The Sun. — London, England, 1844-01-06 00:00:00

~~ ~~: IRELAND. STATE TRIALS —THE SPECIAL JURY. boa - IN, JAN. 4.—The process of striking the special jury Ppeoceeded with at 12 o'clock to-day in the Crown-office, owhich, with a very few exceptions, none were admitted but those immediately interested. There were present, on the Part of the Crown. Mr. Brewster, Queen's Counsel ; Mr. Smiley, and Mr. Kemmis, also Mr. Kemmis, the Crown Qsolicitor; and, on the part of the traversers, Mr. Whiteside, ueen's C ounsel; Mr. Close, Sir C. O'Loghlen (of counsel), d Messrs. Mahony, Ford, and Cantwell, attorneys. A protest was in the first instance handed in on behalf of the traversers against the panel generally, upon the ground that the names of a number of persons properly qualified to serve . as special not] ors, including *lie names of 16 Roman Cathvelcs, had beer placed uoe it. Tho cards, which w'Pere numbered according laiele7irtadbmianvgiinvtgo b t eh"the list, in all r_ounted, were put into a box and shaken up, tterms of the . e times . The business of shaking having been several lameseee.eeated, at the requesi of one of the agents for the .ers, the Clerk of the Crown, in conformity with the .sectio of ho Act, proceeded to draw out 48 of the said im b and ° hI • h i n tile insisters, to check them with the numbers and names th lle fi rst number was 59 and the name corresponding to it that a 111 r. J. Behan of Bridge-stre e t, merc h an t ; t h e next Cons t o of f Mr. G. W. Boileau, of 87, B r id e - s t reet , d rugg i st ( a ervative). Me Witerestne ategiusted objected t o hi s name being put upon the cession list of 48, on the groun d o f non-residence, upon which AI r, arose,— °see -"0" :7Y B eNe denyi ng t h at ho had any option in the matter,it -a - Power ou to decid e t h at question, and contending that I, ula linty merely to draw the numbers, those numbers eor s 31)° "log with the sheriff's list, over which he had of course o tontrel. the lir. Niritesine, on the other hand, maintained that it was and otffieer's duty to receive proof of the objection now male, benre'saittite'nasv.eirtae d th is a ci t ua rr if m yi e ng if the proof were sufficient, and ground, which it cert . ainly was t j,tese terms of the Act. The Learned Gentleman,. in support That quoted the 25th section, wherein it is stated ; Ci s ti f at the time of reading any name either party o shall object that the man whose name shall have ie g 01?ttheferred to is in any measure incapacitated from esetrhve ame ei ' ai d..ility, and shall also then and there pro set __,, the eatisfaction of the said officer, such name shall t he the lade, and the said officer shall instead thereof draw out to the said boa another number, and shall in like refermapier . wmerr.etbrnreetLemiiinngeork, number in the said . list, Sze. It a man e really'in the list as residing in Dublin, and that if he (Mr. 'Whiteside) wished to know of t h e °Att,.rim Woukd feel himself authorised, under that secetiroen 141re.vileou ivest thie ed - I ;'t of Parliament, to insert that man's name on th .st of 48? eerie _,Y before him at hied, he had already Was of opinion that the question did not come all, and that his duty was eircum jeetito wertwn„.3TEst contended (for the Crown), that if the oh 'ai,c;r. boil ea. e n ee f e whith would have been sufficient to disqualify -4 .sed the 'lwo servine a special juror, the place to have beep n tosri r , al o s;e r e l e , F as ti "; lin et the on I c y ee pl d a c e e r. it H could i d properly a have with A lr r e o h e ite ß s de s r i ' construction of the 25th inan must el:nett:l: t al , l the words of that section being, that the Leas tied '6 °e " in capacitated," and not misdescribed. The e ° lnter t o r was, therefore, now calling upon the tuna i .,.. mole the Recorder's decision. turt V•cmacontended that they had had no earlier oppor -14. ~,, snaking the present objection. feir. '7,l)uxiiE--Yes, at the registry. wis--• .",1-ost said, that there was no registry in the case of f it.. i7laiii. jurors ; that the Sheriff constituted the list ; that they 1.101:?,1 averser) had been no party to it ; and that they could raised 2 ”ee objected to it before, as no question was allowed to be Itecsiionebh afordreintghe Sheriff. He argued that the officer would not his duty if he refused to take proof as to quail- After_sorne further discussion nearly to the same effect, Mr. 800 refused to set aside the name, which was ac- The placed upon the list. The next name was that of Mr. B. L. Guiness, brewer, l thieh was set aside on the objection that he was one of the gtalad jury who found the bill. 14r. WHITESIDE remarking, that here the officer took evi ueece of incapacity, and refused it in the case of Mr. Boileau. • On the name drawn J. Hamilton, of Chambers-street, itottrionger bein p er son W eit ' xlsli f ie said he could prove that there was no such ; 1 - '• !uo residing in Chambers -street. The officer had already iteiZesd th taperson having.a house, although not residing in her e sufficient to qualify him to serve as a special 'uror ; but vim he (111 r. Whiteside) could show by evidence that there Ai" such Person having a house in the street at all. Mr, „,-lhaws'ree objected to any such evidence. . . t i te , lli a r til it th i . e e e o s f r e e ev r e e n f g er h r;- e i n agai.n tat t e o d t . he Act of Parliament to . put upon the list the name of 1 4iSs ° 'n ally degree inc o a t pa t c o i of ,s' 15IIEWSTER—Yes, incapacitated ; but there is no proof e eeat, I he asid e k oaMes of Mr. T. Farrell and Sir E. Borough were set te t " ''Y the officer on its being alleged that they were magis s,P the he borough. • b dbet'te4r,cinnisaumant James Fallon, described as of 71, Stoney awnounced as corresponding with a number 111 1 . b Pal) 0 . -"aewstee called upon the officer to set it aside, Mr. tote b mg, he said, disqualified as a town-councillor, ac miug to the 180th clause of the Corporation Act. ftit.lt;,WiliTeSlDE called upon Mr. Brewster to prove that Atif.allOn was a town -councillor. k r !tEsestite offered to prove it by an affidavit, to which p r oof of VWHITESIDE objected, contending that the only proper I ' "if the fact would be the books of the Corporation. of M. /3Raws'ree. maintained, that the officer had the power d sk it Cetigeatving in this as in other cases, upon affidavit and h a d Lv tithe oce examination, which Rendered d the " considerwit power to do. . H nov .. this affidavit to e and called upon him to receive it. Whether he would aukipate. su fficient it was not for him (Mr. Brewster) to tiavltiltreßaodnaNe. having expressed his readiness to hear the affi -4(l,l4t;ilVt, rainerdemo s bjected, because it was only the original °PYyi.bbta_in:d in t e usual way. h e it had not been filed, and an attested feted. eeou ne, therefore put the affidavit on the file and sol it to be read b Mr . B ster. objecting,topllylrs.heeernitiditheaysethey rew on the ground that an attested setting aMdavit beenfirstoTh_train_ed.. f orth h.Was that of Thorpe, a town-counci b ll i or : t:tittlesiiarul enumerating 's na mes of several other town frequenthattendance at the City Assem y Ile described4!m among!t residing at Nos. 10 and 11, Stoneybatter : . tl en :_e . discrepancy l be in tween the number of Mr. Fallon 's resi ieriq.in the Sheriff's . list and that given in the above de rietfapsi having been noticed by Mr. Whiteside, and ad "' to be fatal by Mr. Brewster, the name was inserted i' fZe l -e. list, the objection on the part of the Crown, of course, ter ri ll g eti: to the g roun d, as f ar as t h e officer's decision was con ee. IN Vt. t allon is reported to be a Repealer. Ce re .f t follm e _ ing are the rest of the list . of 48 : — Messrs. R. ivcidit''bUilder ; J. Fry, coach-trimming manufacturer (ob 'l'asit ; ;ell' t ta.versers for non-residence) ;W. Hendrick, me n r : L' tis un lin,' F itzpatrick, grocer (objected to as being a tow . 0,, ter,":); Flinn, pianoforte-wake! ; Henry ThonT Illie I"ritereb Henry- • 111' heel Dunne, ; Anson Floyd, ke ein ie nt ert ainut ;ank. W. ..,11o n ntserrat b ovine-merchant ; John John R iglsr, gun-maker ; Robert take 44, Inereh e ant c . r ; j 1. ' ; 11, 13 , John Holmes, merchant; George Whit ,lata ci ert Chamley, merchant; William . Longfield; Wil- Co 4 , tor n e tldra ere' W. J. Cainen, jeweller ;R. S. Stubbs, tahinet.tete; Jo sph 1 1 1‘Cormick, merch . ant ; William Scott, toer e h aeer ; John White, seedsman ,W. M. Woedroofe, J C in t; G. Mit hll t ba Tonist • J. Waller, engraver ; t r teer a , l !e n, builder; e ll ' . ° Fowler, Merchant ; J. M`Gloin, L u e ' i• Green,- publican ;J. Hamilton, wine-merchant . _ ; Nlflith "'flan, grocer • J. T. Boileau, wine-merchant , J. P. 1 1 ' law- Stud ' dent ; J. C. Papworth . , architect ;. Captain e eer ee ' '''' rarker, pawnbroker ; W. Ring, hosier , .J. U. se;rehant • E Clarke ; B. Eaton, builder ; J. - 4 i i: :: e ziii . e ' : 't 8 4: er t ' elZ i t 7 a a t n e d r ' -maker • J. Irwin, D. L. - J. Falkner, J. Croker, wholesale merchant. t iote res r i a d of the above were objected to on the ground of Of ih e en ce in their respective places of business, and out th, list reduced list of 48, 11 were Repealers. To-m?rrow 04(1 t ill b further reduced to 24 names, the Crown ther) traversers having, by the statute, the privilege of Ishi e l hg °Ef 12 names each, - leaving 24 on the panel, from `` ATthejurY who are to try the-parties are to be selected. Se h • T EMDT TO SWAMI' THE JURY PAN . EL. ite, aw4llrs before its readers the narrative of an attempt . to sel eei r",bY a discreditable ruse, the panel from which is to be b e %v e i l' a Jury to try the State traversers. If this statement th at i founded—and unfortunately there is reason to believe 'illy : n i s i not altogether groundless—it can only be said . that the effects t tors of the ruse have very much mistaken its probable iNk it • . Subjoined is a portion of the article alluded to. The . ettn„eatlon that the scheme was in any degree by the coeni ‘"ott Person s in office is, of course, absurd : tie s fr n the evening of Tuesday last a number of busy emissa ere 941 I he Tory party, and we believe most firmly that they stahurtlinstructed by the Irish Government . or by some of its Pe e ei n ates, went about the city in the twilight, for the pur ip, to . entrapping credulous Liberals, and thus endeavonr- St". serve the purposes of the Government,. by excluding t oll the special panel. The paper, which was carried- Lord d t om ' fur signature, purported to be a requisition th e '. Mayor, calling upon him to convene % meeting of is elttzens, to enter their protest against the approach e4 State tiials as illegal. The paper on which the sig h 4 4,. were written had a fabricated similarity to that le t ° Y the Corn Exchange. The written portion, purport e e t° l. set forth the objects of the suggested meeting, was teipi 1 good imitation of the manuscript of some of the sha tte ° Yes of the Repeal Association, and the creatures who itth i ; e4 it round were very free in their use of the names of stisptiai tartlet among the Repealers, as a means of lulling tee tit ci 'M, and of mere successfully accomplishing their infa 'oci"s• They asked for signatures in the name of the As -44 f''''. Those parties avowed that they were engaged and krti e t l . , that special purpose, and it is known that disreputable Nascetic h ave been otherwise employed too. It has been freely iOet" htY the party, who manifest inexpressible anxiety fur a re rs mit, that every Catholic on the balloted list of special Os , e Would be objected to, and that thus a conviction would ter,eured- Ail the gentlemen who were applied to for signa hetiewere of known liberal sentiments, and:mostly of the Ca t4'e:iPersuasion. And now let us exlain how this piece of e'uesit chieaner was h dto be made available, in further- Pt ° f the ob'Y hoped , sent. sects of those whose fortunes are bound up in the mPoe 4mis, whos official and political existence depend Ip, e . a conviction of the " conspirators." Every man on the lioyelal cony m 8 be objected to, for cause, who is known to. Ot thNressed any decided opinion upon the policy or legality !te e : ,tale trials; but every man who has been entrapped iteh'lgoing this paper has, of course, pledged himself that the w ti ','Pett e e r :t_ its .impolitic rid unjust." The presumed effect, pewho hone, of this act of shameful chicane is to render . those e, thee'igned tac t of ineligible to serve as special Jurors. .oje,,, u, the depth of this baseness. Catholics dare not be ~, ,,,i ,7 to because they are Catholics, but this surreptitious tfle t 'on tn the Lord Mayor may be made as an engine quite Ka3,lllloett,fo_rtehat end, and' yet the brazen front of impartiity aril s 01,`,'ecit wered. Liberal Protestants, too, may be sun,. uJe ed to on the same account." te T -t L'P.AGUL FUND.-- -t AT BURY. --A vo,, rad e _ e . r 'Llt Iva m ctn.% was, on Thursday evening, held . at Bury,. ti t he lo,',!`ttended by many of the most influential gentltme t ry ' P B r i "t"t, including Mr Walker, M.P. for the borough. k,ii iisg.it and Colonel Tho.mpson tended as a deputation ~q,n.ll.oeague. After able addresses from Mr.. _Walker, ti, Lek., rfiPsent and Mr. Bright, resolutions . in tavo c u r r . of .. v ti v,Z, were passed by acclamation. An active subs ip i I,l2oi:lp...entered into, and it was announced that upwards 414 411 . _ll a been contributed by Bury. h 4 r J. eel!, about six inches from the shop window of ~,,.4e.. , uAkester, chemist, &c., St. James's-street, Hull, 4,...hi!h;4sotetent in to the depth of a quarter of an inch at least. ~;1 1 ? lut i n . °. n occasioned, no doubt, by the rays of the run rdo w) 1 'Von on e of the large globular show glasses in . the Im l / 4 1 Iot ri ! l thence passin through to the shelf in question. -lt4h t,!1_14 been timely o g bserved by Mr. A., it might ulti ° led to a co nflagration.— Hull Advertiser. COURT OF SEWERS A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of Westminster, and part of the County of Middlesex, was held yesterday, at the Sewers'-office, Greek-street, Soho-square. This being the first Court held in the new year, at which the annual nomina tion of Chairman for the year ensuing takes place, there was an unusually full attendance of Commissioners. F. L. DONALDSON, Esq., took the Chair at twelve o'clock, and some of the routine business of the Court having been di•posed of, at two o'clock announced that the time had now arrived when it became the duty of the Court to elect their Chairman for the year ensuing. In retiring from the office the Court had conferred upon him for the last year, he begged to return his thanks to every member of the Court for the kind ness he had met with, and the disposition that had been shown to aid and assist him in the arduous duties he had to perform. Mr. Donaldson then retired, and Mr. Willoughby was una nimously cal'ed to the Chair. At this time among the Commissioners present, we noticed Mr. Tufnell, M. P., and the Hon. Fred. Byng. On .‘.r. Willoughby taking the chair, and the question of the election of a Chairman being put, Mr. LESLIE wished to know under what statute or authority they elected a Chairman for a year. He greatly deprecated the election of a perpetual Chairman, believing it to be bad in principle and injurious to the public good. He felt persuaded that it would be much better that the Court should elect its Chairman every day. The adoption of such a course, he be lieved, would be most salutary—would expedite the business of the Court, and would relieve it of many of the evils by which it was at present surrounded. It was his firm belief, and, until he was convinced to the contrary, lie shculd maintain it, that the evils and mischiefs to which the Court had been ex posed arose mainly through the Chairman being a permanent officer. Many things had been done under the autho- rity of the Chairman which had been totally unknown to the Court arid quite inconsistent with the Statute of Sewers. He thought the Court ought to pause and consider well before they appointed a Chairman, whether they should elect him for a twelvemonth or a day. He thought it unwise and inex pedient to appoint an annual Chairman. Sir J. J. HANsLER moved that T. L. Donaldson, Esq., the late Chairman, should be appointed to that office for the year ensuing. Mr. W. B. FAA NCE seconded the motion. Mr. TUFNELL wished to say nothing in disparagement of their late Chairman, but he must be allowed to say that he could not altogether agree with the principle of the Chairman conducting the proceedings of the Court upon questions pro. posed and brought forward by himself—( Hear, hear)—and, in fact, sitting both as judge and jury on his own case.—( Hear, hear.) He thought some alteration in the constitution of the Court in thin respect ought to take place, and if something were not done on the subject, he should feel it to be his duty to bring it forward by a specific motion. The CHAIRMAN trusted that the Hon. Commissioner would put his threat in execution, because he felt if he did so, he would discover that it was necessary that the Chairman should take the conduct, in many instances, of the business of the Court and the public. Mr. LESLIE would assert, without the fear of contradiction, that the Court had no authority under the Statute of Sewers, to elect a permanent Chairman.—(Hear, hear.) Their clerk was the responsible person, he was recognised by the courts of law, while the Chairman was rot—( Hear, hear)—and any mistake that was made would be visited on the clerk, and not upon the Chairman. Under these circumstances, he should move as an amendment—" That the Court had no authority under the Statute of Sewers to appoint a permanent Chairman, and that no such appointment should be made." Mr. A'Beces.ri 'seconded the amendment. The CHAIRMAN had no hesitatitin in deciding that the amendment could not be put according to the bye-laws. Mr. BYNo agreed with the Chairman, that in point of form the amendment could not be put, but at the same time he felt bound to state that he thought the worthy Commissioner, Mr. Leslie, right in stating that the Chairman ought to be appointed daily. He thought, however, that so important a subject ought to be made the subject of a specific motion. He must confess that he had witnessed on certain occasions a species of whipping-in of Commissioners, which could never take place if their Chairman was elected daily.—(Hear.) Mr. J. GuNTER supported the amendment. After a few observations from Mr. Bitecll, HAWKES said that he felt compelled to. hold up his hand against the nomination of a fixed Chairman. in doing so he meant no disrespect to their late Chairman, but he thought the time had arrived when the subject of the election of Chairman ought to be well considered. He considered it unjust to the public and the members of that Court to give such extensive powers to their Chairman.—(Hear, hear. ) Mr. LESLIE wished to know from the Chairman whether he refined to put his amendment ? The CHAIRMAN felt bound to say he could not put it. Mr. LESLIE said that he would get rid of the objection of the Chairman by stating that his worthy friend to his right, Mr. Tufnell, had agreed to be put in nomination, not for the purpose of being appointed Chairman, but, merely to raise the question whether the election of Chairman should be annual or daily. He also wished to give notice that it was his intention at another Court to move the alteration of the 17th bye-law. Sir J. J. HANSLER considered that the Court ought to know whether the gentleman who had been proposed by Mr. Leslie would serve if elected. Mr. BEECH considered that frankness, candour, and English like honesty required that the candidate for the Chair should state whether, if elected, he would serve or not. Mr. TUFNELL, M.P., trusted if he was elected that his conduct would show whether he was willing to serve or not. The CHAIRMAN said that there could be no doubt that the course taken by Mr. Leslie was one that was consistent with the practice of the Court. Another candidate for the Chair having been named, the only question was as to the day on which the ballot for the Chairman should take place. A long discussion took place, which terminated in the fol lowing arrangement---that on Friday, the 12th inst., Mr. Leslie should bring forward his motion for rescinding the 17th bye law with regard to the election of Chairman, and that the ballot for that election should take place on Friday,;the 19th. Mr. LESLIE gave notice of his intention at the next General Court to move to rescind the orders of the Special Court of the 22d of December, 1843, as to the appointments of a new Assistant-Surveyor and a fourth Clerk of the Works, because— First, The repeated statements of the late Chairman of the area of the Eastern, Western, Ranelagh, and Counter's Creek Districts being 25 square miles, of which the Clerks of the Works Mr. Bell has to superintend 9 square miles, Mr. Jenkins has to superintend 9 square miles, Mr. Aslat has to superintend 25 square miles, are most inaccurate, the Chairman being in error in the su perficial measurement of the four districts at least 28 millions of square 3ards. Second, That such appointments by the Special Court afore sa;d, if carried out, would be illegal, contrary to the orders of Court, the statutes, the laws, ordinances, and constitution of sewers. The other routine business of the Court having been dis posed of, the Court adjourned at a late hour to Tuesday, the 9th, at eleven o'clock, when Mr. Leslie brings forward his 27 dreaded resolutions for purging the Court of Sewers of many of its impurities. Mr. Willoughby was in the chair to the rising of the Court, Mr. Donaldson did not make his appearance after his retire ment in the early part of the day. From the feeling exhibited in the Court to-day, if Mr. Leslie persist in his motion of nominating Mr. Tufnell, there is every probability of that gentleman filling the most unen viable post of Chairman of the Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of Westminster, and part of the county of Mid dlesex. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice were taken out for their cus tomary exercise this morning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert hunted this morning, the harriers meeting in the Park, at the Manor House at Horton. His Royal Highness was attended by General Sir Edward 13owater, the Hon. Captain Duncombe, Host. C. A. Murray, and Mr. G. E. Anson. After two good runs, the Royal party returned to the Castle. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and Lady Fanny Howard, will dine with her Majesty at the Castle this evening. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has arrived at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, to honour the Duke of Rutland with a visit, from Demi Park, Northamptonshire, the seat of the Earl of Cardigan. Sir R. Peel and Sir J. Graham visited the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday at the Foreign-office. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Lieut.-General Sir Peregrine Maitland, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, transacted business at the Colonial-office on Thursday. Count de St. Aulaire, the French Ambassador, visited the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday at the Foreign-office. Sir David Davies has returned to his residence in Berkeley street from Witley Court, Worcestershire, the scat of her Ma jesty the Queen Dowager. The Earl of Ripen arrived in town yesterday morning from his residence on Putney-heath. His Lordship visited Sir Ro bert Peel at his residence in Whitehall-gardens. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM (OLD KENT- Ronn).—Yesterday the half-yearly Court of the Governors of this charity, which is established for the benefit of decayed licensed victuallers, was held at the Bridge House Hotel, Mr. George Hodges, President, in the Chair. The mi nutes of the several courts that were held during the year having been read, and confirmed, Mr. Jones read the report of the Board of Management for the past year. The Board of Management commenced with congratulating the supporters of the charity on its prosperous condition. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, acceding to the earnest soli citation of the Board, had graciously consented to become the future Patron of the charity in the room of the late Duke of Sussex. Thus the institution was honoured with the patronage of her Majesty and her Royal Consort. The subscriptions for the year amounted to 2,216/. 6d., a larger sum than had been subscribed dlring the previous three years. The receipts for the year were 2,619/. Os. 7d., and the disbursements reached that amount minus 1/. 2s. 9d. The funded property amounted to 6,4111., producing 2121. 9s. 10d. in dividends. There were in the asylum one hundred and three inmates, who, in addition to lodging, fuel, and candle-light, received 6s. and 7s. a week, the former be ing allowed to single and the latter to married persons. The following legacies had been bequeathed to the charity :- 19/. 19s. by Mr. Allison, Streatham-place, Brixton; 1001. by Mr. Harrison, Paddington ; and 201. by Mr. Jones, of Bishops gate-street Without. Upon the motion of Mr. Shenton, seconded by Mr. Osborne, the Report was adopted. The vacancies amongst the several officers of the Corporation, were then filled up, and thanks voted to the Chairman, after which the Court was dissolved. TIIE HACKNEY CARRIAGE PROPRIETORS AND THE RAILWAYS.—Last evening there was a meeting at the York Arms, High Holborn, of the hackney carriage and cab pro prietors ot the metropolis, in pursuance of a requisition, milli g upon all persons whose interests were injured by the present monopoly ot hackney carriage and cab conveyance, carried on by some:of th e metropolitan Railway Companies, to attend,with a view to adopting pi ompt measures for bringing the subject under the notice of Parliament early in the ensuing session. From the statements made by Mr. Philpott, Mr. Powell, Mr. Yeoman, and other l arge p ropr i etors , i t appeared that, accord ing to the opinion of Sir William Follett, the practice of the various Railway Companies, of employing vehicles at the various stations exclusively for their own use, and to the exclu sion of those plying on the public stands, was not only illegal, but rendered the Companies so acting liable to the payment of the post-horse duty. lnterviews had been had by a deputation from the body with the Commissioners of Stamps and the Board of Excise, and during the last few days with Sir George Clerk, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, who, after paying considerable attention to the case, and stating that their Lordships were aware of the m onopo l y complained of, recomm e nd e d the deputation to apply to Sir James Gra ham, her Majesty's Secretary of States, which will be done in the course of the ensuing week. The meeting resolved on drawing up a petition for presentation to Parliament in the en suing session, with the view of getting a clause inserted in the Acts of Parliament regulating hackney carriages and Railway Companies, to remedy the grievances complained of. " Are you the box.kcepor Y" drawled a puppy to a gentleman who was looking through a box-door of the late Covent-garden Theatre. " No," quietly retorted the gentle man ; " are you ?"—New AlLmthly. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY THE. REVENUE FOR THE YE AR AND QUARTER ENDING No. I.—An Abstract of the Net Produce of the Revenue of Great Brii in in the Years and Quarters ended sth of January, 1843, and 5 or Decrease on each head thereof. QUARTERS ENDL?II YEAR QUARTERS ENDED YEAR . . ....... •...„ ended ..--........„,.„.............___,__ ended Year ended Jan. 5 I Quarter ended Jan. 5 .....11 'April 5, July 5, Oct. 10, Jan. 5, Jan. 5, • Aprils, July 5, Om 10, 1 Jan. 5, ' Jan. 5, ......-........----,„ , 1842 1842 1818 1843 1843 1843 1843 1843 1844 1814 Increase. I Decrease. I Increase. I Decrease. Customs :- - -- ------ .--..- Cons , lidated Duties ... 3,555, ( 52 3,12 , 1,605 4,647,472 3,274,001 - 3,193,586. 3,304,473 4,276,151 3,674,424 - - Sugar Duty to Consoli. - - -. dated Fund - - - 262 , 548 1,252,733 - - - - .... - - Ditto to Suppies - 1,296,505 920,089 - 763,405 - 1,253,357 1 , 692,514 .- .-.- ••- - - -___ -------- - ------- ----- Total Customs . 4,197,' f 3 4,422,101 5,94.3,977 4,214,089 1! , ,07 , ,2110 4,219,537 4,557,201 5,5`29,568 4,766,968 10,073,219 Customs - - Stamps 1,5/9,487 1,098,379 1,631,480 1,561,:5! 0,491, 100 1,5!13126 1,659,010 1,0A3C,6 1,52'3,653 6,426, 1 55 Stamps 64,945 38 101 Taxes . . • 313,844 257,212 5 1,056 1,885,232 861,719 2,057,904 4.54,415 5,240,260 Property Tax 4,678,"04 83,106 )7,2'06 Property Tax 197703 Post Office 112,001 151,000 168,000 141,006 605,01 , 1 141,000 145,000 160,1101 143,000 592,000 Post Office •• 13,000 2,000 - - Crown Lands 50,500 30,000 12,500 40,000 132,45 0 95,000 32,5(0 :0,000 30, 1 8 0 117,500 Crown ,ro L t a a n i d .. s . 6,121,037 15,500 10,000 Miscellaneous L Total Ordinary Revenue 8,530,147 11,467,666 11,194,197 11,143,763 43,135, 73 10,321,522 1 , ,333,`93 13,286,17'2 11,829,581 49,078,168 178,642 760,815 75,0`..7 Imprest Moneys, &c 25,714 267,5.30 111,070 1(7,197 5 , 1,411 16,907 6',110 34,305 50,136 168,528 Imp. Moneys 342883 - 5 961 __ Repayments of Advances 161,671 1,2,552 180,211 5235,247 (82,681 124,013 1 38,217 230,932 332,060 825,247 Rep. of Adv... 142,566 , 96,813 6 ,. _ - crease Total Income ---- Amount applied to Con. 7,046,404 6,980,776 9,047,560 6,8t;0,0: 4 2.1,71J4,191 9,160,269 6,4 I ',no6 10,2,23,636 '7,8 59 , 893 g 5 4 ,58 6,3 94 D e d I : r 2u e l c a , s't s 25 e D o c : 7 .8 : 2 3 1 :7 69 ;5 7 , 83 f t I n p e nle r 3 e cel a rd, e s 9u e a icit o . n 5,742,078 E t sol idated Fund Ditto, as Advances Ditto, as Ways & Means of the Year Year. t i the Quarter „ --- -- Total 8,720,532 11,r-37,743 12,285,478 11,416,107 14,329,805 II 10,469,417 113,530,210 113,851,409 112,211,777 50,171,943 I No. ll.—lncome and Charge of the Consolidated Fund, in the Quarters ended the sth January, 1843, and the sth January, 1844. Quarters ended Jan. 5. 1 INCOME. 1813 ---- -• 1814 1 Customs.—Consolidated Dutie' 3,274,000 3,674,424 Sugar applicable to the Consolidated Fund -- --- Total Customs 3,274,000 3,674,424 Excise Stamps 1,561,754 1,523,653 Taxes Prope ty Tax Post Office Crown Lands 40,000 :0,000 Miscellaneous 21,557 11,917 Impreat and other Monies 1 1 ,7,497 50,1 6 Repayment of Advance. -- 10,54'5,709 11,138,305 To Cash brought to this Account to be applied to pay off Deficiency Bills 1 WO OCO —2— 1 Quarters ended Jan. 5. u ,....w.. 3 U11....7,1 o azi• ..... t .' -,....... • N . ~....... 1813 1814 I CHARGE. /. 1813 lBl4 3,274,000 3,674,424 Permanent Debt Terminable Annuities Interest on Exchequer Bill s i ssued to meet the charge on the C onso li dated Fund 657,/9,5 ofo 616,801 50 4,807 -- ---- Sinking Fund 3,271,000 3,674,424 The Civil List 3,041,098 : , ,049,813 Other 97,673 97,:%97 charges on the Consolid a t e d F und 459,1:.9 427,852 1,561,755 1,523,653 For Ad va nc es , a nd t o p ay o ff Exchequer Bills issued for Advances 140,000 291,501 1,886,1, 4 1,868,5:1 .---. 257,212 454,415 Total Charge 9,639,89.5 --- 9,906,7E8 141,000 143,000 The Surplus 40,000 : 0,000 01,527 11,917 10,663,709 11,135,30.5 1(7,197 50,1 6 ---- ---..„ 235,247 332,060 The Amount of Exchequer Bills issued to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund for the Quarter ended July 5, 1843, 10,5 C 5,709 11,138,305 and paid °trout of the growing produce of that Fund for the Quarter ended January 5,1844 The Amount issued in the Quarter ended January 5, 1814, in part of the sums granted by Parliament out of the Consoli dated Fund for Supply S erv i ces 2,967,839 ;The Surplus of the Consolidat e d F und, Quarter ended J anuary 5, 1844 1,V1,517 1,736,322 100,000 The probable amount of Exchequei Bills required to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund, Quarter ended 10,665,7: 9 11,138,305 January 5, 1814 •..... 5,462,859 HYDROCYANIC ACID-A REMEDY FOR BLINDNESS. (From Chambers' .Btlinburgh Journal. _ castor oil the oil of almonds. By this treatment, in two months he diminished the size of both eyes, and so much decreased the opacity of the right eye, th the pupil made its appearance and the child be gan t o see, and to be able to walk alone. After an interval in attendance, caused by the Doctor's absence from town, during which nothing was done for her, she returned in 1842, when the vapour of the hy drocyanic acid was regularly applied to both eyes. This mode of treatment still further reduced the size of the left eye, bringing it within the com pass of the eyelids, and finally diminished the right eye to a proper size, besides greatly stren g thening it s power of v i s i on . She had attended a school for the blind, where she learned to read raised letters by touch ; but now that she is able to see, she reads equally well by the eye as the fingers. I tried her both ways, and think the eye had the best of it; she read passages in a volume which I took from my pocket with facility and propriety. While the right eye had thus far advanced, leaving comparatively little to be done to it, the left eye was gradually losing its whitish opacity ; the blue pupil was shining out; and, supposing the cure to go no farther, the orb was be coming less offensive in its general appearance —a matter of some consequence to a face otherwise far from unpleasing. When I last saw this child, her health was greatly better than it had been in her days of total and hopeless blindness. The removal of sloughs or opacities of, the cornea was shown in various other cases ; a person who had been blind in the right eye for twenty years, said he now could see with it. Many entered and left the room by their own unaided sight, who told me they could not formerly walk without a guide. At one time there used to be nearly as many " leaders" in attendance as blind people ; now, few of these are required. As soon as one gets a glimmering of sight, he begins to act as a guide to others, and thus " the blind leading the blind" is no longer a mere figure in rhetoric. tions; but having left town before any decided melioration was effected, I am unable to say what was the result. Here my personal observations may be considered as having drawn to a close, leaving the conviction on my mind, that the account given of Dr. Turnbull's operations on the eye was substantially correct, and that by means of the vapour of prussic acid, and other stimulants applied in the manner I have described, sight will in many cases be restored, when, as I have reason to believe, all the ordinary forms of counter irritation and stimulus fail. I can at least say that, in every instance I judged for myself, and entirely with a reference to the elucidation of truth. I took the histories of the patients from their own mouths, and have no reason to suppose they had any intention to deceive, or were themselves deceived by imaginary feelings. I could not, indeed, for a moment enter tain the idea that they were anything but what they plainly appeared ; persons, for the most part, in humble circumstances, eager to be relieved from a great bodily affliction, and thankful for the relief they had already experienced. Having thus received what I believed to be the most credible testimony respecting the efficacy, and, I may add, the simplicity and safety of Dr. Turnbull's applications to the eye, I felt satisfied that, in copying the account from the Literary Gazette, these pages had not been stained by giving currency to anything like imposture ; at the same time, from the extraor dinary unwillingness of the medical world to believe a single word respecting the powers of prussic acid to meliorate blindness, I deemed it necessary to be cautious in making any fresh statement on the subject. On my arrival in Edinburgh, there fore, after a journey on the Continent in the interval, I submitted my experiences to a medical friend, Alexander Miller, Esq., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, with a request that he would gratify me by giving Dr. Turnbull's form of applica tion a fair trial. Having kindly consented to my wish, this gentleman first tried the vapour of prussic in a bottle prepared by Dr. Turnbull for the purpose, upon one of his patients, a boy, who was affected with opacity of the cornea in one of his eyes. Greatly to his delight, and mine also, and much more so to the parents of the child, the boy, after being blind, was restored to sight after a few applications. The following is Mr. Miller's account of the case :- 32, Buccleuch-place, Edinburgh, Nov. 28, 1843. My dear Sir,—Having, at your desire, undertaken to ascertain the effect of the application of the vapour of hydrocyanic acid in certain affections of the eye, I beg to furnish you with the results I have observed during the short time I have been engaged with this important investigation. The first case in which I employed the vapour is the only one that I will de tail at any length, as it is much further advanced towards recovery than any of the others ; in fact, the cure may be said to be all but completed. It was a case of opacity of the cornea. A boy, J. C., wt. 7, of a strumous habit, and of a strumous family, in the summer of 1842 suffered from an attack of small-pox, before recovering from which he was seized with measles. During these attacks both eyes were affected with inflammation, which con tinued more or less severe for nearly twelve months, notwithstanding the constant employment of reme dies, the right eye suffering more than the left : when the inflammation at last yielded, it was found that no disorganisation of the left eye had taken place, but that the right one had suffered to a very consi derable extent ; the cornea was found opaque to nearly four-fifths of its whole extent, the greatest opacity occupying the centre, and gradually diminish ing towards the circumference; the only part not affected was the margin, where it joins the sclerotic. The effect of this opacity of the cornea was to impede vision completely, so that the boy could not, with the affected eye, distinguish one object from another; all that he could do was to discern light from dark ness. Such was the state of matters for months previous to the Ist October last, when the hydrocy anic acid vapour was first applied. This I ascertained from personal observation before using the vapour. The hydrocyanic acid was applied according to the method recommended by Dr. Turnbull of London, and by means of the apparatus procured by you from him. The immediate effect was increased secretion of tears, redness of the conjunctiva and cornea ; these in stantly becoming covered with numerous small vessels, the eyelids also participating in the redness, their colour contrasting strangely with the surrounding paleness of the face. The boy declared he felt no pain, only an agfeeable sensation of heat was produced. The application of the vapour has been re peated every second, third, or fourth day, as it was found convenient, so that in all it has been applied about twenty different times. The change upon the cornea has been not only remarkable, but most satisfactory; the opacity perceptibly diminishing after every application, until there now only remains the slightest haziness, which I am confident will also dis appear after a few more applications. There has likewise been a corresponding improvement in the vision. From being unable to distinguish the largest objects, he now can discern the smallest. Besides the above, I have employed the hydrocyanic acid vapour in upwards of twelve other cases of various affections of the eye, but in none for such a long period. They have all come under my care during the last two or three weeks, and have the disadvantage of being of much longer standing than the one detailed, and must necessarily require longer time before the beneficial effects are produced, many of these being cases of from fifteen to twenty years' standing. Still, from the im provement observed in several of these, where the affection is opacity of the cornea, I feel confident in assuring you that I look upon the vapour of the hy drocyanic acid as a most valuable remedy in all such affections. IVith regard to its effects in other diseases, such as amaurosis, cataract, &c., I cannot, as yet, speak from my own observation and experience. As I have some cases of these affections under treatment, I shall be happy to communicate the results to you as soon as I have given the remedy a fair trial. One important fact which I have been able to establish is, that there is not the slightest danger attending the application of the hydrccyanic acid—providing due caution is observed in doing so—even in cases of the most delicate and feeble constitution ; for a more un healthy subject could not be found than the boy whose case I have described.--I am yours truly, ALEX. MILLER. In the summer of last year, 'While residing for a month in London, no subject of interest which the metropolis presents engaged so large a share of my at tention as one which now, after considerable delibera tion, I propose explaining to the reader of these pages on the score of public duty. I allude to a series of personal examinations which I made respecting the validity of certain alleged cures and meliorations of blindness, performed by Dr. Turnbull, of Russell square, chiefly by means of hydrocyanic acid. It is proper to say why an unprOfessional person should have considered it at all necessary to devote time to the investigation of a subject of this nature. The first time I heard anything of Dr. Turnbull's operations on the eye, was through an article in the Literary Gazette of June 12, 1842, from which, cn the credit of that print, and simply for the sake of conveying what appeared a piece of curious scientific information to the public, an extract was made into the present journal (No. 546). There, in all proba bility, the matter might have rested, but for what seemed an unreasonable attack from a Contemporary, calling in question the truth of the statements in the Journal, and protesting against the injury they were likely to accomplish. Having sinned in ignorance, if they had sinned at all, the,editors of Chambers's Ethn burgh .Tournal resolved to embrace the first convenient opportunity of investigating, personally, what was evidently a two-sided subject, and of forming their own opinion. No doubt this was a hazardous reso lution, for, unacquainted with the state of ocular sur gery, they might possibly be misled by appearances, and give credence to what was in reality a fallacy. Nevertheless, with a determination to exercise caution in a matter so intricate, to sift the evidence presented, and to judge only from facts, they hoped to satisfy themselves whether the allegations against them rested on a basis of truth or prejudice. This opportunity happily occurred, as has been said, in the summer of the past year, when one of the editors, the present writer, was for a few weeks in the metropolis. To descend to the first person—One of the earliest of my movements after arriving in town was to wait upon Dr. Turnbull and explain the object of my visit. This was no sooner announced, than that gen- That opacities in the external coating of the eye should be removable by a pungent and active vapour, is much less surprising than that such applications should at all affect cases of cataract, which resembles a pearly matter within the eye, and therefore removed considerably from the proximate action of the vapour from the acid. Several cases of this form of blindness were brought under my notice, as having been par tially meliorated by the process ; but, on the whole, I think the Doctor was less successful in this depart ment than in others. The cure, if it be possible, is evidently tedious ; but as cataract is removable by couching, a want of success with the external applica tions is perhaps the less to be regretted. Some cases of amaurosis interested me not a little. Ainaurosis, it is proper to explain, is that form of blindness in which the eyes appear sound to an ob server, but are really incapable of vision. The defect arises from paralysis of the optic nerve, or the branches of the fifth pair of nerves ; or sometimes from disease of the brain itself. The restoration of sight in such cases, particularly if of a confirmed nature, has hitherto been considered hopeless by the profession. Dr. Turnbull entertains a very different opinion. He believes the complaint to be removable by stimulating the nerves and the circulation in the neighbourhood of the eve. This he does in two ways; first, by apply ing the vapour of hydrocyanic acid to the ball of the eye, in the manner already described ; and second, by the application of essential oils, diluted in alcohol, to the sorehead ; warmth, increased circulation, ab sorption, and action, are the c onse quence. By treat ment of this kind, found several patients so far re covered from their amaurosis, as to be able to read by sight any book put before them. Sophia Brown, a milliner, told me she had been quite blind with amaurosis, and had been dismissed as past remedy by all the medical men to whom she applied. But by her attendance on Dr. Turnbull for seven months, her sight is gradually coming back ; she can now see objects, though not distinctly , and Can walk without a gu id e. I !at her with sight im proving and general health greatly better. Sophia Townsend, who had been blind with amaurosis in the left eye , f or w hi ch nothing could be done of the least value by th e med i cal men in whose han d s s he h a d been, cou ld now, after three months ' a pplications, see so well w ith t h at eye, as to be able to rea d w ith it. ,- To satisfy myself still f urt h er as to th e possibility of assuaging am auros i s b y the external st i mu l an t s ,l sen t for a person named John Plunket, formerly an at torney s clerk, who for severa l Yea rs had been so blind with amaur os i s , as to be - led about by his children. This man t o ld me that h i s l e ft eye had been destroyed by operati ons , and there f ore Dr. Turn bull addressed himself only to the right. By re rented applications of essential oils to the forehead his sight in this undestroyed eye gradually recovered. This recovery took place four years ago, and his sight was still improving by weekly applications. He read a book which I produced, and is desirous of employ ment as a clerk. This was a very satisfactory case of recovery from amaurosis, but perhaps not more so than another, that of Eleanor M'Cartney, a poor Irish woman in St. Giles' Workh ouse , Holborn. Guided by Mrs. Bailey, the respectabl e matron of this Insti tution, I was conducted to the couch of this bed-rid pauper, whose neat and cleanly appearance, as she sat up in bed, bespoke a declension from better days. Eleanor told her case in feW: words. About the year 1629 she became quite blind in the right eye, and deaf in the right ear, from an attack of paralysis, in which state she remained till 1835, when Dr. Turn bull, by his applications, restored her sight and hear ing in a week, and she bad retained both ever since. Airs. I3ailey corroborated all the poor woman said. At my request she read a few passages with the formerly blind eye from a devotional work lying by her bed side. This quite satisfied me. In one of my latest visits to Dr. Turnbulrs, I saw for the first time a case of conical eye, a form of dis ease which I understand has hitherto been con sidered as incurable as amaurosis. In this disorder the eye projects to an o btuse point, with a brilliant speck in front, as if a small piece of crystal were laid upon the cornea. By the action of the vapour, the speck in this case was disappearing, and the sight coming back. Sometimes I was permitted to see patients moving in the higher spheres of life ; but their cases were usually of a more simple and less painful nature than the others. One of the most interesting of this class was that of a gentleman who complained of havin g ever present in one cf his eyes a small speck, which marred the field of vision. Ile mentioned, however, that there was wh t i o ch Dr. he recounted. " I remember, said he, " on the no actual speck ~,,in the organ, that it was a mere spectrum, which, greatly to his surprise, had been im pressed on the retina after he had on o ne occas i on been looking intently through a telescop e , i n w hi c h a speck happened to be on one of the lenses. Th e men ' Tt i t i r i nb o t f il t l l ' l s is memoryremarkable som i apparition analogous cases recalled occa sion of the annular eclipse of the sun a few years ago, that several people with weak and over- s u sce ptibl e eyes, even although shuttered by smok e d g l ass , re ceived impressions which remained for a l eng th o f time. One gentleman called on me to say , th at h e could not, night or (183., get the e c li pse out of h i s eye. Wherever he looked, there the bright ring of she sun, with the !darkened moon in th e centre, was present. I could not., unfortunately, reli eve hi m f rom his apparationary tormentor, for I had not t h en dis covered the mode of treatment I now pu rsue. " Thi s curious case of abiding spectrum was paralleled by another which was mentioned, that of a gent l eman tlle ho, frem having one day looked fixedly a t a pr i nt o f ord's prayer the size of a sixpence, received the impression o f it on the retina, where, to his annoy ance, it remained ever present to his sense of vision. After a little conversation on the cause of such sin gularities, the gentleman who was affected with the small speck was subjected to the ordinary applica tleman professed his willingness to give me every in • formation respecting his practice in cases of blindness, to explain all that seemed puzzling or difficult, and to submit his patients freely to every sort of examination which I chose to institute. " What time," said I, " do your gratis patients attend ?" " Thrice a-week, at nine in the morning." " Then I shall be in at tendance at that time during my stay in London." I did so, and every alternate morning found me on my way up 'Tottenham Court-road, towards Russell square, where the subjects of my inquiry were con gregated. _ _ _ The cases chiefly brought under my notice were those of from thirty to forty poor people, in dif ferent states of blindness, and whose condition I could progressively observe. Some of the cases were among those which had already been made known in the Literary Gazette; others were more recent. In either instance, the parties showed no reluctance to tell me the story of their maladies, and submitted with pa tience to my repeated examinations and cross questionings. One by one they were brought from an adjoining room into the surgery, and operated upon in my presence. I shall here describe, as clearly as possible, the principle on which the Doctor pro fesses to act. Some years ago, according to his own account, having remarked that the eyes of persons who had destroyed themselves by hydrocyanic or prussic acid remained clear and dilated, he considered that the acid exerted a specific action upon the eye, which might be made available as a medical agent for re lieving many of the diseases to which that organ is subject. After a few cautious experiments, he be came assured of the truth of his conjectures, and began to apply the vapour of this powerful acid to the eyes of persons afflicted with blindness, and with surprising effect. As far as I have compre hended his explanations, the vapour acts both as a stimulant and sedative. By exciting the small blood-vessels to a great degree, the languid circulation is roused into activity ; and nature, no longer shackled by the morbid affection, hastens to restore the organ to its normal condition, and sight is the conse quence. Subsequent experiments showed to Dr. Turnbull that the practice might be advantageously varied, to suit different cases, were he to employ other agents, as the vapour of chloracyanic acid, sulphu retted chyazic acid, and chloruret of iodine. Each of these, therefore, he now uses in a small phial with a glass stopper, and with a mouth shaped to cover the hollow of the eye. In the bottle containing the hydro cyanic acid, in order to prevent any dangerous conse quences from accidentally spilling the liquid, he puts some pieces of asbestos to act as a sponge; the - use of it is hence quite safe, care only being taken not to allow the patient to smell it. The same thing is done with respect to the chloracyanic acid. Having received these preliminary explanations ' it became important for me to under s ta n d u p on NV hat kinds of blindness the vapour of these acids might be most advantageously directed. The cases submitted to my inspection were various in their nature—opa city of the cornea, rheumatic opthalmia, staphyloma, or projecting slOughed eye, amaurosis, cataract, and some others. On some of these the operations with the hydrocyanic acid and other vapours were, from what I could observe, more efficacious than others. The first case of more than ordinary interest which I shall mention was that of Diana Prim rose. A number of years ago, as this woman told me, her eyes became afflicted with opthalmia; they were swollen, inflamed, and so blind, that she could only distinguish light, and she required to be led by a guide ; to aggravate her complaint, the e 7 c - 'elashes would grow no other way but inwards. The pains in her head were very severe. She attended several hospitals and institutions in the hope of finding relief, but without the least benefit. On one occasion, a surgeon cut away a portion of the upper lid of the left eye, and many of her eyelashes were from time to time pulled out. From less to more, the poor creature became a spectacle of horror to all who saw her; and her existence was a burden which she would willingly have resigned. At length she visited Dr. Turnbull, who, by applying his usual medical agents, suppressed the virulence of the complaint ; the hitherto refractory eyelashes began to grow as nature designed them, outwards; and now there seemed little the matter with her, except a redness of the eyelids, and a dimness in the organs of vision. She said she could now see pretty well ; she could read large print, walk about without a guide, the pains in her head were gone, and she was able to support herself by her industry ; in proof of this, she brought forward a basket of coloured worsted articles, by the knitting of which she earns a livelihood. She expressed a lively grati tude for her restoration to sight, and the last time I saw her she was advancing towards a perfect recovery. Of the cases of staphyloma, or projecting eye, with opacity of the cornea, none interested me more than that of a little girl, by name Georgina Larkins. This sweet-tempered child became blind when she was six days old, in consequence of an attack of inflammation. Referring to the professional history of her case, already before the public, it is sufficient for me here to mention, that all the ordinary means for restoring sight proved, in -her case, unavailing ; and that in April, 1840, she was brought to Dr. Turnbull, a ghastly object—the left eye projecting to twice the natural dimensions, and of a general blue colour, with a white body re sembling a .mother-of-pearl button in the centre ; while the right eye was white, without any appear ance of iris or pupil. The case was as hopeless as could well be imagined, yet to it the Doctor set with his applications, beginning by putting a drop of castor oil into each eye, and occasionally substituting for the After receiving such assurancess, ;niccesitatiOn to publish the result of my inquiries seemed to me un justifiable and pusillanimous. I now, therefore, submit the foregoing statements, with a confidence in their accuracy ; and shall feel gratified if they in any way prove the means of inducing medical men to examine, apart from all private or personal considerations, into the merits of the discoveries and applications in ques tion. WI. C . DEATH OF GENERAL COMTE D ' ORSAY.—We re gret to announce the death of General Comte d'Orsay, which took place at his chateau in Franche Comte, on the 26th of December. His son Comte Alfred, now Comte d'Orsay, was called from England three weeks ago to the death of his father, which his presence and filial attention cheered to the last. General Comte d'Orsay was one of the most distinguished offi cers in Napoleon's army, and on the Restoration ' was employed by the King, Louis XVIII., in wh ose s erv i ce he was sent as Governor to Vittoria, where he so conciliated the affection and esteem of the inhabitants, that on his departure they presented him with a costly sword, inscribed " Au General Comte d'Or say, Vittoria recormoisant." The father of the General was one of the most liberal patrons of art that France ever had, and his noble collection of pictures and statues were open to the artists of every country. He married, first, the Princesse de Croy, belonging to one of the most ancient families in France, mother to the General: and, secondly, the Princesse de Hohen loe, of the noble house of that name in Germany, by whom he had a second son, the Comte Maximilian d'Orsay, at present one of the Chamberlains to the Emperor of Austria. Sir Peregrine Maitland, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, is expe c t e d t o em b ar k on M on d ay, to enter upon his of fi cial duties. E‘ ENING, JANUARY 6, 1844. ANUARY 5, 1844. h of January, 1841, showing the Increase EXTRAORDINARY UPROAR. LECTURE ON AIESNIERISAL On Thursday evening a lecture was given at the Greenwich Literary and Scientific Institution by Mr. Vernon on Mesme rism, which has latterly excited great attention, particularly in that district. At eight o'clock the lecture hall, which will con tain upwards of 1,000 persons, was crowded to excess. Amongst the company were a great number of ladies, several of the county magistrates, gentry, and professional anti scientific men. On the platform, which was devoted to the lecturer, patients, and medical gentlemen, who attended to take part in the pro ceedings, were Dr. Oak, of Blackheath ; Dr. Purvis, of Green wich ; and Messrs. Oak, Mitchell, Sherwin, Atkins, Apple ton, Smith, and Addison and Hope, surgeons of the Dread nought Hospital ship; besides a number of medical students from the London hospitals in the gallery. Mr. BF.NNETT, silversmith, of Stockwell-street, Greenwii h, was called to the Chair. Mr. VERNON then came forward and introduced three mes meric patients—namely, the boy Cook, a very intelligent look • ing youth ; a young man, apparently about 90 years of age, and the very reverse in appearance to Cook ; and a young woman, about the same age. She was very pale, and having looked timidly round sat down and appeared to pay great attention to the lecturer's address. Mr. Smith, jun., who it will be remembered mesmerised the boy Cook, was also present. Mr. VERNON said that, from the great number of persons present, he felt assured a strong interest was felt on the subject of mesmerism. The cause which had mere directly brought him down was the ease of the boy Cook, whom he had been requested to visit, and lie now came forward more particularly to meet the gentlemen of the medical profession, who had so boldly asserted that it was a delusion from beginning to end. Ile had no doubt he should show effects which would convince any unbiassed mind that mesmerism yeas not a delusion, but deserved to be ranked amongst the sciences. He then went on with a formal lecture on the subject, and was occasionally saluted with laughter from the medical gentlemen, and on two or three occasions audible hisses greeted his ears. The Lecturer then cleared the front of the platform, so that no persons might touch the patient or be near enough to nega tive the mesmeric influence. The female was then seated in a chair facing the auditory. Mr. VERNON requested any two or three gentlemen to stand by during the operations. He hoped to have seen Mr. Hope, who had so positively denied the existence of mesmeric in fluence over the boy Cook, come and defend his assertions if he could. There was a general call for Mr. Hope, who, accompanied by Mr. Addison, another surgeon on board the Dreadnought, stepped on to the platform. The LECTURER, in answer to questions, said he had mes merised the patient four times before, but never publicly. He had done so six weeks ago at a private soiree at Dr. Partridge's in Upper Montague-street. Dr. OAK said that only a few minutes before the girl said she had only been mesmerised twice; her memory, therefore, was, at all events, very defective.—(Hear.) Mr. MITCHELL--Well, if there is any truth in the argument, I ask the lecturer to mesmerise me. As a professional man I shall be a better patient.--(Laughter.) I must confess I am sceptical, but if I am wrong I am willing to become a convert —the test, howi4er, must be my being subjected to the mes meric influence, and here lam to submit to it.—( He seated himself in a chair amidst tumultuous applause, which appeared at first to astound the operator. Mr. VERNON appealed to the Chairman whether it could be expected of him to do any other than appeared in the bills. He had attended, not of his own accord, but by special invitation ; neither was he doing it for pecuniary gain. He had no hand in drawing up the bill, but had prepared himself to act up to the promise held out in it. He thought he would be doing sufficient in demonstrating what he could do, without attempting that which might be successful, or from many causes an utter failure. It was a subject which ought to be acted upon with solemnity and calm ness, and not in the manner which the gentleman who had strutted out and thrown himself into antics something amount ing to mountebank-ism.—( Hear, hear, and laughter—and " No shuffling.") The person who cried "no shuffling" had put himself /ion de combat—he kept aloof and proved he could not approach the subject as a matter of science. With regard to the gentleman (Mr. Mitchell) he would undertake to say that on any future occ as io n h e would mesmerise him—if he could.— ( Hear, and laughter.) Mr. Sneawist said that by the invitation of the Learned Professor they had left the pleasures of private life to meet him on the occasion, and all they asked was a fair opportunity to in vestigate the matter. Mr. VERNON—Don't call me a learned professor.—( A voice, " Hold your tongue, don't quarrel ; w h o can go to s l eep i n suc h a noise ?")—(Laughter.) Mr. VERNON—I say it was not my summons for you to attend. I had no interest in the matter, and have only come to prove facts within my own knowledge.—( Hisses, and much confusion. ) The CHAIRMAN called loudly to order, and begged to know whether it was desired that the lecture should proceed? Dr. Punvis said it was a matter which ought to be met fairly, calmly, and dispassionately; and, as Mr. Vernon had come to oblige, it was not treating him fairly. They could not tell what those phenomena were, and it was not fair to chal lenge him to do what he had not professed. Order having been restored, Drs. Purvis and Oak were called 'on by the audience to act as judges, and give their impartial opinion as to the result of the experiment. The Lecturer then made the usual passes, and in less than one minute the patient was declared by the operator to be in a state of mesmeric coma. Mr. Addison and Mr. Sherwin then applied a bottle of strong ammonia to her nostrils and mouth, for several minutes, and the patient showed but very slight oppression. Mr. Sherwin afterwards unclosed her eyelids and introduced his fingers into her mouth, without any visible effect, but caused loud cries of " shame " from many persons. On being loudly called on to state his opinion as to whether the patient was in a mesmeric trance, he, after some ambiguous answers, said there was more the appearance of a person assuming sleep than otherwise. She evidently had a will and responded to the touch. Mr. VERNON . said she was not sleeping the sleep of death, nor was it pretended that she had no will or imagination; the real question was, was it a mesmeric or natural sleep. The test of the strong ammonia which Mr. Sherwin had adminis tered at half the strength and applied for half the time, would have awoke him out of the soundest natural sleep. Dr. Owe said he had been thirty-five years in the prVession, and he hoped he might venture an opinion on the case. He wished to be convinced whether there was any truth in the matter, but, looking at the patient, it was evident she was hysterical, and not in health ; at present she was labouring under hysteria ; besides that, he had just previously heard her speak. Mr. VERNON—Yes, to be sure you did, to Dr. OAK (vehemently).-_W hen I hear the operator speak to the patient, who answers rationally, how the devil can you think otherwise than that she is awake ?—(Loud cries of " re turn our money," and great confusion. ) Mr. VERNON-Dr. Oak said that from 35 years' experience he was qualified to decide whether it was a case of mesmerism or not. Dr. OAK—I did not say mesmerism. I don't believe in it, and I won't have words put into my mouth. Mr. VERNON—II is one of the facts connected with the phenomena.—( Great uproar, and cries of " you are practising an absurdity—the imposture is sufficiently apparent," &c.) The CHAIRMAN—ShaII the meeting be dissolved ? (Up roar. ) The lecturer, of course, does not expect to make every man here of the same opinion, but he is entitled to a hearing. Those who are dissatisfied 'might have their m one y returne d if they thought prop er t o leave.—( Hear.) Mr. VERNON said he expected to have met with a profes sional reception, instead of the uproarious conduct which was more like that in the gallery of a theatre, than o f th ose me t f or the acquirement of scientific knowledge. Whatever the ge neral tenor of their minds might be at that time they were not capable of appreciating any scientific explanation. Unless, therefore, sonie pledge was given of more orderly conduct he would not demean himself by continuing the lecture to them.—( Great uproar, during which the lecturer led the patient off; he then returned). Such uproar was truly disgraceful. He must be excused, if, after such treatment, he was some what excited. He had not run away, but had been perform ing an act of common courtesy to a female who had voluntarily come forward for their information.—(Hear, hear.) She was not kindly treated by the medical gentleman, and the mes meric influence had been partially destroyed.—(Cries of "It's all a humbug," &c.) Sir. WADE (of Deptford) said there were two facts which ought to be stated, which were, that Mr. Vernon had come forward purely for the sake of truth ; and the next, that the money received for admission was to go to the institution, and not a farthing went to him—( Applause). order having been in some degree restored, the lecturer said it was quite impossible for him to say what the mesmeric phenomena might now be, as he himself had been excited and flurried by the riot and uproar, and so no doubt had been the young man whom he was now about to operate on. fie then made the passes, and after a few contortions of the face he dropped for a moment apparently in a state of coma, but startled up and rubbed his eyes. T he operator placed his hand on him, and let him gently down. He frequently started up, exclaiming " I am so hot—be quiet—let me go—you are bothering me about being mesmerised again." He then ap parently fell into a state of profound coma, and a lengthened conversation took place between Mr. Appleton and the lec turer as to the tests to be applied. Thu lecturer said he had never operated on the lad before, but was told that whil s t i n that state he w as susce p t ibl e of feeling, smell, and partial sight. fie could, however, be laid in a state of catalepsy, or one arm could be catalepsed, and there would be a difference in the pulsation, which he thought would be a sufficient test. Sir. APPLETON said it would not in his opinion, for he could by the extension of the muscles of one arm reduce the pulsation in the other. 1)r. Purvis and Mr. Taylor examined the pulse of each arm, and the difference when the left arm was in a state of catalepsy was four beats in a minute, and when reversed only two beats. The left arm appeared as immovable as a statue, but the most magical change took place by the operator pass ing his hand slightly d own ,—it f e ll instantaneous l y. At this juncture, a Mr. Harris, a cabinet-maker, in South street, Greenwich, in a ruffianly way, struck the patient a tremendous blow on the hand with a stick ; the blow sounded above the buzz and noise of the meeting. In an instant there was a simultaneous burst of indignation even by these who had been most prominent in their oppo s iti on t o t h e lec turer. There were loud cries of " Turn him out," " police," " shame, shame," &c., and he was pretty roughly handled. Several accidental collisi ons l e d t o t h e exc h ange of 'blows, and for a few minutes the confusion was indescribable. At length Harris was taken into custody by the police. Mr. VERNON again appeared. He said he must absolve every one in the place of any participation in the dastardly con duct of the party who had struck the inoffensive lad whilst in such a state ; but he could not think of continuing the lecture that evening when there was so much excitement, but hereafter he would meet the gentlemen of the profession and their friends as many times as they liked, and explain his knowledge, and would undertake to mesmerise any of their family. Mr. Hope should even be the agent, and should be able to mesmerise a person by his, Mr. Vernon's, power and communication; the patient should also disclose the taste of whatever he gave to Sir. Hope . , or Mr. Hope gave to him. Ile felt certain of the truth, but could not define it, or reduce it to a prisciple—it was like the laws of gravitation, motion, and heat, only known to exist. Physiology and pathology had been intensely studied for upwards of 2,000 years, and yet there were doubts. Ales. merlons, therefore, ought not to be condemned as chimerical without a fair inquiry,— ( Applause). The lecturer then withdrew with his patients. Strange to say, the lad never flinched under the blow, nor did his hand show the least mark. Mr. Here, who was the first to contradict the existence of mesmeric influence, declined passing any opinion, It was publicly stated, on the authority of some medical men, that the students bad come down purposely to create a dis turbance, and stop the lecture. MORTALITY IN TILE METROPOLIS.--The number of deaths during the week ending Dec. 30, was 1,007, exceed ing those of the preceding ucek by 39, and the average at this season by 60. The increase i 3 chiefly caused by deaths from scarlatina, hooping cough, croup, bronchitis, and asthma. Those from pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs, which some weeks since were nearly 200, have fallen to 99, only 9 above the average. Deaths from small-pox are on the increase ; of the 1.5 persons who died last week 11 had not been vaccinated. The .table contains the death of a man who died at the age of 100 years and 9 months. V. I t . , LITERATURE. ► L-7_17 CHRONICLES OF THE BASTILE. We believe that this work is derived from Fret ch sources, but it is not the less one that will be read with considerable interest in Eno. land, where the Bastile was, while it eiiste considered the accursed engine of tyranny ani . despotism, and where, on its destruction, iir general feeling. of joy was excited (even t gentle Cowper was moved) at the thought that "its towers had When at last." It is here irr tended to shadow tOrth something of the secret history of this terrible dungeon, time grave of se many captives, who in its cells were dead to the world, though keenly alive to all the worn miseries of life. In such a " Chronicle" there must necessarily be a large mixture of fiction with fact; but the wildest imagination cgta hardly surpass in strangeness sortie of the events with which the Bastile is connected. The tales are represented as being given from a manu script kept by a mysterious old man, known as " The Old man of time Bastile ;" and the series commences with a story called " The -.her t:thdiere." Robin Cruikshank has illustrated the part with two good engravings on steel: THE LONDON JOURNAL OF ARTS, SCIENCES:, AND MANUFACTURES. A valuable portion of this work is the repel.. tory of inventions that have been patented within the year. The work has long bees aft established one, and deserves its success. PAYNA'S UNIVERSIIM ; OR, PICTORIAL WORLD. his is the commencement of an illustrated work of a superior kind ; it will contain' fine engravings of " views in all countries, portraits of great men, and specimens of works of art of all ages and of every character." The plates given in the first Part are three in numbar—" Whalen" attacked by Bears, on the Ice," by A. 11. Payne, after Biard; a View of Terni, by the same en graver; and the " Ave Maria," which, in its large form, is so popular at present, it' we may judge from the frequency with which it appetkcs in the stuck of the best printsellers. This, and the first•nained plate, are, we think, the best. THE CHEMIST. In this cheap and well-arranged scientifip work, there are two papers', by Ptolessor Liptig, one—" Investigations concerning the Bile ;" the' other, "On the Distribution or Appropriatioit of Land." THE ART UNION. This periodical commences tile new year witft • a Number of g► eat merit,both in its literary and pictorial departments. The proprietors announce several improvements in their plan, which will be developed immediately, and of which sots: • are visible in this Number. The first article, On the Mercantile Nidue of the Fine Arts," is of the kind exactly c eulated to produce a good efii , ct among a mercantile community like this, and we arc glad to perceive that the subject is to be followed up. The Number derives a general and permanent value from a very spirited litho graph of one of Wilkie's sketches in the Holy Land, ►► Hebrew women reading the Scriptures at Jerusalem," a beautiful subject admirably* treated. It also contains a portrait of Overbeck, the historical painter of Germany, and two fine specimens of the finished outline illustrations to the new edition of the song of the Nibelungen. The Number is a credit to our periodical litera ture. THE PEOPLE'S PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL. Mesmerism, as connected with Phrenology, is attracting much attention at present, and these whu have engaged in,.the controversy on either side will find sonic interesting information its the present number of this Journal. THE CURRENCY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,--The appearance of an article in 77se Sun, signed " Beirniard," has led to the following questions. Can your Correspondent answer them satisfactorily, the question of "de preciation or no depreciation" may, perhap, be considered as decided.—Your obedient servant, GERMANICUS. A, a banker, issues notes of the value of twenty shillings each, promising to repay them, on demand, in gold, at the rate of 123 graMs, standard fine, per note. Presently war or political circumstances, •r a demand for gold, causes geld to advance to 61. per ounce. A, the banker, during the advance of the precious metal finds his stock of gold continuant dint nishing, until at length necessity compels him to petitron the State to restrain hint from laying his notes in gold according to the original contract. The State grants the prayer of the petition. Now if 11, the holder of a nee of twenty shillings, cannot exchange it at any of the London bullion offices, for more than 8(1 grains, standard fine, or 12-114, does 'rot Ore difference, namely, 43 grains, cause a loss to the holder of the note, and is not the banker's note thereby depreciated? INlancl , ester, Jan. 5, 1644. The whole county is groaning with gold. It requires a perfect spendthrift power of squandering to get rid of a sovereign. Peel, ever changing in his principles ,has, by way of counterpoise, taken all power of change out of the sove reign. On all sides we hear the most bitter complaints •t tradesmen, whose interests materially suffer by this lingering embarrassment. One would have thought that a strong Go vernment could at least have settled this question at once. But twelve months have passed over since the annoyance first began. —Westrot Times. ROYAL. ARTILLERY. — Major-General J. Webber Smith, C.B, has been appointed Director-General of Artil lery, vice Major-General Sir Thomas Dowman, C. 8., wko has succeeded to Colonel Commandant of the ijid battalion. Major-General 1. W. Smith is expected to assume his dirties at Woolwich on Tuesday next. AFFAIR or llosoun.—lle following raysterifras communication has been received:—" An afair of boom took place at an early hour on Thursday morning, within Ic)05 miles of town, between a Mr. D--- and a Mr. P—, in gLit sequcnce of Mr. P— having made some remarks in a billi room reflecting upon the character of a young lady to 'tin Mr. D— is much attached, when Mr. D— hall passed through Mr. P—'a hat, within three-quarters of an inch of his head. lam authorised to state, the same parties had bad a previous quarrel about the same matter last spring." LovE AND AIURDER.—OR Wednesday night young man named Sumner, who was paying his addresses fu a girl named. Shelton, both of Arnold, was talking with his lady love in the town street, when her father came to therm and told his daughter to go home. She refused, when he went and fetched a bill-hook or hand-bill, and inflicted suck a savers wound upon Sumner as to fracture his skull. The brutal get low has absconded, and his victins now lies in a most dangerous state.—Nottingham Journal. CURIOUS WAGERS.—On the 15th inst., a bet came off at Downham, the Isle of Ely. between a farmer of that village and a fenman, living in the Third Drove in Fodder Fen. The bet, which was for a sovereign, was, that the feania.n should find his way home from a certain house in the Second Drove blindfold, a distance of about three furlongs, across several fen drains, one of wl.ich was ten feet wide, ditches, &c. ; the widen drain he accomplished with a jumping pole— this wager wa cell won. The second bet, for another Kert reign, was, that he was to start from the same place, blind folded again, without a pole, to his home rgain. About half way on his journey he was at fault, being out of the litre of the ditches some ten or twelve yards ; but he again faced the wind, and retrieved his place, and won his second wager. The second time he performed his journey on his hands and knees all the way, using the sides of the ditches as his guide, some of which were eight feet deep arid full of water. 11* was accompanied by above a hundred spectators, anxious to see the performance of so novel a feat. CAUTION TO HOTEL AND TAVIJRN-KEEPERS.— On Tuesday evening, the 2d instant, a person of most gentle manly address and appearance, entered the York Hotel, corner of the York-road, Lambeth, inquiring if he could be accent modeed with a bed. After partaking of refreshment in the coffee-mom he retired to bed, and in the mottling when about to kare, the waiter requested payment, when he stated he had agreed with the proprietor to occupy his bed for several nights, and was only going out to breakfast with a friend. When the chambermaid entered the room it was discovered he had, with instruments, attempted to force open a chest of drawers, but the locks being very superior, had resisted his efforts, but he had much inured the wood. ThE ',ATI: LORD N EDOCIL—The mortal re mains of the late venerable and gallant Lord Lynedoch were disembarked on Friday morning last at Dundee. Mr. Robert Graham, who inherits the deceased Nobleman's property, and Mr. A. Murray, also related to the late Lord, having, in the performance of a duty of respect, accompanied the body to Scotland from London. In going through Perth in the after noon, as the mournful cortege approached, the city minute goes were fired, and the bells of St. John's tolled. Many of the inhabitants closed their houses, in testimony of their regard for the memory of the gallant deceased. 'I he body remained in state until Monday evening. On Tuesday, shortly before twelve, the customary religious ceremonies were performed by the Rev. Messrs. Buchanan and Listen; and all the necessary preparations for the interment being competed, the funeral procession formed. On the funeral cortege leaving the grounds of the cottage, a large body of the principal tenantry, who had assembled at the home farm, joined in the procession, and at tended it to Methven, where it was the will of the late Lord to be buried. A vast. concourse of persons from all parts of the county had gathered at the remantic village, and as the funeral passed to the cemetery, a general feeling of regret fur the de parted pervaded the entire congregation. Although cc many persons had net, not the slightest confusion arose, and the be haviour of all classes was characterised by becoming decorum. This exemplary county of Devon hath been much scandalised by a young clergyman, who, baying paid his ad dresses to a young lady, broke off the match, in order, it is said, to take to another of a larger fortune. The case is Said to be one of scandalous cruelty, as he obtained the yonng laity's affections before he began to inquire about her fortune, And cough d with his religious professions, it has raised a great utery again s t ore who, in the garb of sanctity, goeth b ard fro as a l edlar trading for gain on his own personal attractiorsy. it estern Times. The _Duke of Manchester and Sir W. Robinson have adopted the allotment system, the one at his estetel is Huntingdonshire, and the other at Stretton Hall, to the Society of which district lie has given 100/. for the benefit of the agri culturalroor. _ _ _ On Tuesday an association was formed at Dunmow,, in Essex, for the protection of agricult.ire from fire, when a' letter was read from Sir James Graham offer - in.. 1001. reward for the detection of persons supposed to have been concerned in the late incendiary fires. The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England have just appointed Dr. Playfair consulting chemist to the Society. Dr. Piayfair is about to establish a laboratory at the Royal Institution, Manchester, for the study and practice of agricultural chemistry. To prove thirt the monopolists do not monopolise all the agricultural talent, the Aylesbury News mentions the fact that oil Wednesday last, at the annual meeting of the Tring Agricultural Association , the prize of a silver cu p t o th e occupier of the best cultivated farm, was awarded to a M r. Law, a staunch free trader. , . k{ ~. r,- If k!'t P t Or ii; iod 0 5, to d led ae 4 or. al, 1 0° ber i re of bt .el