R. Reeves, Pool Anthony, Tiverton. " Eight years' dys pepsia, nervousness, debility, with cramps, spasms, and nausea, for which my servant had consulted the advice of many, have been effectually removed by Du Barry's delicious food in a very short time. I shall be happy to answer any inquiries. Rev. John W. Flavel, Rid lington Rectory, Norfolk." "Three years' excessive nervousness, with pains in my neck and left arm, and general debility, which rendered my life very miserable, has been radically removed by Du Barry's excellent food. Alexs. Stuart, Archdeacon of Ross, Skibbereen." —" Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness at the stomach, and vomitings, has been removed by Du Barry's excellent food. Maria Jolly, Wortham Ling, near Diss, Norfolk." Copies of testi monials of 50,000 cures (including those of Lord Stuart de Decies, Major-General Thomas King, Drs. Ure, Shorland, and Harvey (gratis). In canisters, with full instructions, 11b., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4 s. 6d . ; glb., lls. ; 121 b., 225. ; super-refined, 51b., 225. ; 101 b. 335. The 101 b. and 121 b. carriage free. Barry D u Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, Loution ; also, Fortnum, Mason, and co., purveyors to her Majesty, Piccadilly. i On Friday evening Dr. Conolly delivered a lecture on characters of insanity, which was rendered peculiarly interesting by illustrative notices of cases that had oc curred during his superintendence of the Hanwell Asy lum. The immediate cause of insanity is in nearly all instances attributable to either an exalted or a depressed state of nervous excitement. When these conditions of the brain are extreme, the patients are manincal or me lancholic ; but in ordinary cases of insanity they are tranquil, cheerful, and to a passing observer exhibit no symptoms of mental disorder. Their perceptive facul ties are generally very acute, and they are remarkably quick in discerning the characters and dispositions of visitors, detecting in a moment feigned kindness of man ner, and having especial dislike to expressions of com miseration, as most of the patients conceive themselves to be persons of importance, and endowed with superior gifts. Among those mentioned was a man who, before the Queen was married, was accustomed to write a let ter to her Majesty about every three months, offering himself as her husband, and to place his fortune at her disposal. After the Queen's marriage he continued to write, but in a different strain, giving advice. Another patient, who was strongly excited during political move ments, had a propensity to kill the Emperor of Russia ; and when the Emperor visited England, the patient re monstrated with Dr. Conolly on the ii:jury done to the country by confining him at Hanwell, instead of allowing him to execute his mission. Several affecting cases of me lancholy insanity were mentioned, which had come under Dr. Conolly's observation, and drawings that had been taken of the patients in their fixed attitudes of despon dency were exhibited. A drawing was also exhibited of a lady who because insane in consequence of the exe cution of the Due d'Enghein. Leaning her head upon her hand, she sat at the window, constantly looking for his approach, and from day to day she continued in the same attitude till death. Two drawings represented a female patient in the Opposite states of maniacal and melanchoEcal . insanity, to show more particularly the influence of violent mental excitement in making the hair stand on end. This curious effect, Dr. Conolly said, is by no means uncommon, and the subsidence of the hair after having been erected is one of the first symptoms of returning tranquility. He took occasion to mention that the instruments of coercion fornierly applied to maniacs have !wig since been di-:continued ; and that the keepers at Han well Asylum would not know how to put a strait waistcoat upon a patient if ordered to do so. The distinction between delusions accompanied by insanity and delusions arising from phy sical derangement were pointed out, and illustrated by various instances. Dr. Conolly mentioned a barrister of great professional eminence, who, at one period con stantly heard voic , -s fondling him to do what he liked, and persons who saw the forms of dead and of living beings enter their rooms ; but, those individuals having sufficient control over their reasoning faculties to be aware that the sounds and apparitions were not real, they could not be considered insane. Others, again, by whom such delusions are considered realities, are among the most daugerous of insane patients, as the voices they hear fre quently incite them to commit crimes. Paralysis of the brain is one of the diseases which Dr. Connolly considers to be incurable. Its first symptoms apparent by the ne glect of ordinary occupations, by attempts ti, do things that are altogether unsuited to previous habits, by reck less extravagance, by ridiculous, overweening conceit, and a desire to be conspicuous. Dr. Connolly concluded by enforcing the importance of cultivating and disciplining the mind and of keeping the passions under the control of reason, as the surest means of preventing that irregu lar state of nervous excitement which induces insanity. Among the objects displayed in the library were some interesting photographic representation of insane patients. SHIPPING INTELLIGENC.X. CUSTOM HOUSE, FRB. 22. ENTERED INWARDS.—The Charlotte Maria, fr,xn St. Michael's ; Eryphenia, do. ; Martha, do. ; Sultan, do. ; Little Jenny, do. ; Maria Christina, Santander; Quick step, New Yor.k ; Henrietta, Emden ; Lusitania, Oporto ; Cleopatra, do. ; Juliano, do. ; Durcan, Leghorn ; Brilliant, Mogador ; Zephy.r, do. ; St. Vincent, Batavia ; Hendrika Margreta, Lisbon ; Ernest Mornt Arndt, New Orleans ; Bernard, Seville ; Gezina Jantina, Venice ; Balmoral, Canton ; Rochdale, Charente ; Anne Logan, Alexandria ; Puzzle, Terceira ; Christian, Rostock; Superior, Deme rara ; Amerika, Callao ; Essay, Cadiz ; Feronia, Messina ; Lavinia, Smyrna ; Maggie.. Canton ; Emigrant, L u l ea ; Anna Kimball, Calcutta ; Smyrna ; Defiance, Whit stable ; Euphrates, Mauritius ; Joseph Shepherd, Bombay ; Tantivy, Callao; City of Lincoln, do.; Maude, Calcutta; Tancre Odessa ; Visitor, Leghorn. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Anna Mets, for Altona ; Alert, Sydney ; Thetis, New Zealand. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Meteor, for Cape of Good Hope ; Hawk, Cherbourg ; Arannah, Ghent ; Foster, Grenada ; Jaffor Greetze, Antwerp. ...12 ...13 AII( ROYAL INSTITUTION. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. At last week's meeting the paper read was " On the Principles and Construction of Locks," by Mr. A. C. Hobbs, Assoc. Inst. C.E. The author's object was to give a brief review of the mechanical principles involved in the construction of locks, and the degree of security hitherto achieved by man ufacturers. The paper commenced by asserting, as an axiom, that the highest point of security to be attained in the con struction of locks, must consist in the fact, that the pos sibility of picking, or opening them, without their true keys, should depend entirely on chance ; and that not withstanding the immense variety of locks already in vented, there were really but three absolutely distinct principles involved in their construction--so classed without reference to dates and for convenience of descrip tion. The first principle included all locks having a series of fixed obstructions, or wards, in and about the key-hole, to prevent any instrument, except the key, being turned in the lock ; this principle was shown to be inefficient, however complicated the construction might be, as the wards themselves afforded the means of ascertaining the form of key required to open the lock. The second principle was that of the letter, or puzzle lock, which appeared to carry out the principle, or doc trine of chance, to the fullest possible extent. But in this case, also, a method was shown by which the lock could be opened as easily as in the former ; proving that the inventor of that class of lock had failed to accom plish the object of producing a fastening, whose security was dependent only on mere chance. The third principle, or last class of locks, included all those possessing a series of moveable pieces called slides, pins, tumblers, &c., placed within the case of the lock, and which pieces ►oust be operated upon and moved into vertain given positions by a key before the bolt could he shot. This principle was illustrated by de scriptions of the E4yptian leek, the Bramah lock, the inventions of Barron and of Bird, the detector of Mit chell and Lawton, and the later improvements of Chubb and of Cotterill (of Birmingham) and others. Allusion was then made to the great reliance which, until re cently, had been placed on these locks, and an explana tion was given of the principle on which all locks of this description could be as easily picked as their pre decessors. The author then commented on the necessity of de vising some simple and effective means, by which the de fect, common to all the above locks, might be remedied, without adding materially to the cost. This deside ratum he had endeavoured to secure, by the intro duction of what was called a moveable stump, which pro- jection, instead of being rivetted into the bolt, was fixed to a piece, moving upon a centre, or pin, at the back of the bolt. The action of that piece was such as to render it impossible to ascertain the true position of the tum blers, for, on any pressure being applied to the lock, for that purpose, the stump. by its motion, locked the bolt, and left the tumblers at perfect liberty. The author stated his conviction that this apparently slight altera tion rendered it impossible to open such a lock, except by the mere chance, or accident, of a key fitting it ; there being no possible means of ascertaining the form of key requisite to open it surreptitiously. Since the intro duction of this lock, several attempts had been made to produce the same result, without actually copying the original, but with very little success. An additional principle of security devised in America, was then pointed out, in the celebrated permutating bank lock, invented by Robert Newell, of the firm of Day and Newall, New York, of which invention Mr. Hobbs was the proprietor, in this country. Previous to the introduction of that system, permutating keys had been used, but they required that the lock itself should be Altered, to suit any new adjust ment of the bits of the key, whereas, in the American lock, the key alone, being altered, produced by its own action, the corresponding arrangement in the lock ; by this ingenious contrivance, the person using the lock became his own lock-maker, and was able to render the key useless to any other person, by a simple change in the bits, after locking the door. Such locks, whose numbers of permutation varied from 720 to 479,001,600, according to the number of bits in the key, were in tended principally for strong rooms of banks, and other establishments where large amounts of property were de posited ; they were, therefore, comparatively expensive, and were necessarily of larger size than locks required for ordinary use. In conclusion, it was remarked, that questions would continually arise as to the violability or inviolability of particular locks, and especially of new inventions. The author, however, claimed to have establi,hed that any new modification or arrangement of the parts of locks, which did not affect the principle of construction, could have no particular claim to security, or conversely, that if it could be shown that any lock was constructed on a principle not hitherto violated, it might be deemed secure, but certainly not unless such a claim could be made good. In respect to the locks alluded to in the paper, the author justified his statements by the two faces —that he had not only elucidated the principles on which all such locks might be picked, but that he had actually performed all that had been described. Finally, a hope was expre , sed that whatever had been done and said to enlighten the public as to the insecurity of many locks now in use, instead of causing any unpleasant per sonal feelings, would stimulate lock manufacturers to produce what was really required, viz., secure locks, adapted to all purposes, of good workmanship and at a moderate price. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Feb. 19, 1854 1;17,658 16 6 Corresponding week last year 16,550 13 0 CHESTER AND HOLYH EAD R AlLWAY. —Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 19, 1854 £3,618 9 0 Corresponding week last year 3,163 17 4 Increase in 1854 £4B4 11 8 THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 12 1854 £ l9 411 1 1 Corresponding week last year 13,291 1 5 CORK AND BANDON RAILWAY.—Traffio return for the week ending Feb. 18, 1854 £179 5 11 168 12 5 Corresponding w ee k l as t year The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury enter tained a few select friends at Hatfield House during the last week. Lord Robert Cust, M.P., has arrived in town from Cambridge. [AnvEmisEmENT.]—The Earl of Aldborough and Holloway's Pills.—An astounding cure by this miracu lous medicine after every other means had failed. See extract from his lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1345. To Professor Holloway. Sir—l beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach, which all the most eminent of the faculty at home and all over the Continent had not been able to effect—nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Marienbad. (Signed) AM borough." These wonderful pills will cure any disorders of the liver or stomach.—Sold (al.o Holloway's oint mtnt) at Prosessor Hollo way's Establishment, 244, Strand, London, and by all medicine-venders through the world. The Zorgvliet, from Batavia to London, Jan. 1, lat. 2 S., long. 21 W. The Scotia, from Baltimore to Liverpool, Jan. 1, lat. 43 N., long. 66 W., The Queen of Britain, from Berbice to London, Jan. 24, iat. 20 N., long. 58 W. The Glenbernie, from Callao to London, and supplied with bread, Jan. 13, lat. 1 N., long . 20 W. The Von Stein, Bremen barque, from Liverpool to New York, Feb. 13, lat. 49 N., long. 17 W. The Parker, of Liverpool, for Demerara, Feb. 16, lat. 47 N., long. 11 W. The Ciescent City, Liverpool to Sydney, N.S.W., Jan. 4, let. 3 N, long. 22 W. The Robert Morrison, from London to Calcutta, .Tan. 6, lat. 6 N. long. 24 W. The Medium, outward bound, Jan. 21, let. 7 N, long. 20 W. The Roe, of and fc. , r Liverpool, Feb. 3, lat. 30 N, long. 27 W. The Esther Frances, from Valparaiso to London, 4th, let. 31 N, long. 38 W. The Deelandes, of Jersey, 50 days out, sth, lat. 34 N i ,. long. 36 W. The Nicoline, from Hartlepool to Point de Gale, De re. 24, lat. 4 N, long 21 W. The Sir Thomas Gresham, from Plymouth to Adelail fa, S.A., 30th let. 6 N, long. 21 W. The Susan Crisp, from London to Algoa Bay, Jan. 17, lat. 2 N, long. 22 W. The Catharine Johanna, same day. The Flora, from London to Singapore, same day. The Santiago, from Valparaiso to Liverpool, Feb. 15, lat. 50 N, long. 19 W. The Armada, of Warren, with rudder gone and deck work and buildings damaged, let. 50 N, long. 12 W. The Acastus, from Newport to New York, Feb. 10. The Queen, from Fleetwood to Valparaiso, Feb. 7, lat.., 43 N, long. 19 W. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 22. The Sarah and Jane, with wrecked goods from the Olinda, arrived last night. Tho barque Victor, of St. John's, N. 8., for London, was abandoned at sea. The crew were taken off by the Royal Saxon, of Baltimore, for Liverpool, and seven trans ferred to the Ella, A. Clark, at this port, who sronke the Royal Saxon, about 10 days ago, in lat. 50, long. 20. The Flora M`Donald, from New Orleans, encountered heavy N. and N.E. gales in the Channel for tho last nine days, and lost two men overboard. Arrived—The Sisters, from Alexandria ; John Bright, Now York ; Flag of Truce, Madras ; Pacquet de Aveiro, Li s bon ; William Edward, Bahia ; Flora M`Donald, Now Orleans. 3IALDOY, Feb. 21.—A schooner was seen to part from both ani.hors on the 18th inst., and to go ashore on the Burrows. A cargo-book has been picked up on the south west beach, last entry of which is " Lark of Harwich, Holder," bearing date April 27, 1853, and filled up to the last page. HJORRING, Feb. 15. The Washington, of Kase*, Swahn, from Newcastle to Copenhagen, with coals, was wrecked on Thornby Island, half a mile south-west of Hutshals last night ; crew saved. PARIS, Feb. 21.—Letters from Goree announce that the Tourville, of Havre. has been pillaged and burnt by the natives in the river of Anjer, coast of Africa; crew saved at Corisco. A vessel, entirely under water, was seen yes terday morning, with only part of the masts visible, on the Brac Bane, about eight miles east of Dunkirk harbour. A boat with the name of Laura, and some stray articles, supposed to belong to the said ves.el, among which was a Treatise on Navigation, with " John Mitchel, Mon trose," written on the title-page, has been found at Leifer inkouke. The Rio, of Sedgewick, was seen, waterlogged, dismasted, and abandoned, by the Antonia, arrived at Havre. The Lucy, from Nantes to Bordeaux, has put into Royan leaky, and was discharging VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. COUNTRY MARKETS. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET— FEBRUARY 21. There was a large supply of straw of all descriptions , iz the market. The prices were as follow : Oat straw, from 7s Od to Os Od per kemple of 16 sto mes tron ; wheat do., 7s Od to 8s Od ; barley do., 5s Od to &Md. Hay from 10to 12d ; new ditto, Od to Od per atones EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET-Fm. 21. There were in the market to-day, 18 sacks oatmea, each weighing 2801bs imperial, which sold thus :-8 at. :21. 7s, 10 at 21. 6s Od, and 0 at 0/. Os. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET- 7 nm. 20. ----- There were in the market to-day 102 bags of oa tme►l, 11 of barleymeal, and 2 of pot-barley. Sales dull . The top price of oatmeal was 6d down ; second and Mii.rd the same as last market. Barleymeal on the top sax to as last market• For pot-barley, the top price is down t r gym: 134 market. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. I Second. Thi r d. imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto -s Od 3 Od i —3 Od Flour, per ditto —s Od —s Od 1 —s Od Pot-barley, per ditto LEEDS-FEB. 21. There is an improved tone in the trade to-day, 1 nd good qualities of wheat realise Is per qr. advance on tit 8 prioes of this day se'nnight ; but in inferior descriptions we note no alteration. Barley and oats firm at last ruestray 's rates. Beans 6d to is per qr. lower. NEWCASTLE-FEB. 21. Thero was a good supply of wheat at this day' i market, which sold at an advance of le on the week. Other anti. Iles as before. ,ET.—Fss. 22. he close of the market Wallsend. &o. ' S. d. Belmont 25 0 Bradclyll .. ,23 6 Hetton Haswell 24 .0 Lam btou . 23 e Peusher , Plummer .._23 tS Russell's Hetton 23 45 Stewart's 24 •0 Hunwiek Heugh Hall 23 LO Kelloe !South Hartlepool 24 (6 South Kelloe 23 !Tees 24 .0 Whitworth . 24 Adelaide Tees 23 eft Low Bitehburn , 21 0 Derwentwater Martley 22 00 ,55...501d l3O COAL MARK Prices of Coal per ton at tl 8. d.l Buddle W. Hartley 22 6 Carr's Hartley 22 6 Davison's West Hartley 22 6 Hasting's Hartley 22 6! liolywell "3 6 Hartlepool West Hartley 2.1 0 Bell's Primrose 20 0 Old Adairs 2l 0 Tanfield Moor 2l 01 Taufield Moor Butes 21 6 Team's Hartley 21 61 West Hartley 22 01 Wylam 23 0! Wallsend, &c. Gosforth 22 6 Riddell 22 6 Eden Main 23 0 Dean's Primrose 2 2 5 1 0 Bell Ships at market _4! LODGINGS FOR THE POOR.—This plan is take at a rental ranges of old houses (containing 10 or 12 row, as each), to convert the staircases of every other house in to lobbies and accessories for each separate floor ; to bretds: communications through the party walls on every story ; to clear off and clean the walls ; in some cases to ad4l. a story, or, where the curtilages admit of it, to enlarg e 3 the houses, and in all cases to convert the baseman t story into common kitchens, laundries, and cellare. I f the rental of each house, on a repairing lease, be 504 (and this for central position is a full allowanoe ; txr suburban sites it might be 35/.), suppose taxes to 'be 121., add thereto the interest of 1501. per house, as t he outlay on repairs and additions, at 5 per cent., the total amount is 691. 10s., or say 701. a year, for 1 lye commodious suites of apartments, consisting of tli iree rooms each, with closets, presses, and the other c am forts of civili ze d lif e i n higher spheres. This caul* Ibe done, then, at 141. a y ear f or eac h f am ily ; b u t if you divide these, perhaps, too spacious and, therefore, too luxurious suites of chambers in halves, the accomrne.d a . tion will far surpass anything to be found, not onky i n Seven-dials, but even in all Soho (such as are le:t to working people), at a rental of only 71. yearly, or about 2s. 81d. weekly.— The Builder. POPULATION OF TOWNS AND COUNTIES (larr a tic Some striking and interesting .particulars relating to the population and other social economics of Ireland are shown in the return moved for by Mr. Fitzroy, M.P., as to the population of each county, divipion of county, and borough in Ireland within the IParlia mentary boundaries, and also of the populatien pf eac h city and borough returning members to Parliisment within its municipal boundaries. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 20th inst., Mrs. James Johnston, of Botolph lano. On the 21st inst., at College-crescent, Finchley-road, the wife of J. T. White, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 21st inst., at Richings Park, Bucks, Lady Will• shire. On the 21st inst., at Crane-grove, Holloway, the wife of John Craig, Esq. MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at St. Giles's, Camberwell, Henry, second son of Samuel Hall, Eaq., of the Grove, East Dul wich, to Mary EliEabeth, second daughter of Thomas Dorey, Eaq., of Camberwell-grove. At St. Mary's, Southampton, the Hon. and Rev. Arthur Sugden, rector of Newdigate, Surrey, to Annie Jane. second daughter of the Rev. George Elton. DIED. On the 19th inst., at Cambridge, .Axabella, the wife of G. W. Ashton, Esq. On the 19th inst., at Mailing-place, West Mailing, near Maidstone, the infant son of Dr. Lowry. On ge 20th inst., at his residence, Carpenter-road, Edgbaikn' John Cope, Esq., aged 71. On the 20th inst., at his residence, 10, Provost-road, Ilampstead-road, Frederick Evans, Esq., aged 46. LONDON: Printed and Published by WIRD° YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 27te Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the arty of liddlesex, Thursday, Folxmary 23,1854, .