The Sun. — London, England, 1833-12-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. A pamphlet has been sent to us purporting to he a refutation of the calumnies against the Lord Chancellor which are contained in the last number of the Quarterly Review ; and, after a careful perusal, we are bound to say the writer has well performed his task, though we do not in all points agree with him. The pamphlet on the Reform Ministry and the Reformed Parlia ment was taken as the text for a long article in the last number of the Quarterly Review, of which 15 pages out of 31 are devoted to " Brougham and Law Reforms." It is not our intention to discuss the merits or the vices of Lord Brougham's Reforms,—hut as the article contains some startling facts and assertions, which, if true, would reflect little credit on his Lordship, the author of the " refutation" has done good service in exposing the falsehood of them. It is not with the arguments of the reviewer that we are to deal ; the reader is ca pable of forming his own opinion as to their merit, and though not likely to be led away by false reasoning, none can guard against being deceived by false statements. The review con tains some eight or ten heads of assertion or misstatement, the falsehood of every one of which has, we think, been most satisfactorily shown. This is done, not by mere counter-assertion, which would have been worth little, but in every case by a careful reference to authentic docu ments, and to facts the truth of which no one, not even a reviewer in the Quarterly, can have the hardihood to deny. The first char g e of the reviewer is the appointment by the Lord Chan cellor of his brother, Mr. James Brougham, to two sinecure places, worth 2,8001. a year, not withstanding the Chancellor had expressed his determination to abolish all sinecures belonging to the Great Seal ; and, next, that the Chancellor was not entitled to the praise given to him for having voluntarily given up the patronage of sinecure places to the amount of 25,000/. a year, his salary having been fixed at 14,000/. a year, and 1,000/. a year added to his retiring pension, on the recommendation of a Committee of the House of Commons, in consideration of his giving up the patronage of these very offices—that Mr. Jas. Brougham, though appointed, had no vested title to the places, and therefore no merit in riot claiming compensation, and that it was a gross deception to laud the disinterestedness of Lord Brougham and his brother. " What a pity," adds the reviewer, " that the facts do not bear out the eulogium !" Now, all this is very art fully put, and the only objection to it is, that it is not true ; no, not one word of it. The Chancellor, on coming into office, expressed from the very beginning his strong opinion that it was unseemly that the first law officer of the state should he paid by fees, and should have, as part of the emoluments of office the disposal of sinecures to the amount of 25,000/. a year for the support of his family. These, however, had been enjoyed by all preceding Chancellors, d at the time he spoke Lord Eldon's son, amongst other places, held two, of the value of 2,800/. a_year. Before the Bill was brought in to abolish these places Mr. Scott died, and as there were some duties attached to the office which it was necessary should be per formed, the Chancellor, that he might be sure of not having any claim for compensation brought forward, if he appointed a stranger, gave the places to his brother as a locum tenens. Now, as to Mr. James Brougham's vested right to these—the offices not havin g been abolished, and no Bill having been brought in for the purpose—no one could doubt that they were clearly in the Lord Chancellor's gift, as much as they had been in. that of Lord Eldon ; neither, however, could any one doubt but that the Lord Chancellor never would have stooped to avail himself of his right after what he had said. What was the fact, as testified by Lord Grey and the Duke of Richmond in the House of Lords ? Why, that Lord Brougham had, on the day of' the death of Mr. Scott, declared his determination to proceed to abolish the places, and without any reservation to himself of' those which had fallen vacant. And what was done ? Why, all the places, to the amount of 25,000/. a year and upwards, were cut away, and no compensation to Mr. Brougham even whispered at, though all the others who had sinecures had it to the utmost farthing. Either, therefore, Lord Grey and the Duke of Richmond declared that which was false, or the Quarterly Review has made an assertion which it cannot support. Would not an ordinary reader, however, when he sees it gravely stated that the salary of the Lord Chancellor was fixed at fourteen thousand pounds a year, and the re tiring salary increased on a report of a Com mittee of the House of Commons, and in con sideration of his giving up the patronage of these offices, suppose there must be some ground for such an assertion ? Yet there is no shadow of pretence for it. What is the fact ? Why, there is not a word stated in the report as to giving up this patronage—nay, the very reasons for fixing the salary are distinctly stated, and amongst them there is not a word to bear out the assertion of the reviewer ; nor, indeed, is it likely, for it was shown to the committee that the salary of the Lord Chancellor had averaged above 14,500/. a year—nay, that, taking the average of 8 or 10 years, it was 17,000/. a year ; and that in the years 1810 and 1811 the emoluments were 22,737/.135. ! The Bills fixing the salary and increasing the retiring pension were separate ; and that, giving the in creased retiring pension was not passed till after the places had been abolished ; and yet the re viewer, knowing all these circumstances, in addi tion to the sneer we have already quoted, de signates the evidence of the Chancellor, given before the Committee of the House of Commons, respecting the amount of the Chancellor's emo luments " as talking over the salarieicommittee delightfully," and the whole plan for giving up the patronage as " bargains," for the undue aug mentation of his present and future emoluments. The reviewer says," the Upper Whigs are ashamed of these transactions. It is clear, however, that the Upper Tories do not sympathize with the reviewer. What said the Duke of Wellington when the Bill to abolish these sinecures was brought in ? Wh y , , 4 that he considered the Bill was thus hastily brought forward from a high sense of honour on the part of the Lord Chan cellor, to relieve himself; unnecessarily as ap peared to hint, from the suppo se d i mputat i on o f , his intending to continue the offices in exist ence." There may, fbr ought We know, be up per k and lower Whigs, but it is quite clear there are tipper and lower Tories, and that the Duke and the reviewer are in different grades. We have thus dealt with the first head of charge, and shall return to the others in a day or two, as whatever relates to the uprightness and honour of public men at the head of affairs, and more capeciall_y, of those connected with the adminis„ (:eti 't77l I:F7'; tration of justice, is a matter of interest and importance to Times. It is time that the Dissenters should exert themselves, by simultaneous meetings in all parts of the country, to obtain the early attention of the approaching meeting of Parliament, to those remaining grievances under which they labour, and from which the repeal of the Test and Cor poration Acts did not set them free. It will be known to our readers, through a recent report, that a deputation of the Dissenters of Manches ter waited on Mr. Poulett Thomson, their re presentative, during his late visit to that town, in order to make him acquainted with the amount of the evils which they complain of, and of the redress which they require. A similar course might be advantageously pur sued by them, with regard to other Mem bers of Parliament, in all the other cities and counties of the empire. This explicit and decided proceeding will insure a correct and authenticated representation, through the Legis lature, of their grievances and their views. We have indeed had our attention lately drawn to recent publications, in which both are categori cally stated, but which by no means possess the sanction of that unanimous concurrence of the whole body of Dissenters which so serious and important a matter demands. On the contrary, in the publications referred to, we have seen demands urged by the authors which would, by their excess, defeat the object of the powerful and respectable class from whom they are assumed to emanate ; and ecclesiastical innovations suggested, which, however much in concurrence with the wants of the age and the feelings of the country at large, consti tute a summary of grievances rather peculiar to the whole social community than to the Dis senters. They are therefore unwisely mixed up with those admitted and exclusive wrongs and disabilities under which the Dissenters are, at present, oppressed. There cannot be a doubt that the whole nation desires, and will finally obtain, a restoration of the framework of Chris tianity to the original purity and unworldliness of its beautiful . model and design, by the dis sociation of those things which have polluted and perverted it with the worldliness, selfishness, ostentation, and idolatry of lucre it commenced with denouncing—namely, tithes, political do mination, and enormous funds, of which rapa cious demerit appropriates the largest share— while labouring merit mendicates for the smallest. But this most indispensable and most vital re form is the right of every individual in the nation. It is a reform at once moral, social, and political, as well as religious, and not peculiar to any sectarian body, but to the universal inte rests of Christianity itself. The grievances and claims of the dissenters arise, on the other hand, out of obsolete penal statutes, and are peculiar to themselves. They are perfectly intelligible in their vicious civil operation ; they may be briefly stated ; and it is injuring their cause essentially to distract the attention of their stanch friends, or exasperate the jealous fears of their powerful enemies, by mixing them up with abuses of a wider grasp, or with remedies of a more un limited extent. Their claims are—first, to ce lebrate their marriages in their own churches, by their own clergymen ; secondly, to keep the registers of their own births and marriages in their own families ; thirdly, to be disburdened from the unjust imposition of being compelled to support the churches of another richly-en dowed establishment, and which they never enter ; fourthly, the exclusion of their children from a university education (founded for the benefit of the nation generally by Catholics), through the obstruction of that episcopal Shibboleth, devoted to perjury, superstition, and absurdity, entitled the thirty-nine Ar ticles. That these are grievances of the most humiliating and oppressive character will not, for an instant, be disputed by any individual who estimates the most sacred institutions of domestic life, or who appreciates, as he ought, the character and privileges which ought to dignify and elevate the name of a British citi zen. The claim to remove them is, therefore, a demand of justice; but it is not, we grant, therefore, certain of acquisition. Assuasive hints have been thrown out by one party that the church is too wise to oppose obstacles to the just demands of the Dissenters. We believe that the church will fight the battle of prejudice and of antiquated predominance to the last ditch. On the other hand, the Dis senters are told by the stand still party, to rely implicitly on the efforts of Brougham, Russell, Althorp, and Holland, who have ever been their friends, and not launch forward their de mands too vehemently into the capricious tide of the great social movement. For our part we recommend the Dissenters to rely on no friends but themolves—to rely on nothing but their own discretion and their own exertions. No Minister or authority ever assists, or ever as sisted, a party or individual till the latter (acting on the advice of Jove to the coun tryman) exhibited the will and power to assist himself. The Dissenters have been supine long enough, and the whole country is indebted to them for the patriotic cause of their supineness. It was for the purpose of more effectually co-operating in bursting the chains of the nation—by contributing to carry the Reform Bill—that they, for three years, have remained so passive under the galling weight of their own penal chains ; but the necessity for it exists no longer, and knowing that they can in jure no great or good cause by their further silence, they ought to unite, as one man, for the attainment of the great end in view. They have a host, indeed, against them in the Church and in the House of Lords ; but they have also hosts in favour of their claims ; and, above all, they have public opinion, which, in these times, neither the present, or any other, Government can long withstand.—Morning Advertiser. The disasters at sea have this year been fright fully numerous. There are at Boulogne alone no less than 300 children who have lost their fathers since the com mencement of the herring season.— Galignani's Mes senger. CURLING.—On Friday the 13th, the ice on the curling pond of Dunblane was so strong, that a re gular game was played by a number of the Club on that day—being the first announced this season as having been played on a❑ ordinary pond in the "gude auld way," north of the Forth.—Scotsman. SINGULAR ANNOUNCEMENT.—We are far from disposed, at any time, to treat sacred things or places with the slightest degree of lightness ; but we really believe the most pious would have smiled at the following incident which occurred in our church a few weeks ago. The clerk had to announce that a new rate had been made, at so much in the pound, (sure to be high enough for the payers ) and thus it occurred :—He first gave out the Psalm (122 N. V.) then the announcement of the new L evy made upon his attentive hearers —instantly after this notice (amounting to " prepare your pockets,") he opened, with a loud voice, the first line of the Psalm, " 0 'twas a joyful sound to hear!"—Tbese words immediately fol lowing the former had an indescribable effect,-- Warwick Advertiser. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, DEC. 24 THE EARL OF RIPON V. HOBART. The further arguments in this case, which was an application for au injunction to restrain the de• fendants from erecting steam engines for the pur• pose of draining certain low lands in the district of Nocton, in Lincolnshire, were proceeded with. Mr. KINDERSLEY and Mr. KEAN addressed the Court on behalf of the defendants, the commis sioners for draining the Nocton district, Sir E. SUGDEN having been heard on the same side the last day the case was before the Court. Mr. PEPI'S replied. His HoNourt gave judgment, refusing to grant the injunction, but giving the plaintiffs, who are the general commissioners for the drainage of lands in Lincolnshire, liberty to bring any action that they might be advised for any damage sustained in con sequence of the proceedings of the defendants. The Court rose at half•past three o'clock for the Christmas vacation, after having disposed of several other motions of no public importance. His Ho nour will not sit again till the first day of Hilary Term, Jan. 11. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, DEC. 24. (Before Mr. Commissioner PANE.) JOHN BARENBURG'S BANKRUPTCY. 1 The bankrupt in this case was a tobacconist in Bloomfield -street, Finsbury, and the proceedings under the fiat were chiefly remarkable for the ex traordinary contradictory nature of the evidence as to the property, consisting of segars, &c., which were removed from the bankrupt's house after he had committed an act of bankruptcy. Nearly the whole parties concerned in removing the property, as well as the bankrupt are of the Jewish persua sion. The examinations have been going on during many days, and some curious facts were elicited. The Learned Commissioner fixed this day for giving judgment in the case. The question before the Court was, whether the bankrupt had given such a statement of his pro perty, as would entitle him to pass his final exami nation. Mr. Commissioner FANT, said, an undue prefe rence had been given to creditors in this case, and the books, for purposes best known to the bank rupt, had been placed in the hands of one who possessed a knowledge of chymical manipulation, or the art of making ink on written papers appear of different ages. Bankrupts were required to give up and account for their property; but here about 1401. or 1601. worth of property was missing, and wholly unaccounted fur. Under all the circumstances the Court could not sign the bankrupt's certificate, and his final examination must be adjourned sine die. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. A watchman of Portsoken Ward was charged be fore the LORD MAYOR by the constable of the night, with having acted " obstropulously" and " blas phemed" Alderman Johnson. The constable stated that the defendant was a great spouter, and opposed the return of Alderman Johnson. That, however, was nothing if he had kept his politics out of the watchhouse ; but having drank too much " heavy," he strutted into the place of repose for the guardians of the night, and began to curse Alderman Johnson in such a manner that it was imposs , ble to listen with common pa tience to such " horrid blasphemy." When he got tired of blaspheming the Alderman, he set-to at blessing Alderman Scales, so that it was hard to say which was worst, the curses or the blessings, the row was so tremendous. As such exercise of the lungs added to the drunkenness of the defendant, it was thought necessary to take care of him for the night, but he had not at all lost any of his party spirit by the sleep. The defendant said it was all nonsense to say that old Johnson was an Alderman. He might be an Alderman's Alderman, but he certainly was not a freeman's Alderman. Michael Scales was the real bone fried Alderman. .._ Constable—There's the way he goes on, your Lordship, calling the Alderman " Ould Johnson." A common individual might talk that way, but for a watchman to blaspheme an Alderman it's what ought to be punishable by the law of the land.—(Laughter.) Defendant said—What do you know about law ? I say that Alderman Scales is the Alderman as right as a trivet, and I'm blest if he an't showing 'em a taste of the law every day. He'll come down upon 'em with a " fiery fashus," as 'll give 'em a reg'lar double twister. Blest if they'll get out on it. The LORD MAYOR-It is evident, defendant, that you are not sober yet, and certainly such a man is not fit for the situation of watchman; for instead of keeping the peace you have been doing all you could to break it. Defendant—Why, my Lord, 1 have a good right to blow up ould Mr. Johnson.—(Laughter.) You see, my Lord, he wanted to show how hospitable he could be, and he sent the beadle round to say that he had paid a round sum for shins of beef to make broth for the poor people. So I sends my wife for a pint or two of the broth, for I thought it was like other broth ; but a spoonful of it was enough to poison the devil.—(Laughter.) The LORD MAYOR—I desire that you will not make any more insolent observations. Your habits are such as render you quite unfit for the protection of the public. Defendant--Why, my Lord, my wife and me and the youngsters supped a little of the stuff, and, my eyes, what we did suffer. Begging your Lordship' s pardon, we all on us was so bad that we laid down on a clean bed and got up out of a dirty one.--. (Laughter.) You never seed sich a conwicted go. The constable said that the watchman insulted the Alderman's broth in the watchhouse every bit as much as he did at that moment, although it was very nourishing. Defendant—Ay, ay. I wish you nourished your bowels with a 'Jason of it, and I'm blest if you'd care who'd be Alderman long.—(A laugh.) if it wouldn't rake you as it did me and my poor family I'm not a living man now, which I am, blessed be God, in spite of it. The LORD MAYOR—Get away; you are the last man whom I would allow to be connected in any way with the police, and I shall write to the Ward authorities my opinion of you. The defendant retired, and upon getting outside he gave three cheers for Alderman Scales, and " blasphemed" Alderman Johnson and his broth in such a manner as really quite shocked the hearers. The Churchwarden of St. Mary Magdalen was summoned for having refused to obey the order of the Loid Mayor, which called upon him to relieve an old man named George Green, and his wife, who are claimants upon that parish. Mr. Ellis, one of the officers of St. Catherine's, Coleman-street, produced the neglected order of the Lord Mayor and Alderman Lucas, and said that the poor woman was quite a cripple, and obliged to drag her limbs after her; and that the churchwarden refused to take them into the workhouse, or do any more for them than give them a shilling for support,. and a shilling for the conveyance of the wretched woman back to the place upon which neither had any claim. Green, about eighteen months ago, had received about 1301., which had been bequeathed to him ; but his wife's and his own illness had swallowed up the amount. His wife not being able to move, they were obliged to support and pay a nurse, and to have several additions to their expenses, and they msounifit h e s i were now totally destitute. He had been himself dreadfullyface aiand ( y Tt testified fi man's the fact.) general il l ts these fifteen appearance Mr. Ellis knew that the complainant had paid fourteen shillings a week for medical treatment for his wife. The LORD MAYOR —Suppose, Mr. Churchwar den, this poor woman had died on being huddled back from her parish, of which you ara7one of the officers, how do you think you would have got over such an occurrence as that ? It is evident this poor man has done all he could for his wife, and that he has expended every halfpenny he was possessed of; and when he applies to you under such doubly deplorable circumstances, you abandon him and his helpless partner to the streets. Churchwarden—lf I knowed they was distressed, my Lord, why I'd rather relieve 'em from my own pocket ; but I thought, as they got so much money, they had no claim. The LORD MAYOR—WeII, then, exercise your mind a little more humanely in future. I recom mend it to you to give this poor couple additional comforts in consideration of the trouble and anxiety you have given them. Churchwarden—l'll take them in, my Lord, as it's your wish. The LORD MAYOR—It is my order. G UILDHALL. A respectable-looking old gentleman, whose name and address did not transpire, presented himself, and afrer a most courteous obeisance to Mr. Alder man SMITH, said his heart was breaking, and he had come to ask his Worship's advice. The old gentleman proceeded to relate that some weeks ago the wife of his brother-in•law (a high feeding old man, who had been pensioned off from the Excise) was seized with a dangerous illness, and sent her daughter to beg applicant's wife to come and attend her. In such an emergency he thought it his duty to permit her to go, and she remained with her dying sister• until she expired, a period of nearly two months. After this event had occurred he expected his wife to return to her home, but she had chosen to remain with the widower ; and al though he ought not to speak of such things, he must be pardoned for saying she was a wicked wo man, and his heart was almost broken. " Pray what is her age ?" inquired Mr. Alderman " Turned of sixty, Sir," replied the old gentle man ; "but in spite of her age I assure you she is wickedly inclined." " I am truly sorry to hear it," said the Magistrate, " but if she stays at your brother-in-law's of her own accord how can I help you ?" " I am almost distracted," said the old gentle man. " She has had a family by me, and brought the children up. I have two of my daughters, now forty years of age, hanging upon me still ; and, I would ask, should I not he justified in advertising in the newspapers the misconduct of my wife ? I expect her here every moment: 4 " Indeed I" said the Alderman, " then we had better wait till she arrives. I presume you are the elder of the two ?" " By ten years," answered the old gentleman. " And what sort of man is your brother-in-law ?" " About her own age," replied the unhappy hus band ; "but he lives luxuriously, and she tells me that most men in London manage to pay attentions to some married woman or other." " Surely you are not so silly," observed the Nla gistrate, " as to believe there is the least truth in that tale ?" " Indeed I do," said the old gentleman. " I never heard such nonsense in my life," said the Alderman, "you had better say no more til your wife comes in." Shortly afterwards the suspected lady made her appearance. She was ordinary in her features, her body bending with age, and her voice as tremulous as the tones of Paganini's Witches of Benevento. Any man would have been more ready to bet that she was nearer seventy than sixty. " Good woman," said Mr. Alderman SMITH, " your husband has been making a strange charge of incontinence against you." " I know what the - charge is," said the afflicted lady, "and I am ready to take my oath this mo• ment that I am quite innocent. I attended my dying sister, and I thought it would only be kind to stay two or three days after death to set things in order ; but in consequence of some foolish dreams my hus band had he turned jealous and sent for me home. I returned to him immediately." " But why did not you stop with your bus band?" " So I did," said she. " I have been home with him these six years. Why should I stay from my home ? We have been married six-and-forty years, and my husband has never had a day's illness." " What the deuce does the man want ?" said the Alderman. "He has his wife at home, and she has accounted for her absence." The old gentleman was not satisfied. There was no believing his wife even when she spoke the truth, in the first place. Then his wife had pub lished to the neighbours that he slept in a separate bed. The intention of that was easily seen through. Thirdly, her sister had always been suspected by her husband ; and, lastly, his wife had confessed that married ladies in general were not very parti cular in some matters. " Was her sister something like your wife here ?" asked the Alderman. "Just such another," said the old gentleman. " Oh !go home, Sir" replied the magistrate. " Don't let the world see how foolish you are." "Don't, for heaven's sake, expose yourself any more in this room," said the chief clerk. " I re member you, Sir. Pray go home and be quiet. Believe me, your mind is affected." The old gentleman stared for a moment on hear ing this, as if he had some misgivings about his in tellects, and then, bowing to the chair, he and his old dame toddled out of the room together. MARLBORO UGH- STREET. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. —Peter Burnet, a ra ther meanly attired person, residing at No. 44, Silver-street, Golden-square, yesterday attended at this office to prefer a charge of assault against his wife. The case was throughout in every respect a most extraordinary one. The complainant, who is one of the healing art, married the defendant about two years since. In about eight months after their marriage he was surprised one day by his wife bring ing home a child, which she declared was her own, and which was not then above a month old. lie interrogated her, and she then stated that it eras his child, but had fallen short of the general period, two months. He had never at any time been ab sent from his wife, and accordingly desired to know where the child had been born. She then told him rather an improbable tale of a person, that while she was going home with her work (she being en gaged in the hair trade, and knowing the situation that she was in) she became very ill, and, feeling that it was high time she was domiciled, she betook herself to the house of some person whom she knew, residing at Brompton, and there, soon after her arrival, gave birth to the child. She returned home a few hours afterwards, and did not make ;;; mention of the circumstance, as she had left the child with her friend. She allowed her ss. a week to maintain it for three weeks, and then the nurse dropped the child on the step of a door, and it was taken to the workhouse, where she (defendant) afterwards discovered it, and brought it home. The husband did not much like this story, and unhappi ness constantly ensued. On Saturday night last she became much infuriated at something that oc- curred, and threatened to cut her own throat and the child's, with a razor which she held in her hand. She also assaulted her husband, as we un derstood, with the pestle. It was for the assault that a warrant had been obtained by the husband. The defendant, a very ordinary woman, of about thirty years of age, with a poor sickly-looking dimi nutive child in her arms, said that her husband struck her first. He had taken to gambling, and sat up all night playing at cards. He had also, she regretted to say, taken much to the .company of women. She then proceeded to detail the unfortu nate result of the latter to herself in a manlier which would be unfit to sully our pages with. She then went through the uncommon history of the child, and the trouble she had taken in going to different workhouses to find it after it had been i dropped. She was exasperated on S a t ur d a y night and drank some whisky, and she really: did not know what she did. Mr. CONANT—WouId it not have been better for you, when you found yourself ill, to have gone home instead of into a person's house, knowing, as you did, the situation you were in ? Defendant—His relatives had said unkind things about my being proper for him, and I did not like to rake the child home as its birth was so recent after marriage. Mr. CONANT— Sh e may have acted imprudently relative to t hi s c hild, an d t h at w hi c h s h e has stated (alluding to one particular circumstance) does not put you in a much better light. I think, as you yourself are not blameless, that you may as well make the best of a bad bargain ; forget what is past on each side, and go home comfortably together. Defendant--Do, dear Peter ; dear, do make it up. Complainant—No, that will ruin me; I've lost two or three patients through her already. My as sistant was present on Saturday. Mr. Simpson, a gentleman whose habiliments would have been worth a premium to a tallow chandler, next appeared under the dignified title of an assistant. He saw the affray. He thought that defendant, when in a passion, would run against the bayonets of a regiment of soldiers, she was so vio lent. Then came a redeeming clause, she was so forgiving. Complainant—She has injured me considerably. Defendant—Oh, Peter, I have loved you too well, my dear. Complainant—l wish for a separation. Defendant—Peter, my dear, my love, pray for give me; pray take me home with you. I implore you, my dear Peter, on my knees.—(At this instant she suited the action to the word, and knelt to her liege lord and master.) Mr. CONANT— You had better endeavour to ar range it. Defendant—Oh, Peter, pray do consent, my dear. Pray do take me back again.—(Again her knees saluted the ground; nor could her entreaties move the husband, who was obdurate.) The husband only earned 30s. a week, and could not allow her more than 7s. Mr. CONANT consulted with T. HALLS, Esq., who was with him on the Bench, and advised them .o go out. This was ultimately done, and we believe an allowance for the wife was agreed on. It was not stated what complainant allowed his assistant out of his liberal income. QUEEN-SQUARE. STARVATION AND DESTITUTION.—Yesterday youth, named William Martin, was brought up in custody before Mr. BURRELL, charged with break ing a gas-lamp in William -street, Waterloo-road, Lambeth, the property of the Phoenix Gas Light Company. Police constable Sutton, of the L division, No. 92, about twelve o'clock on the previous night saw the prisoner in William-street deliberately break one of the gas-lamps. He said that he had no home, was nearly starving, and wanted to be sent to prison. Prisoner—l declare to God that I have only had one penny loaf to eat fur the last four days, and that I am nearly starved to death. Mr. BURRELL ordered him to be committed for one month to the House of Correction. On his being taken into the outer office he burst into tears, and appeared quite faint, when one of the constables sent for some bread, cheese, arid beer, which he devoured most voraciously. KEEPING CHRISTMAS.—Henry Hawton, of No. I, Salisbury,place, Lock's-fields, was charged with being drunk, and backing his master's cart through the shop window of Mr. Cole, hatter, Bridge-street. Defendant—l am willing to pay 2a. a week until the damage is paid. Mr. BURRELL—That you must arrange with your master. Mr. Cole will proceed against him for the damage. You are discharged on paying five shillings for drunkenness. The defendant paid the fine, heartily sick of the modern custom of keeping Christmas. HAT T ON- GARDEN. FORTUNE TELLING.— Yesterday Thomas Oxley, an elderly man, attired in a suit of black, and of very sage appearance, and Thomas Oxley, his son, a youth about 18 years of age, were brought before Mr. LAING, by Mrs. Burrows, a respectable-looking female, fast approaching fifty, residing in Milton street, St. Luke's, charged with having obtained a sum of money from her on pretence of telling her fort une. The prisoners did not deny the charge. The elder prisoner resorted to the above means of supporting his family in consequence of having been disappointed at the termination of a lawsuit. Mr. LAING committed the father for three months and the son for one month to the House of Correction. UNION-HALL. Yesterday William Carr, a young man, was brought before Mr. TRAILL, charged with assault ing his wife, an old lady of sixty. Mr. TRAILL inquired what length of time they had been married ? Mrs. Carr—Only six months, your Worship; and it has appeared as many years. I married him for love, gave him up all the property I had accumulated by hard industry in the chandlery line, and the return I have met with after all is nothing but the worst of treatment. Mrs. Carr added she had often and often lamented the day that she had the fully to have thought of marriage after the death of her first poor dear husband. "If she was single to-morrow, no, not for the Indies of gold," added she, " would I again venture upon matrimony." The defendant here exclaimed, " I am content to dissolve the marriage, and now that we are in Court let it be done, and"-- Mr. TRAILL said that the only mode of insuring her safety was to hold the defendant to bail, which was accordingly done. The statue of Fame, recently placed on the Dome of the Pantheon, was o❑ Tuesday night blown down by a gust of wind.—French Paper. LIVERPOOL COTTON -MARKET, DEC. 23. —The sales to-day are estimated at 5,000 bags, part of which have been taken on speculation. A choice lot of 50 Boweds have been sold at 9id. per lb., a lot of very superior Bahias at 10d., and a small parcel of Pernarn" at 11d. EASTERN ATHENMUNI—LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.—A meeting of the members of this institution was held at the parochial schoolhouse, Stepney-green, on Friday evening, the 13th instant, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Committee, and adopting rules for the government of the institution. The report stated that the prospects of the society exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its for.. mere ; that although two months had not elapsed since its commencement, the number of members exceeded seventy, and notwithstanding the large expenses unavoidably in curred for printing, and the purchase of many necessary articles, a considerable sum remained in the treasurer's hands ; that they already possessed a library from contri butions alone of about 200 volumes, nearly 50 of which had been presented by Dr. Bowring, the remainder were, with a few exceptions, the gifts of the members ; that part of Colet House, Stepney, was preparing, and would soon be fit for the reception of the society ; that Dr. Epps and Dr. Mitchell, among other scientific and literary cha racters, had kindly offered to deliver lectures ; and that, from the rapid increase in the number of members, and the offers of assistance from all quarters, there was little doubt of this institution being able soon to take its stand with the similar ones of the metropolis. The meeting, after eulogising the conduct of, and passing a vote of thanks to, the Provisional Committee and Secretary, and to Dr. Bowring and the other donors to the Society, adopted a code of laws, and proceeded to elect from a list of candi dates the officers of the institution. The names announced were Dr. Lushington, ALP., and W. Clay, Esq., M.P., joint Presidents ; Dr. Birkbeck, Dr. Bowring, C. Knight, E•q., W. Maltby, Esq., Dr. Mitchell, and G. Offer, El., Vice Presidents; and twenty gentlemen from among the members as managers for the ensuing year. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman (W. Riven, Esq.) for his impartial conduct, and the meeting adjourned amidst mutual congratulations at the cheering prospects of the in stitution. GLASGOW ANTI-CORN LAW SOCIE' i ,- l ONDON i CAT In 50 At one o'clock to-day, a public meeting, consequence of a numerous and respectably sig i 'i o requisition to the Lord Provost, was held ttt Town-hall. 3AIItIJEI IiF.NRY Mr. COLIN DUNLOP said, he was sure t o FREDEtt would all participate in the pleasure which he oe V in proposing th e m ot i on h e was a b out to lay N I ) s ? R SF T ' PI E , c them. This was th e fi rst pu bli c meeting Nellie);d, CHARLI N J ILL been held since the overthrow of the system of 6114 HENRY election, and the pr esent L or d P rovost was the , ht JAMES that had been appointed by the suffrages of 1(1)ATTHII people. It was with peculiar satisfaction the PATRIC that he proposed the Honourable the Lord Pa JOHN S' should tak e th e chair.—(Cheers.) DAV*" The motion havi ng b een ! carr i e d b y ace! PE, the Lord Provost took the chair amid loud He said he considered it quite unnecessary plain the object of the meeting, as the a: ment had rendered it sufficiently plain already. then read the requisition calling the meeting. Mr.Osavaen, M.P., said the requisition sal( explained the object of their coming together, he would not therefore detain them one minuf he had no intention of making a speech at pr; so important a subject as the corn laws. He merely give it as his opinion that the existing had done a vast deal of mischief, and would et to do so as long as they existed. It was hit that the trade in corn should be as free as the in any other article.--(Cheers.) Any n that prevented it from being so was injurious unjust. The corn monopoly, he considered, cif d , ffer from any other except that it was more I sive, and more serious in its consequences. He be in error in these opinions, as many pr able to judge as he were of a different thinking; but he had considered the matter closely. Mach misconception seriously prevailed on this subject in the public and it was therefore of great importance, would be highly advantageous, to arrange some by which information regarding it might more widely extended. If divested of the m: cations which surrounded it, the public would to see the matter in its true light, and the corn would speedily become as free as in any commodity. Whatever difference of opinion might be on the merit of the question, ther be none as to the propriety of circulating ii Lion ; and to promote that, he had a series lutions to submit to their consideration. It was by same, that when the price of corn was so low, was unnecessary, and wrong, to discuss the gut of the corn laws; but he considered that this the very time when they could dispassionately soberly discuss them, and without any of tb citement which would be inevitably felt, if di_ when the price of corn was high.—(Cheers.) was doing a duty to the public to have the at issue fairly discussed, Many persons were to public discussions, and considered that there sa be no public meetings--no excitement. He, on tlttniful sty contrary, always thought, that the more discuss the less excitement, and that the more Govern'''. trusted to the people, the less excitement would be experienced in the country.—(Cheers ) It was il l '- countries where the Governments did not trust lb' people, that the greatest degree of excitement via' HE I felt. Mr. Oswald then read a series of resolutions' SEU Mr. JAMES DENNISTOUN, of Golfhill, seconde," mat rl l4 lied in Jar the adoption of the resolutions, and stated, that bad h 4t i t'ted and the proposition for doing away with the corn hove Ltisiatie an. d era n ry N ( been suggested to him a few years ago, he would have opposed it ; but he as now convinced that h. °f had been wrong, and was clearly of opinion, that t he I.t s of the Bacheli freer the trade in corn was the better.—(Cheers.) ? t i The resolutions were then carried unanimously , Mr. COLIN DUNLOP said, that having now agreed to form an association, the next step was, to fix the '1 e; by sum proper to b e p a id at entry. Th e Committee, 'Y Agn es in drawing up the resolutions, were of opinion, that ~ ,Nanan ; 10s. or 20s. would be a requisite sum; but thel i li ghbour ; agreed to leave the fixing of it to the meeting. ge D thought 20e. was a very fair amount to entitle to t ilt S. i membership, and moved accordingly. Of courser 4," Awt :: . the payment would not be annual, but taken only at a, Signit entry. on n ey th w e o a u ff ld air b s e o in f d th is ; H. ekin g to p e n A s l a r t;necessary DUNLOP it s t ai c d a ' r rays m in g on Cr eelehra Society, he seconded the motion of Mr. Dunlop for. PA.netery °ands of 20s. -o Fine A Mr. P. MACKENZIE considered the entry.moneY en mit] by far too high. It would be a complete barrier tl, PAP -, to the success of the association. The entry' i.ba had money should be lower, in order to admit the" humbler c l as s es . H e wou ld propose ss. and was I) Myer convinced that m ore money wou ld b e ra i se d b y en tries at that sum than at 20s. Mr. C. DUNLOP was w illi ng to agree to any stun T( that would bring the largest supply of money into the society. Bailie FLEMING said, they seemed all agreed that that sum was best which would produce the largest amount. He would be disposed to strike s medium, and say 10s. as the entry. Mr. C. J. TENNANT proposed, that any person sub.cribing from .ss. to 20s. be admitted a member. —(Cheers.) Mr. Tennant's proposal was then unanimously agreed to, and a Committee appointed, Mr. Wm. Gray to be interim Secretary. Thanks were then voted to the Lord Provost, for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting separated. The attendance was rather thin, which is to be attributed to an understanding that went abroad that the meeting, in consequence of the one held on Tuesday, which was merely preliminary, wal not to take place. It is worthy of notice that five . , of the magistrates were present, and were placed, along with their absent colleagues, on the Committee. —Glasgow Argil!. , ADY'! C)11 the Bro., ei Artists) LAND, Townst 2E. 16 THE Mo ` r 'formati( This itti4, l3 foi g ~bllca, a fo r Churc winc es of t lesl Regi 100 ORB Ctu tectt the Not and 24 Deep BIRTHS. On the 24th inst., in New-street, Spring gardens, Lady Camp• bell, of a son. On the 10th inst., at Skelton Rectory, the lady of the Rev. John Dayman, of a son and heir. On the 15th inst., at Weymouth, the lady of Captain IL Fitz-Roy, Grenadier Guards, of a daughter. Last week, the lady of Major Louis, Picton.terrace, Caringn then, of a son. On the 17th inst., at Ballynewry-house, Markethill, the lady of the Rev. J. H. Potts, of a son. On the 18th Mgt., the lady of William Herries Ker, Esq., of a daughter. torii Ori on kno ' 6 O Rer 5 0 TTi Jab ' 3 O Itni Tit 10 0 Mi ing poi EYents i2eistsahornoepr i siettofi t: tbii J rpT O PEI Z AOAT A CNRT T K:c4 :3 I 3 tr'''' 4 :110 1 r d Pre ~,,tl4,;l,i,),,,,,;nl.l)J,Dtn9elo:A,Aßet:wysudiNT:laßDaoltscrcer,' , iryad chef, advert; ady. nr• 4 Shareboll Acid Atli the eer H ier , IA 14 51 being la ainuter c 0 nese!) i i t JA He o'o sildon, De, [ condo! NN E GI , i p irli:ttteetcr'clii l m tYiegi d reelelvdsg,ue e urnle°llll c asitlitil o p llifilt:l:lll- 4 1„ :16:-i : 'i.44°4 sd , 4 ; ,i lp sT . l c n ' i 't i g e EA t.r t u i s Ty. : i f o , erE n i : s °n ,. l eight t ni ra Y d il e tilt : 8 81a c tI t i e: 8 W io a n n : ny 0 0 1 i 4 erat St een infortril' 4E tg)w o hula f ioessew r wi e tii: 4 o : o:ii ~........._2l 4 ,tilisiEnNo,s oiti c L L iv o ell rely WO that er A t lt l llcLE an s d e ier°rsgeeuri a .P) v °tC e Oillll ° lll , l ' ‘'',, l'iea'elt' i )rl'al:Rengl'a Y in'Sar ß T % ntt'heGdsesruer: e shoal ( ' ha lb Y ' ,on t L t e most s. ?. No. 8 2 sncnu.rns:eio:l! . M Cu' kealing for Chi kiwis !ions, Sold Chy m i, (mallet the ea Singer Lower Edinbt Meats MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at Milton next Gravesend, J. H. Ceely, Esq., surgeon, of Aylesbury, to Elizabeth Parker, second daughter of the late Captain David Wishart. On the 24th inst., at the Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, Henry Darnel Moor Despard, Esq., of Rathmore, Queen's County, Ireland, to Mary Isabella Elizabeth Keister, only daughter of Captain Burrow es, late of the Royal Waggon Train. On the 16th inst., at Jersey, Captain Bamford, of the 73d Regiment, eldest son of I'. B. Bamford, Esq., of Winecote. hall, Warwickshire, to Catherine, only daughter of Waldron Hill, Esq., late of Broom hall, Staffordshire. On the 18th inst., at Rugby, William Townsend, Esq., of Rugby, to Louisa Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Charles Buck nill, Esq., of the former place. On the 19th intt., Mr. Basely, of Boddington, Northampton shire, to Miss Sophia Beer, of Banbury. On the 19th inst., Philip Walsh, Esq., of Leeson-street. Dublin, barrister.at-law, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter Of Edw. Mitchell, Esq., of Upper Merion-street. ' - - On the 16th inst., in Sheffield, Mr. John Canis%.aged 73, to Miss Sarah Booth, aged 60, both of Ridgway. On the 20th inst., at Ro p tt l e E rfaM, in his twenty - first year, Alexander Adrian Ferrier, Esq., youngest son of Alexander Ferrier, Esq., Consul to his Britanic Majesty. On the 24th of August, Mr. and Mrs. ?dateless Jackson, on their passage to Buenos Ayres, on board the Prompt, off Mal donado, where she became a total wreck. —. - - Jackson, of On the 23d inst., in his - 10th year, R obert, el dest child of Mr. i l e t i o g b h cir s t t r S e e e l t b , Selby , r f a O n ( l i d , D a n o d rs e g t x ....p n l a d c s e o , n G o l f o P3hfartn.j-arrnOaeds, and of Bur. Church-place, Covent-garden. On the 22d inst., at his mother's house on Wandsworth. common, in his 18th year, Thomas, second son of the late Thos. Harrison, Esq., of Streatham, Surrey. On the 21st inst., at ilellinglY Vicarage, Sussex, Margaret, the wife of the Rev. John Olive. On the 4th inst., at Fingask, Invernessshire, Duncan Fraser, Esq., of Fingask. ... On the 23d inst., in Thurlow-place, Norwood, in his 53d year, Mr. William Hillier. rang ran AN) PrCarman sir MURDO YOUNG, Arrow/ :SVN Orrin, 11 STRAND► a vat and .1 N o. 2 Lnnd gent-str --._