The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-20 00:00:00

Cbirb Xbitt on SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cloch. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.) A special general Meeting of this Company was held this day, at the Paddington Station, the Chairman of the Board of Directors in the chair. The CHAIRIIAN said that, as the Meeting was small, he believed the business would be small also. The Directors had called the proprietors together for the purpose of asking them to confirm the sanction which they had already on two occasions given to the bill for enabling this Company to unite with, and subscribe 150,0001. to, the South Devon Railway Company. The Bill had been read ii second time, having unanimously passed through the Committee, and would shortly be read a third time, notwithstanding the great opposition which had been ffered to it. But, accordin,,, ,, to a standing order of the louse of Lords, before the - Bill could be read in that %louse, it was necessary that the draft should have been approved of and accepted by three• fifths of the pro prietors present at a general meeting specially convened for the purpose of taking that subject into consideration. To comply with that Standing Order the present meeting had been called. The Secretary would then read the report of the Directors. = The SECRETARY read the Report, which stated, almost as concisely, the matter contained in the opening expla nation of the Chairman. The Report further stated that cn the 10th instant the Royal Assent was given to the Bill for enabling the Company to amalgate with the Oxford and Cheltenham Railway Companies, whereby they would all be under one management, and the lines would be completed at less cost. On the motion of Mr. Wistraw, seconded by another Proprietor, the Report was received. The SECRETARY then read the clauses in the South Devon Railway Bill which applied to this Company ; and after a' brief conversation, -- ...A'V'SittrnEns moved a resolution, to the effect that the Proprietors present approve of those clauses. The resolution was seconded, and adopted uanimously. A PRO'PRIETOR begged to suggest that some means shoal(' he adOpted by the Directors to give the Proprie torsmore early intelligence of the approaching special meZting. He thought the Secretary should be instructed to write to the Proprietors, instead of leaving the matter to the chance of their seeing the advertisements. For his part he had not seen the advertisement until late on Saturday evening. The CHAIRMAN said that the advertisements were in serted in strict accordance with the Act of Parliament. If they were to write to every Proprietor the Secretary would have to write 2,500 letters.—(Hear, hear.) Still he thought the suggestion of the Holt. Proprietor was of importance, and the Directors would give it due consi deration. . Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. GT.ol3E.—Church rates continue to supply matter for expensive, and we will add, disgraceful litigation. Several cases, which have recently been published in the daily journals, are calculated to diminish the influence which the national establishment ought to exercise, with salu tary effect, upon public opinion, and the confidence which ought to he felt in the impartiality of the authorities who administer the law. We have invariably employed our efforts to induce the members of the Established Church and the dissidents from her creeds and worship, to unite in an application to the Legislature fur an alter ation in the law, which is unhappily so fruitful in oc casions '.of expensive and injurious strife. We have less hope than ever of effecting amicable arrangements between the belligerents. But the dispute—which appears interminable, if its termination is allowed to rest upon a compromise between the advocates for and opponent of the existing system—produces a state of things with which the Legislature ought to interfere for the purpose of applying a remedy. A law which would place the repara tion of the structures upon the taxation of the country, and compel the members of the Established Church to provide what is requisite for the performance of public worship in the churches, according to the rites and ceremonies of her liturgy, would remove this constantly arising cause of parochial strife. In many parishes the 'expense incurred by litigation has amounted to more than the entire amount of the rate which oc casioned the altercation and the subsequent legal pro ceedings in the Courts. This was the case in the still unterminated Braintree church-rate dispute. There he costs- s -which were eventuallycast upon the parish, or sather upon the churchwardens, owing to the rate being pronounced invalid—would have built a new church front the foundation. Two cases illustrative of the evil of church-rates, as • now provided for, have taken place within the last few days. The one was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench, on appeal from Sir 11. Jenner Fust, the judge before whom the proceedings were brought, and the case decided in the Arches Court. The parties, " Francis and others," inhabitants of St. George Colegate in the city of Norwich, were cited by Archdeacon Bathuast, to appear in that Court for refusing to join in making a church-rate. Archdeacon Bathurst, acting in concurrence with other Archdeacons in that diocese, actually instituted proceedings against these parties, and brought them into the " Court Christian," to answer " for having contumaciously obstructed, or at least refused to make, or join, or concur in the making, of a sufficient rate for the necessary repair of the church of the parish of St. George, Colegate, in the city of Norwich, they being parishioners of that parish, and liable, as such, to a rate for the repair of the church." Mr. Francis appeared to the citation ; and pleaded, by way of protest, that he had not been guilty of any eeelesiastical offence in the matters alleged against him. Sir Herbert Jenner Fust, after argument, decided that an ecclesiastical offence had been committed by Mr. Francis, in "refusing to make, or join, or concur in making, a church-rate." A writ of prohibition was obtained in the Court of Queen's Bench; and Lord Denman delivered a judgment, remarkable for clearness, in which the judgment of Sir 11. Jenner Fust was reversed, and all proceedings in the suit stayed. The power of vestry meetings to refuse church rates was fully recognised. The expense of these pro ceedings must have been very considerable. This, how ever, is the least part of the mischief produced by such contests. Their influence upon the public mind with reference to religion generally, and to the Established Church in particular, is extensively injurious, and ought to be stayed. Another case of the same character and tendency was disposed of by the Judicial Committee of Privy Council, on appeal from a decision of the same Judge, on Thursday last. A church-rate had been made in a vestry meeting of the parish of Hornchurch, in Essex. Against the validity of this rate, Pigott, an in habitant of the chapelry of Rumford, alleged to be situate within the parish of Hornchurch, appealed, on various grounds. The Court of Arches decided against the party who impugned the validity of the rate. Pigott, who is a very poor man, had conducted his, case in person. On the decision of the Court below being pronounced against him, he appealed to the Judicial Committee, where he obtained the able assistance of Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Mellor. The deci sion of the Judge of the Ecclesiastical Court was re versed, and the whole proceedings quashed. The judg ment was giseri on only one ground. The court, by '.surd Brougham, who presided, stated that as the rate vas manifestly bad on this ground, it was unnecessary to so into the others. Several hundred pounds have F.-en spent in this litigation ; and m a t er i a l s f or Siture litigation are sug ges t e d, of which par will avail themselves in future. If those who cling to the existing system refuse to be influenced by a love of peace, let them at least listen to the voice of prudence. The requirements of the law to give validity to a Church-rate are so numerous, and the probability that one or more errors will be detected, in any rate which may be disputed, so great, that almost every appeal brought against a rate is successfuly prose cowl. If the law expenses incurred in prosecuting and resisting appeals, and in enforcing payment of Church rates, were ascertained, it would go far to produce a desire for a final settlement of the question in those now most attached to the existing law, and most strenuous in maintaining it. STANDARD.—There is a homely English proverb, fall of good sense; like most of our old English adages, which we think may be usefully remembered at this sarticular moment. The proverb is this ; that " one slight not to cut his nose to vex his face." The principle conveyed in this simple suggestion s of great value in politics ; for in political '..ransactions it is that mon will be most frequently )trtaidesi by the friends in - whom they repose most confidence. It. is not easy to find a single ques tion upon which even all men pursuing the same and wig think alike, but to find a succession of • s s l i t .e. ou tanutstions from y ear t o y ear , i s an utter impos tty- Now, as in the conduct of public affairs the • actors must ever constitute only a very small portion af the party to which they belong, it is very al tin that t h ese actors must oftengive offence to many • '•)f those engaged with them in the same common cause ; but t o resent this offence, not merely by war give upon the pers o ns who it, but upon the principles of the party, is sur e l y a plain c"cutting the nose to vex th e f ace ." At present:Seealllt of e honest men o f th e Conservative party, and a servatives who are not honest, twine a l n a T b ( professing Con 9ring to exc it e public indignation again s t h er Majesty's Ministers. Now, of the honest Conservatives we would ask what be the end of their. success, supposin g that they sh m ou u lt s i succeed in running down Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet ? The question is a serious one, for they may suc ceed, if they persevere in the course that they are pursuing. Lord. J. Russell, Lord Howick, &e., h ave already stripped off their Whig liveries, ready to take the reins as soon as they shall be wrested from Si r ra, Peel's hands, with a resolution, however, to put them al again as soon as they are settled upon the box. Let Conservatives only remember the facility with which the change was made in 1830 by the effect of Tory apathy or Tory aid, and the return that the Whigs made to them, and then think twice before they again "cut their noses to vex their faces," having now far less provocation than they had fourteen years ago. Ile they want•another ten years of Whig rule As Conserve : tives, they must have some care for the institutions of the country. Do they wish to place these institutions once more at the mercy of Whig rulers, because it is surmised that the present Ministers, though greatly miti . Whig it, h ave not v i olently reversed the whole of the Whig policy (this is the complaint) will Conservatives consent to return to the arms of the Whigs? We speak here of the efforts made by honest men t o r u n do wn h er Majesty' s M inisters, and we wish broadly to mark the distinction between running down a C a bi net an d vot i ng against it, or advisinger to vote a ga i ns t it. Th e iirst must,if successful, o, be a fatal to the party to • v. hich the Cabinet belongs. The other may, in many ises, augment th e personal influence of Ministers, ni w bile it puts them ou t o f off i ce for a moment,a THE BUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1844. may at the same time greatly exalt the character of the party to which the retiring Ministers belong. It is a great mistake that division in politics is weakness. An honest division of opinion, not fundamental, is much more frequently an accession of strength, because character is strength, in public opinion ; but compromise is always weakness—for whether dishonest or not, it looks like honesty. We could have heartily de sired that upon the occasion of Lord Ashley's late proposition, every Member of the House of Commons had voted according to his own conscientious judgment, the effect of which would undoubtedly have been to leave the Ministry in a minority, and remove them for a mo ment from office ; but it would have been for a moment only. Without a dissolution of Parliament the Con• servative majority would have insisted upon the resump tion of office by a Ministry that had achieved so much for the peace, the wealth, the prosperity, and safety of the country ; or with a dissolution, the present Conservative majority of 100 would have been about doubled, by reason of that very stand made for the la bouring classes by the Conservatives in Parliament. Lord John Russell, Lord Howick, and the other Whigs saw this, and they hedged, as the jockey's phrase is, in contemplation of the possible appeal to the country ; we will not give any more charitable con struction to their pirouette, because we do not find one of them offering amends to the memory of the great and good man who commenced the work of protection, and whom they persecuted for doing so—Michael Thomas Sadler the only man of whom we know anything that ever deserved to go before Lord Ashley. To have out-voted Ministers on the factory question would have done no harm, but a great deal of good, to the Conservative party; but what possible good can result to the Conservative interests from the attempt to run down the Conservative Cabinet —the best Ministry, too, that the country has had for half a century? Will abuse of Sir R. Peel's Govern ment tell in tavour of a Conservative candidate on the hustings, or anywhere else? And, next, we would have our readers to remember the parties who urge them into a course prima facie so unwise. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships assembled at Five o' Clock. Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills. The Bishop of CHESTER presented several peti tions against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. Lord CAMPBELL presented several petitions praying the House to legalise Presbyterian mixed marriages. LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a petition . from the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company, praying their Lordships to facilitate the progress of this Railway Bill through Parliament. Lord BROUGHAM did not wish to interpose any unnecessary delay in the progress of this Bill. He must say, however, that it was rather a novel pro ceeding on the part of railway jobbers to present a petition to their Lordships, praying their Lordships to interfere between the two Houses of Parliament when a conference had taken place between them on the subject of some particular Bill. He would just state generally the facts of the case to their Lordships. He had consented to abandon his opposition to the Lancaster and Carlisle Rail way Bill upon certain conditions. Had it not been for those conditions, he would have op posed the pill in every stage in both Houses of Parliament, and he would have devoted himself to that opposition, and he would have done nothing else but oppose the Bill for a period of six months.— (Laughter.) His Noble Friends laughed, but let them be placed in the same situation, and they would find it no laughing matter. It was no laughing mat ter to be driven from your own home by a railway being brought so near to that home as to make it quite impossible to remain there—to be driven from that home in which your ancestors had dwelt for up wards of 900 years. He had waived his objectionito this Bill for the public good, upon two:conditions. One of these conditions had been performed, the other had not. It was very well to say that the condition had not been fulfilled, because the House of Commons would not consent to it. He'could not yet discover in what way the opposition to the clause had been raised in the other House of Parliament. Indeed the Right Honourable Speaker had assured him that the clause was very much talked of in the House before it was discussed in the Committee. He had bargained with the parties to the Bill to withdraw his opposition, on condition that he should have the clause, and it was of no use for them to say that the Commons would not agree to it. He should therefore oppose the Bill, as they had taken away the condition on which he had taken away his opposition. Some of the members of the Company were most respectable men, and his friends, and in capable of any fraud. But some one connected with the other parties had procured the fraud to be done. He would ask their Lordships, how would any of them like a jobbing railwaycompany to cutthrough their grounds, to keep a waste all round their domains for three or four years—to drive them from the mansims, and castles, and villas, in which their ancestors had been domi- ciled for centuries—and to have their privacy broken in upon by hordes of labourers from every part of the United Kingdom ?—(Hear and laughter.) Still he had pledged his word that, on condition of obtaining the clause, he would withdraw his opposition. But he would not consent to be trampled upon by any Company, because they were many and he was but one.—(hear, hear, and laughter.) Lord CAMPBELL said that the opposition of his Noble and Learned Friend might be very proper, and the clause might be very justifiable. But the opposition to it, as he understood, was grounded on the fact that it had been introduced, not in Commit tee, but upon bringing up the report, and that with out notice, so that it was passed sub silentio. It was on that ground, as explained to their Lordships in the conference, the House of Commons threw out the clause.—(Hear, hear.) Ile was sure that no ore could suppose it was thrown out to disoblige his Noble and Learned Friend, for (as he said unfeignedly) no one could think of disobliging his Noble and Learned. Friend, who was so courteous and obliging.—(Laugh ter.) The objection to the clause was, that it ought not to have been inserted without notice. • Lord BROUGHAM said that the objection to want of notice was groundless, inasmuch as the other parties had assented to the clause.—(Hear, hear.) For his part he had rather throw out the Bill than accept the clause.—(Hear.) The Marquis of CLANRICARDE wished to ex plain why he had presented the petition. He had taken no interest in the measure, but as the petition was placed in his hands he had thought it his duty to present it. He under stood the facts to be, the Railroad Company had no objection to the clause, but that the Com mittee of the House Commons looked upon it as in the nature of an amendment upon a Turnpike Bill, and therefore rejected it because it had been intro duced without notice as required by the standing orders. He thought this so great and important a railway that it ought not to stop because the House of Com mons would not 'pass an Act to amend a turnpike Act. He hoped his Noble Friend would have no ob jection to discuss this subject to-morrow or Thurs day. The Noble Marquis concluded by moving that the petition should lie on the table, and that the reasons of the House of Commons for disagreeing with their Lordships' amendments should be printed. —Agreed to. Lard BROUGHAM presented a petition from a place in Lancashire in favour of the Roman Catholic Charitable Bequests Bill. _ _ The Marquis of LONDONDERRY seeing the Noble Earl the First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to withhold this year any grant for the purpose of putting the harbour of Port Patrick and Donaghadee in a proper state of repair. If that harbour was not to be kept up as a packet-station, it ought at least to be put in a proper state of repair, so as not to endanger the lives of her Majesty's subjects, and if it was not so the fault would bb with her Majesty's Ministers, of whom it would be said that they would not expend the paltry sum of 8,0001. to secure the lives of her Majesty's subjects. The Earl of lIADDINGTON said that this sub ject had excited a great deal of interest. Last year when his Noble Friend put a similar question to him, he stated that it was not the intention of her Ma jesty's Government to take any vote for the improvement of Port Patrick, as the Government believed that they had done enough towards the construction of the harbour. Since, however, his Noble Friend had given him notice of this question, he had made inquiry, and he found that a communication had been made to the Government, and the result of that was that the Go vernment had altered their former determination, and they now intended in the course of the present ses sion to tak e a vo t e f or t h e purpose of dredging the harbour of Port Patrick and Donaghadee. The Earl of GALLOWAY expressed a hope that steamers of great power would be placed upon this station. After a few words from the Marquis of DOWN SHIRE the subject dropped. (LEFT ammo.) USE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. NEW WRIT. HO On the motion of Sir J. CHETWODE a new writ was ordered for the borough of Buckingham, in the room of Sir Thomas Fremantle, who, since his election had accepted the office of Secretary at War. The IVhitehaven Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. On the motion that this Bill be read a third time. Mr. ESTCOURT said, that an arbitration clause had been introduced into this Bill, which, if pzssed, he thought would establish a dangerous precedent. He would, therefore, suggest that the third reading of the Bill be postponed for a fortnight, in order that a person might be sent down to Ashton, by the Board of Trade, to settle the disputed point, and that a clause founded upon his report should be in troduced into the Bill. Mr. LABOUCHERE, as Chairman of the Com mittee, was inclined to agree with the Hon. Gentleman in this proposition, inasmuch as he believed that the substantial object for which the Committee had been appointed had been accomplished. The simple question was how the land which the Company were not about using should be appro priated. He was obliged to the Hon. Member for bringing the matter before the House, and also thought that his views were the best and soundest that had been taken of the matter. After a few words from Mr. PARKER and Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET, the third reading was post poned for a fortnight. The third reading of the Ashton and Staleybridge Railway Bill was likewise postponed for a fortnight. DUBLIN AND CASHEL RAILWAY. Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from the Grand Jury of Dublin, in favour of the line of Rail way between Dublin and Cashel. Mr. GLADSTONE rose to move that as much of the Fourth Report of the Select Committee on Rail. ways as related to the alteration of the 33d Standing Order be adopted by the House. The adoption of this proposition was a matter of great importance to all parties connected with railway property. In proposing the repeal of that part of the Standing Order which related to deposits, he by no means wished to cast the slightest imputation on the Stand ing Order itself. When made, it might have been the best which the House could adopt, and he had no doubt it was a wise and salutary provision.—(Hear.) Its operation had been this, that money was advanced, and so far the House had a guarantee that the scheme of the parties connected with the Bill were acting bond fide. But, with regard to the persons by whom the money was to be deposited, the Standing Order was not complied with, for the money was principally advanced by persons interested in the new scheme who .had the command of • :capital The standing order was passed with a view of dis countenancing unsound speculations, but it operated also to check those speculations which were sound in themselves, and at a time when trade was depressed, when it was rather desirable to stimulate undertakings of this description. So far as regarded those periods which were not periods of active speculation generally the reduction of the deposits would produce almost unmixed good. It might be asked what security had they except from the deposits. His answer was, they did not propose to do away with the deposits altogether, but to reduce them and the great advantage of deposits was not so much in their amount as in their being deposits of any amount. But bethought it would be necessary that tl.e House should take some measures to make a more strict examination into railway Bills than heretofore —that they should look more narrowly into the public reasons and objects of such Bill than they were previously accustomed to do—(Hear) —because he admitted that if it was probable they should continue for future years to abide by the same unregulated proceedings with regard to railway bills, which prevailed to a great extent up to the present time, the proposition which he now made, although it might be deserving of adoption on some grounds, would, on the whole, be liable to grave;objections. Ile was not now prepared to explain in definite terms the precise nature of the measure to which he referred, because its precise nature was now occupying the anxious attention of the Committee to which that House had delegated inquiry upon the whole subject of railways ; but' he did say that some measure for the examination of railway schemes was requisite, and it was because he b e li eve d th a t propos iti on t o be in disputable, that he ventured to put it to the House that they might proceed so far as to part with a cer. tain portion of the security which they had hitherto possessed. The proposition which be now made to the House would have the effect of assimilating the rule of the House of Commons to the rule which subsisted in the House of Lords, and he had beer, apprised on good authority that that rule was not adopted by the llouse of Lords without mature consideration, which he thought an additional recommendation for the adop tion of his proposition. lie therefore begged leave to move that the standing order No. 33 be rescinded. There was another matter to which he wished to refer. It had been suggested that the parties, instead of being obliged to deposit money should be allowed to deposit Exchequer Bills or other public securities. It ap peared to those parties that they were obliged to leave money in an unfruitful state when it was thus deposited. But there was nothing in the Act of Parliament which should prevent the invest ment of those deposits in the, public secu rities after the deposits had • been made. He did not think it would be expedient that Parlia ment should require the money to lie without pro ducing interest, because that would be imposing a pecuniary fine. Such was not the case as the law stood at that moment, and therefore the Committee l.ad not made any recommendation. The Clerk having read the order at full length, Mr. HUME said he had listened with great attention to what had fallen from the Right lion. Gentleman, but, looking at the evils which the stand ing order was intended to prevent, be had great doubts as to the propriety of abrogating it. He was not aware, from the notice, of the extent to which the Right Hon. Gentleman intended to go. He confessed he did not see why greater facilities should be afforded to speculators of this kind than to any others. It had been proved before the Committee that one hundred labourers had received five shillings each for signing five different names, subscribing 5,0001., in order to make out the list for the prospectus. That was by no means a solitary case. Now he could not see any inconvenience, when a rail way was to be constructed, in having the subscription lodged in Exchequer Bills. He thought that 10 per cent. was not a large sum to deposit. He had doubts as to the propriety of making these ex ceptions in favour of Railroad Bills. He asked that before assent to this proposition the evidence on which the Committee had determined should be laid upon the table. He thought this discussion should be postponed until the evidence should be before the House. Mr. LABOUCHERE dispaired of being able to add anything to what had fallen from the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade. He agreed with the Hon. Member for Montrose, that when these undertakings were little understood it was right to have 10 per cent. deposited, but now that they were better understood such a regulation was no longer necessary. At a time too when so many persons were wanting employment, it was es pecially desirable to encourage these undertakings. He could confirm the statement of the Right lion. Gentleman that the subject had been fully discussed in that Committee before the recommendation had been agreed to. Sir R. PEEL admitted that the House was not bound by the recommendation of the Committee, but still when they had appointed a Select Committee, although their recommendation was not binding on the House of Commons, he thought it was at least entitled to the respectful consideration of the House. The Committee was composed of gentlemen ad mirably qualified to decide upon the subject, and who had the advantage of deliberating upon it; but lie took higher ground upon this occa sion. The carrying of this motion would materially' facilitate the passing of the Bill for the construction of the Dublin and Cashel Railway.—(Hear, hear.) This railway had been undertaken without any Government grant. It had been undertaken by persons of every party in politics. It was of great importance that the example set in this instance should be encouraged. It would tend to give employ ment to the labouring classes in Ireland ; and he hoped, before the close of the session, that the Royal assent would be given to a Bill for the formation of a railway between Dublin and Cashel.—(Cheers.) Mr. VERNON SMITH wished for the postpone ment of the discussion ; he thought the reason given by the Hon. Gentleman ought not to influence the House. Mr. GLADSTONE said the recommendation did not extend to more than three or four lines. Mr. R. FERGUSON said that keeping the order es it at present stood was a practical fraud, and he proved that it did not afford the slightest security. After a few words from Mr. MASTERMAN, Mr. lIUME replied—He had heard no answer to his objection, and he should, therefore, take the sense of the House on the question. Sir R. PEEL said the Hon. Gentleman had mis understood him; he had not supported the recom mendation for any specific Bill, but for the advantage it would give to the formation of railways in Ireland generally. Mr. WARBURTON supported the motion for the postponement. Mr. IIUME thought the question ought to be ad journed till they got the evidence taken before the Committee printed. The Hon. Gentleman moved, that the debate be adjourned. Mr. GISBORNE thought if the question was put off upon the ground stated by the Hon. Member for Montrose, it would have the effect of putting it off till the end of the session. He hoped the House would at once agree to the resolution. After some observations from Mr. HUME and Mr. GLADSTONE, the amendment of Mr. Hume was with drawn, and the motion was agreed to. SAVINGS' BANKS. Mr. IIUME gave notice that he would to-morrow ask for returns relating to savings' banks and Go vernment annuities. Sir R. FERGU SON moved for a return of the expense of each district lunatic asylum in Ireland for the year ending the 31st of March, 1844, showing the total annual expense, the annual average expense of each patient, the number of patients from each, and the sum charged to each county in the year ; also of the number of patients in each on the first day of April, 1843, the number admitted, the number discharged, distinguishing those discharged as cured, as relieved, as harmless and incurable, and the number transferred to workhouses ; the number who have died, and the total discharged, the number in each on the 31st of March, 1844, the number to whom admission was refused, and the average number in each asylum in each year ; also of the total expenditure in each asylum in the year, the total cost per head per annum, the expenses in furniture, bedding, and linen, the expen diture in fixtures, additions, and alterations, work men's bills, &c., the total expenditure in clothing, the total expenditure in salaries and servants' wages, the total expenditure in food only, the cost per head per annum for food, the cost per head per week for food, and the cost per head per day, all calculated from the average number of patients during the year ; also of the particulars of each salary and servants' wages, and the total . amount of the same for the year; also of the number admitted into each asylum be tween the opening and the 31st of March, 1844, the numbers discharged or recovered, the numbers dis charged or taken away by their friends as relieved, or harmless and incurable, or transferred to workhouses within that period; the number of relapsed cases, and the number who have died within that period, and the total number remaining in each asylum on the 31st of March, 1844. The Hon. Baronet also moved for similar returns from the Cork lunatic asylum; and also a return of the number of insane persons in each workhouse in Ireland, on the 31st day of March, 1844, with the estimated annual expense of each, and the total in public lunatic asylums and workhouses in Ireland, on the 31st day of March, 1844.—Ordered. Mr. HUME asked the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite if he had any objection to lay on the table of the House the correspondence between the Ame rican Minister and the British Government, relative to the annexation of Texas to the American Union ? The Right Hon. Gentleman would perceive that the whole of that transaction took place in con sequence of the interposition of Great Britain with Texas with respect tOrAlave t ry. Sir R. PEEL was not prepared to lay on the table of the house any correspondence with respect to any treaty which had been 'signed . relating to the annexa tion of that country. Mr. HUME did. not want the correspondence re lating to a treaty having reference to the annexation of Texas. What he wanted was the correspondence which related to putting down slavery in Texas. Sir It. PEEL wished to know if it were good po licy just to publish at the present moment that which had been published by another Government, and which could answer no good purpose. He thought it objectionable on principle, unless they were pre pared to follow up the example which had been set them by another Government. Sir R. INGLIS wished to get some information on the order in which the business of the house would be taken. He was anxious to know when the Dis senters' Chapels Bill would be brought on? Sir R. PEEL said it was impossible for him to say on what day the Bill would come on. He was anxious to make as much progress as possible with the important measure which was to be founded on the resolutions which he would move that night, viz., The Bank Charter Acts Bill. He therefore, thought that any discussion which might be taken on the Dissenters Chapels Bill, should be taken on the second reading rather than on any stage, and he would not take the third reading before Whitsuntide ; with respect to any further arrange ments which would be necessary with respect to Government Bills, he, would make them after Whit suntide. be in conformity with the original principle, and should be reserved if the bullion amounted to one-third of the totol issues. There was another point of great im portance connected with the issues of the Bank of England, to which he did not advert on the last occa sion. The question was, what was the definition of " ?"—(Hear)—whether did it include silver as well as gold, and whether the Bank could issue notes or silver as well as gold. It appeared from the returns made by the Bank, that with their bullion meant silver as well as gold. Should they include silver in the amount of bullion upon which it should be lawful for the Bank to issue notes, this was very important. They had not entered into any engagement with the Bank on the subject, so that they were perfectly free. He knew their strict and rigid ad herence to the principle laid down would confine the issue of notes to the possession of gold alone. If they limited the issues to the possession of gold alone, it would not necessarily deprive the Bank of the posses sion of silver, because the Bank might appro priate a portion of the banking funds to the possession of silver ; and while silver in its banking department ; but as this would give no re turn, he thought it was hardly fair to expect the Bank would accede to it, however enlightened their views might be. If they prevented the Bank issuing any portion of their notes upon silver, they must expect the Bank would hold very little silver for the public accommodation. He had given some consideration to this subject, and he believed that considerable inconvenience must arise if they altogether prevented the Bank from issuing any portion of their notes upon silver. He was not now speaking of any compromise of the great principle that gold was the only standard. The only legal pay ment by the Bank should be in gold. If a person presented 50/. in notes he should have a right to demand fifty sovereigns in gold, and if he took gold of the real standard weight, he should have a right to demand notes in exchange. The transactions of the public with the Bank so far as gold was concerned, should be perfectly unrestricted, making a reduction of about Id. difference in the gold to be delivered in exchange for notes, and the gold to be received from the Bank upon the demand of a person presenting the notes. That was to say every person Should have a right to sell gold to the Bank, and . demand payment in notes, receiving 3/. 17s 9d. per ounce for gold he presented, and that he should have a right to demand gold in exchange for his note , , receiving at the rate of 3/. 17s. 10d., thus allowing 11d. for the expense of coinage. Of course he pro posed to make no alteration whatever in that respect. Every man was to be unfettered in his right to de mand gold in exchange for his notes. But the ques tion was, should he permit partial dealing with the Bank with respect to the receiving of silver. He hoped the country would not admit the substitution of silver for gold, but at the same time they wore exposed to the inconvenience which arose from other countries adopting silver as the standard. At present the silver was sent out of this country in exchange for gold, and the gold was deposited in the Bank. If they would permit the Bank to pay those who were willing to remove it, silver, when the Bank thought it expedient to do so, the charge of that export and import would be saved. There was another reason why silver should not be altogether excluded. Remittances were now made to a very considerable extent from America and China in silver. If they prevented the Bank from issuing silver altogether, there would be no demand for it in this country, and it must seek a market in foreign countries. Then, again, there was a great facility for conducting universal transactions with some parts of the world, particularly with India and China, in borrowing a stock of silver. If a party had the option of getting silver from the Bank, he would be enabled to get remittances when they were necessary from India or China, instead of having to send to the continent for it. It appeared to him that it would give facilities to commerce, if they permited the Bank to issue some portion of its notes upon silver, treating silver as a valuable commodity, to be dealt with accotding to the option of the Banh. Silver had now ceased to b 2 a standard of value alto gether. Formerly ss. 2d. an ounce was the Mint :price for silver, but there was no reference now to that standard. Their silver coin was a mere token, and ss. 2d. an ounce did not at all designate its value. The amount of legal tender was limited to 40s. ; at the same time he thought there would be a great advantage in having a stock of silver in this country which would be used for the rectifi cation of the exchange. He was inclined to propose that the Bank should be allowed to issue a portion of its notes upon silver, but that the amount upon which it should so issue notes should not exceed one-fourth of the amount which it issued upon gold ; that the Bank should issue notes upon four millions of gold and one' million of silver. But then if the Bank found it necessary to increase its supply of gold, it must itself be responsible for the loss sustained in the conversion of the amount of silver into gold, because no legal demand on the Bank could be satisfied in silver, the Bank must, therefore, run the risk of the loss sustained by its conversion. Still requiring that gold, and gold alone, shall be received in payment of a debt—still maintaining the great principle upon which this measure was founded, be proposed to give to the Bank this advantage in rectifying the exchanges, and to merchants for making their remittances to India and China, and other places, which he feared must be given up if they rigorously per sisted in confining their issues of gold, and gold alone. He would now proceed to other parts of his explanation, which referred to joint-stock banks and private banks. He proposed that every bank which had, on the Gth of May last, the privilege of issuing notes should continue to exercise that privi lege as long as it thought proper. BANK CHARTER. The House then went into Committee on the Bank of England Charter Acts. Mr. B. ESCOTT presented a petition from the in habitants of the Cities of London and Westminster, praying the House to repeal the Currency Law of 1819. Mr. SCIIOLLFIELD presented a petition from Birmingham to the same effect. Sir It. PEEL said he should be very unwilling to interpose any observations before the commencement of the discussion upon the resolutions which he should move that evening, if he did not think it would be for the convenience of Members who were likely to take part in that discussion, and for the advantage of the discussion itself.; were he to make ex planations on some points with respect to which it was probable questions would be put and points relating rather to the details than to the general prin ciples of the measure. He was sure the House would bear in mind that it was, necessary for her Majesty's Government to frame their measure, and for him, as she organ of that Government, to make the statement which he did on the:th of May, without the advantage of communicating with parties whose opinions on such a . question were entitled to great weight. In his opinion deep and entire secresy in ' all matters relating to money was absolutely necessary. Making every concession to the honour and integrity of individuals, in matters affecting the monetary interests of this country, the Government must be contented with availing itself of such information as the evidence taken before Committees and their own experience might supply. They must not enter into commu nication with private individuals on such a subject. If in the subsequent communications which they had had, with such parties they had seen reason to alter their views, they would have had no hesitation in proposing the necessary alterations, but having had the opportunity of communication, he was bound to say, that the Government saw no reason whatever to modify the plan which he had proposed on Gth May. All the principles he then laid down he was prepared to stand by ; he had seen the proprietors of Bank Stock, the Directors of the Bank, representatives of joint-stock and private banks, and he was not enabled to say that the Government felt any willingness to depart from the plan proposed; and he must ask the sense of the House upon that plan as ori ginally proposed. But there were a few observations n the details of the plan which he must now make. Ile had proposed that the issues of the Bank of Eng land should be made partly on securities and partly on bullion ; the issue on securities to be limited to 14 , 000 ,0001., and th e r e m a i n d er might be circumstances i o n n b w u h l . ch might be required to in thßeutpatlniekre crease its issues ; supposing that the circulation of private joint stock banks should, from failures or voluntary,agreements, he reduced from eight millions to four millions a month, the Bank might be re quired to ;increase its issues in order to sup ply the void thus created. That is, one he pro posed should be made upon securities, and that only after a communication made to the Government, and with the consent of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the President of the Board of Trade. He did not reserve that power from any distrust of the principles he had laid down, but to meet the particular case of the concession on the part of banks of issue, and the necessity of the Bank of England, supplying the.deficiency with its own notes. At the same time ho considered it advisable, if pos sible, to prevent all interference in this matter on the part either of the Executive or the Representative Government. Yet, at the same time he considered it would not be, advisable to sive the Bank the power by law of increasing its circulation except in certain cases. -Her was not quite- 'Clear that in every case in which there should be a void created by the with drawal of other circulation, sit ought to - be in the power of the Bank to increase its circula tion on securities.—(Hear, hear.) Suppose the case to be as it was at present, that there was a large amount of bullion about sixteen millions in the coffers of the Bank, the Bank would have a circulation of about thirty millions—namely, sixteen millions in bullion and fourteen millions on securities. Now, of the circulation of the sixteen millions of bullion, the greater part would be dormant in the coffers of the Bank, for about twenty-two millions would be all that • would be required for the circulation of the country. Now, in such a case, if a void were created —say in Cornwall, for instance—by the withdrawal of 200,000/. of country bank notes from circulation, he was not prepared to say that the Bank. ought at once to increase its circulation upon -.securities; but if hereafter it should be necessary for the Bank to increase its circulation on secu ity, he thought that there should be -some check upon that power. He therefore proposed in the preamble of the clause* to recite what grounds in the opinion of Parliament would justify the Bank in increasing its issue on securities. These were—first, the failure of a country bank; secondly : the with drawal by a country bank of its issues ; or thirdly, an undertaking on- the part of a country bank to withdraw its circulation if the Bank of England would substitute its notes in the room of those of the country bank. This recital in the preamble would show what was the intention of Parliament. He proposed that the Bank, in case it should consider it desirable to make an increase in its circulation, should not be permitted to do so ex cept upon application to the Executive Government, and that such consent should, be given by her Ma jesty in Council, such consent to be pub lished immediately afterwards in the London Gazette. He preferred that to giving power to . the Bank under any circumstances to increase its issues, though he was certain that while the present management of the Bank continued, that power would not be taken ad vantage of, but it was desirable to have a' check, and he therefore proposed that they should not increase their securities, except with the sanction of the Council, and not to permit an increase of se curities, except on the distinct condition tlitit the amount of all securities should not ex- ceed two-thirds of the amount of issues—that 11‘a.i •-•th4 the issues on the increase of securities should (LEFT SPEAHING.) TATTERSALL'S.-THIS EVENING QUARTER TO SIX O'CLOCK. plumy. 5 to 2 agst Ugly Buck 5 to 2 agst Ratan—taken 9 to 1 agst Orlando 14 to 1 agst Leander 1G to 1 agst Akbar 17 to 1 agst Running Rein 20 to 1 agst Bay Momus •25 to 1 agst lonian 25 to 1 agst Qui Tam 40 to 1 agst Mount Charles 50 to 1 agst King of the Gipsies OAKS. 6 to 1 agst Barricade 6 to 1 agst Princess 7 to 1 agst Sister to Martingale 10 to 1 agst Mcrope 10 to 1 agst All-round-my-Hat 17 to 1 agst April Noddy Suirwancic.—On the morning of Sunday last, the 12th instant, about two o'clock, the principal keeper at Kin naird lighthouse, while on his watch in the light-room, was attracted by the noise of some ono kriocking at the door of the house. Having summoned the assistant keeper, it was found that the person who sought admittance was a ship wrecked seaman in a very wet and exhausted state. When his necessities had been provided for, the statement that he gave was, that his name was Alexander Hutchison, and that his vessel was the Eliza, of Kirkcudbright, bound from Liver pool to Dundee, with salt. She struck on a rock on the 9th instant in passing through the Pentland Frith, but from the fog (lid not know exactly where it was. The wind was fa vourable for crossing the Moray Frith, and this they at tempted to do by working the pumps till the morning of the 11th (Saturday), at five o'clock, when the pump leathers being worn out, and the water above the cabin floor, theysde termined to abandon the vesseL In putting the boat out for this purpose, however, the rope by which she was attached to the sloop slipped, and she went adrift. Upon this the crew, consisting of four men, jumped overboard, leaving a boy, who was unable to swim, on board the vessel. Hutchison was the only one who made the boat ; the rest all perished ; and the vessel went down in about an hour after he left her. He was unable to render any assistance, as there were no oars in the boat, which was gradually drifted towards the shore, which he saw in the afternoon. The wind changed at night, and, afraid of being drifted off again, he determined to swim to shore, about a mile distant, which he reached at midnight, about a mile west of• the lighthouse, and, keeping the light in view, he arrived sea already mentioned.—Edin burgh Paper. THE LATE M. BECKFORD.—Mr. Beckford's fa ther, the alderman, was not a, merchant, his connection with the City was entirely political. .11e was the eldest son of Sir Peter Beckford, accounted the richestsubject in Europe, who left also extensive estates to 'his younger children, viz., Julius, grandfather of the late Lord Rivers, Francis, whose descendants now alone retain the name; Elizabeth, Coun tess of Effingham, and Ann, the mother of Lord Seaford. Peter Beckford was the son of a successful soldier, Colonel Beckford, Governor of Jamaica, who was nephew to Sir Tho mas Beckford, of Ashstead, in Surrey. The family had ori ginally large estat e s i n Gl ouces t ers hi re , & c. , b ut Si r 'Willi am Beokford died fighting for King Richard on Bosworth field, and the fortunes of the family fell with him. And you will not be sorry to hear, that the works published by Mr. Beck ford did not " exhaust his productive powers." Masses of manuscripts remain which may be given to the public, and which I do not think you will find unworthy the advantage of your notice.— Correspondent of the Athenceum. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (SATURDAY.) WORSHIP-STREET. Charles .Emile d'Atrobus alias Emile Vercoustre, a well grown and rather respectable looking Frenchman, was placed before Mr. Broughton, the sitting magistrate, for re-examination upon a charge of stealing 271 from Mrs. Elizabeth Mead, of the Jamaica coffee-house, Commer cial-road. About the middle of last November the prisoner, who was then believed to be as he represented himself, a young FrenChman of good family, on a visit to England, went Do lodge at the coffee-house. At the commence ment of the present year a young fellow named Frederick Watson, who had committed numberless robb er i es a b out town, paid a visit to the Jamaica coffee-house, and stole amongst other property a coat, w ith a nec k scarf in the pocket, belonging to M. Emile d'Atrobus. Wat son was at length detecte.i, and committed to Newgate for trial upon many charges, and being conv i c t e d , was transported for ten years. The Frenchm an w h om h e had robbed did not appear against him at the trial, although bound over with other prosecutors, for he had himself, in the meantime, absconded from the Jamaica coffee-house, and was charged with stealing a purse con taining a 101. note and seven sovereigns from Mrs. Mead, the landlady, and making away also with a coat which Mrs. Meads uncle, Mr. Elliott, a pawnbroker, had lent to him to wear when he attended at this court as a com plainant against Watson. Westbury, 215 N, who apprehended the prisoner last week in New Inn•yard, Shoredith, said the prisoner then denied the robbery, and asserted that he had only been in England a month. It was ascertained, however, that he had been some time a patient in St. Thomas's Hos pital, in the borough of Southwark, and that during that time he had scraped acquaintance and corresponded with a smart servant girl in the neighbourhood. Several letters were produced, professing the most ardent love for the young woman, with whom the hos pital patient corresponded, and from thence it appeared that the prisoner at that time assumed the name of Emile Vercouste. Mr. Elliott, the pawnbroker, who had, after the rob bery and disappearance of the prisoner, caused search to be made for him in France and elsewhere, said ho had received information that he was a deserter from a French regiment, and had left a wife and family in Paris. The prisoner, however, told the Magistrate that he was not a married man, nor a deserter, but had been a soldier in the French service. He knew nothing of this robbery, he said ; and the cause of his being out of the way was illness, which had confined him three months in the hospital. Mr. BROUGHTON, being informed that further evidence was expected, remanded the prisoner again. THAMES POLICE. Richard Repson, a Lancashire man, was brought up on remand from the previous day, charged with assault ing a young man named Charles Repton. The com plainant, who appeared to suffer excruciating pain, and besidesthe support of a pair of crutches, had to be aided into the Court by two porters, was accomudated with a chair, which, however, from the nature of the injuries he sustained, he found it very difficult to use. It appeared from the evidence that the complainant and the prisoner both worked for Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, at the Orchard House Iron Steam-boat-yard and the former had been in the employment of the firm for the last seven years. On last Thursday week ho went to the tool-house, where the prisoner was at work, when the latter turned him out, and then gave him a kick be hind, inflicting the injuries under which he now labours. It appeared that the kick took place directly in the peritoneum, a muscle full of the most delicate fibres. From the motion of the complainant, who can scarcely drag himself an inch, at every step, the whole of the muscular system of the lower limbs appears to be thrown into disorder, and it was most painful to witness the 'ef forts by which he endeavoured to drag himself along. James Reeves, foreman in the establishment, proved that previously to the alleged assault the complainant was in excellent health and spirits. There was no quarrel that lie knew of between the parties, but there was a young man at present in the hospital suffering from the effects of a kick inflicted by the prisoner. Repson denied having kicked the complainant, but admitted that he had pushed him out of the tool-house, having directions not to permit any person to be there. lie suggested that the complainant in reeling out might have come in contact with an iron peg which protruded from a wall without. Barber, one of the warrant officers, by direction of the Magistrate, examined the place to ascertain the pro bability of the defence ; but from his statement it did not appear likely that the injury was sustained in the man ner suggested by the prisoner, and, in addition to this, a put-boy in the neighbourhood proved that he saw the prisoner kick the complainant. Mr. Hishina, surgeon, of High-street, StepneY, who attended the complainant, having given it as his opinion that the poor fellow is by no means out of danger, the prisoner was remanded until next Satiirday. HORRIBLE CASE. On Saturday, after the disposal of the night cases, at Queen-square Police-office ' Mr. Ryder, chairman to the Board of Guardians of St. Luke's Chelsea, re quested the advice and assistance of the magistrate under the following very extraordinary circumstances: —Mr. Charles Morris a person who had lately come to reside in -Chelsea, had his attention called to groans which proceeded, night after night, from No. 4, Princes-street. He accordingly brought the matter before the Rev. R. Burgess, rector of the parish, who having frequently received intimation that other par ties heard the same sounds, had written him (Mr. Ryder) to take some steps to see whether the groans and cries did not proceed from some human being being confined in a room of the house. He instituted inquiries, and fbund that the information given to the Rev. Mr. Burgess in the letter, and confirmed by his own, was too correct. Some dark and horrifying scene was being acted in that house ; and the groans and cries of a human being, chained as it was sup posed to a wall or bed, for he was never seen near the window, appalled the ears of the neighbours almost nightly. Mr. Burrell inquired whether the neighbours had ever heard any articulate sounds Mr. Ryder re plied they had not. Mr. North and Mr. Hall, two immediate neighbours, could confirm this account ; and whoever this poor suffering creature in human form was, he had been immured in that room for eleven or twelve years. Mr. Burrell expressed his astonishment that it could have existed for so long a period without the interference of the neighbours. Mr. Ryder said that the door of the house, as they could best learn, had not been opened for years, and, unable as they were to obtain any evidence on the subject, and fearful of getting into some difficulty, it had been suffered to go on until the present moment. Mr. Burrell asked if they had ascertained who were the inmates ? Mr. Ryder replied, that as far as they could learn, it was occupied by a woman named Pelham, who had been the kept mistress of some noble lord, and who had had two natural children by him, for which she received an allowance. It had been rumoured that one of these children, a son, was of unsound mind. It was then agreed that an entrance should he made into the house without any previous intimation being given, lest that should frustrate their object in learning the real state of matters. Mr. Forbes, in spector of the B division, was accordingly desired to take a party of police with him and proceed to the house in question. Mr. Ryder, and the chief usher of the court, accompanied the police. On the return of the latter, at about half-past four, he communi cated to Mr. Burrell the result of their visit to the house. He said, that they had effected an entrance by getting over a side wall, and in at the back door, and, after much hesitation, the back room on the first floor was opened by a female, when the most revolting scene that had ever come within his view during a very lengthened experience burst upon them. On a small straw bed lay a poor human creature of the male sex, without one morsel of clothing more than an old and filthy rag, which might be termed a shirt, and a small piece of flannel or blanket. Beneath him was a hole rotted through the filthy straw of the bed, evidently by his own excrements, and maggots and loathsome vermin of every description were crawling on his frame, which was so obscured by filth, that it was al most difficult to discern in him a human being. His beard reached nearly flown to his middle, and his nails protruded some inches beyond his toes. In a few minutes afterwards the police returned to the office, bringing with them a fashionably-dressed female, from 50 to 60 years of age, and a heavy working man about thirty. On being placed at the bar, the female gave her name as Harriet Eleanor Pelham, and the man was described as her son, Wilson Pelham. Mr. Ryder, who was deeply affected, said that such a spectacle as that they had just witnessed had very rarely been seen. He proceeded to describe it in substantially the same terms as those already given. He added, that after their admission, the poor creature, who was evidently a lunatic, was dressed, a portmanteau full of clean wearing apparel being brought from some other part of the house, and he was then put in a cab and conveyed to the work house. The female at the bar said that the unfor tunate man was her son, and that he and his brother (Wilson Pelham) were natural children of General Spencer. In concluding his statement, Mr. Ryder expressed his surprise that the filth in the room had not engendered same fatal disease. Inspector Forbes stated that the female defendant had said that her sons were the natural children of Sir Brent Spencer (some years - deceased), and that she had some allowance for the one deranged. Mr. Burrell asked the female what she had to say ? She replied that, with respect to the clothes, his always had been kept separate, and his brother never was allowed to wear them. Although he had been for many years a lunatic, everything was done for him that could be ; but he was very filthy, and if anybody interfered with him he became very violent, and beat himself. He was not perhaps quite so clean as he ought to be, but he was sometimes cleaner a great deal than at the moment the police entered the house. She was sure his shirt was not ragged, be cause it had only been washed twice, and it could not be dirty, because it had not been on him three days. There was a convenience in the room, but he would not use it, and it was hi s own fault that the bed was in such a state. There was a mattress in the passage, but he would not have it, and his nails were long, which was in consequence of his not letting her cut them. lie had got fat lately, and was as happy as any man could be ; and to prove that she used him well, he would not get into the cab without her. The policeman denied this, and said that the poor man seemed quite pleased at going into the cab, and that he was exceedingly quiet, and waited some minutes while she was dressing. Mr. Burrell inquired why she had not put him in some asylum ? The male defendant said it was no use ; he was incurable. Dr. Sutherland and another medical gentleman had said so. Mr. Burrell said that this was a most horrible and deplorable case. The treatment o the mother and son who controlled the unfortunate man, had gone on until they were callous to all feeling. The poor creature was now rescued and placed where every attention would be paid him. Defendants must stand committed in de fault of finding heavy bail until Thursday, when they might produce any evidence they thought fit. The prisoners, who appeared surprisad, said the was nobody to look after their house. Mr. Burrell • said he could not help.that. CORONERS' INQUESTS. On Saturday forenoon Mr. Baker, the Coroner for East Middlesex, held a lengthened investigation , the Lord Nelson, John's-row, St. Luke's, touchig the death of Mrs. Caroline Crum aged 31, the 'i v of the painter and decorator of the Grecian e Grecian Saloon i 0 ed the City-road, who was supposed to have comrehi suicide, owing to the extreme suddenness of her disss: lution, and having once before attempted her life, s' also frequently threatening to do so. St. Mary Ann Cooper, of 20, Ratcliffe-greres 0 Luke's, stated that she resided in the same house A the deceased, who had left four young children, An: . generally lived very comfortable with her husba s She had latterly, however, been frequently addict to acts of intemperance, which caused them to gna r , at times. On Thursday evening, about 11 ed 11 0," witness last saw her alive ; she had been during day very lively, and appeared to retire to rest in Ye e 'l, good spirits. On the following morning, about seY o'clock, she was alarmed by deceased's husbso ee. knocking at her bed room wall, as if for assist i . Al/ 0 . She immediately proceeded, and f o und the wild nate woman lying on a bed dress e d, w ith her eyes or closed, and her face becoming black. To all tip? since she was quite dead. James Crump, the husband of the decease ill that she went to bed on Thursday night in c o l health, and shortly before seven o ' c l oc k h e got 1 1 1 ) j, began to dress himself. Whilst so em pl o yed she, :el denly caught hold of one of his l egs a nd vio e : o t, shook it. He instantly looked up and saw berro ing to her throat, and thinking th a t s h e wished 0 to introduce ono of his fingers into her throat, so a tt to make her vomit, he did so accordi ng ly. Sel l / 0 a few seconds, however, had elapsed b e fore eb_ e . . e ji down stairs to the water-butt, and ha v i ng preer,, cup, she attempted to swallow some wa t e r. . 4 " lo r time she appoared suffocating, and witness ping her back in the hope of restoring her. ,M, e d, last fell into his arms, and he remov e d h er to t.P° when he found her to have perished. dr CORONER—Had you any idea that she 7104 stroyed herself by taking poison ? Witness: c ore from the circumstance of her ha v i ng attempt ? „e to commit suicide, and threatenin g t o d o th e sil% r tr veral times since. For some tim e p as t, un nately for him, she drank very f ree ly, an d vo e- t er used to complain of her conduct and attempt ! , e, we ll, son with her about her fully, she would reply, or take care of the children, and I will take care she self. You shall not have long to complaia• o r would go on a stroll for a week at a stretch, then of duct herself very properly for the next torton i ' JO so, when she would break out again. On previous to her death she was sober, but on day she was in liquor. Mr. Henry Paul Ree, a surgeon of the Citt ..; lll ll deposed that he was called to the d ecease d on morning, about seven o'clock, w h om h e feline t o tt on a bed, black in the face, and life appeared t° fled several minutes. On making a post mortal!, ty inination of the body, he f o und a l arge sc ar aet o o o throat or windpipe, which induc e d hi m t o make t oil inquiries about it, and he ascertained that ahe li tt 4 years ago she attempted to destroy h e r se lf ,by tio4 her throat, through some ill t rea t men t she re d from her parents. The w oun d was , h owe ver, pe a t but it materially affected her speech, so much See 00 she could only give vent to a mere whisper' aoo opening the throat he took out the larynx, * Sot , ' examining it he discovered a corresponding it!. el tion to the scar, and it was so narrowed at trd, that a small sized probe could n o t b e p a ssed tf t . ty it. Between the opening there was a citiP. 4 to mucous, which so choked up the air vessels 1 00 cause death, and an examination of the het i tios' showed that death had been occasioned by 307 0 0 ; Could not discover any trace of poisonous O s ' the stomach. the of The CORONER having addressed the jury e J traordinary nature of the case, a discussion at; 30' to the propriety of returning a ve rdi c t that tP Vo. ceased had died from an atte m pt u p on her 01i,.11/ The Coroner thought th e y cou ld no t consistel lt i l l a4 . so, and after so me ti me th ey recor d e d the folleos special verdict :—" That the deceased had died oo to suffocation, produced by a c ongrega tion ef 1 1 3 ,44 1° , / in her larynx, and which was cau se d by a . w° ll ,,'" a re made in her throat in attempting to destraY ten years ago." FATAL CART ACCIDENT.—An inquest wash tbt Mr. Higgs, at the Black Horse, Bedfordbury, o body of Dennis Dwyer, aged 47. Deceased. Newer street, O vender of oranges, and on the afternoon of S the 27th ult., he was standing in Little Ne l 'O° street, with a basket full of that fruit slung oil' him, when a cart belonging to Messrs. Parker , lo g way carriers, New Inn, Old Bailey, came s ; The driver called to the deceased to get out e' ‘ ,ol way, when he moved on to the pavement, but persons at that moment passingby, pushed agains t and in trying to save his oranges he slipped AP - 01 0 under the cart, the wheel of which went orer at il broke his left leg. He was conveyed by the driv i : j oi his cart to Charing-cross Hospital, where he re f till Saturday last, when erysipelas induced by in %,/ perate habits , came on, and lie died on Thum,. Verdict, " Accidental death. " SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECA nixO7I re Opinion seems much to be divided as to wha t Teti sults of this most important electio n will be. TI.,011" have begun to throw out in s in ua ti ons that the fb the League are to be profusely lavished. T,n401:, however, nothing more untrue was ever utterea.ed shilling of its funds will be thus expended—iri p ti „ill r e ; is no occasion, not the least, to draw on any lO r Wilel:, sources to carry out the intentions of the fre, o o/. 1 ,". In less than a couple of hours, upwards of 6 . 6 0 1 1 ' 1 _1 subscribed by fewer than a score of individuals' of guarantee fund will, from present appearan 00 0,,„ 20,0001. In the Manchester district a l o ne it now s o n o to upwards of 10,000/. Liverpool is expected 0 0 as much ! Talk of want of funds, indeed ! w a i' u t se former occasion was there ever half the ant ° ' scribed. ' A rather more particular scrutiny into the reg_., jsl;e ai r er, i ; given additional confidence to the free trade Thy l', l o It is a matter of perfect notoriety, and admitteu jo y Tories, that they have grossly neglected their fr iesal l o non-attendance to the registration of their , ust ;P i whilst it is on the contrary equally notoriou.! rtrti Liberals have paid unceasing attention to that ' 113 41e; matter. Thanks to the League for this, at Ol d w ) 1 1,4 this respect, the League may certainly be 6al kero expended some cash ; but evidently not to be E for the present election, which has come upon s' by surprise. or '1( ;fit Y 1 The free trade committee are n ow fairly at we -of only in Manchester, but through ou t South tf ar s o r and, as there is no doubt that their arrangevs e- t fate the best and most effective description, the toe s , able results are anticipated. . OW .100 0 0 In consequence of the poll bein g fixed for hot it day and Tuesday, the 27th an d 28th, and as ti lo is also the race week, the tim e w ill be one Of t o y, OA est possible bustle and tormoil. No work of can reasonably be expected to be proceeded e t ° o ll Mercury. 1 31 Since our last public a ti on thi s con t es t has 400 it 4 appearance of som ew h a t grea t er an i m ation t" - t leri; o3 previously exhibit e d ; an d we b e li eve thal: th d e j, , active canvass is carried on by b o th parties, b are, as usual, very co n fid en t ; b u t we are quitesPos3, that neither has yet recei ve d r e t ur ns on which it es7. sonable judgment as to the chance of ultimat' s , s opesi can be founded. Both seem laudably cautious s ped ing money ; and there is consequently a m f . irke , D evi (with one exception, to which we shall briefly' :t o ol V those squibbing placards which aregenerallf s 0 e 1 ifd in contested elections. Altogether, it seems, li t hat lw one of the quietest and least exciting struggl es • .4, been known in the annals of electioneering. it ( It will be seen from reports which we give eke` i'er that both the candidates have begun their vi ii s i go iag/ ot . different towns in the division ; Mr. Brown d terday visited Wigan, Bolton, and Bury ; wisle having made his appearance at LiverpouL 01$ day, and at Rochdale and Oldham Yester d vi4 o .„ have not yet heard when either of them wyt respects to the electors residing in this town- lec tors op It will be seen, that, in addressing the • 401 Rochdale yesterday, Mr. Entwislo made e ° o - 111 :1 1 4 1 ) s. to a placard which had appeared on Manchester Guardian of Saturday. Ce' the Dispatches were sent off on Saturdiftc°l lonial-office, for the Governor of South-Ansl4" c 0 0 p e n , t o l f l e a l s 3 o t n h . inst . , at il la ß ab T el if -p S la . ce, Kenn ia g t°ll' ' _ ---- -- 7 ---- A, pion,Oi tie Mr" it eli Esq.,l4 3 ll . l D i . n , s o t ia a d t a l n l g a i rr lte o r g . ate, the lady of G.—'n -r g e. 1 On the 15th inst., the lady of the Rer; I • • r J. S cislth Ingfield, near Settle, of a son. ii . to otr iSrst n the 17th inst., in S ou th a mpton-place , "'" fl. 4 the Esq. , wife of E. J. Weston, of a daughter. , w if e co ' On the 17th inst., at Camden-road Villa', t . 0; Speed, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at -law, of AS ° Wa re MARRIED. . On the 14th inst. , at Plymetock, Deron, NicholOtio Esq., solicitor, Plym outh, rri to Sophia Has, second d$ t er ' IC Btr of C. Harris, Esq., of Plymouth, banker. On the 16th ist., at East Tisted, Hants, Mr. J° l3/1 0 . f Y r ' ber, of Halberton, Devon, to Martha, only daught er '. • George Dyer, of t he former place. , t i l er DIED. On the 16th inst., suddenly, at the residence ofthheervirtiodel Mr. Henry Baines, Faversham, Kent, Fa nn y , wife of Mr. T. Marsden, jun., of Nelson-W*l%os Few passed through life more dese rvedly beloved ans_l ant CO' On the Ist of February , at Hong -K ong, A-960 missary-General John Irvine. On the 13th inst.; at St. Helie r's, Jersey, the 1 16 /' lirilw- pow s• Garnett, aged 85. 6 ti p ' On the 14th inst., at Morden Rectory, Surrei r • i l ic gin nij eldest daughter of Robert Ilepburne, Esq., of '' . • e se, North Britain, aged 42. ~,,,, ,11 10 p. On the 15t1; inst., at Upper 3lerrion-street, Dw— fr , v OO the wife of Edward Mayne, Esq., of Norfolkeresesll” 110°- On the 16th inst., at Blackheath, John Willialu Lorne, Esq., aged 48. , , 9( London: N.. 112, Strand, Printed and Pri Pntuber, lishat The I±L ed by MI:RD O tlic logoti 240. o f Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy , In 01.• Middlesex, Monday, May 20, 1844. taei AIN Aftt Potu llttiE linn t bidet 3 ~,, ~._,