The Sun. — London, England, 1844-04-06 00:00:00

01MT I AO of ,adin4 abel; eutro ) Darri— -keel'.ir °tors °I he Pr' v a rbettfr k . 1 rb, 41 ker b stolffif N nuaw~~ CY.), worn L, arc) 9r, shiuw°‘ i ° Y nets, t y t der cle f e i, e 4 aveo l6 2 o , be t her ff i el ounly , E WO , IRAO Is to. hOli r (14 0 ort 001/0t bald in r e eji, 11354_, A N 99410 293 • 101 5 $ 1 6 6 ' lO 11 1 26 g 04 s $ so, rssiso so lo 90 *) t ett d t, tio 0: 0 A t ),y irg o.usg f 4 ;, ovi4l , r ino7 to of ' ol et t s the vaP eii i o44 o V Will; 0 / 3 Ord THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 16;44, ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.. MIDLAND ClRCUlT—_TVarwick, April 4. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron G:uaNey.) After a case of administering noxious drugs with in tent - to procure abortion, which, as it was stopped by the Court, it is perhaps more just, and otherwise better, not more particularly to mention, George Gardner pleaded guilty (an understanding having been come to between the Learned Counsel, Mr. Miller, Mr. Hayes, and Mr. Mellor) to an indictment charging him with a misdemeanour, in having, on the 10th of February last, at the parish of St. Mary, in the borough of Warwick, unlawfully 'taken one Jane Page out of the custody and care, and against the will, of one Catherine Kimberley, the person having the lawful care and charge of her, the said Jane Page then being an unmarried girl, and under the age of sixteen years, that was to say of the age of thirteen years. It appeared that the young lady was entitled to some property, it was said about 400 L year, and she was at school at Miss Kimberley's at Warwick. The defendant was also in very good circumstances, had been on terms of acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Page, and had been accustomed, with the full permission of Miss Kimberley, probably sanctioned by Mr. and Mrs. Page, or one of them, from time to time, to take the young lady out with him. On the 10th of February last, he took her out as usual for a walk ; she did not return to Miss Kimber ley's, but the defendant took her away to a distant part of the country, somewhere in Wales, as it was said. Mr. Page did not wish to press the prosecution, as, whatever might have been his apprehensions at first, he was now satisfied that the defendant had respected her virtue. Indeed, it seemed now unquestioned, that ex cept as above stated, no sort of freedom had been taken with the young lady, and probably none was ever in tended. Whether or not it had been in contemplation to detain her until she became of proper age for mar riage, or otherwise to possess himself of her and her property at a future day, did not at all clearly appear. There was a suggestion of other and very distinct mo tives altogether heard of and talked about, but nothing of the kind transpired in Court, and it was of a nature to make mention of it, under these circumstances, very improper. Mr. Baron GURNEY acquiesced in the proposition agreed upon and submitted by the counsel on both sides, but said that it was an offence of a very aggravated de scription, invading the peace of families; and that but for that fact which had been stated by the learned counsel, and which there was every reason for believing to be true, that he had respected the young woman's virtue, he should have felt it his duty to have inflicted a very severe punishment. The defendant was then discharged on entering into his own recognizance in 5001. to come up and receive judgment when called upon, upon the understanding that he would not be so called upon if he in no way further molested the prosecutor, Mr. Page, or any of his family. James Gleaves, the lad who was yesterday convicted of the manslaughter of his brother, at Birmingham, by stabbing him in the stomach in a quarrel, was then called up to receive sentence. His Leanne'' , said, that it was a melancholy instance of the sad effects of giving way to an ungovernable tem per; he had killed his own brother, an the mode in which he had committed this lamentable crime bordered very nearly upon murder. The sentence was that he be transported fur ten years. Some other sentences were passed, and there then re maining only one other case, which had just before been called on before Mr. Sergeant Clarke, in the Grand Jury-room, his Lordship rose at half-past one o'clock, and shortly afterwards quitted the town. GRAND JURY-ROOM.---(Before Mr. Sergeant CLARKE.) Henry Greenway, aged 21, was indicted for having stolen, on the 6th of February last, at Wellesbourne, Hastings, in the dwelling-house of John Compton, four 51. notes, 10 sovereigns, 20 half-sovereigns, 100 shillings, 100 sixpences, and 500 pennies, and a desk, the property of the said John Compton, and then burglariously broken out of the said dwelling-house. Mr. Spooner conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Flood appeared for the prisoner. John Compton, the prosecutor, kept a public-honae at Wellesbourne. On the evening of the 7th of February several persons were drinking there. Some were in the tap-room, and others in the kitchen. The prisoner was one of those in the kitchen, where were also one Alex ander, a man named Sabin, and his, mother, and the witnesses Parrott and Allibone. From almost all parts of the kitchen persons there could see all over the bar, the upper part of the division of which consisted of glass. In the course of the day in question, he put the four 51. notes, and about 20L in gold and silver, into a teacup in the bar, and subsequently transferred it to his desk, which was within the bar. He went to bed at about half past 10, when there was nobody in the house that he knew of besides himself and his servant-girl, Ann Cot ton, and he left the door fastened by two bolts, and an iron bar across. In the kitchen there was a settle or high-backed seat, and a screen behind it, before which there stood also a huge coal-box, and behind this screen any person might have la'n concealed. In the morning he was aroused by Ann Cotton, who gave him information that something had happened, and she got up about seven o'clock, and found the house door open, and his desk removed from its place and broken open, as it might have been with the coal-hammer„ which stood in the kitchen, and all his money gone. He gave information to the constable, and about three hours. after he got up it occurred to him to look behind thejs:ereeba; and sawdust being about the place, there appeaNert,o:, mark of a man having been lying there. The no marks as of a breaking in upon the outer dooV,' : Richard Allibone deposed that he had met tajeirrie: sprier that very Tuesday in the Warwick-road, teiyards' from the prosecutor's house, when the prisoner tiald him that he had " see'd Mr. Compton put some more' in a teacup, and he'd have it out or be transported," when witness said that " he'd better not, as it was a house where they could always have a quart of ale, whether they had money or not," and he replied, "he di,d'nt mind that." Was one of the guests drinking ,in the, kit c hen on Tuesday night, and heard a noise beh44 the` screen, and got upon the settle and saw t he priscilerk-,1 hind the screen, who shook his fist at him, as bi,d.Csit him not to betray him. Cross-examined—Had been in prison as a poacher, had been so 15 times, always for poaching; the last time was about three months ago. On the 7th of February he had been out of gaol about a fortnight. The first time he was in was a good bit ago, and he had been a poacher ever since. Had never been tried for felony. Josoph Parrott—Was in the kitchen of the public house drinking on the night in question. Saw the pri soner there, and did not see him leave. On the Bth took a pint of ale to the prisoner in the lock-up, and told him that his brother had sent it to him. The prisoner said that he shouldn't see him again until the assizes, and then not again for 15 years. He should see what he had never seen—he should see a new country. He should get 15 years. Cross-examined —The prisoner could at the time of this conversation see that Sarah Christian, the wife of the police-officer, was within hearing. Had lived at Wellesbourne all his life. Had been convicted and fined once for poaching, but never in trouble for anything else. never tell t d h , above d be d—d if they ever g ot the money, S ara h Christian —Was t he wile of Edward Christian, conversation,th e police-officer.andfor r he' sd ed th that th h e av p i r n i g son heeardai any one where it was. On which Parrott said that he further, pepos might as well toll him where it was, that he might go and get it, and have some of it. Ann Cotton, the servant girl deposed to having seen prisoner on the Tuesday evening skulking about behind the screen, and to having seen all the other guests finally leave the house, and not seen him do so. Still she could not say he did not go when she hadn't happened to be looking. But at all events he did not go with the others. When she came down in the morning she found the bolts drawn, and the bar that went across the door standing up by the side of it , so that any person might have gone in or out. Edward Christian, the police-officer, apprehended the prisoner on the Wednesday morning, the 7th of Fe bruary. Told him that he took him up on a charge of robbing Mr. Compton's house. He said that he knew nothing about it—he had no money nor victuals for a long time but what his brother had given him. Richard Payne--The prisoner and his brother lodged at his house. The prisoner was not in on the night in question when they all went to bed. After he had been asleep was awakened by a noise. Could not say at all what o'clock it was, but the moon was shining. The prisoner came down in the morning about half-past seven, and paid witness's wife eighteen-pence, and then a shilling. The prisoner had, however, been working for Mr. Parker for two days the week before. He had never before paid any money to his wife. Mr. FLOOD addressed the jury for the prisoner, telling them to put out of their consideration all that the wit nesses Allibone and Parrott had said, as not being en titled to the slightest credit for one moment, those two hardy offenders having very probably been themselves the thieves. Mr. Sergeant CLARKE having briefly summed up the case, The jury, after a deliberation of about three quarters of an hour upon this evidence, returned a verdict of Guilty, with the justice of which verdict the Learned Commissioner expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and therefore sentenced the prisoner to be transported for ten years. Thus terminated the Crown business of these assizes, shortly before five o'clock. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL and a Special Jury.) THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HARBOROUGII V. KENDALL. This was the last cause, and stood appointed for nine o'clock this morning. It Was an action of debt to re cover a small toll, but really to try the right of the noble plaintiff to a toll-traverse claimed by him in the High-street of Market-Harborough, lying on the high road from Leicester to London. It had been tried at a former assizes for the county of Leicester, before Mr. Baron Gurney, and now came down for a new trial. Mr. Hill, Queen's Counsel, Mr. Whitehurst, and. Mr. ' Waddington, appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Humfrey and Mr. Mellor conducted the defendant's case. This was an action to try the right to a toll through the town of Market Harborough, situate in the manor of Great Bowden. The declaration set up a toll-traverse. The existence of such a toll was denied, and an exemp tion was also claimed by the defendant as one of the in habitants of Great Bowden. A toll-traverse was where the way was over a man's soil, and might of course ' exist without any duty being to be performed by the owner of it. A toll-thorough was a toll for going over a common highway, and no person could effectually set up this without there having been a consider°, tion for it at some ancient period. In olden times the Crown had exercised the right of making such grants in consideration of doing something—as for in , stance, as suggested in this case, the keeping of a bridge in repair, or the like. Now, the first question here was, whether there had been a toll-traverse, or only a toll thorough, for "it was impossible," said the Learned Judge, "to look at the inquisition put in_of the year 1252, and the reign of Henry 111., and doubt that the Crown then had possession, and that there then was a toll. No doubt there was at that time , b ut then the , case for the defendant was, first, that it was a toll- 1 thorough only, which had been lost by the non-con tinuance of the performance of the duty in respect of I which it was granted." The inquisition referred to was under a writ directed to the sheriff to find out who it was that had not paid the tolls, and to collect," &c. There was a return thereto of eight marks, or there abouts, for Harborough, and of seven marks for Great Bowden. This was a writ for a collection in the King's towns and boroughs in Warwickshire of tolls to raise a portion to marry the King's daughter. A pipe-roll of 1177 also recognised the existence of a toll. In 1688 the owners, through whom the plaintiff claimed, performed certain services for the town out of the proceeds of these tolls, which were no longer performed. A bridge, too, was kept in repair by the predecessors of the plain tiff, but now, long ago, a new bridge had been built, which had ever since been repaired by other parties. In 1670 the steward of the manor, who was a lawyer, in a solemn document called it a toll-thorough. In 1728 a bill was filed by the predecessor of the plaintiff, which prayed that it might be declared a toll-thorough. In 1755 a case was submitted to counsel (Mr. Sergeant Hill), wherein were these words—" Nota bene—The lords of the manor do not repair any of the bridges," &c. so that this would seem to have been felt to be the weak point at that time. In 1785 the purchase by the ancestor of the plaintiff from Mr. Bliss, a surviving trustee, took place, and it had ever since been in the family o f Lord Harborough. A host of witnesses were called for the defendant, who proved about the repairing of the bridge, &c., by the lords of the manor at one time, and nothing of the kind having been done by them of late years; and that for the last sixty years there had been a very general refusal to pay the toll on the part of persons not claiming any particular exemption, on the ground that no such claim existed as was set up. Evidence was also given of exemption at all times of the inhabitants of Great Bow den, and that the defendant was one of them. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE left it to the jury to say— first, whether it was a toll-traverse as the plaintiff said, or as the defendant said, a perfectly good toll-thorough at one time, but lost by the not continuing to perform the duty in respect of which it was granted. His Lord ship desired that they would first consider that question. They did so, and almost instantly said, " We find that there was no toll-traverse, and our verdict is therefore entered for the defendant." Such finding was of course decisive of the cause with out going into the consideration of the other question of the defendant's exemption. This case concluded the business of these assizes and of this circuit; and his Lordship rose a few minutes be fore seven o'clock, and shortly afterwards left the town, which presently assumed its wonted stillness. WESTERN ClRCUlT—Taunton, April 4. (Before Mr. Justice WIGHT:max.) George Palmer and Henry Buck were indicted for stealing two horses and an ass, the property of John Holvey. Mr. Allen prosecuted. The prisoners were defended by Mr. Hodges. The prosecutor stated that ihe lived near Bath, and possessed the two horses and the ass in question some time in July. He saw them in a field, in which they were kept, on Tuesday night, and the next morning they were gone, but after some time one of the horses and the ass came back again to their old quarters, and to the guardianship of their old master. The other horse the thieves had evidently taken too great a fancy to, and whatever his inclination for return might have been, he was deprived of the power to do so. After some time, from something heard by the prosecutor, he went to a cur rier's at Frome, and there, minibile dictu ! he found his steed, or rather the remains of his steed, in a state of preparation for leather. All that remained of him was his skin. When the prosecutor was asked whether his horse had any marks on him by which he could identify him, the old gentleinan who was a remarkable-looking person himself,. replied he thought there were. Well, name them, said the counsel for the prosecution. --Why; inr,.ha,had a rat tail. Well ?..--Two broken knees. Well ?—He was lame in each shoulder. • Anything else ?—Blind in both eyes. Any other marks ?—Yes, he has a bump in the near foot. Try again.—Well,zur, he had a sore on each shoulder, and %%as lame there. The tone of melancholy tenderness in which these " interesting mar is" of the lost animal were described was inimitable ; and, spite of the place, and the loud and repeated calls of " order," the Court was convulsed with laughter, in which even the Learned Judge was witness ss w as knowingthen d c e a l l v‘ e d , h , 1 c w h h i o s carried a o t n e d t h b a y t r t e h s e p ect - compelled to join. abl A e a v' n ' op probrious term of a " knacker." He deposed to the fact that he had bought the " os" in question of the pri soners. 'Twas a shocking bad un ' and, after consider able barter and standing out, he had been induced to venture in the speculation the sum of 55., and 6d. more to :be spent in. drink. Both the prisoners were convicted, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. John Welter was indicted for burglariously breaking Anto tie house of Thomas Lucas, and stealing therefrom VVIVAIti , tif vticles enumerated in the indictment ; tieUVliker, an old man •about 70 years of age, $ 40,ivith receiving same of the property, know -OtaN..i4 t!.4n stolen. 1. ..,--AM'E.;',3Pstrosecuted ; Palmer was defended by Mr. r.4* . irdli'; Ii- , Or was undefended. Mr. LuC i "ti stated, that on the 7th of November he was the•last up, and went to bed last, and saw his doors secure. In the morning, on his descent, he found that his house had been broken into; inasmuch as the thieves had fairly torn away the wall so as to get out the iron bari that defended the windows, and had then forced the r inclews, and so effected an entrance, and carried 'off the iiropetty lost. Suspicion fell upon the prisoner Walter, and others living at Ilchester, and who were , lenoWn as a gang of thieves. Thither the constables were sent. Before, however, they reached the street where the prisoners lived, the alarm was given, and the property stolen was instantly removed from the various houses. On turning a corner, one of the constables saw the prisoner Palmer flinging something into the river. The spot was searched, and a cheese found there, which Mr. Lucas identified as one of the articles stolen from his house. The prisoner had subsequently made a con fession before the magistrates. Both the prisoners were convicted. A former conviction was then proved against Walter, and Mr. Moody stated that he had indictments against him, still two other upon which, he should n ot proceed. He was sentenced to 14 years' transportation. The Learned Judge then, addressing Palmer, ex pressed his regret that he should have to pass sentence upon an old man who had nearly run ou a t nd at the periodose of human existence—three score and tfn— the of life stood a criminal at the bar of his country. His Lordship then sent ence d him to eight months' im prisoninent. Joseph Church, a boy 13 years of age. was indicted for forging a check f or 51., with intent to defraud C. Hopkins. There were m an y coun ts varying the intent, and others charging the prisoner with having uttered the check knowing it to have been forged. Mr. Stock prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Phinn. On the part of the prosecution it was proved that the prisoner had brought th e check in quest i o n to t he shop of an old lady living at Mortlock, in this count y , and who was an agent f or St u ckey's bank. T he lad stated that he came from Mr. Choffey, of Stoke , b y whom the check purported to have been drawn upon Messrs. Stuckey, of Yeovil. The check was one of Stuckey's printed checks, but from the look of the writing the old lady fancied there was something wrong, and, there fore, called her niece, rnd sent her with the prisoner to her brother, w h o li ve d hard by, to have his opinion upon it. On seeing the check he immediately pronounced it to be a forgery, and that his sister must not change it. Strange to say, he did not keep the check" but gave it back to the boy, who immediate; left the shop and went away as if to leave the place. This, however, he did not do, but returned instantly to the shop of the old lady, before her niece had arrived, and said that her brother had examined the check, and stated that it was all right, and that she must change it. This she did, giving the boy a 51. note for it. 'I he boy took the note and carried it to a shop in the village, and, saying it was a note he had j ust received at the sho p of the old lady before referred to, for a check he had car ried requested change for it. Change was given, proved by Mr. Choffey that he did and d he there,e left. ltwas not draw the check, but there was some difficulty occa sioned by his admission that there were other " Stokes" beside the " Stoke" where he lived, though he could not say if there was any Mr. Choffey living there. The Learned JUDGE summed up the case, leaving it to the jury whether it was probable that so young a boy as the prisoner could have known that the check was forged. There was no proof or pretence that he forged it himself. His Lordship intimated that it was much more probable that he was the dupe of some other person, though there was the fact of the falsehood which he told to be taken into consideration. After a very long consultation the jury acquitted the prisoner. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.) The whole of the civil business was disposed of this morning. The casos have been of so local and uninte resting a character, that it would be idle to report them. NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—Bury St. Edmund's, April 4. CROWN COURT. — (Before B. ANDREWS, Esq.) George Smith, Thomas Bear, and James Cousins, were indicted for burglariously. entering the house of Jacob Hicks, and stealing therein a variety of property. The indictment also charged that this offence was accom panied by violence to the person of the prosecutor. Mr. Mills appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Prender gast and Mr. Power defended the prisoners. The prosecutor, who is very deaf, and by no means a bright specimen of the genus " farmer," deposed to hav ing retired to bed on the night at ten o'clock, when he and his wife barred up all the doors and windows. At twelve o'clock the " deaf-un" was roused from his slumbers by his more watchful spouse, with the alarm ing intelligence that there were thieves in the kitchen, .for she could hear them talking. Ere the bewildered man could rouse his senses to the necessities of the mo ment, the bed-room door was opened, and in stalked four men, one of whom had a bludgeon, while another held a horn-lantern. The parties being thus placed " in presence," the maurauders went through the usual course on such occasions, by demanding money in the first instance, and by enforcing it in the next by a good ish tap on the prosecutor's head, the effect of which was, that all the ready cash in the house was surrendered at discretion, and the burglars marched off with some wearing apparel, and other things mentioned in the in dictment. The prosecutor now swore to the persons of the three moo, in spite of a very severe cross-examination from both their Learned Counsel; and _ The Learned JUDGE having summed up the facts to the jury, they, after ten minutes' consultation, found them all Guilty, and they were transported for fifteen years. Wm. Paul i Wm. Bull, and Thowas Harrold, were charged with a highway robbery, accompanied by vio lence, on the person of Jeremiah Head, on the night of the Ist of November last. Mr. Dasent conducted the case for the prosecution; and Mr. Prendergast defended Bull and Harrold, the other prisoner being without counsel. The prosecutor is a young labourer, living at Saxhorn, and would appear to have been enjoying himself in this town, on the last night of the once famous "Bury fair," for he was at the Castle inn at eleven o'clock of that night, together with the prisoners and many others, all strangers to him. The festivities of the scene were in terrupted at that hour by one Howlett, a constable, who cleared the house, at the request of the landlord. From the Castle the prosecutor repaired to the Bull. and having refreshed himself there, started at twelve o'clock to go home. Me had scarcely got many yards from the door, when he was set upon, as he said, by all the pri soners. Pearl seized him by the collar, and dealt him a severe blow on his left eye, while the others proceeded to rifle his pockets, which they emptied of a comb, a knife, and two pocket-handkerchiefs, articles which, together with 2id., constituted the whole of his worldly goods. • This done, he swore that Harrold said, " Now I'll go and fetch the police," and ran off in one direction, white the prosecutor went on a similar errand in another. In about half an hour, he fell in with Howlett again, and, on having told his tale, they went in search of the robbers. On the Angel- hill they saw Pearl with two other men, who ran away, but Pearl they captured and took to the station-house, where they' searched him, and found a comb and a handkerchief, which the prosecutor at once identified as part of his lost property. The two other men were taken into custody on the following day, and the prosecutor now swore to them all as being the three men who had robbed him. The jury, however, acquitted Bull and Harrold, who had received excellent characters from many respectable inhabitants of the town, while they found Pearl guilty. There being a previous conviction for felony against this worthy, he was sentenced to be transported for ten years. CHESTER ASSIZES, APRIL 4. Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS and a Special Jury.) WORTHINGTON V. GRIMSDITCH, M.P. Mr. Jervis and Mr. Welsby appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. Evans and Mr. Vaughan Williams for the defendant. Mr. WELSBY opened the pleadings. This was an action of debt, to mover the sum of 1,2081., due by the defendant to the plaintiff, who sued as administrator of two ladies deceased, named Dunealf. The defendant had pleaded—first, that he never owed any money ; second, that he had paid the money to one of the ladies deceased; third, that he had paid it to the other ' • and fourth, that more than six year s having elapsed, he was freed from the debt by the statute of limitations. Upon these pleas issue was joined. Mr. JEavis said the plaintiff, as the jury had heard, was the administrator of two ladies deceased, and who in their lifetime had resided near Macclesfield, in the county of Chester. The defendant was a solicitor in that town, of considerable eminence in his profession, and further known as the representative in Parliament of the place in which he so practised. In his capacity of at torney he had been the confidential adviser of the two Miss Duncalfs, and from the year 1810 up to the time of their death he had been employed by them. In early life Mr. Grimsditch had not been in the position as to money matters that he had since occupied, for it would appear by the evidence which he should submit to the jury, that he had repeatedly borrowed money from the two ladies, and was, in fact, up to their death, considerably indebted to them. Confidence had gradu ally ripened into intimacy, and at length it would ap pear, as the ladies grew older, into a claim of relation ship, for in the letters which would be laid before the Court, it would be seen that of late years the defendant addressed the ladies as "Dear Cousin." Among his other professional pursuits, the defendant was manager and law agent to the Adlington estate. On that estate the Miss Duncalfs lived, and had for years rented a farm. Mr. Grimsditch, having become indebted to them in the -sum of 1,8734, for which, up to the year 1824, he paid them interest, amounting to 931. 13s. per annum, appeared from that time to have paid the annual rent which amounted to nearly that sum, instead of paying them interest, and receiving their amount of rent ; in fact, from the year 1824 to 1842, when the last of the Miss Duncalfs died, he had paid no interest, but in lieu thereof, had paid rents for them, amounting to 1,1601. or thereabouts. Upon the death of Miss Duncalf in that year, it was found that she had made a ,will, appointing executors, and bequeathing all her property to her next of kin. The executor refused to act, further than to seal up all the papers and documents in her house, and a struggle took place in the Ecclesiastical Courts of Chester and York, for the administration of the effects of the deceased. Among the rest, Mr. Grimsditch entered a caveat, and appeared very anxious to get ad ministration confided to him. He tried very much to obtain an injunction of the papers of the Miss Duncalfs, and evinced great anxiety to search the family Bible, and other documents. Ultimately administration was granted to the present plaintiff ; and upon searching the papers of the deceased ladies, which had until that time been sealed up, there were found bonds of the de fendant's amounting to 7201.; and also statements of accounts which showed that from the year 1824 the de fendant had been indebted to the two ladies in the sum named before, namely, 1,8731. These state ments were all in the hand -writing of the defendant himself ; and upon the administrator applying to him for information, the answer given was, that he did not owe one farthing. The plaintiff was, therefore, com pelled to bring an action for the recovery of the money appearing to be due, and at the last assizes for.the county of Chester, an action was tried, in which a ver dict was given for the plaintiff for the bond debt. Upon that trial, by the form of the pleadings, the plaintiff could not recover for the money not lent on bond ; and although the defence to that action was just the same as to the present, and the question then decided was in truth the same question which the jury now bad to de cide, yet a second time the plaintiff had to bring his action for the part still remaining due. Upon the former trial Mr. Baron Gurney, who then presided, ex pressed himself strongly as to the defence attempted and he, Mr. Jervis, was greatly deceived if the same feeling did not now pervade the breast of every person who heard this trial. The defendant, in answer to .his own written acknowledgments of debt, had pleaded that he never had owed any money to the Misses Duncalf ; next he had pleaded payment, a safe plea, for the parties to whom he alleged payment, being dead, could not re fute it ; lastly, he had pleaded the statute of limitations. What did the jury think of such plea, by an attorney, in answer to the demands of the representatives of his client? And what would they think of such pleas, when they did, as they certainly would, most signally fail? No doubt if the defendant had searched the family Bible —had himself found the documents among the papers of the deceased, and had obtained administration of their effects, he would at once have paid the money to the next of kin. But why should he refuse to do so now ? Why did he bring the administrator twice into Court for one debt, although of two natures as to securities ? Mr. Jervis concluded with some severe strictures on the con duct of the defendant. The statements of account, in the hand-writing of de fendant, showing the results stated by Mr. Jervis, and the payment of rent by the defendant up to 1842, were put in and proved. Mr. Everzs addressed the jury for the defendant, justifying the plea, but called no witnesses. Mr. Justice WILLIAMS left it to the jury, whether the payment of rent was not in lieu of interest, and whether the principal sum claimed and proved, was not thereby taken out of the statute of limitations. The jury found for the plaintiff for the full amount. - - LOVE ON. BY ELIZA COOK. " Love not, love not, ye hapless sons of earth." MRS. NORTON. Love on, love on, the soul must have a shrine, The rudest breast must find some hallow'd spot ; The God who form'd us left no spark divine, In him who dwells on earth, yet loveth not. - Devotion's links compose a sacred chain Of holy brightness and unmeasured length ; The world with selfish rust and reckless stain, May mar its beauty, but not touch its strength. Love on, love on,—aye, even though the heart We fondly build on proveth like the sand, Though one by one Faith's corner-stones depart, And even Hope's last pillar fails to stand. Though we may . dread the lips we once believed, And know their falsehood shadows all our days, Who would not rather trust and be deceived, Than own the mean, cold spirit that betrays ? Love on, love on, though we may live to see The dear face whiter than its circling shroud, Though dark and dense the gloom of death may be, Affection's glory yet shall pierce the cloud. The truest spell that Heaven can give to lure, The sweetest prospect mercy can bestow, Is the blest thought that bids the soul be sure, 'Twill meet above the things it loved below. Love on, love on, Creation breathes the words, Their mystic music ever dwells around ; The strain is echo'd by unnumber'd chords, And gentlest bosoms yield the fullest sound. As flowers keep springing, though their dazzling bloom Is oft put forth for worms to feed upon ; So hearts, though wrung by traitors and the tomb, Shall still be precious and shall still love on. —New Monthly. LOVE'S ENTERTAINMENTS. — Mr. Love, the cele brated polyphonist, will gratify the Easter holiday makers by resuming his entertainments which have gained him so wide a reputation. He returns with a store of novelty added to his former stock of amuse ment, and as he is decidedly the best ventriloquist of the day, in addition to possessing a power of hitting. off peculiarities of character surpassed only by Mathews, the visitors to the Crown and Anchor, during the conti nuancem of his " evenings," may be expe c ted to be very numerous. DEPARTURE OF Trin ACADIA.—The Royal mail steam -ship Acadia, Capt. Ey r i e , sa il e d from Liverpool on Thursday morning, taking about too passengers ; she had also a very heavy mail, which was under the charge , of Lieut. Roberts, R.N. THE LATE FATAL CONFLAGRA TION IN OXFORD-STREET "Ata meeting o f th e C om mittee of the Loyal Na tional Repeal Association of Ireland, held at the Corn Excla,nge Rooms, 'Thursday, April 4, 4 , • the following resolutions were agreed to:— L 1" 1. Th at although an unnecessary delay has taken " ac e in the production and order for printing of the sh Registration Bill, yet sufficient appears, from the statements in th e pu b l i c papers, to disclose the oppres s k i nciples on whi c h t h at B i ll i s foun d e d , t h e p u r- Port and object of it being manifestly to hand over the representation of the counties in Ireland to the landed °a g a rchY, and totally to suppress in our counties the Popular voice. 2. That the legislative sanction to the measure of witubus, titutin for ben e fi c i al interest the solvent tenant test, even by ill, the a vowal of the authors of this nefarious tu anni hilate two-thi r d s of the present 10/. consti ,_erY; and thus the a u th ors of this measure unblush ingly proclaim th e deliberate intention to lessen, by two-thirds, the county constituency. ‘ s ` u 3 b .. st T it h u a t t the fra nc hi ses offered by the present Bill, as ion for the present, and for that more en larged constituency which Ireland has been loudly, and, 1 9_,d,eed, vocif erously demanding for years past, are two c!-namely, I s t, the 5/. perpetual freehold franchise, which — not requiring, as it ought.to do, residence, in order to qualify the owner to vote, will afford an ample oppor tunity for creating fictitious votes ; while the second, ~aely the 30l . ratingwhoause, will exceedingly restrict Ina number of those can possess that franchise—a !lass that, in fact, will probably be found not to exceed 3 9,000 at the utmost ; and as these persons may be, and almo st Universally w ill b e tenants-at-will, it is man i fest that their votes will be under the entire control of their landlords, ne,f,o4r. The the ten ancy - at - w i ll clause in the Eng li s h h in .A ll , commonly called the Chandos clause, has • .een found, b y experience, to work most mischievously, riiik in fact, to destroy the independence of the English county voters. It i s t h e worst species of franc hi se wn in E ng l an d ; and, therefore, it is brought for ward as the p r i nc i pa l f ranc hi se to be given to Irelan d. 'While the low rates of franchise existing in England have be en most unjustly taken away from the people of reland ; and are, with similar injustice, still retained from them. Makes 5 . Another objection to th e p resen t Bill i s , th a t it no provision for an increase of the representation of tho Irish nation. " 6. Th e admitted frets upon the discussion in bring gin the Bill, demonstrate how completely justifiable ti t he call f or t h e repeal of the legislative union by the Irish people was, and is, and how little they have to ex- Peet from any other, save an Irish legislature. "7. That we respectfully call upon the Irish Members to attend the progress of this most afflicting measure, and to give :the Bill the most decided opposition by all M eans known to the constitution of Parliament, how • ever vexatious these means may be called. " DANIEL O'CONNELL, " Chairman , of the Committee. THE MAIDEN AND THE MAEINER.—A young dam fl was p reao hi n k at Nantucket, and, among other pro , f und and " original truths, p roc l a i me d to h er co ngregs: , athat every tub must s t an d on it s own bottom. - nd ilor, thinking to nonplus the fair parson, rose up asked, " But suppose it has no bottom ?" " Then rtiloll. tub," she quit ay rejoined, and went on with her No event has occurred for many years to the western portion of the metropolis which has produced se painful a sensation in the public mind as the deplorable fire that took place, at a late hour on Thursday night, at the Rose and Crown wine-vaults, occupied * by Mr. Williams, No. 287, Oxford-street, and which, as stated in The Sun of yesterday, was attended with the sacrifice of six hu man lives, as well as a great loss of property. It appears that the premises had been but recently erected, and were fitted up by Mr. Williams in a most gorgeous style, and at a vast expense, for what is gene rally termed " a gin palace." The bar occupied nearly the whole of the ground floor of the building, and was handsomely appointed. A number of large vats, sup ported by stone columns, extended almost to the second floor, and were well stocked with spirits of every de scription. It has since been ascertained that at the time of the alarm being first given Mr. Williams was from home, he having - left the premises in charge of two of his barmen, of the names of Charles Goodwin and William Robinson. Mrs. Williams, with her two chil dren, one of the age of four years and a half, named Eliza, the other named William, and aged about eight months, with the female domestics, one named Charlotte Fish, the other Sarah Hudson, and a sister of Mrs. Williame(Mias Fritchley), had retired to rest at the time. The other inmates were the porter, named Henry Parker, and Jacob, the pot-boy. It seems that some of the customers, of whom there were a great many standing in front of the bar, observed a body of flames to break out suddenly from the top of one of the gin vats, containing a large quantity of that spirit. Stich an unusual circumstance, as might be imagined, spread the greatest alarm and terror among all around. One man instantly ran to the street door, and shouted out " Fire ;" another flew with all speed w the engine-house in Marylebonc-lane. Many of the persons who were in the bar tendered their assistance, and used every effort to prevent the ex tension of the flames, but before many seconds had elapsed every soul was obliged to make a precipitate re treat into the street. The spirit in the vats ran over in a flaming stream, setting the whole of the bar, counting house, and spirit stores in a general blaze. The scene that followed was of the most heart-rending character. It having been ascertained from the barman that his mistress, with her two children and the rest of the domestics, were in the upper part of the building, the most bitter lamentations were r aised, accom p anied with loud cries of " For God's sake save them," and " Send for ladders." One or more humane persons vo lunteered to rush into the house to rescue them, but no sooner did they enter the premises than they were driven out by the heat of the blazing spirits, which poured forth from every quarter of the building, and ran down the pavement into the gutters and carriage.way in a river of fire. The only person who was observed to leave the pre mises was the sister of the unfortunate Airs. Williams, and she, it will be recollected, escaped from the counting house window. She was assisted by a person living at Mr. Watling,'s, a butcher, residing exactly opposite. Her preservation is considered truly miraculous, for she had hardly gained the pavement before the whole building, from the bar to the roof, became enwrapped in one com plete vivid sheet of flame, whilst, at the same moment, the sky was illuminated to such an extent that the fire was discernible from all parts of the west of London. It was then about a quarter to twelve, and for upwards of an hour afterwards the work of destruction continued with unabated lury(clestroyinla everything the place con tained. Seven large engines of' the London Fire Estab lishment, and those of the County and West of England Companies, with one belonging to the parish, arrived in quick succession, and were all brought into active ope ration; and were the means of checking the progress of the conflagration. As soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled, the bri gade men got over the roof of the adjoining houses, and by raising the ladders reached the party-wall of the premises, and, upon looking over it, saw what appeared to be the body of a man lying on the flog of the second story front. At first the ruins appeared in such a tot tering condition as to render it dangerous to approach. Ladders, however, having been placed over the most dangerous portion of the floor, the firemen found the body to be that of the poor-pot-boy Jacob, who appeared to have died from suffocatiora, for his hands covered his face, and he was lying flat on the floor, not much burnt. The firemen having lowered the remains down the front of the building into the street, they proceeded to make further search, and in the course of another hour and a half they found the re mains of five other persons—three women and two chil dren. They were discovered entangled in the burnt rafters in the back floors, but it was impossible to re cognise them, all traces of human form having been de stroyed. It was a frightful sight, and many of the fire men, in removing what they supposed to be the bodies of the two servants, were actually moved to tears. Each servant had a child clasped in her arms. The body of Mrs. Williams was subsequently found dreadfully burnt. The police, upon being made acquainted with the dis covery, sent intelligence to Mount-street workhouse, and the authorities there sent shells, in which the black ened remains were placed, and they were then handed. over to the custody of the beadle. Upon Mr. Williams reaching home, his state of mind on :earning what had befallen his wife and family can be better imagined than described. Notwithstanding the vigilance of the police, a number of daring depredations were committed; among them was the robbery of 501 in gold from Mr. Truelock, who resides next door to Mr. Williams. Much discussion has arisen among the inhabitants as to the efficacy of the fire escapes. Had they been standing under the window when the fire broke out, in all probability they would have .been of no greater service than they were, owing to the vast quantity of spirits which became ig nited at the same moment,and which entered every room in the place simultaneously. We have received the following statement from one of the survivors, Henry Parker, the porter, concerning the cause of the fire. He states, that as was his custom, he left the bar at about half-past ten o'ciock to go to bed. On his way up stairs he went into the kitchen, which was on the second floor, for a lighted candle, and whilst there he saw Mrs. Williams, her sister. and the two female servants, who were preparing to retire to bed, and the youngest child was in the cradle. He wished them all " Good night," and proceeded to his bed-room. Shortly afterwards he heard Mrs. Williams and the rest of the family go up stairs to. bed. Mrs. Williams and the oldest child slept in the front room, second floor. The two ser vants' sleeping-room was the one above, and they had charge of the infant. The sister of Mrs. Williams slept on the same floor. and the pot-boy in a room adjoining. lie heal not been, he thought, more than an hour in bed when he was sud denly startled, and upon getting out of bed found a great quantity of smoke and heat ascending the staircase, ac companied by a loud noise as of pers ons calling, " Fire! fire !" in the street. He could not tell whether any person called him, but he directly rai, down stairs, and upon reaching the landing into which the counting house opened, he found he could get no further on ac count of a great body of fire being at the bottom of the staircase. In consequence of that he went into the parlour, where he saw Miss Fritchley in her night clothes, and trying to get open the window. He opened it for her, and called out for help and for a ladder. He then saw the carman, Charles Goodwin, who was on the staircase, and called out to him to come down, but it was impossible, f - or the fire had got hold of one portion of the staircase, and was rapidly extending upwards. Having seen Miss Fritchley safely secured, he attempted to fol low her example by getting out of the window, but in an instant he was prevented from so doing by a body of flames bursting from the windows beneath. He then turned back and resolved to hasten to his room at the top of the house; and on running up-stairs he was nearly deprived of his senses ; in fact, he fell several times from the oppressive heat and columns of smoke that rose up the staircase. He distinctly heard Mrs. Williams and her servants scream for help. Ile called to them to know where they were, and the screaming still con tinuing, hb_tried to get at them, but he became so alarmed, that he made to the top of the house with all speed and gut into his room. He then snatched hold of a pair of trowsers, and jumped out of a small window on to the roof of one of the adjoining houses, where he remained until discovered. When informed where the bodies of his mistress and the other unfortunate crea tures were found, he said that they had endeavoured to make their escape, but had taken the wrong room, out of whict there was no means of egress, and this opinion is confirmed by Tozer, the fireman, who had to tear away some iron bars in front in order to lower the bodies down. He further adds, in respect to the origin of the calamity, that Goodwin told him (s%hich has since bccn ascertained to be the case) that it arose from the spirits in one of the vats flowing over into the counting-house on to the gas-light beneath. This it seems was occa sioned by Goodwin pumping the spirit from the cellar into the vats in the bar as previously mentioned, and over -filling them. Goodwin has been ever since the ac cident almost distracted. The damage done by the fire is detailed in the sub joined list, which is a copy of the official report as sent in yesterdaymorning to the different insurance-office: : " The fire which broke out in C section of the brigade on Thursday night at the premises of Mr. W. Williams, sign of the Rose and Crown, corner of Gilbert-street, Oxford-street, consumed the whole of the furniture and contents. It extended completely throu'gh the house to the roof, part of which, together with part of the floors, is standing. Much damage done to cellar stock by water. Six engines belonging to the brigade were in attendance, with the parish engine and those belonging to the County and West of England Companies. The building, with stock in trade and furniture, is insured in the Licensed Victuallers' office. Six lives are lost. " No. 288, Oxford-:treat, Mr. C. Mash, potato dealer —building damaged by fire, and roof injured ; furni ture extensively damaged by removal. Insured in the Sun. "No. 286, Mr. Cook, baker—shop front extensively scorched. Insured in the Union. " No. 44, Gilbert-street, Mr. Mitcham, tailor—a similar damage to building. No. 1, Gilbert-street, F. Trulock, potato dealer, front of shop burned, and furniture damaged by removal and water. Insured in the Sun." PERILOUS Juam—On Monday •last, when the up train which arrives at the Barnsley station, on the North Midland Railway, about two o'clock, was within two miles of that place, a person in one of the second-class carriages lost his hat, and immediately jumped out for the purpose of recovering it The train was going at the speed of 30 miles an hour. On this being made known to the driver, the train was stopped, and was backed in search of him. He was picked up in an all but senseless state, had one arm broken, and was very seriously injured. He was removed from the train into one of the rooms at the Barnsley station, when medical assistance was procured as quickly as possible. His hat had the name Wheelhouse written inside it, and he ap peared to ben working ram—,Derby Reporter. IRELAND. THE PRESBYTERIAN MOVEMENT. t rnuN APRIL 4.—At length the Presbyterians of tbuisbteli;i are about to c o- o p era t e w ith their brethren in n the ma rr i age ques ti on . A meeting is to be held o, n n Friday evening, in the round room of the Ro tunda, to petition Parliament in favour of the rights of the Presbyterian body. In Ulster meetings continue to be held in all direc liims, and the pr oc e e di ngs are c h arac terised by inereas -4 vigour and determination to resist the arrogant pre tensions of the Established Church. MUNSTER, PROVINCIAL DINNER IN CORK. Mr. O'Connell is to leave Dublin on Saturday next, i" ° attend th e prov i nc i a l b anquet i n C or k, o n Easter aY ay. • "'TING THE FIRST STONE OF ST. JAMES'S NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The imposing and interesting ceremony of laying the first Church stone of the contemplated new Roman Catholic sk,,purch for St. James's parish took place this day. M. the officiated as mason. The site chosen is about t ue middle of the south side of James-street. The i t 7 uld: ng will be, according to the accepted plan, feet from the ground to the spire, and being en fan elevation, will be observable from the most dis tant th _,, parts of the city. Like all the other great Ca ,,n•Tc temples lately erected, this classic structure contribution nothing to the State, but will be the voluntary • s e n trilmtion of the parishioners, and any other benevo vnt citizens who choose to aid in the work Shortly L t lr two o'clock to-day, the very Rev. Doctors Yore and anarthn; accom p anied by the Rev. Mr. Caoavan, Rev. Mr. Carroll, appeared in their canonicals tip_fn. the ground, at which time there was a large and onitble assemblage present, among whom we ob torved Mr. O'Connell, Sir John Power, Bart., James ; 11 vier, M.P., Alderman Butler, and several other ar e i. r e iy hrs of the Corporation. The Lord Mayor did not 118 u until the proceedings had terminated. After the h a d 4 L ser Tice prescribed by the Church for such occasions 141,1 ,dedeteneszelebrated, Mr. O'Connell was presented with which was read by the Rev. Mr. Canavan. document tendered the thanks of the Catholic parishioners of St. James to " their Liberator." It ad yertedio the persecutions which wete endured by the r o j i i' l e of Ireland previous to the period of Mr. O'Con sla s active exertions to deliver them from the state of vie ver 7 in which they were at his birth. To him they unj ust Indebted for the abrogation of those tyrannic and fil e r c l aw& which prevented them from worshipping by ce ; a t e tu r L u ti n n l g ess in secret, and the address concluded countrk lire, this , smut upon having the proof before day, of the cess of his toil n behalf of his ap64 e m . e n• The Rev. Gentleman concluded amid loud coc by a fe o, Nnte in reply to this address, commenced is _ rient exp ress i on of h i s t h an k s f or w h a t he termed ta!sreatl! ex aggerated opinion of his exertions in th e e his co unty ld be satisfied with sa ying this ; and h e WOU o tO Mu* if the address had not adverted to cs which at the present moment he could not pass unheede d,cxjun heed ed , They had assembled this day for an Excl u sive Catholi c purpose, an d h e was , th ere f or e, justi ert, i n t advertin g t o t h e state o f C a th o li c ity i n a ll parts e of world. It was true that he had aided to the best ,g:itT ability in striking off the chains of 800,000 persons t r e ad the British dominions; but in so doing he felt he d t ne approbation of his countrymen, who were ever ~Y to give that liberty to others which they loved so themselves.—(Hear, hear.) He then alluded to ofe passage in the address a hich described the effect tne penal laws affainst the Catholics and, after tictu r h, ' . . . _ g some few of their iniquities, proceeded to i u te s re that bigotry and intolerance were speedily of ' di ng, or becoming comparatively injurious to ti . not possessing them. He spoke in terms , i gh approbation of the late declaration of the eei s " Catholic prelates—that they would not re- Iv ye anything from the State; that, in fact, they _ nuid not touch the filthy mammon of lucre, duties a cknowledge any allegiance over their spiritual t -° any Minister of the Crown, but look to the In! e for that support which the people were ready to -Oder the —(Hear, hear.) He alluded to Belgium, he allege d , was an exclusively Catholic country, and there, 6 ,4 ft L ePCI., there was the most perfect liberty of con f4lnrereeeTnnializiptherefect freedom of the subject, and per press. He next adverted to the state ;the Catholic religion in France, and said that he is w o _ l !ld now express a belief in the transmutation of l s+when he found the conduct of some of the men in d utnority in that country. Danton and Marat mur- C:ed hundreds of Catholic priests, simply because they t _r,e priests, with the view of destroying religion. Well, ; es ' believed, that the souls of those men had taken pos h of the bodies of Villemain and Dupin of the iDre bi.l""a3.- They were not for cutting the throats of the t - e,!ts. but they hoped to injure religion as effectually ,e irt heir interference—by their exertions to destroy their alerr.i s aY—:to separate the people from the clergy. He o'Connell) had been making speeches every other th - f, for forty-four years, and he could confidently allege an man could accuse him of ever acting or speak tug ea favour of religious intolerance. He concluded, and retired amid great applause. 10, p o .''' I MER OF MARY WEST BY HER HUSBAND. ite a ,, e gave yesterday a brief account of thiS appalling hue years unfortunate deceased was about twenty tee years of age, or perhaps something more, and was L.Le_ daughter of Mr. Scott, the postmaster at Rathfarn isZ Her conduct as a wife and a mother was unim 41_ nable, and the only thing at all derogatory to her 10 ,.raeter was the unfortunate vice of drunkenness, to teta appears she was much given. The people who Bred in the house state that the deceased and her hus alle rettivel on the beat and most affectionate terms while Elate w ael sober, but that innumerable quarrels took 4310.1Vrtte, she broke out," as they called it, to drink. was- a i way 'r longhand was a very temperate man, and r ri l len she we ir t e i tttlY annoyed by the tongue of deceased. in_wonia'n,:r . The mother of West, an old and the room, but her efforts to save -146 t the a t i i -v uct unavailing, and it is probable that, ce a e i r l d Period bee n given, the man would have put aw e e , 3 - in in t ° his existence. As it was, he sue r' 4a tofeting a tolerably large wound with the atteaa, e atA ,.,_rter Part of his abdomen, but his medical vr o ,l ln , an, 6 '',, l4 ain the strongest hopes of his recovery. ,„.." an accounts, was an industrious and hard ngtt.ate;,._°ll, and, up to the present time, bore an si est erdi il t ed by J- 7 1 ,, u r y ... Kirwan, one of the city coroners, as "'"T. . i lYndman, Esq., held an inqbeluest on the It a eared from the e v id ence th a t the deceased and Sem. ate r u n were married about ten years. They were but we re ii some time, owin g to her drunken habits, wIY of th e ' l 'ig togeth er f or t h e l as t th ree mo nths. The faraite,r_ to Murder the dece ase d pledged some articles of atprocure drink. The husband was working theoutTnea on that day, when the deceased followed thetthere after breakfast, and annoyed him so much, di stei ; was told if she came there again he would be the e : e d, from his employment. When he went home in Aft4:mg, deco ised commenced abusing him again. with t h dari ng with her for some time, he armed himself ,e sword-cane, with which he stabbed her in seve on t• rt. ' Of the body, after which he turned the weapon nuself th a l t h t e l jury found the following verdict :—" We find lev ee ," said Mary West came by her death from the 1 141 : 8 of several wounds inflicted on her person by her 0 , 0 , a nd, John West, with a eane•sword, at about eight in the evening of the 2d of April instant, in a optoc d by said West and wife, in the house, 45, •.,ssex-ste" IrtNI T HALF-PAST SIX, P.M. FRANCHISE BILL.—IMPORTANT RESO TAIT/ us T^ONS OF THE REPEAL ASSOCIATION. he foll ow i ng important document has just reached COURT CIRCULAR. WlNDsoa, FRIDAY.—The Queen, his Majesty the 'King of the Belgians, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the-Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal suite and the household, attended Divine service this . niorn= ing in the private chapel of the Castle. Archdeacon Wilberforce preached the sermon, and the Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay assisted at the service. Her Maj esty the Queen of the Belgians, attended b her suite, went this forenoon to the Catholic chapel on Clewer-green' ' to attend Divine service. The Royal Family have been taken to-day for their usual airings in the park. The two' Queens took an airing in the Great Park 1 1 this afternoon, their Majesties occupying an open I carriage.. The Ladies in Waiting (the Countess of Dunmore 'and Baroness d'Hoogvorst) following. in another carriage, and Major-General Wemyss, Equerry in Waiting, being in attendance on horse back. His Majesty the King of the Belgians rode out on horseback this afternoon, attended by one of the gentlemen of his suite. - Yesterday, being Good Friday, Divine service was performed in the forenoon in the Chapel Royal St. James's. The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Vivian, the lessons by the Rev. Dr. Knapp, and the Communion service by the Rev. Dr. Sleath. The sermon was preached by the Dean of Westminster. The anthem, "He was despised," was sung by Mr Hawkins. The Marchioness of Westmeath, Lords Cathcart Tyrconnell, Vivian, Wharncliffe, Ha warden, and Ernest Bruce, and Ladies Wharncliffe and Vivian, were among the nobility present. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. LITERATURE: PEREGRINE PULTUNEY. Three Vols. Mortimer, London, 1844. Though somewhat loosely constructed, and not al ways keeping within the pale of probability, this story possesses many points of interest ; the hero's (Pultuney's) character is cleverly sustained through out, from the moment when he is first introduced to the reader, at fourteen years of ago, just fresh from a cricket-match, to the period when, after having seen his fill of Indian life, and gone through a variety of exciting adventures, he is married to Augusta S weet enham at the cathedral church of Calcutta, at which interesting crisis of his fate, the novelist, as in duty bound, takes leave of him. The story is penned in a spirited, off-hand style, and its livelier scenes are its best, though, occasionally, there is too much exaggeration in its vivacity, especially in the earlier chapters, and the author's fun seems to come from him with an effort. As a tale full of bustle lend incident, and crowded with characters, "Peregrine Pultuney" is likely enough to meet with a fair share of public approbation. RICHELIEU IN LOVE. Colburn, London, 1844. We learn from his preface that the author of this comedy is a young man, and that it is his first dramatic venture. We should have guessed as much, for " Richelieu in Love" exhibits many of the faults of inexperience —such, for instance, as a constant effort at smartness ; a want of keeping in some of the principal characters—especially in that of Anne of Austria, who, in her first tae-a-tete with the dis guised Buckingham, talks more like a pert waiting woman than a lady—and a clumsiness in the manage ment of some of the leading incidents. The scene of the comedy is laid in France, during the administra tion of Cardinal Richelieu, who, if we may credit certain historians, fell violently in love with the Queen, and never forgave her the decided repulse she offered, when he ventured to hint at his passion. This singular incident forms the chief feature of the play, and we certainly cannot compliment the author on the ease, and grace, and dexterity with which he has handled it. Nor is he more successful in de lineating the characters of Buckingham and Prince Charles, who throughout the comedy talk and act, not like polished young men of the world, but like rash, inexperienced boys, just escaped from the thraldom of the nursery. But, indeed, the besetting fault of Richelieu in Love is the exceeding puerility of its dramatis personm, all of whomare incessantly bandying childish conceits with each other, like so many precocious school-boys and school-girls. The author is by no means devoid of talent; he has great vivacity of manner, and sometimes even approaches wit; but he is wholly deficient in taste and judg ment. We can see no earthly reason why his comedy should - have been prohibited by the Lord Chamber lain. The performance would have shaken the pillars neither of Church nor State, had it even bad as great a run as the Beggar's Opera. DOVER, APRIL s.—The depot of the 95th, now stationed at the Heights Barracks here, will be inspected on Thursday next, the 11th inst., by his Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Adjutant-General of her Majesty's forces, Sir John Macdonald, K.C.B. Orders have been received at this garrison for the depots of the 77th and 25th regiments to be held in readiness to march to Gravesend, early in the ensuing month, for embarkation for Ireland—the former depot for Cork, and the latter for Kinsale. The 52d depot is ordered from Ireland to Dover, to relieve the 77th and 95th. SUDDEN DEATH OF MAJOR TATIIWELL. —On Thursday morning, Brevet-Major Tathwell of the 95th regiment, died suddenly at his quarters, on the Western Heights, Dover, greatly lamented by the corps. The gal lant Major had seen a great deal of service in India, having been present at the Burmese war, with the 41st Foot ; a‘the capture of Rangoon, the engagements in front of that place, at the attack on Kimindine and Pagoda Point, the capture of Fort Syriam, and the storming of the works in front of the Dagon Pagoda. The gallant officer had been poorly for some time, but not so seri ously as to awaken apprehensions for his sudden decease. He was found dead in bed by his servant on the morn- ing in question. STATE OF TRADE.—LIVERFOOL.—The excitement consequent on the contemplated changes in the tariff still continues, and rather increases than otherwise ; thus commercial operations are, to a great extent, frustrated. Reports of all sorts are afloat ; in one direction we hear that the duties on sugar will be revised, but only to such an extent as will satisfy the favourite colonial interest that their monopoly prices will not be reduced by the change ; others say the duty on all sorts will be lowered for the benefit of the consumer. The speculators in to bacco, and they are numerous, are expecting some con siderable reductions from the present enormous tax. In fact, every one has a different idea ; but perhaps the most general opinion, and the latest, is, that the 5 per cent. put on all duties by the last Government will be removed by Sir Robert Peel. The cotton business for the week shows no improvement ; neither the trade nor speculators have sufficient confidnce to buy to any ex tent, and each successive arrival from the States throws additional gloom over the market. The latest estimate of the crop by well-informed parties is from 1,900,000 to 2,000,000 bales ; and if it prove so, speculators may well be cautious. Business in the Corn• market has become steadier, and it is evident from the state of the weekly averages that a desperate effort will still be made to effect a eonsiderable decline in the duty as the summer ad vances. The present favourable weather for sowing is a material point towards a good crop in the autumn, and it cannot fail to have its effect on the market. Shares are still a favourable investment for unemployed money, and prices are generally steadily supported. Liverpool Mercury. Tun WHEAT.—We are happy to hear a very favourable report of the appearance of the wheat on the ground. Though we have had a good deal of wet during the last month, it does not seem to have hurt it at all ; and we have it from an agriculturist of long experience that it never looked better, through the whole of the Weald, than it does at present, an appearance he attri butes to the improved drainage of almost all the land in the country that requires it. The oat-sowing has been doue, almost everywhere, better than usual, and many pieces of peas are up, and looking well. The lambing on the Downs has commenced, with different success in different localities ; in some places there has been a great loss of ewes—more than usual by far. The grass is backward, but there is an abundance of hay every where.—Brighton Paper. THAMES REGATTA.—The Lord Mayor has an nounced his intention of being present at the forthcoming regatta, with his civic pageantry, and it is also expected that his Royal Highness Prince Albert, who is a subscriber, will honour the sports with his presence. In other respects, also, the next regatta will be superior to those which have pre ceded it. Hitherto prizes of various amounts have been given, and have been competed for by the Thames men and the provincials indiscriminately . Owing to their want of practice and other unfavourable c ircumstances, the latter have almost invariably been signally, d e f e ated. In the ne.7ct re gatta prizes for provincials alone will be awarded, the Thames men being .excluded. Some encouragement will, therefore. be extended to them to visit London, for the pur pose of engaging in further struggles. Tna IRON TRADE. — W e are very happy to learn that the iron trade is greatly improved, and is likely to be so for a long period. The public may rely upon this, as it comes from one having iron and coal works, and extensively connected with the business.—Birmingham Advertiser. ESCAPE OF THOMAS SULLIVAN, ONE OF THE CUSTOM -HOUSE ROBBERS.—By the accounts which have recently reached the Home-office, from Sydney, it ap pears that Thomas Sullivan, one of the notorious Cus tom-house robbers, who, in 1836, had been transported, with three others, for th e o ff ence , had effected his escape from that colony. By order of the Secretary of State proclamation of the fact has been made, within the last Few days, at the different stations and section houses of the olice in the metropolis. ENV CHURCH. IN THE PARISH OF KINGSCLERE.— It is proposed to build a new church on the common, in this parish, on a site in the northern part, where five acres of land have been set apart for that purpose, under the late Act of Parliament fur the inclosure of the com mons. The new church is to contain at least 400 sit tings, 300 of which will be free, and in the district to be annexed to it there will be upwards of 1,000 souls. — Devizes Gazette. MELANCHOLY FATE OF THE PENDERILLS.—Rich. Herbert Penderill, aged 29, a hneal descendant of the Penderills, whose loyalty to Charles 11. is a matter of history, perished in a miserable way on Wednesday. The deceased was a waterman on the Thames, and was subject to fits ; and finding one approaching, held out his arms as a signal to his associates, but fell into the river before they could assist him, and perished.— Shrewsbury News. CENTRAL CRI VIINAL COURT. During the recess which has occurred th mination of the last session of the C' Court, the City Lands Committee ha' attention toward improving the commi basement to the Old and New Courts, ing a better system of accommodal cation to the numerous and hete: that each session congregates at the abi tofore, the entrance to the Old Court the Clerk of the Indictments was the first one a wide flight of wooden passage which opens to the corridor sepi, tn. and New Courts; the other was a kind of well-staircase, consisting of stone steps, which led to -the Indictment office, the gallery of the Old Court, and to the en trance for counsel and solicitors, and which, by means of a dark passage, rendered still darker by doors, led to an opposite flight of steps, which communicated with what is termed the. press-yard. These staircases were divided by a wall of masonry, four feet and a half in thickness, running from the base ment to the top of the building. This wall, as well as the two flights of stairs, have been removed, and a wide circular, or well-staircase, has been built in their place. The flight, at the first landing, leads, and affords every facility, to and from both of the Courts and the indictment office ; the second flight leads to Mr. Clark's private offices, the gallery of the Old Court, and also to the gallery of the New Court; while the third flight leads to the top of the building, and from the extreme width of the stairs several persons can pass and repass without the slightest inconvenience to each other. With regard to the alterations on the basement of the building, it has already been noticed that it has been divided into three compartments, but without any arrangement as to classification; this evil has been remedied, for the north division is set apart for the prosecutors and witnesses who may have to attend in the Old Court, as well as to afford ingress and egress to the Grand Jury-room. The centre com partment is to be exclusively devoted for the friends of the prisoners, and witnesses to character. The south or right hand compartment affords the same facilities as the north end to the New Court ; and at the same time here the most important alteration has been made. Previous to the last session all classes, male and female, the innocent and the vicious, the respectable and the dissolute, were herded together, intermixed with a vast number of the new police—the members of this protective force having nothing to do except to be in attendance, and . to be ready to answer when their case was called on, too often made it the practice to take the female witness, especially if she was respectable, to some of the public-houses opposite, for the purpose, it was alleged, to remove her from being contaminated by the depravity with which she was surrounded, whets in many instances, the remedy adopted far outbalanced the supposed evil, for being unused to such places, she became stupified by liquor, and became an easy victim to the passions of the constable. Not a session passed but what was marked with seductions, both in married and single life, and to remedy this monstrous evil, as well as the unhap py consequences which the want of a proper accommoda tion entailed, the City Lands Committee have fitted up the room which adjoins the office of the treasurer of the county of Middlesex for the sole and exclusive accommo dation of respectable females who unfortunately are obliged to attend the Central Criminal Court in the cha racter of prosecutrixes or witnesses. In this room every thing that is essential is provided, and for the purpose of preventing any improper communication, a trustworthy female is to be appointed to attend to these parties, and to give notice when their attendance is required on the trial, thus preventing any unnecessary communication. Other improvements are about taking place, while the arrangements above alluded to will come into operation. on Monday next. THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. am induced to write to you, having acciden tally read your remarks on the conduct of the Emperor Nicholas in your paper of the 2d of April. lam no admirer of his Imperial Majesty, but as I happen to be acquainted with the facts relating to the insurrection on his accession to the throne, I think it fair to communicate them to you. I am convinced that the Emperor Nicholas never stated to the Marquis de Custine that he gave the order to the troops to go on their knees. This is a coup de-theatre which the French Marquis could not resist ; and you are also mistaken in supposing that Nicholas did not expose himself on that day. The real fact was this :—Some time after the revolt had commenced, the regiment of Semenowski (Semenowski) Guards, (in which Nicholas himself had been brought up) marched straight to the Winter Palace, with the intention either of securing or murdering him. The head of the column had no sooner entered the gateway of the palace, than Nicholas rushed down the stairs, without a sword on,. and gave the command, " Semenowski 1 halt ! right about face ! to the Isaac's Place ; quick march 1" The regiment mechanically obeyed, and did march to the Isaac's Place, where the other revolted troops were as sembled. The coolness and decision of Nicholas on this occasion cannot be sufficiently praised; nor do I blame him, as all the troops were Russians, for not superin tending the rather expensive amusement of charging squares of infantry with cavalry, which was resorted to in consequence of the artillery which (as well as the cavalry) was faithful, being unprovided with ammuni tion, which it was necessary to have sent for from Czarskoseloe. If Nicholas had only remained what he was when he came to the throne, the world would have had nothing to complain of. R. •ed since th3 te r- -, T • Central ritn?ak.l l- 1 . me direet44:.*lirr iuniegfron fronro44. - -.'": • r sg ,as fell as afro 0 4 Ltiortuncl ciclassy• • _ tu 5 , -' Brogt i o n t: ma w Dove • • 13:1-- -- , 3 and w 4 . \ , i....: 'Ail. by tw ; " - , -110 1 111 6 ' stairs leir.: ,,, . ••. , 1 - leparatinz the Old STATE OF TRADE. - `WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, APRIL 4.—We are unable to report any moveable change in the demand or price of wools of any description ; the market is firm at the rates of last week. LEEDS.—The balk cloth markets have been much the same this week as we have reported for several weeks past ; a moderate business has been done. There have been most of the principal buyers from London here this week ; their purchases, although not very large, have, on the whole, caused consider able briskness in the warehouses. BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—The favourable change in the weather is looked upon as being bene ficial to the home trade merchants, who generally ex pect a good spring trade, and the demand is far better than last year at this period. The prices of all kinds of goods • are very firm, and as they have not ad vanced in proportion with wool and yarns, lower prices cannot be submitted to. Yarns are not so ready of sale as a few weeks back, but as the spinners are very low in stock, there is no expectation of any lower rates being current. There is only a limited business doing in wool, and prices are barely main tained. TRADE OF MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING. — The severe depression in the yarn market, to which we adverted last week, still continues, and the low rates at which a few sales were then made, have now become the current market prices. The decline ap pears to have given a little more confidence to buyers ; and, although the amount of actual business done bas not been very large, there is more disposition to give orders than for some time past. The goods market is rather firmer than last week, and a tolerable amoun t of business has been done at the prices of last week. The Clerk of the Ordnance (Captain Boldero, M.P.) proceeds to Plymouth and other stations during the re cess, on official business connected with the Master- General's department. THE PEDLAR AFFAIR.—We understand that the referees, appointed to adjust the Rev. Mr. Pedlar's breach of promise of marriage to the daughter of the city High Sheriff, Benjamin Salter, Es q., have awarded to the for tunate young lady 1,0001. Western Times. The Hartlepool General Shipping Company have agreed to dissolve the deed of partners hi p soustituting the Company, and to sell the ships belonging to them forthwith. Orders have arrived in Berwick to have a consider able portion of the barracks, which have been long the n tenanted, prepared for the recep tion of troops by 15th inst. JOHN FROST.-4 letter, now in Newport, written at Pont Paer, Tasman's P en insula, dated 17th October, 1843, conveys the intelligence that the writer saw Mr. John Frost in the previous March, " on the Station," and that he appeared in remarkably good health.— Monmouthshire Merlin. THE COLLIERS.—It is a matter of great satisfac tion to state that the coal miners at Lord Middleton's colliery, at Radford, Nottinghamshire, who had struck for an advance of wages last week; returned to their em ployment on Wedre3clay last, his Lordship's steward having complied with the wishes of the men, to pay them 4s. for a day's work of eight hours. The best workmen hitherto in coal-pits have not been able to earn (besides almost constant risk of life) more than from 12s. to 18s. per week, and working many hours per day. Public sympathy for the miners is now becoming universal. HoAxmiG.—A completely successful but rather mischievous hoax was played off in Dublin on Monday last—the Ist of April. Placards were issued and posted up which announced that a free passage to Drogheda and back would be given on the railway to all who wished to enjoy the jaunt. In consequence, a vast num ber of persons collected at that point of the works where they expected to embark ; and, seeing a train with waggons approaching, they rushed forward, and en deavoured to secure themselves in an early place. The overseers remonstrated, and tried to undeceive the un happy dupes ; but all in vain—to Drogheda they would go and no mistake. The consequence was, a very serious riot, and damage to the works of more than 100 L, in amount. The labourers on the road supported the over seers—the victims fought for their places, and the melee was tremendous. Next day Henry-street Police-office gave ear to a variety of complaints arising out of the transaction, but the magistrates dismissed all the parties good-humouredly, " in honour of the day." I HORRID BORE.—Mr. Punc h, reside in May-fair, and I write to complain to you of a monstrous nui sance existing in my neighbourhood. I allude to the crying of mackarel and oranges so early as ten o'clock in the morn ing. These noises are an intolerable interference with the repose of the superior classes ; and I should like to know what the lower orders would say if the hours, which they think proper to devote to sleep, were broken in upon in a similar manner? In connexion with this subject, there is another point which I am desirous of mentioning, although lam quite aware that it is of a delicate nature. Undoubt edly, it is very right and proper that people should go to Church, and some means of summoning them to service must, of course, be resorted to. Ido not at all object to bells at reasonable hours, but I must say, that to begin ringing them at eleven o'clock on a Sunday, in a district, to the majority of whose inhabitants attendance at the opera on the previous evening is indispensable, is preposterously inconsiderate, not to say, inhumau.—l am, Sir, &c., A Fashionable Father of a Family.—Punch. out ;vs& 1