The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVRNING; JANUARY 19, .1864. the other duty. I believe the corporation considers the 4d. duty as its property. Mr. Tyrrell—lt always has been so considered. The Chairman—And yet that duty is contributed to by the whole metropolis for 20 miles round. Mr. Tyrrell—Yes. The Chairman—l believe your general rule is to watch any bill in Parliament which you think will unduly in fluenee the rights and privileges of the corporation ? Mr. Tyrrell--It is. The Chairman—And I believe you pursued that course with respect to the Charitable Trusts Btll ? Mr. Tyrrell—No ; the corporation did not oppose the passing of the Charitable Trusts Bill, nor did it apply to have any alteration made in it. It is not true that I applied to have a clause introduced into this bill. The Lord Chancellor, it is true, of his own accord made a , distinction as to jurisdiction (in the 38th clause) between charities under 301. a year in the City and the same class of charities outside of the City. Charities of 301. and under were to be subject to the county courts in other parts of the country, but in the City the bill pro vided that they should be subject which to the Court of Chan ceryie in the ordinary way. That was a distinction w the City neither asked for nor suggested. Mr. C. Lewis—But was it made because it was known that it would be aceeptable to the City ? Mr. Tyrrell—Not that lam aware of. The ordinary course pursued when the City wishes to oppose or pro mote a bill in Parliament, is to endeavour to see mem bers of the House of Commons, and prepare statements to be laid before them, as well as to get up petitions. As Remembrancer of the City, I am entitled to a seat be bind the Sergeant of the House of Commons, which gives me access to members of Parliament in a very conve nient manner. Mr. C. Lewis—Can you tell us the cases in which as Remembrancer you have had clauses introduced into general acts of Parliament saving the rights and customs of the city ? Mr. Tyrrell—l have here a list of all cases of that kind which have occurred daring the last ten years. The first case is the Small Debts Act ; the next is the Health of Towns Act of 1848, from which the city of London ap plied to be exempted, because it thought the powers in question could be advantageously exercised by the Com missioners of Sewers within the City. The next was the Metropolitan Sewers' Act, from which the City was exempted. The City next procured exemption from the Common Lodging-houses Act, because the City Commis sioners of Sewers had more extensive powers for the same object. Next, there was the Smoke Prevention Act, with respect to which the City had greater powers in its own Sewers Act. These were the whole of the cases of this kind during ten years, and it was therefore untrue that the City was in the constant habit of un duly slipping in clauses into general acts for the exemp tion of the city from their operation. Clauses are in serted into private bills with regard to the navigation of the river, and also into dock and railway sets, to save the City's tolls and dues. The principle on which these provisions proceed is the maintenance of the existing rights of the City ; awl there is no disposition whatever on the part of the corporation to set up a separate sys tem of legislation for the City, and to exclude it from the operation of general acts. They only wish to pre serve withip their own hands the management of matters which they have conducted for many years for the ad vantage of the citizens. The average anneal cost of the yearly entertainment at Guillhall is 2,0001., which is contributed in equal moieties, one by the Lord Mayor and the other by the sheriffs. Besides this, there is an average annual charge of 2001. for the cost of the pro cession, which is paid out of the corporation funds. The cost of the procession last year amounted to 480/_, as there was a revival of some of the ancient show. Pro fessional actors used to be employed to play a part in the procession. Formerly the corporation kept its own poet, but it does not maintain the office now. The Chairman—lt has been stated that money was spent by the corporation in giving dinners to members of Parliament wh o h a d suppor t e d its own views with regard to Smithfield-market. Is that true ? Mr. Tyrrell—That is quite a misstatement. The only sum expended is 141. 175., the usual allowance paid to the sheriffs when they go to present a petition to Parlia ment. At this stage of the proceedings the commission ad journed till next day. The Royal Commission sat again yesterday, in the Privy Council Chamber, Downing-street. Commis sioners present—the Right Hon. H. Labouchere (chair man), Sir John Patteson, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis. The first witness examined at this sitting was The Right Hon. J. Stuart Wortley, recorder of the city of London, who stated :—I have been Recorder for the city of London since Sept., 1850. My salary is 3,0001. a-year. I have also some trifling fees. I receive six guineas annually from the sheriffs for presenting them to the Cursitor Baron, and 21. 6s. Bd. for attending the conservancy courts. My salary is understood to `include all legal advice given by me to the corpora tion, with the exception of those cases in which I have to consult with counsel unconnected with the corpo ration, in which case I receive certain fees, an account of which will be laid before the commissioners by the town clerk. In 1852 those fees amounted to about 150 guineas ; but that is not a fair criterion of their average annual value, because in 1851 I received but 16 guineas, and in 1853 only 15 guineas. In point of fact, the occasions are very few in which I have .to consult with other counsel on behalf of the corpo radon. The Chairman— Are you debarred from private practice by your office as Recorder ? Mr. Wortley—Not by any specific condition ; bat I am practically debarred from practising in Westminster hall by the nature of my duties as Recorder, I have, indeed, been retained in one or more peerage cases in the House of Lords, where it was considered important thar the counsel who had begun the case should proceed with it; but with that exception, and certain arbitration cases with which I was acquainted, I have not carried on private practice. The Chairman—What is the nature of your duties ? Mr. Wortley—l will now state them generally ; but I can furnish the commissioners on another day with the reports of committees of the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen on the subject of my office at the time of my appointment. lam the chief legal adviser of the corporation, and am expected to give ad vice on all matters within the province of the corpora tion. I attend the Lord Mayor on all state occasions, and read addresses to the Crown, and you have the in stance by this inquiry, at which, although not within the scope of my ordinary duties, I act as the mouthpiece of the corporation before this commission. I sit on the right band of the Lord Mayor in the Courts of Aldermen and of Common Council. I put the questions there for the Lord Mayor, and assist him in deciding matters of order. lam expected also to assist the committees. The Chairman—The last commission stated that you act in the corporation in an analogous manner to the Speaker of the House of Commons. .Mr. Wortley—That is g a raceful way of putting the matter ; but I execute the formal part of the Speaker's duty in putting the question in the form that I think right, unless I am corrected by the Court. I am one of the commissioners under the Central Criminal Court Act, and am considered the chief judge, I believe, of that court, with the exception, of course, of her Ma jesty's judges, who only attend it occasionally; and I am expected, in every instance, to charge the grand jury. Besides that, I have to attend as assessor to the magis trates, in court of quarter sessions, both of London and Southwark, but that ,is chiefly a matter of form, the jurisdiction having become effete. I nominally attend the Court of Hustings, which is now almost obsolete. I also attend the Lord Mayor's Court, which • sits every month of the year except one, and on the constitution of that court, the improvements which have been in troduced into it, their operation, and the custom of foreign attachment which appertains to it, I should be glad to have an opportunity, at a future time, of giving information to the commissioners. I am like wise a justice of the peace within the City, but prac tically I am not applied to in that capacity, except on isiportant occasions. I am also ex officio a mem ber of some bodies connected with the corporation, such as the Irish Society; but being so only ex officio, I have not thought it right to interfere with that society. I am also ex officio a member of the City Com mission of Sewers, the object of my being so in either of these cases being that in the event of any point of law arisirg they may have the benefit of my advice. This completes the summary of my duties. The Chairman —Havine, you any general control over the legal business of the City / Mr. Wortley—None. Mr. Chairman—You do not regulate the proceedings of the solicitor for the City ? Mr. Wortley—l do net ; but sometimes there is a tionspecial the courtreference to m e an d the City solicitor tbyresolu of . si r J. Patteson—lt has been said that the aldermen consult with the judges at the t r i als in the Central Criminal Court in the Caine way as the judges consult together in the Court of Queen's Bench? Mr. Wortley—l have never known the ald ermen to interfer e w ith t h e trial of a case, nor volunte er to inter fere on th e quest i on o f a sentence being pass e d ; but I confess that I have frequently derived great assistance by occasionally consulting the aldermen on the bench with me as to the extent of punishment which ought to be inflicted ; and cases of commercial fraud have been more perfectly elucidated to my mind by consulting with the aldermen. It is, however, an entire misrepresenta tion to say that they improperly interfere. Mr. C. Lewis—One of the duties of the Recorder is to certify the customs of the City by word of month. Can you explain how that practice is carried out ? Mr. Wortley—The manner in which it is done is this, and I have done it in two recent instances—once in the j Rolls Court, and another time in the Court of Queen's Bench. A certiorari is issued from the court in which the case is pending, and in which the question has been raised as to the existence of a custom of the City, calling upon the Lord Mayor and aldermen to certify to that Court whether such a custom exists in the City, and what is its nature. The matter is then brought before the Court of Aldermen as the executive body of the cor- p ora tion, who refer it, by resolution, t o t h e Recorder, 1 in order that he may consult the other officers, if neces sary, and search the precedents, and then report there upon. If no doubt exists on the subject, I report to the Court of Aldermen what I believe to be the custom. If there be any doubt entertained by me with regard to it, it is the practice for me to name a day which meets the convenience of the litigant parties, who, Tin been allowed full access to all the document, In the custody of the corporation, attend by counsel before me and state what are the precedents on which they rel.Y, and what is the construction they place upon/those precedent,. There was a very difficult case in the Rolls Court respecting the distribution of a free man's property, which in the City follows a different rule from the statutory distribution, and arguments by coun sel were conducted before me during part of two days, involving a difficult question of mixed law and fact ; the difficulty being to put a proper interpretation on a for mer construction of a custom. In that case I certified by word of mouth in the Rolls Court, and in the other case I certified in the Court of Queen's Bench. The mode is analogous to what I have seen adopted by the Speaker of the House of Commons when he reports to the House, by word of mouth, her Majesty's speech, and says that for convenience he has obtained a copy of it. In the same way I certify the customs of the City, and state that, for convenience sake, I hold in my band a parchment, with the certificate in writing. Mr. C. Lewis—ln fact, then, certifying a custom of the City by word of mouth involves the preparation of a written statement ? Mr. Wortley—lt is so. The Recorder asserts his right to certify orally, but he hands in a written state ment. Mr. C. Lewis—Do you see any objection to giving the public full access to the records, to ascertain what is the law and custom of the City ? Mr. Wortley—l see no objection to giving the fullest access to the public generally to the records of the cor poration, for ordinary purposes, historical and otherwise; but I can hardly go so far as to say that I would permit the public to inspect the charters and titles of the cor poration on a question with regard to which litigation is going on at the time. This is a qaestion which I know the commissioners have pressed upon the wit nesses, and I should be very sorry to give a very definite opinion upon it. No doubt, it might in some cases be a matter of complaint if litigants had not every facility for ascertaining what are the grounds of the City's claim. Without going so far as those who say that the City is in the same position as the lord of a manor with regard to his private property, I apprehend it is no different position from that of a corporation having the manage ment of a charitable trust ; and if, after some centuries have elapsed, a person were to rise up and dispute the validity of a charity trust, it would be a grave question whether the trustees should, in the first instance, lay its documents before the party, to enable him to take technical objections on points of form. I believe, ;n case in which the corporation of Hull, in a Chancery suit, produced its title deeds, and the suit went against them, Lord Eldon rebuked them for pursuing the course they had done. Mr. C. Lewis—The right of the City may be as good as that of the trustees of a charity ; but when so exten sive a right as that of levying metage dues between Yantlet Creek and Staines is involved, and the action is brought by the City, the question is, whether the de fendants ought not to bei nformed of the nature of the public instrument on which the City found its claim ? Mr. Wortley—The corporation differs from the trus tees of a charity, inasmuch as it is a body established for the benefit of the whole community, whereas the charity is established for a specific purpose ; but I cannot other wise distinguish their position in litigation between them and other parties. I believe that in the very case to which this question more particularly refers—that of the Messrs. Combe and Delafield—every fair statement has been made by the corporation of what is the nature of the title on which it relies ; and all that I understand has been refused is the actual production of the docu ments. I have had no personal knowledge of the case of Combe and Delafield beyond this, that during the last three years, I believe, the case has been hung up by the consent of both parties, and that an anxiety is felt that some arrangement should be come to, in order to get rid of all difficulty on the subject. At the same time, the corporation had acted under the advice of independent and eminent counsel ; and if it had acted otherwise, and in the face of counsel's advice had rashly disclosed what it was not bound by law to disclose, and thereby imperilled the just rights of the citizens, it would have incurred a very grave responsibility to its constituents. At the same time, Ido not believe that any information of a substantial nature has been refused to the defendants. I may also mention that the decision of Lord Abinger, and the decision of Vice-Chancellor Bruce, with regard to the obligation of the City to dis close its charters to a litigant party, are decisions of a conflicting nature, and directly opposed to each other. With respect to the dispute with the Crown respecting the right to the soil and bed of the River Thames, I would state that negotiations had been going on for a long period on that subject, and the City was anxious on public grounds, as well as for its own interests, to arrive, if possible, at some settlement with the Govern ment. The corporation had thought the course pur sued by the Crown in not proceeding by writ of intru sion, in the ordinary and natural way, was certainly most harsh and arbitrary, even admitting it to be jus tified by strict law. I regret that Mr. Pemberton, the solicitor to the Board of Inland Revenue, did not inform the commissioners that the City has been long endea vouring to effect an amicable settlement, because that gentleman's evidence would make it appear that the City has been actuated by a contentious and litigious spirit, although the truth is, the corporation has shown a very different disposition from that. After the nego tiations to which I have referred bad been conducted for some time, in 1847 a bill was introduced into Parliament embodying the result of them ; and this bill recited in its preamble that the Crown on the one hand and the corporation on the other were willing to forego their respective claims, and transfer them to a board of con servancy. This bill was, however, defeated, because it was sought to establish a mixed board for the manage ment of the conservancy and soil of the river. Subse quently, further negotiations were carried on between the Government and the corporation, in which I took part on the one hand, and Lord Seymour, the Commis sioner of Woods, on the other. The corporation were at that time willing that the Crown should have the abstract right to the soil and bed of the river, provided that the City obtained the control of such part of the soil and hed as was necessary fur the efficient conservancy of the navigable stream ; the revenues arising from the river to be devoted to the improvement of the river itself and its banks. A charter was drawn up with the view of carrying out this arrangement, and I was put in coin munication with Sir William Page Wood, the then Solicitor-General, on the subject. The negotiations were, however, interrupted by the changes which took place in the Government, but the matter was brought under the consideration of the present Ministry. The Government was of opinion that no charter could be granted without the consent of Parliament, and without compensation being given to the land reve nues of the Crown. A correspondence is now goin, on on that subject, and the City has expressed its wil lingness to agree to a bill being introduced, as I am sure it would receive the sanction of Parliament. The matter has lately been referred to.the Hon. Charles Gore, one of the Commissioners of Public Works, and I have little doubt it will be brought to a satisfactory termination. The basis of the arrangement is that, if the corporation gives up its right to the soil and bed of the river, it shall be allowed to continue its full powers of conservancy as at present enjoyed and exercised. Mr. Charles Pearson, City solicitor, was next exa mined. He said—l have held my present office for fifteen years. The salary is 2,0001. a-year, subject to deductions for salaries of clerks, and all other office ex penses, which amount to 7001. a-year ; but then there are certain emoluments, in the shape of costs in actions, which I receive under act of Parliament, and which make up my net income to 1,7501. per annum. These emolu ments are variable in amount, but my average yearly salary from all sources is 1,750/. lam excluded from private practice as a solicitor by reason of my con nection with the corporation. My functions and duties are to advise the corporation and all its committees and commissions on any question of law, to conduct all its suits and prosecutions, and generally to advise on other matters, when specially called on for that purpose. I receive directions to institute or conduct suits from the Court of Common Council through a committee, and I am id constant com munication with such committee on all matters connected with the action. I am instructed to fay cases before counsel of the highest eminence—the At torney-General or the Solicitor-General and upon their advice suits are instituted. These cases are pre pared by me, and read to the committee before being submitted to counsel. There are legal members on the committee. The committee decides upon the general policy of entering into the suit, but the conduct of it is regulated by the advice of counsel. . The Chairman—Do you not think that there ought to be some one lawyer of eminence who should be generally responsible for the policy of commencing suits on the part of the corporation ? Mr. Pearson—l think the judgment of the committee is generally very good, and that the advice of their officers is generally very cautious, sound, and prudent ; and I do not know that they could escape from the difficulties in which they are sometimes placed by any other course which they could adopt. In the year 1833, when I was myself a member of the corpora. tion, and before I held my present office, I brought in and carried through the Common Council a bill to gradually reduce and ultimately abolish the fellowship of porters, if the exigencies of trade required it, with out allowing them to acquire any claim to compen sation. That act has been carried into effect ever since that period ; 3,500 porters were admitted under this arrangement; and the number with whom it is necessary to deal on the subject of compensation has now been reduced to between 600 and 700. Messrs. Combe and Delafield refused to employ the porters. whereupon the porters commenced an action in 1835 against those gentlemen, and asked the corporation to consent to allow them to use its name in the suit. The corporati on consented, and the defendants filed a bill o f discovery, requiring the corporation to produce its docu ments. The corporation having made its answer to this bill of discovery, the Messrs. Combe and Delafield ob tained something from that answer which led them to ask for a still further discovery, and they accordingly amended their bill so as to make it more comprehensive. ' It is a frequent practice for one art to to a suit, w hen be h a s succeeded ;n dr aw i ng out something from the answer of his antagonists, to mak e t h at disclosure the ground for attempting to draw out still further information as to the adversary's case ; and the effect of amending a bill of discovery implies that the previous bill was not sufficiently comprehensive. The Messrs. Combe and Delafield went on filing successive bills of discovery, and the corporation put in answers to them. In 1839, the corporation, on its own sccount, also commenced a sister suit against the Messrs. Combe and Co. for its metage dues. Lord Abinger decided that the corporation was not bound to produce its documents ; but Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce decided that it was so bound. The corporation, therefore, appealed to the Lord Chancellor (Lord Lyndhurst) in January, 1843, and the Lord Chancellor, after taking three years to consider his judgment, in January, 1846, pronounced a decision simply affirming the decision Or Vice-Chancello r Knight Bi uce, without assigning any reasons for his judgment. After this the corp ora tion were advised by ' Sir Richa r d B et h ell to carry this judgment up to the House of Lords fur revision, and there it now remains. The following was a statement of the reasons on which the Solicitor-General based his advice to the) corpora tion to appeal to the House of Lords : " THE MAYOR, &C., OF LONDON, &C., AS APPELLANTS— COMBS AND ANOTHER RESPONDENTS. " REASONS. " First.—Because the principle upon which a court of equity gives a plaintiff who files a bill of discovery au in spection of the documents admitted by the defendant's answer to be in his possession requires the plaintiff to state in his bill that such documents are material to prove the case which he has made in his bill, and an admission by the defendent that such documents do relate to the case so stated in the bill ; but in the present case no such state ment is made by the bill of the respondents, nor can any such admission be found in the answers of the appellants. " Second.—Because a plaintiff in equity, in a discovery suit, is not entitled to inspect documents in the defend ant's possession, merely upon the ground that they may possibly, upon inspection, be found to aid his defence, by discovering some defect in the title of his adversary; which ground, however, is the foundation of the order appealed from. " Third.—Because it plainly appears, as the appellants submit, upon the bill of the respondents, that such bill has not been filed for the purpose of obtaining proof of any substantive defence, but rather in the hope of finding defects in the title of the appellants, the corporation of London. Fourth—Because (except in cases where the plaintiff has a direct interest, by virtue of some trust or contract, in the documents in a defendant's possession) the plaintiff must show, from the admissions in the answer, that he could require the defendant to set out the admitted docu ments ; he must prove, from the answer affirmatively, his title to the discovery, and cannot claim production on the ground that th'e answer does not disprove his interest in the documents, or does not negative the possibility of his hav ing an interest in them. "Fifth.—Because the documents mentioned or referred to in the order of the 9th day of June, 1842, are the evi dence, on material parts of the evidence, for the appellants, the Corporation of London, of the existence of their right of metage, and of its exercise for centuries past. " Sixth.—Because the order appealed from, if unre versed, is an authority for the position that a defendant may file a bill of discovery and compel his opponen to produce the whole of the documentary evidence on which he relies, unless such opponent pledges his oath that no part of such documentary evidence can in any manner tend to sustain the opposition to.his demand which it is conceived greatly exceeds the just limits of the right to discovery in equity, and will be most prejudicial by en couraging parties to contest rights founded on long estab lished usage, in the hope or upon tho speculation that some latent objection may be discovered by which, upon technical grounds, such rights may be defeated. RICHARD BETHELL. " HENRY RANDELL." It should be remembered that these disputes commenced eighteen years ago, when the profession was more dis posed to encourage litigation than it is at present ; and the corporation has now arrived at a period when, in accordance with the advancing spirit of the age, it would not attempt to enforce its right in a case like this. I dare say the Messrs. Combe and Co. are perfectly satis fied at the matter having been hung over as it has been, as if the case had been decided against them they would have had to pay metage dues to the amount of 700/. or 800/. a year ; whilst, on the other hand, the corporation could only obtain the assertion of a barren right which it would probably not seek to exercise. The triumph of the corporation would therefore be a very fruitless one, and I dare say if any one would now enter a stet pro cesses, both parties would be very well satisfied. The town clerk has already informed you that the corpora tion has been in negotiation with the corn trade, and intends, with their concurrence, next session to introduce a bill into Parliament to place the metage dues upon a inew basis. The witness then described the origin of the suit between the Crown and the corporation as to the right to the soil and bed of the river. He said that the corporation had had the river inspected by eminent engineers, whose report recommended certain important improvements, and particularly the removal of the shoals. The plan, it was estimated, would cost 60,000/. in its execution, and the corporation was about to re move the shoals, when Mr. Leigh Pemberton, solicitor to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, applied to the City for a copy of the engineer's report—a step which was shortly afterwards followed by the filing of an infor mation on the part of the Crown, with the view of taking away from the corporation, not the conservancy.. but the soil and bed of the river, as a source of profit.", This course of proceeding the corporation resisted. r• consider that the right of the City is grounded upon prescription, and is also recognised by charter. The charter of Richard 111. says that the City shall have preserved to it all its rights by land and by water. Now, the City could have no other rights by water except as connected with the Thames ; and we consider that this charter, in connection with contemporaneous history, must be construed as recognising the rights which the corporation exercised over the Thames at the time the charter was granted. Then, again, the charter of Henry VI. recognises the right of the corporation to all the common soil in the city of London, and in the water of the Thames within the franchise of the City. Now, contemporaneous history, and the records in the City repertories, show that the franchise of the City extended from Yantlet Creek to Staines, being represented in the immemorial conservancy. I hold that the City is morally, and perhaps legally, bound to apply the revenues derived from the soil and bed of the river to the improvement of the river ; and such is the advice I have always given to the corporation. I think the interests of the City and the interests of the rest of the metropolis are inseparable and identical. I cannot conceive any conflict arising between the interests of the City and those of the rest of the metro polis. When the revenues of the City are applied to street improvements, they are applied for the benefit not only of the City, but for the convenience of the 200,000 persons residing outside of its limits, who come into it every day for business purposes. The various plans for street improvements now contemplated by the corpora tion, for the general accommodation of the metropolitan public, will require an outlay of about two millions. The growing' feeling of the corporation is not what it formerly used to be, when the motto was, " The City for the citizens ;" but it now is " The City for the world." Mr. C. Lewis—ln deciding on the opposition to be offered to a bill in Parliament, would the City take an enlarged view of the general interests of the metropolis, or would it specially consider the interests of its con stituents and of the members of the Common Council ? Mr. Pearson—l think the corporation would consider its first duty to be to its constituents ; but it would not permit that to operate to an extent which would be pre judicial to other interests. 'With regard to the prosecu tions instituted by the corporation to induce parties to take up their freedom, the object of them was to in crease the number of the constituents, and not to pro duce revenue, and nothing could have been conducted in a more fair and kindly spirit than those proceedings, the end desired being simply to try a legal question. The Chairman—Are you aware of the case of Mr. Henry Gray, who stated before this commission that he prosecuted a gang of swindlers carrying on business in the city of London, and succeeded in obtaining a con viction against them ; and that having been involved in very heavy expenses in the prosecution, he applied to the corporation for a portion of the estreats of one of the prisoners, who had absconded, but the corporation refused to accede to his application ? ' • Mr. Pearson—l have road that statement. The fact is that 100 years ago these estreats were carried over to the sheriffs as a part of their income, and that practice still continues. lam sure that, during the last 10 years, the sheriffs have not derived, on an average, so much as 1001. a-year from this source. The Chairman—But the prosecution having been undertaken by Mr. Gray, for public benefit, the expense of it to a poor man was very onerous, and was it not a great hardship to refuse him a portion of the estreats ? Mr. Pearson—Many things a hundred years old would now be considered a hardship ; but I believe the corpo ration would not wish to retain them in the present day. The Chairman—Yes, but the City maintains this Practice at present, and has already disposed of the case by refusing Mr. Gray's claim. Mr. Pearson—l have no doubt that may be so. There • was a subscription raised to defray Mr. Gray's costs, to which the corporation gave 501. out of its own funds ; and while the estreats belonged to the sheriffs, the corpo ration could not very well have handed a part of them to Mr. Gray. I may mention, however, that a committee has been sitting on the sheriffs' allowances, and I believe it is contemplated to g iv e th e s h er iff s a fixed money pay ment, instead of leaving them to depend on such casual sources. With regardlto Billingsgate-market, Ido not consider the rent and etallage dues levied in the market by the corporation at all inconsistent with the provisions of the act of Parliament declaring that Billingsgate shall be a free market. The City levies its rents by prescrip tion, and my advice to the corporation has been, that although it has laid out 30,0001. on the improvement of the market, it should not increase the rents and stal lage to an extent that would repay this outlay. As City Solicitor, I often perform the duties of a public prose cutor in the City, and great benefit has resulted from that proceeding. It is my duty to defend actions brought against individual aldermen for supposed ille gality in the discharge of their duty. If I receive an order from a single alderman, I feel that that authorises me to commence proceedings, but if the case is one that admits of delay, I report the matter to the Court of Al dermen and wait for instructions. This practice may be ob jectionable in the abstract, as being liable to abuse ; but I do not believe that there has been any abuse. I consider the aldermen have acted as a body with great impartiality —and I have not known any case in which they have been influenced to prosecute by political considerations. The Right lion. J. Stuart Wortley here said that he wished to state that during the three years that he had held the office of Recorder of London various instances had come before him in which prosecutions had been in stituted by the aldermen ; and he could bear out the testimony of the City Solicitor thus far, that in no single case had he known a prosecution to be commenced by the aldermen which was of a political character. Every case which had come before him had been one in which it was greatly for the benefit of the public that it should have been taken up by the City magistrates ; and, in fact, their taking up these cases prevented the possibi lity of collusion, and caused a vigorous prosecution to be instituted where, - from the poverty of the parties, or from the off en d ers m i ght have b een sufferedrthe (Mr. W or tl ey ) h a d b een as k e d commissioners ire with regard to the co nduct of the a bench, and he mi g h t t h erefore take that b r lyd l etnee th n e tor on circumstances,e thec ap e . opportunity of saying, with regard to the general exer cise of the aldermen's magisterial functions, that as far as a criminal judge could form his opinion from the cases which came before him, the decisions of the City magistrates would bear an advantageous comparison with the decisions of any other class of magistrates, and prove that they performed their duties with great ad vantage to the public. The commissioners then adjourned the inquiry till to-day. METROPOLITAN AND GENERAL FREE HOLD LAND SOCIETY. Last night, the second annual meeting of the share holders in the Metropolitan and General Freehold Land Society was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate street. On the motion of Mr. BODDY, seconded by Mr. ASH WELL, the chair was taken by H. B. Sheridan, Esq., one of the directors of the Times Fire Insurance Company. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the evening, said the first thing to be done was to call upon the secretary to read the report. Mr. WHITE, the secretary, then read the report, as follows " Your committee have much pleasure iu laying before you the second annual report of their proceedings. They feel the highest gratification in adverting to the extensive nature of the operations of this society during the past year—to the pro-eminent success and approbation that have attended those operations—to the steady and certain progress of the society—and to its present highly satisfac tory and promising position. During the past year your committee have worked oat two large estates, thereby offering to allottees property of the value of 18,0001., six teen thousand pounds worth of such property having been taken up by them with the greatest readiness and avidity; and your committee consider themselves justified in taking this fact as conclusive evidence, that the estates so allotted were of the kind and character proposed to be obtained by this society, as best adapted to the requirements of the shareholders, and also, that the mode of working them out and allotting them, were both suit able and judicious, and in perfect harmony with their views. In referring to the progress of the Society, your Committee feel the greatest pleasure in stating that the share list has considerably more than doubled itself since the last annual meeting, and this not by any eccentric or uncertain impulse, but by a gradual and regular augmen tation, leading to the reasonable inference that it will prove both continual and permanent. Your committee state to you with the greatest confidence, that the Metropolitan and Genipral Freehold Land Society stands upon a firm and solid baTis—with no bad estate nor oppressive incumbrance to hamper it—but, it has two first class estates in hand ft :r allotment this year. It has carefully revised rules, suited to its enlarged capacity and growth, and the experience of the past two years to guide it. And your Committee, re ferring to the undeviating and energetic manner in which this society has pursued the " even tenor of its way," and the peaceful and respectful attention given by shareholders at all public meetings to its business, and consequently to their own interests, they venture to predict that the future of the Metropolitan and General Freehold Land Society must be brilliant indeed, and of such a nature as shall entitle it to the respect, consideration, and support of the com munity at large." The society has opened an account for the deposit of small sums at interest, and 1,2121. is. 7d. has been lodged in that department during the last few months. The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, you have heard the report, and as this meeting has assembled for a business purpose, we had better transact that business as expe ditiously as possible. He thought the statement just read would satisfy every shareholder that there had been great unanimity, vigour, and good sense in carrying out the proceedings of the past year to so satisfactory a con clusion. The society was greatly increasing ; indeed, he believed that institutions of this description were des tined to develop the giant resources of this great country. He had nothing further to address to them, but again begged to congratulate the meeting on the satisfactory position of the society, both in a commercial and finan cial point of view. Mr. HIND then rose, and said he had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report that had just been submitted to the meeting • and although on such an occasion as the present he feared he might be somewhat invading the privilege of those who, being in office, and by position, more fitted by ability, and better qualified to address so numerous a meeting ; yet he could not allow the present opportunity, or a statement like that they had had the pleasure to hear of the position of the Metropolitan and General Freehold Land Society, to go forth to the world unaccompanied with an expression of approval and commendation, as he was sure it justly deserved. He would be pardoned for con fining the few remarks he had to make to the subject in question, and to that alone, although there were many matters connected with the affairs of the society, and the great principles which it expressed, on which he could dwell with pleasure, and perhaps with profit. Ho had, therefore, only to point out to the meeting the successful sand rapidly improving position of the society, the division among its members of two beautiful estates—estates which he h - ad no hesitation in saying were equal, if not su perior, to anyyet pnrchased by any other society— aud the premiums that the fortunate possessors of allotments on them would realise, if they should feel disposed to sell them ; and without trespassing further upon their time and patience, he would not detain the meeting from the consummation of the duty and pleasure of adopting the report that had been submitted to them that evening. He would, therefore, 'move that the report, with the statement 3i.r. H of accounts u Til b a d gr ea just ad t pleasurer e ,be i n adopted. seconding the(el'e e (Cheers.) ) propo sition of Mr. Hind. The adoption of the report was then put to the meel ing and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said the next thing the shareholders had to do was the electing of the committee for the present year. - The balloting then commenced, and at its termination The CHAIRMAN said the scrutineers had now finished their labours; the whole of the committee of the past year had been re-elected, which he thought was but an act of justice, considering the great exertions they had made on behalf of the society. (Cheers.) He would call upon the secretary to read the names. The SECRETARY read the names of the gentlemen elected, viz., Messrs. Boddy, Buckle, Philps, Ashwell, Feltham, West, Richmond, Cook W., Cook F., Stratton, Mathieson, Cocks, Talbot, Kennard, Ponder, Lenard, Bousfield, 31`Kenzie, the old committee ; Messrs. Hind, Turner, Hunter, West, Easton, and Finch, new members. A vote of thanks having been given to the members of the late committee, Mr. PIMPS congratulated the meeting on the re-elec tion of the old committee. He felt sure that a more painstaking and hardworking body of gentlemen could not be found ; early and late, in season and out of season, had they been found at their posts. He had seen them up to their elbows in ink, and their knees in mud, /with but one object in view—the furthering the interests of the society. (Cheers.) He expected much benefit would arise from the infusion of the new blood, and if the efforts of the committee were but followed by the shareholders, the Metropolitan and General Freehold Land Society would stand without an equal. (Cheers.) A SHAREHOLDER, in very high terms, proposed a vote of thanks to their energetic and assiduous secretary, Mr. White. Mr. PHILPS bad very great pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr.IVEtITE returned thanks, and said he felt extremely flattered at the compliment that had been paid to him. All he could say in return was that his utmost exertions and endeavours would be directed towards the extension of the society. (Cheers.) Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the pro ceedings, having been of the most harmonious nature, terminated. • THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RAILWAY SIGNALS. Yesterday a number of gentlemen assembled at the London Tavern, at a private meeting, on the invitation of Messrs. Ogan and Goddard, a legal firm, who have an interest in Tyers' patent railway signals, to receive an explanation of the principles of the invention, and to witness some experiments by means of working models illustrative of its efficiency i n p reven ti ng the collision of trains, and to that extent decreasing the danger of rail way travelling. The Lord Mayor presided. From the explanation of Mr. Tyers, the inventor, it appears that the station signal, which is worked by means of the electro-magnets, the wheels of the engine or train as they pass over the line at a given point- say the entrance to a station—pressing upon a treddle, which, uniting under ground with a coil or line of copper wire, completes the voltaic current, and, acting upon the indi cators at the last station passed and the nearest onward, one gives in the one case the notice "Line clear,"and in the other "A train on the line," at tbe same timestrikinga bell to call the attention of the person in charge. In con nection with this is another signal, also worked by a voltaic battery, for communicating with a train while in motion between stations. At a sufficient distance from the station, say one or two miles, parallel bars are laid down, which, by the pressure of the wheels while passing over them, are made, at the option of the person in charge at the station, the entrance to a tunnel, or other place where an impediment may arise, to complete an electric current between the point of danger and an indi ca t or fixed on the top of th e eng i ne of the train, warning the engine driver to shut off his steam, and by sounding the break whistle, which it does at the same instant, gives notice to the guard to put on the break. The expense of the station signals Mr. Tyers stated would not be more than from 501. to 701. per set, exclusive of the wire, and of the engine or train signals, about 101. or 12/. each. He also added that the former had been for some months in successful operation at one of the South- I Eastern station s , an d t h e ot h er upon one of th e eng i nes of the Brighton Company. CURRIERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. — The sixth anni versary dinner in aid of the above charitable institution was . held yesterday, at the London Tavern, Mr. Alder man and Sheriff Wire presiding. The dinner was very fully attended, and the subscriptions showed a gratify ing increase. The chairman, in proposing the t oas t o f the evening, e l oquent l y trace d the progress of the insti tution to its present flourishing condition. The object of the society was to give pensions to the aged or de cayed members of the curriers' trade, and to build an asylum as soon as the accumulation of the funds per mitted. Last year they had added 1501. to the funds, and had elected three pensioners. But there was still much to be done, and there was at present ou th e i r book an applicant who was nearly 90 years old. H e trusted, therefore, that there would be norslackening in the exertions of the subscribers. A collection was then made, which added nearly 2001. to the funds of the clarity. [ADVERTISEMENT. }—A LIEUTENANT OF DRAGOONS CURED OF RHEUMATISM BY HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS. —This officer, who is in the Dutch army, states that Holloway's Pills and Ointment have cured him of rheumatism, which appeared to be incurable, as neither sea-bathing, vapour-baths, nor preparations vaunted as sure remedies, did him any good, and the treatment of the doctor, after several months' trial, was without suc cess. At thi s j unc t ure h e commence d t a ki ng these Pills. and rubbin g th e Oi n t men t i nto t h e complaining parts twice a day, which effectually cured him in the course of six weeks. The truth of this statement can be vouched for by Mr. J. B. Stratman, of Bois-le-Duc.—Sold by all drug. Sfists ; and a t P ro f essor H olloway ' s esta bli shment, 2i4, trand, Loudon. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. LIVERPOOL SPRING MEETING. WEIGHTS for the GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. About four miles. 62 subs. Forfeits to be declared on or before Feb. 7. Age st lb Sir Peter Laurie a 12 5 Peter Simple a 12 0 Bourton Oscar Miss Mowbray The Colonel Vai n hope Lord George a 11 4 Sir John a 11 2 Peter Half-and-Half a 10 8 Abd-el-Kader a 10 6 The Marquis The Nugget Lobster (h b) Bedford (h b) a 10 4 Jumpaway 6 10 4 Beware (11 b) 6 10 4 Clansman Frederick Simple Peter a 10 2 Victress La Gazza Ladra... a 10 0 Tom of Tuam ... 6 10 0 Daphne Lady Arthur a 9 10 Maurice Daley Bullfincher a 9 10 Maley a 9 10 Star of England a 9 10 Spring 6 9 10 Napoleon 11. 5 9 10 Age st lb Tomboy • a 9 10 Garforth a 9 10 Maria Day a 9 10 Geraldus Mountain Maid a 9 8 Pride of the North a 9 8 Cockcrow Kilquade Labyrinth Columbine ...... 6 9 7 Forest Lad a 9 6 Timothy a 9 6 The Dodger (h b) a 9 6 Everton Calmar Robin Hood The Prince 's 9 4 Comeaway 6 9 4 Royalty Squire of Malton a 9 4 Crabbs Little Charley Old Rake Trout g by Algar, dam by Wanderer Luck's All a 9 0 Chester g by Faugh-a- Ballagh (h b) Burnt Sienna a 8 12 Pone) , a 8 10 LEWES RACES. Mr. Topham is become the lessee of the Lewes Race Course. Under his able management the annual meet ings at Lewes will doubtless be among the most attrac tive and successful in the Home Circuit. immolli.v.o 4 &%-... RACING FIXTURES FOR 1854. The Jockey Club having determined to commence their season on Easter Monday (April 17), the princi pal meetings—supposing the usual arrangements are ob served—will stand as under. Should the stewards, in any instance, determine to vary the fixture, it will be advisable, as a guide to others, to give us immediate notice : FEBRUARY. Newton Spring 2 Derby Spring 8 MA Lincoln Spring 14 Nottingham Spring 21 CH. Warwick Spring 21 Catterick Northampton 29 Abergavenny 30 Liverpool Spring 1 Doncaster Spring 7 Salisbury 14 Coventry Spring AP: Croxton Park 4 Epsom Spring 6 Cheltenham Spring 12 Newmarket Craven 17 M. Newmarket F S Chester Spring 9 Lothians & Edinburgh 11 Newmarket S S lB Shrewsbury lB JU: tIL. Catterick Bridge 19 Abergavenny 2O York Spring 25 Malton 27 .Y. Manchester Ascot Heath 13 Newcastle-on-Tyne 2O Hampton 2l Carlisle • 26 YU Newmarket Worcester. Lancaster . Mansfield Liverpool Ipswich I Lothians and EdinburghlB Lewes l9 Bath 23 I Liverpool Hunt Spring 24 Epsom 30 NE. Bibury 2B Stockbridge 29 Ludlow 30 Winchester 3O Brighton Brighton Club.. Wolverhampton Yarmouth Reading Odiham North Staffordshire Wolverhampton ...12 ...13 AII( Warwick Lichfield Western Meeting 7 Rochester and Chatham 7 Doncaster 12 Pontefract 18 Chester Autumn 3 Yorkshire Union Hunt 5 Wrexham 5 Newmarket S 0 9 NOVE Epsom Autumn - 2 Closing prices : Stourbridge l7 Stamford 18 Nottingham ..20 Goodwood 25 Ripon 31 UST. Egham 22 York Hereford 24 Eccles Chelmsford Derby 29 Plymouth 30 Lincoln 31 MBER. Bedford 19 Leicester 2O Manchester Autumn 2l Lanark 25 Newmarket F 0 26 Northallerton 2B IBER. Warwick Autumn 17 Caledonian Hunt 17 Newmarket H 23 Worcester Autumn 31 FIBER. .. 9 ..14 SEPTE: OCTI Cowbridge Hunt 8 STEEPLECHASES TO COME. FEBRUARY. Newton (1) Derby (2) 8 Carmarthenshire 2l MARCH. Liverpool (1) 1 1 Birmingham 27 Beverley (1) 10 APRIL. Liverpool Hunt Club Cheltenham lB (Hoylake) (2) 8 1 Rothbury l9 NOVEMBER Cowbridge Hunt RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. FORTH AND CLYDE JUNCTION. The ceremony of cutting the first sod on this line was performed on Thursday by the Duke of Montrose, chair man of the company, in Cowan's Hospital Park, at Stirling. The weather was very inauspicious, it having snowed during the whole course of the proceedings, which were made as short as possible. Several Scottish railway directors attended, representing nearly all the railway boards in Scotland. Immediately after the ceremony, the party (120 in number) adjourned to the Golden Lion Hotel, where an excellent luncheon was prepared. The Duke of Montrose presided. The usual loyal and other toasts were given and responded to, in cluding " Prosperity and Success to the Forth and Clyde Railway." It was stated that the line would be executed at a cost averaging 5,000/. per mile, and would have at one end of Dumbarton, which communicated with other lines, and at the other end the rising town of Stirling —the Forth on one hand and the Clyde on the other. It would give easy access to Loch Lomond and other interesting places. The line would be completed for traffic in the summer of 1855. The whole of the proceedings terminated in a very satisfactory manner. CALEDONIAN. This company's Parliamentary estimate for their Les mahagow branches, relinquishment of works, and ar rangement of share and loan capital is certified at 125,0001. CARLISLE AND SILLOTH BAY RAILWAY AND DOCKS The estimated expense reported to Parliament for con structing the railway portion of this scheme, including land and contingencies, is 65,000/., and the estimated cost of the docks, jetty, and works, 70,0001. ; making, together, 135,0001. WAVENEY VALLEY. It appears that the committee, appointed some time ago. at Harleston, to obtain subscriptions to the amount of 12,0001. from local parties interested in the construc tion of the line from Twetsball to Harleston, have not as yet succeeded in obtaining the sum required to enable the contractors to proceed with their works. The com mittee have been requested to continue their labours in the hope of ultimate success. EAST LANCASHIRE. The arbitrator between this company and their con tractor has awarded to the latter 28,2101,, subject to the opinion of the Court as to whether the contractor is entitled to 10 per cent. over his schedule prices. SOUTH WALES. The assessment of the portion of this line in Newport has just been reduced by the magistrates from 400/. to 280/, NEWRY AND ENNISKILLEN. Arrangements for opening this short line of three miles and a half in length, in connection with the Dublin and Balfast Junction Railway, have, it appears, been made, and are to be immediately carried into effect by opening the line for public traffic from the quays of Newry to the junction of the Belfast line at Goragh-wood. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON AND 8013TH-EASTERN — RATLWAY. — Trnffie re turn for the week ending Jan. 14,1854, 215,755 11 3 Corresponding week last year 13,751 3 0 Increase in 1854.. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.— Traffic return for the week ending Jan. 14, 1854 £9,061 .2 6 Corresponding week last year 8,550 6 4 Total of the half-year to this date, 1854 17,155 13 2 Total of the half-year to this date, 1853 17,291 10 4 THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Jan. 8, 1854 £11,040 16 9 Corresponding week last year 12,507 13 3 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE R AILWAY. —Traffic re turn for the week ending Jan. 15, 1851 114,576 7 4 year Corresponding week last CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RA ILWAY. —Traffic return for the wee's. ending Jan. 15, 1854 C orrespon di ng wee k l as t y ear ... , 2,993 6 11 £2,004 8 3 --- Inereaule in 1854 .............................. £48215 3 CORK AND BANDON RAIL WAY. —Traffic return for the wee k en ding Jan. 14, 1.854 .......................... £l7B 19 7 Corresponding week lati year 142, 14 4 HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK. (Front the Registrar-General's Report.) The Registrar-General's report states that although the extreme rigour of the weather w hi c h us h ered i n the year with its frost and snow has abated, its effects con tinue to be manifested, and even increase, in the bills of mortality. In the week that ended last Saturday, the number of deaths in London rose to 1,492 ; in the pre vious week it had been 1,444. In the 10 corresponding weeks of 1844-53, the average number was 1,147, which, with a correction for increase of population, becomes 1,262. The present excess above the calculated amount is 230. The number of cases attributed to diseases of the re spiratory organs is 365, while the estimated number is 296. These are distributed thus : 13 belong to laryn gitis and laryngismus stridulas, 184 to bronchitis, 114 to pneumonia 54 to asthma and other diseases of this class. Besides these, hooping cough destroyed 73 lives, phthisis 161. 12 fatal cases aro enumerated of smallpox, which seems again to be spreading. Two cases of cholera are recorded, neither apparently of the malignant type ; they are : Rensington ; Kensington Town.—At High-street, Notting-hill, on 12th January, the son of a schoolmaster, aged 11 months, "cholera infantum (4 days)." • Stepney ; Radcliff.—At 9, Periwinkle-street, on 10th January, the daughter of a blacksmith, 3 years, " cho leraic diarrhma (7 days)." In the sub-district of St. George, Bloomsbury, at 21, Colonnade, on 11th January, th e w if e o f a t eac h er o f music, aged 47 years, died from "effusion on the brain and exhaustion, accelerated by large collection of mat ter round the neck, mainly caused by want of food and comfort." Mr. Yardley, the Registrar, says :—" I have referred this case to the coroner's officer for inquiry touching the latter portion of the surgeon's certificate." Four persons died of intemperance. In the west sub-district of Islington, at 1, Gainford street, on Bth January, the son and daughter of a whitesmith, aged respectively two years and ten months, died of scarlatina. Mr, Watts, the Regis trar, remarks :—" The deaths of three other chil dren of the same family were registered last week from the same disease. The cottage in which the family lives has a southern aspect, but having no opening at the back for ventilation, an unwholesome effluvium is emitted as from a confined drain. The two preceding occupants had fatal cases of fever, and the state of the premises was the subject of complaint with them." In North-street,. Wandsworth, on 6th January, the daughter of an appraiser, aged 22 years, died of " furun cular abscesses and exhaustion (2 months)." In the Workhouse, Camberwell, on 7th January, a woman, aged 73 years, died of "carbuncle." In St. Thomas's Hospital, on 4th January, a painter, aged 42 years, " carbuncle and diseased liver." At 1, Craven street, on 12th January, a banker's clerk, aged 36 years, " cerebral disease (one year), cata lepsy." .• 'At Islington, the daughter of a greengrocer, aged 5 weeks, "erysipelas (5 days)." From a wound in the axilla caused by the funis being coiled three times round the neck, and round each arm-pit at the birth. In the workhouse, Bermondsey, on 13th January, the widow of a labourer, died of "natural decay," at the great age, as reported, of 103 years. In the Belgrave sub-district, in Whitaker-street, on 11th January, the daughter of a shoemaker, deceased, aged three years, died of " confluent small-pox (three weeks) ; never vaccinated." Mr. Jorden, the registrar, adds :—" The father of this child, on his death, had ex acted a promise from his wife that she would not have the two younger children vaccinated, in consequence of one of the elder suffering St. Vitus's dance after vacci nation, which they attributed to the operation." Mr. Yardley, Registrar of St. George, Bloomsbury, writes—"A woman came to my office, from No. 4, Chapel-place, Little Coram-street, to register the birth of her infant, which she brought with her, and stated that two of her children were very ill with small pox at home. She thought from the appearance which the child in her arms had about the nose and mouth that he also had caught the disease. I trust the medi cal officer belonging to the parish, who is, I believe, very prompt in taking measures to prevent contagion, will visit this place, as this and the adjoining courts are very crowded. A man came a day or two since to re gister a birth from No. 12, Marchmont place, and told me that he lived with his wife and four children, be sides the infant, in the back kitchen, which cannot be more than eight or nine feet square. In the front kitchen live another man with his wife and two or three children ; he could not tell how many lived up stairs, but believe there was a separate family in every room. I have not visited the house, but probably it would be right for the Inspector of Lodging Houses to look to it." Last week the births of 893 boys and 875 girls, in all 1,768 children, were registered in London. In the nine corresponding weeks of the years 1845-53 the average number was 1,411. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.426 in. The reading of the barometer decreased from 29.81 in. at the beginning of the week to 29.78 in. by 9 h. p.m. on the 11th ; decreased to 29.50 in, by 9h. p.m. on the 13th, and increased to 29.64 in. by the end of the week. The mean temperature was 37.5 deg., which is 2.3 deg. above the average of the same week in 38 years. On Sunday, the Bth, the mean temperature was 41.8 deg., which is 6.9 deg. above the average of the same day. It was on other days rather above the average, except Wednesday, when it was 24.9 deg., which is slightly below it. The highest temperature was 47.9 deg., and occurred on Sunday. The dew-point temperature was 34.4 deg. The temperature of the Thames rose to 36 deg. at the end of the week. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JAN. 14 Zyrnotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses—. l7l Diseases of the Heart and Biood-vessels 7l Diseases of the;,: Lungs and other Organs of Respiration ~ 365 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations Premature Birth and Debility Atrophy Old Age Sudden . 80 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 3O Causes not specified DEATHS FROU ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in corre- Deaths Enumerate& sponding week in the Ittf,l. of IS' , 3. Week. West Districts '. 376,427 North Districts 490,396 Central Districts 393,256 East Districts 485,522 ~ 208 South Districts Totals Males Females 965 _ 1,492 758 734 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females.. Total . 1,768 CONFESSION OF MURDER BY .I 1 SOLDIER. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 17.—1 t will be remembered that, about three weeks since, a private soldier of the 50th Regiment, named Benjamin M'Donald, who had been apprehended for desertion, stated that he had murdered a woman named Thomas, who had fol lowed the regiment from Preston, on Roborough Down, between this town and Tavistock. Since then the military authorities have flogged the man for deser tion, and he has been too ill to bo removed to point out the pond into which ho says he threw the dead body. Some suspicion was thrown upon the circumstances de tailed by M'Donald, but it appears that he had pre viously related the whole of the facts to a constable at Launceston, yet no notice of them was taken, pro bably because the county allows no expenses to the con stables for the prosecution of such inquiries. On Thursday last the prisoner made another statement to the chaplain of the forces here, the Rev. G. W. Lang maid, in which he said that he bad also murdered a step brother. Tho chaplain went to Mr. 'Gifford, the super intendent of the Devonport police, and that official having returned to the military prison, the prisoner made the following confession : " After the death of my father, my mother married a man named Lambert Heaton, a small farmer residing in the parish of Heaton, about two miles from Bol ton, Lancashire. Mr. Heaton at that time was a widower, and had an only boy, named John Heaton, who was about fourteen years of age. About seven weeks after my mother married Lambert Heaton, a great disturbance took place between my father and mother about me. He took a dislike to me. I was at that time about fifteen years of age. Shortly after this my mother gave my step-brother butte on his bread, and would not give me any. She continued to do this, and it gave quietness to Lambert Heaton. About this . time John Heaton was taken ill with a cold. In consequence of my step-brother being allowed butter on his bread and I none I formed a dislike to him. Whilst he was ill I was working at a rope-walk on Bolton-moor, in the employ of a Mr. Riley. I one day told my mother that I was poorly, and could not go to work, and I remained at home. On the same day my mother went down the street to buy some vegetables. She at that time told me I might warm some milk on the fire for Johnny. During the time of her absence I took the milk down to the cellar. The milk was in a little tin ean. There was some poison in the cellar kept for poi soning rats, some of which I took and mixed with the milk. Afterwards I put it into a jug and gave it to my step-brother, who drank it. About two hours a ft erwards my brother, John Heaton, complained of sickness. He got worse, and about two or three days afterwards he died. (Witness) „ BoBER T GIFFORD, CrishioenfeorfiPnotlhiceep.'r'e. This confession was sig ned b y the P !Fence of the chief of police and the chief warden. Mr. Giffard has received notice from Brigade -Major Wetherall that the prisoner will be in a condition to • be taken 'out to Roborough Down on Thursday morn ing, at seven o'clock, when he will be accompanied by a military escort, to search for the body. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. CUSTOM HOUSE, Jr.A 18. ENTERED Invamo.—The Highland Mary, from Que bec ; James and Emma, Dunkirk ; Andrea, Gothenburg Aglae, Caen ; Sylvia, Carthagen a ; Queen Esther, Girgenti ; Jean Baptiste and Marie, Santander ; Furet, Gravelines ; Louisa, Gothenburg ; Vivid, Terceira ; Thetis, Calcutta ; Bellona., Smyrna. ENTERED ✓ OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The James and Emma, for Dunkirk ; Koh•i-noor, Port Philip; Belfast, Africa ; Celestial, Shanghae ; Queen Esther, Antigua ; Sigisbert Cezara, Port Philip ; Giffrard, San Francisco. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO The Nightingale, for Boston ; Hindostan, Adelaide ; Ellen Rawson, Cape of Good Hope ; Navigator, Barbadoes ; Prima Donna, Cape Coast Castle; Margaret, Gibraltar. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 18. The John o'Gaunt ashore at Holyhead has disappeared. He cargo has been washed out to sea, and. nothing but a few spars has been driven on shore. All the passengers were saved. The Elena, from Laguna, at this port, sailed Nov. 28. The Enterprise sailed for England on the 19th Novem ber. She left at Laguna the barque Crichton, the brigs John Murray and Mary Ismay, and the schooner Chimera. The Argus, from New Glasgow, has been towed round to this port, from Beaumaris, making much water, by the Fairy (s.) _ _ The Pacific (IT.S.M.S.), at this port, from New York, with 62 passengers and 272,222 doll. in specie. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.' The Caroline, from Callao to Cork, Dec. 5, lat. 18 S., long. 22 W. The Delta, from Lond on t o P or t Phi l i p, on the Equator, 12th, long. 26 W. Thy Eugenie, from London to Sydney, 22d Nov., lat. 3 N., long. 22 W. The Cliornom Liverpool to China, Nov. 10, lat. 24 S., long. 44 E. The Emilee Hill, Dec. 4, lat. 3N. long. 21 W. The Blorenge, for Port Philip, sth, lat. 5 N., long. 211 W. The Bonita, standing to the southward, 11th, lat. 9, long. 24 W. The Java, from London to Melbourne, Nov. 29, lat. 7 N., long. 24 W. COUNTRY MAPKETS EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET JANUARY 17. There was a large supply of straw of all descriptions in the market. The prices were as follow : Oat straw, from 7s Oct to 9s Od per kemple of 16 stones tron ; wheat do., 7s Od to 8s Oci ; barley do., 5s Od to 6s Od. Hay from 10d to 12d ; new ditto, Oci to Od per stone. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 17. There were in the market to-day, 24 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801bs imperial, which sold thus :-18 at 2/. 100, 6 at 2/. 8s Od, and 0 at 0/. Os. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 16. There were in the market to-day 119 bags of oatmeal, and 2of pot-barley. Sales quick. The top price of oat meal was 4s up ; second, 4s dup ; and third 3s up from last market. Pot-barley the same on the top price as last market. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. I Second. Third. imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, per ditto —s Od —s Od —s Oa Pot-barley, per ditto LEEDS, JAN. 17. Millers seemed disposed to wait the expected arrivals, and therefore operate very sparingly. On the extreme prices for wheat—which, in consequence of the frost, have been obtained—there is a decline of fully 3s per qr. from the rates of Friday, and old is 2s per qr. lower, but holders do not press sales. Barley has declined 2s per qr. Oats and beans steady. Other articles as before. COAL MAR Prices of Coal per ton at MT.—JAN. 18. ho close of the market : s. c. s. d. Kilgetty Stone 43 ) Watney's Anthracite ... 38 0 l2orgau's Stone 3B ) Ships at market 3 I Sold 3. There having been no arrival of holm coals, the only business transacted was amongst the merchants, at a con siderable advance upon the last quotations. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 18. STOCK EXCHANGE. --The markt)) has been flat all day without much business doing, at almit the reduced rates of yesterday. Aberdeen, 10 ; Caled(nian, X 63 ; East Lan cashire, 151 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 63f ; London and North-Western, 101 i ; Midland, 61g North British, 7 ; South Eastern and Dovar, 17i; Steffield, Rotherham, and Goole, N.D., 22k. MANCHESTER, JAN.IB. STOCK EKCHANGE.—There was not much business, and the market was rather weaker. Blackburns, 54 ; boyars, 17 13-16 ; Leeds, 63i ; Caledonians, 264 ; Cheshire 3-unc tion, 100. ; London One-Eighths, 6d. ; North British, 7i. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 18. STOCK ExonANGE.—There was' :very little change in this market to-day, and in fact very little doing. London and North-Westerns closed 1021 ; Midlands (buyers), at 61i ; Shrewsbury and Birminghams, 57k. LEEDS, JAN. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The upward tendency in the share market has continued this morning, and shares close very firm. The chief transactions have been in Midlands, which closed at 644 ; and Lancashire and Yorkshires, at 63i. DUBLIN, JAN. 17. STOCK EXCHANGE.—BeIfast and Ballymena., 501. paid, 424 on Monday ; Dublin and Belfast Junction, 451. paid, 45, 44i : Dublin and Wicklow, 61. paid, 3 ; Dundalk and Enniskillen, 301. paid, 12i ; Great Southern mad Western, 501. paid, 501 ; Midland Great Western Railway and Canal, 501. paid, 48. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office by the night—and M by the morning —dispatch.] Day when rn ad eup From what When COUNTRIES. In General Post- Port due in Office, London.* Dispatched. England. America(byßrlt.pack)N Every Friday .... Liverpool ... Each Mon America (by United Sts. packet) ..........N : Jan. 15 Liverpool ... Arrived America (by U. Statesj packet) ..........NJan. 17 .. ........ Southampto Australia (via South ampton) ..........M'Jan. 20 .....• Southampth Feb. 4 Ditto (via 'Marseilles) N Jan. 8.. Dover ...... Ditto (via Cape of Good; Hope) . .. ....N,Feb. 4 Africa ( West Coast) N "!3cl of the month .. Plymouth .. ; Arrived Alexandria.......... NlB, 0 , 24, & 30 of m. iDover ...... 74m. 16 Alexandria & 20th of mon. Southampton 'Tan. 20 Bahamas 17th of the month Southampton I ,J'an. 16 Belgium .. N! /ally Dover tally Brazil ..M l 9th at the month.. Southampton 'Jan. 16 Buenos Ayres ........M,9th of the month.. Southampton 'Jan. 16 Cape of Good Hone ...Nll4th of the month Plymouth ...Arrived Cape of Good Hope ..N 14th of the month. Southampton% Cape de Verds ...N ; 9 th of th e month.. Plymouth ...IJan.'l6 Ceylon (see India) Ceylon ..............N ,'l4th of the month Plymouth 1 Channel Isles ........N i Mon ~Wed.,&Frlel. southamptott Tu.Th.Sat. Chili • ....... M !2d & 17th of month Southampton ,Jan. 16 China (see India) Constantinople ......N17,8,17,21 , & 27 ofm, D over Jan. 10 Constantinople 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton Jan. 20 4:ont. of Europe 111 & NI Twice daily Dover ......ITwicalii,ly Egypt (see India) France &NI Twice daily.. .. Dover .......Twicedeily Gibraltar M 4,7, 17, 20, 27 of tn. Southampton'Jan. 16 Greece (see India . ) Greytown ..........M.2nd & 17th of mon. Southampton'Jan. 16 Hamhurgh & Friday'London Havannah M,2nd of the month Southatxtpton Feb. 1 Holland .. M I Dai1y....... ~ Dover • • IDaily Honduras M'l7tb of the month. Southampton Jan. 1r India (viaSouthampt.)m 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton 'Jan. 21 India (via Marsellles)M Bth& 21th of month I Dover • • .... lonia') Isles (see India) 7, 17, & 27 of mon 'Dover.. Ireland .... •. • .11,1 & N Twice daily I Ilolyfie u it i mi ce da y Lisbon.. • . • • ........M 7,9, 17, & 27 of in. Southampton Zan. 16 Madeira „ „, m 9th of the month Southampton Jan. 16 Madeira ........ „... N 23d of month !Plymouth .. ;Dec. 28 Malta (see Mauritius (see India) o Malta ............ ~..N1,17,19,`,7, 30 am. D ver . Van. 10 Mani Bus ........., N .I4th of the month ;Plymouth .. I Me: , „ ....... .34 2nd of the month., Southampton Feb. 1 Naples .. • „N sthlsth2sthormon.Dover :Jan. 12 New Granada „.I'2d & 17th of month,Southampton 'Jan. 16 New Zealand ,„ „, IBy private skip Papal States „ ~Nlsthlsth2sthotmon. Dover ...• • . Jan. 12 Peninsula „ V7thl7th2Bthofreon. Southampton Jan. 16 e n' .• .. . & `,47th of mon. Southampton Jan, 1p Port Natal.... .... N;l4th of the month Plymouth ; Sicil y •••• • • N .stlllsth2sthotmon, Dover „ • Tuscany N 5 thls th2Sthofmon. Dover • • Zan. 12 ja n. 12 Venezuela .. •• •. • 012 d& 17th of month Sout h ampton Join. 16 . Van Diemen's Lan i i ( sec ; Australia) . I West Indies ...,;;;,1112,73, 17th ol montyouthampton Jan. 16 So uthampton Jan. 16 • o d f thelv which will be dispat c h e d the When any of these dates i:1,10,1 ,4unday, the mails will '1 SO l s u p t at a c h ne h lvit Xceptien of the India via ipl on tt t o day preceding. n), ie 110 andfothawmillit Icy both BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 14th in3t., at 8, Claylands-road, Clapham, Mu. Z. Bomberger. n the 16th inst., at Woolwich-common, Mm. Howl Coo O per. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 16th inst., at Uxbridge, the wife of G. H. Mac namara, Esq., surgeon. On the 17th inst., at Fetcham Rectory, Lezwtherhead, the wife of the Rev. Edward Graham Moon. MARRIED. On the 11th inst., in the parish church of Bl ac kb urn , Willia m Perceral Elgee, Esq., late Captain in the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment, to Frances Parsons, elder daugh ter urnof Joseph E a l es , E sq ., o f Mill-hill House, near Black b. DIED. On the 16th inst.; Thomas Barnes, Esq., of Upper Park place, aged 67. On the 16th inst., at his residence, 41, Norfolk-square, Brighton, Mr. Williams, aged 75. On the 16th inst., in the 11th year of her age Emma Sophia, eldest daughte r o f M r. R. Leach, 13, America square. On the 36th inst., at No. 3, Ovington-square, Brompton, Daniel Ball, Esq., aged 74. On the 17th inst., in Beruers-street, Henry Esdaile, Esq., aged 53. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tice Sun Office, N o „112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county a Middlesex, T h ursday, January 19, UK _- I& . trEITRTY- 1 11. JOINT-Si the'Sharoll9l , 'ers, Princo-street, 11 1854, Alden FRANCIS BI William Blount, 11 Ald. Sir George C William Miller MI Alderman Sir Jam M. P. Philip William Flt George llolgatc Ft Francis Bennett G Win. Ormsby Go:, Tit Sou thepprr'lo present 0 1 t o efis : a v tperio l : n si 2 4,0001, of hell s 7,5401 . Os. undiN al s su annuni•; 34,0001. the fra. , lion al ref. It is with mite with the loss, 1, ShacTbolt, Esq., al had been in. the d both of them w( leagues. Notice has heel 0 0 thiS , eccasion, Ale. Am Jot 'IVil and that they of circumstances, h up only four of General Meeting to elect successo The Dividend 27th instant. The preceding Secretary, a Thy last, after the ra. 4d. per share of were declared by Re9olved unan and that it be pri The following Mangy re-electei Ald Arc Am Job Resolved unar • • be-simen to tb day, and for (hi , Resolved una given to ( jto „ half of .he 13:11 • Vi XPOR: I 4 4 DIES, C For terms appl3 LAIIRE (Lessee, The above and will con' CELE RATE I Dancing to cot R. A: i n ei EVERYEVE Tuesday, Thur: 'which can be t ; gallery, 13 Y.A.L 41 CID idoblo•,nen ar nual S , ,tbseripti , inehriles the en ROYAL P XAGNIFICE pressly for th on a surfav NEW SERI] Four, and in LECTURES b 3 ITNIVE RSA LECTURE by TION, with Open Morn! Children undo' p TING. A dre Adelaide-strec renowned HUI Such Intense in programme is ancient and mi Vona' Atelodie I "dY , conduct Augarde; pis Brougham. Three. Overture (Z the Misses i Miss Julia v% Tear), E.W.( Aukarde ; Cav, Polka (Cadogi Selection ( Haranyi ; Due pianoforte (C. (Peasant) Kai Itavourneen), by T. Distill ; EGYPT D/OR. nelles and the Turkish noon o'Clock, The made by him The Explanat and Mr. SHIP Constantinopl, The concludii Seen from th tiEVERLEY. the Hall, and no charge Is n the attendant: Shilling ; Res( MR. I ZESCRIPTIFLE( Wires. or 'lge as not to be d they will nev4 allY teeth eve traction of ro serve teeth th and inasticati tication. 52, F G R No other Pac The Packet Terrace Pier.: ..,.__l Direct Try Omnibuse! every quart, nRIENSWI( Fen church t Street 914 IoA 12 1 A - 2 1 { 33! To or from ' , Gray. Between C BOAT 'I Tree MO: Packets ; Nov. 17 Memory damp—hi; nufacturet Coals ai and the la stances, E price of cc It is as visions ; t had for a The 116 rectly afft remedy a of cheapn and the Experien The Be the most complishi Charges N E. Mos and Boot other hoi Their Shippers, and the 1 CAUT public ap tablehoo( the Ram( obvious No co Undo 34, s 5, ai ton& and Bradt rhefll Colon Mere] Sbrie 11 NI PC exchans without price, ti The on Satu A ne' ing t ull av A ipt on appl lot Hi r 7; •ta 1'9 1 4 Jai 3„ 5