The Sun. — London, England, 1844-08-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, AONDON', THURSDAY MORNING-, AUGUST 1, 1944 1:3 1::•5.3 fair proposals, invited probably by the dis- I —(Laughter.) I don't think the secret could be in clission v. hich has taken place on that o,' ip,2Warner's , worse hands than in those of the Prime Minister. If it —fotir p:;rsons who have invented instruments each at became neTessary to prevent other Powers from be . least as clestructit eas Cape. ner's.—(llear, hear, - and coining aware of it, and converting it to hostile pur laughter.) The invent.:', a-d: for no remuneration, poses, and that it was f sine qua non that the secret but only that the experiment should he performeo, • he ent , !,L - ,1 to ;oznebody, he thought at the public expense. But after the speeches that had that that r2spc•nsin:lty ought not to be thrown beets made in this House on the subject, and an exhibi- on the Prime Minister. To the objection that tion by Captain Warner, I must admit of considerable ' another would divulge the secret, Captain Warner power, I thought I would deprive him of any opportu- said he did not think any Englishman would do any nity of saying I treated the invention with any disre- such thing. They replied, " You are an Englishman, spect or ridicule; I therefore offered to bear the ex. and you want to sell it." He said. " I want to secure penses of the experiment within reasonable limits. the secret to my country." I am sorry that my Noble Captain Warner in his reply said, he did not want any Friend has imposed on me the necessity of entering into artillery or cannon, as he effected his object by means these details. I think we have not treated Captain War distinct from any of the weapons of war. But with re- ner's discovery without due respect and regard. I have gard to the reversal of the order of the experiments, by entered into all these details for the purpose of showing taking the long range first, he did not think it right to that the House of Commons is not the proper tribunal depart from the original plan. But he submitted to the for trying this matter, and that it should not be consti- Commissioners whether all expense in the matter might tuted into a court of appeal from the Government. not be avoided, as he could refer for the success of his Captain Warner or his offers have not been treated with experiment to the high authority of the Secretary disrespect, and I think the House will see, from the cor of the Admiralty, the First Lord of the Treasury, respondence which has passed, that Captain Warner has to the Master-General of the Ordnance, and to his had the fullest opportunity given to him of exhibiting Noble Friend Lord Ingestre. Why, I never his " invisible shell" and " long range," and if Capt. saw any experiment with the long range. I only saw Warner has failed to do so, it is not the fault of the the one experiment at Wanstead, and what is the use of Government or of the Commission—the fault must be referring at all to first Lords of the Treasury ? I pro- ascribed to Capt. Warner, who failed to perform what pose myself to be quite incapable of judging on the sub- he had undertaken.—(Hear, hear.) pet, and what I want is the opinion and judgment of Mr. COWPER said th a t th e Ri g ht H onoura bl e professional men. In reply to this lett er o f Captain Gentleman bad clearly shown to the House that the Warner's, the Commissioners returned a very proper present Government had performed its duty in re communication, stating that they were not appointed to be gard to this matter.—(Hear, hear.) The Government referred to the opinions of others, but to judge for them- had done all that lay in their power in order that the selves. Then, as to the point of the expense of purchasing experiment might be fairly tried. He only wished to the invention, in case it succeeded. The Noble Lord says, say that the late Government were not guilty of any ne• I made a great mis-statement last year in asserting that glect on their part, for that when Captain Warner made Captain Warner asked 400,000 L for his secret. I hold his proposition to Lord Melbourne, the Noble Vis. in my hand a letter from Captain Warner to Lord Hard- count said it was not a matter in which a civilian ought wicke, in which he demands for the purchase of his in- to be called to decide, and he referred Captain Warner visible shells, 200,000/., and 200,000/. fur his long range to Admiral Sir W. Parker, who was unwilling to exa also. That was the proposal made by Captain Warner mine into the question himself, and he got permission to on the 2d of November, 1841, immediately after the have another Lord of the Admiralty with him to inquire proposal for the appointment of a Commission, and his into the matter. Captain Warner required 16,0001. be consent to the nomination of Sir Byam Martin. fore he proceeded with his test, and he (Mr. Cowper) T i tle Commissioners asked Capt. Warner to proceed with remarked, Capt. Warner preferred going to the Treasury the experiments, and they received a reply on the 20th rather than to the Admiralty or Ordnance Boards, and of April, 1842. In this letter Capt. Warner acknow- that he always treated the subject more as a question of ledges the communication of the Commissioners of the money than as a scientific or military matter. The 16th, but states that as they said they had no authority Noble Lord who brought forward this motion said he to fix the amount of his remuneration in case he sue- hoped the Government would prevent this discovery ceeded, and as this was the basis of his engagement, he from passing into the hands of other Governments. could not proceed further till they received authority to Now, he had heard from very high authority that the promise him, on the part of the Government, a proper discovery was offered to the Government of Prussia, amount of remuneration. He said further, that he might and the negotiation with the Prussian Government save them any unnecessary trouble in entering on any went off on the very same point on which the Govern ' other part of the subject till this obstacle was re- ment at home refused to have anything to do with it — moved. Thus it is evident that the sum of 400,0001. viz., that Captain Warner required a large sum of was required, upon which the Commissioners informed money beforehand. He hoped that, if any sincere de him that there was an end of the Commission, since they sire was manifested by Captain Warner to test his expee had no authority to promise any such sum, or any other riment, an opportunity would be granted to him. sum beforehand ; that this must be left entirely to her Sir HO WARD DOUGLAS said he was very glad • Majesty's Government, and they closed the Commission. the correspondence was to be produced, as it would After these gentlemen had thrown up the Commission, show that the Government had offered Captain Warner Captain Warner said he should he content with any re- every opportunity of testing the full powers of his inven muneration the First Lord of the Treasury might offer tion, and that his colleagues and himself had acted to him beforehand. He did also submit to some examina- wards him in a spirit of the utmost kindliness and fair tion by these Commissioners, and ho thought a refe- ness.—(Hear, hear.) He was glad also that an oppor rence to some of the questions put to Captain Warner, tunity was afforded him of contradicting, in the strongest and the answers given to them would satisfy the House terms, a report which he saw in the Times newspaper, that caution on every point was not misplaced. The stating that there was a difference as to Captain following questions were put to Captain Warner :—How Warner's proposition amongst the Commissioners. long is it since you satisfied yo urse lf o f th e p owers o f N ow th ere never was th e l eas t difference between them your long range, and your invisible shells ? Captain —the most perfect uniformity of opinion existed be- Warner replies—Twelve years ago with respect to the tween Sir Edward Owen and himself ; they came to the long range, and twenty-seven years ago with regard to. conclusion that the only part of the alleged invention the invisible shells, as he sunk two French privateers at which was worth anything was that of the " long the end . of the war, one off Folkestone, and the other in range," and when Sir Byam Martin succeeded him St. Vallery Bay. What was the name of the vessel you he read over the documents, and, on the 31st of March, were on board of ? The Nautilus. Such an extraordi- he wrote a minute, stating that he entirely concurred in nary circumstance was, of course, reported to the Admi- what his predecessor had done, and he stated his own ratty ? No ;it was not reported • we were not under opinion that the only thing worth purchasing was the the Admiralty. Then, who was the Nautilus hired by ? " long range. They asked Captain Warner what he It was hired by the Secretary of State, and employed by would do, supposing there were twenty sail of the line Lord Castlereagh in landing spies on the coast of France. occupying a roadstead like Torbay, for instance, Was the destruction of these two vessels reported to th e which was three miles, how he would close up Secretary of State ? It might hare been, but Ido not that passage—how far his shells were to be know. Was it recorded in the log-book of the Nautilus? placed from each other, w h e th er th ere was to b e a per- We did not keep a leg-book. Were any of the crew feet communication between them, and how they wer e present when the destruction took place ? No one knew to be laid out. They asked how this was to be done in of it but myself and another. In answer to other ques- the face of the enemy. Captain Warner said he would Lions, Captain Warner stated that no head-money was do it by means of cutters, and schooners, and boats. claimed for the crew destroyed, and that his father was They asked how he would do it against wind and tide. the owner of the Nautilus. The Commissioners sent to He said he would do it by a steamer, and that he would the Admiralty to inquire if any record whatever existed, thus block up the passage. He admitted that Captain or correspondence, relating to the destruction of these Warner had discovered an explosive power greater than two French privateers, and none could be found. The any that was yet known ; but how was it p oss ible t h at same inquiries were then made at the Foreign-office, but Captain Warner could lay his invisible shells, and block no record of any such fact existed. The Commissioners up a passage with them in the face of an enemy, with then asked where was the long range tried ? The an- steamers, cutters, and schooners, and with perhaps wind swer was, upon some trees, at the distance of three and tide against him? It was worse than the attempt to miles, in Hainault forest, in the presence of put salt on the bird's tail.—(Laughter.) They did not Sir Edward Keats. Now, if this were the think that the invention of the " invisible shell ' was one case, why should not Captain Warner satisfy which required a moment's consideration. With regard the Commissioners as to the mode in which it was ac- to the experiment which had taken place at Brighton, complished? The Commissioners also say, You have par- he did not think it was any more than what titularly spoken of the desolating power of your long had taken place on the punt in the fish-pond, range ; if so, how did you obtain a proof of it ? Cap- which was drawn by horses. It was nothing more than tain Warner in reply, stated that he had tried it in the same experiment on a larger scale. A vessel must Hainault forest. and on the Biom islands, where there be drawn in the wake of another, with ropes on each were no buildings, but where the power of the instru- side of her bows ; the force would cause them to col ment shivered several tons of rock. Now other person s lapse, and if there was explosive matter the force would could produce as great effects as this. There were many cause it to burst ; but when one vessel chased another, chemical compounds that produced the most violent ef- the course generally pursued was not to follow in the fects, yet might be handled with perfect safety ; but the wake of that vessel, but to tack in the wake. This power question was, whether it could be applied under difficult could not be used to any great extent, notwithstanding the circumstances, and whether they could be applied with terrific use which was said had been made of ,it in de safety by the persons using them. We therefore do not stroying two French privateers. He therefore thought see such advantage in blowing a vessel into the that the only thing worthy of seeing was the long range, air, others can do that. So much for the in- and they proposed to Captain Warner to proceed with visible shell. But, above all, they had a curiosity his experiment, and for this purpose they had procured to see the effects of the long range—a projectile able to vessels, but Captain Warner wished to procure a vessel destroy fort and towns. If they attached a shell to the for his own experiment. They wished also to have the tail of a kite, or to a balloon, that would be of no impor- vessels under their own personal charge, and that Cap tance—there was no ingenuity in that. If they proposed tain Warner should not choose the place where he was to convey it in this manner, and drop it into a fortress to try his experiment. They did not mean anything of -that would be useless, for it would be impossible so to fensive to Captain Warner; they wanted only to decide do. But could they project it to the same distance? Let fairly between the public and Captain Warner. They them show that that was possible. However the experi- also wished that Captain Warner should make his ex ments came to an untimely end, and before he closed the periment as if upon an enemy's vessel. Then, with re- Commission, his Gallant Friend(Sir Byam Martin), ex- gard to the material which was employed; if it presied a wish that he might never be asked to try any was so explosive that it would burst on more experiments, and that if he were asked he should slight percussion or concussion, he had no he• positively decline. A debate subsequently took place in sitation in saying that a ball striking the vessel in thattlouse, and Captain Warner published a letter on which such explosive matter was contained would blow the subject, not very complimentary to the Government the whole up. With regard to the part which he had or to the Committee. But that was no reason why he taken as a Commissioner, they, of course, declined to should not have a fair opportunity of trying his experi- give Captain Warner a guarantee for any sum of money, meats. On hearing, therefore, that Captain Warner was because they had had no power of doing so. They said dissatisfied with the course taken, I wrote again to Sir they could have nothing to do with any reward, either its George Murray, stating that I understood Captain War- principle or amount ; that their duty was to judge tier was really desirous that the experiment should be between the public interests and the interests of an fairly tried, and requesting him to confer with the First individual, and to report their opinions of the experi- Lord of the Admiralty as to the selection of two other ment to the Government. lie was necessarily called up by officers, not of equal rank with Sir Byam Martin and the motion made in that House by the Hon. Baronet the Sir Howard Doue,las, but of unblemished character, and then Member for Wiltshire, the late Sir Francis Burdett. having every qualification to enable them to judge. On this He was necessarily put on the defensive as one of the Commission Captain Warner wished to have a nominee Commissioners. everything which had taken place in of his own placed, but this the Government declined, their communications with Mr. Warner was new in The Commission, on the other hand, wrote to Captain print. There had never been any differences between the Warner that :the Government were willing to bear the Commissioners and Captain Warner, except in refer expense, but proposed that one of the Commission should ence to the experiments ; and, as to any difference be on board the steam-boat employed by Captain between Captain Warner and himself, all he could say Warner; but to this Captain Warner positively ob- was, that he never saw Captain Warner except in the jetted. They said they could not form a satisfactory presence of the Commissioner, and every word which judgment unless they were on board the steamer; but had passed between himself and Captain Warner, as in still they would waive that objection, and they called on dividuals, was contained in the correspondence. In all him for an estimate of the expense to be incurred. I these communications with Captain Warner they had said before I wo u ld n o t enter into a blind engagement to answered by telling him that they were not desirous of pay hundreds of thousands of pounds; all we wanted extorting from Captain Warner any part of his secret, was, that the Commi s sioners should watch the mode in but that they merely wished to arrange the experiments which Captain Warner proceeded, and to report the re- for testing its powers, and they advised him not to an suit of their observations to the Government. But in swer any question which might tend to elicit any part the first instance, we wanted to have an estimate of the of that secret. In the letter of 16th of April, they coin expense necessary for the experiment, and a letter was municated to him fully the experiments which they written to Captain Warner for an estimate of the ex- were determined to have tried. They took nothing for pease. Captain Warner replied that he would want granted ; they did nothing but insist on seeing the effect 4,637/. for the invisible shell, and 2,4701. for the long of the experiments, and particularly with respect to the range, making a sum of 5,107 Z, altogether. Our wish long range. He did not know that he had anything was to see the experiment with the long range, and we ' further to say. He would only say, in conclusion, that said we did not mind the invisible shell, but we wished he had no objection to the production of these papers, to have the long range tried, after what had been stated feeling certain that they had done all in their power to as having been done at St. Vallery Bay, Hainault give ample opportunity for the trial of the experiments, forest, and the Biom Island. We proposed to give whilst providing for the protection of the public inte him 600 Z in the first instance, and then to watch the rests.—(Hear, hear.) progress of the experiment. Captain Warner objected Sir C. NAPIER said, that throughout the greater to this, saying that 5001. was not enough ; but still he part of the Noble Lord's speech he was almost inclined would consent to try the experiment for that sum, and to doubt his sanity ; but when he heard him say that try to make up the remaining sum, which would be ne- with one vessel Captain Warner would be able to keep cessary, from amongst his friends. After a certain a whole fleet in harbour, he must say he almost came period, he intimated that it was impossible to make over to the opinion of Sir Hussey Vivian.—(Laughter.) the experiment, as he could not find friends who would It was strange that an officer of such talent as the Noble bear the remaining expense. Thus the matter closed Lord could set his head so completely wool-gathering as without any experiment, and the relations between the to fancy such a thing for a single moment.—(Laughter.) Government and Captain Warner ceased. We departed He (Sir C. Napier) looked upon it as one of the wildest from the ordinary rule in this instance of advancing the schemes ever presented to the consideration of the public money to try this experiment. We wanted to House.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had given them have the long :range tried first ; and I do not think it an account certainly of the way in which Captain War would be consistent with the duty imposed on us of ner had been treated by the late Government, and if all guarding the public purse against all unneccessary ex- his statements were correct, he certainly did appear to sense, if we were to enter into engagements for advanc- have been knocked about from pillar to post. In 1829, Jag__ a considerabl e sum—lwill not say 400,0001., or he was in the hands of Sir Thomas H a rdy an d Si r R. 20 0 e 000/. or 300,00 a— d e pe nd ing upon a cont i ngency K ea t s , two mos t distinguished officers. . . could not be foreseen.—(Hear, hear.) lam of Lord INGESTRE—The Gallant Officer was nais pinion that the Treasury and all the other depart- taken. It came to his knowledge in 1829, an d h e then ments, hav e acted with the greatest fairness and Jibe- gave a sort of history of the thing. rality toward s Captain Warner ; and I hope the House Sir C. NAPIER—No matter. It did certainly appear will be of the same opinion. I mu s t sa y that nothing a singular thing that when those officers died not a, will induce me, from the experience regard to inventors, which I have had s i ng le document was found amongst their papers in re with"A's, and in respect to C a pt. W arner . f erence to t hi s invention.—(Hear, hear.) Such men o f to consent to ent er i nto 400,0001., or 100,0001., an engagement t o p a y either .business were not in the habit of losing papers. Captain upon a certain vessel being de- Warner then went to Portugal. He had some recol stoyed.—(Hear, hear.) I will first know the mode in lection of his being there. If he had found him there which it is destroyed. I will k covery by which it is destroy ed now the value of the dis- ready to use this destructive machinery, he would venting the use of it by to power of pre- certainly have tried it. The Noble Lord said he was know before I consent, on the par all these effects I will desired by the late King not to use his invention - against tof the public, that a Don Miguel. He would like to see the proof that King large sum of money be advanced ; and I House will not sanction a departure from ()Pe that this William objected to the use of this invention in favour that seeing the importance which every inventor principle, of a Constitutional Government against a usurper.— his own invention, and that on every han d to (Hear, hear.) Then the Noble Lord referred to Sir would be made on the public money on similar geroinuannt Robert Stopford. Captain Warner was thrown overboard (Hear, hear.) Before I sit down must refer to by Sir Robert Stopford because the Commission was too l b a ee rge n Why, if that were the case, would it not have additional evidence in this matter. In answer to a quese tion which had been put to Capt. Warner as to whether ' easy to reduce the number ?—(Hear. hear.) Then came the extraordinary statement that this extraordi ordinary ships would answer his purpose, or whether he Bill.— would require a certain description of' vessels, he said n ( ary u rtform in war was upset by the Reform ter.) This was a sort of allegation which he that there should be vessels fitted for the couldg not at all comehend. They were then referred purpose in every fleet." They said, " Then to Lord Melbourne whom the Noble Lord teazed out of you propose to instruct persons in the mate- his lif e — (Laughter) —but thematter u was still left vials you propose to employ ? This will make unsettled. The Noble Lord was next obliged the secret known ; and how many persons will it be t o pi c k up an old lieutenant named Webster. Why, he necessary to employ in each fleet? He said " That (Sir C. N ap i er) saw Mr. Webster, and he ventured to one man in the fleet s hould be in the secret." Thus the say, that there never was Government would lose the secret unless they gave world.—(G rea t laughter.) greater driveller in this need not make any re -400,000/. to ever y p erson w h o b ecam e acquainted with mar k respect i ng Captain Warner'sHe communication wit h it, unle ss Captain Warner. could suggest some mode of Sir Hussey Vivi an . W e l l, then, he came at last to keeping it secret which did not occur to the Commis- the experiments which were tri • ed. He had not the goners. This had been signified to Captain Warner, smallest doubt that Captain Warner possessed the and he repli e d t h at no person need know i t b ut t h e knowledge of a strong explosive power ; but was there Know Minister and one manufacturer.—(Laughter.) a single experienced chemist in this country , who did Now I protest against being tin the secret with another. not possess the same ?—(Hear, hear.) Why, there were chemists who would tell them that a single drop of chloride of nitrogen was so powerful, that they could not, a ith safety, even go near it. Now, what was the secret of Captain Warner's exploding power? He could perfectly understand how Captain Warner exploded those two vessels to which the Noble Lord had re ferred. The thing had been done forty years ago ie the Walmer Roads.—(Hear, hear.) He held in his hand an account of the experiment. (The Hon. Member then read a statement of a successful experiment which took place in the Downs in 1805. A large vessel was an chored abreast of Walmer Castle, at a distance of two or three miles from the shore, when, by the running of Icopper shells under her bottom, she was instantly de stroyed. Mr. Pitt and Sir Sidney Smith witnessed the experiment. There was a large copper shell, containing about 2001bs. of gunpowder, which was attached to a chain. The tide carried it under the counter of the ship, and by this means the vessels were blown up. He be lieved Captain Warner bad performed precisely the same operation at Brighton.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He had dropped one of his invisible shells under the vessel, and whether the experiment was per formed by clock work or by a trick made no difference. Well, now, how did this copper work in practice ? (Hear, hear.) He had served his time under Captain Seaward. In the month of November they were sent to the Boulogne roads, with all kinds of boats which had ever been seer), Gemini, Cancer, and every other animal. —(Great laughter.) They had- these coppers in the boat on a November night, when their teeth were chat tering with cold.—(Hear.) On the first night they ran on shore. On the second night they set out for the Boulogne roads, in order to blow up the flotilla. Away they went, but before they had got in sight of the ves sels, the cockswain of oue of the boats said, " See ! the peg's out."—(Great laughter.) Overboard it went, as did the other coppers a:se, and to their horror and amazement, they floated under the boats. That was the whole history and result of the expenditure of 20,0001. or 30,0001.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord talked of destroying a fleet. Why, if he would just sit quietly in his place and allow him (Sir Charles Napier) to put a few ounces of gun powder under his bottom—(The remainder of the sentence was drowned in repeated shouts of laughter.) Now, he had himself taken up C.:pt. Warner's case very strongly some years ago. When he went to Captain Warner he showed him a picture of a whole fleet blown up, observing that that was the way in which he could blow up a number of vessels.—(Laughter.) He said to him, I don't care two straws about your expenses, but I want you to exhibit to me the effect of the long range.— (Hear, hear.) He was not sure if the Noble Lord was not present when Captain Warner said he could blow up all the ships in Portsmouth harbour from the Isle of Wight. He replied, "If you will prove to me that you can blow up a ship at a distance of five or six miles, I will stand up in my place in Parliament and give my opinion in your favour."—(Hear, hear.) He must say that Captain Warner did not accept his challenge ; he always returned to the invisible shell, and shyed at questions ressecting the long range to take effect at a distance of five to six miles.—(Hear, hear.) He pro posed that Captain Warner should place himself somewhere near the Downs, and that he should throw his shell from a certain distance, but findine. that Captain Warner was not to be easily dealt with, he had troubled himself no further about the matter up to that moment.—(Laughter.) Now, the only thing of which he thought Capt. Warner was entitled to complain was, that his request to have the Earl of Hard wicke and the Noble Lord (Lord Ingestre) added to the Commission had not been complied with. He had such confidence in both those Noble Lords, that he be lieved the addition might have been made without any danger to the public interests.—(Hear, hear.) As to the question of price, Captain Warner asked 400,0001. for an improvement in war, which, perhaps, as the Right Hon. Baronet had observed, never could be used, in conse quence of its danger, and which, even if it could be used, would soon become known to the enemy, for it was ha possible that such a power could be long concealed from the rest of the world.—(Hear, hear.) He would say nothing further on the subject, except that he thought the Government had given Captain Warner a very fair chance. He would have them give him 'a still further chance. Let Captain Warner go to Southsea Castle, and when he (Sir C. Napier) had stationed a ship at the Havant light, let him blow up that ship, and then he would be satisfied.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. AGLIONBY said the Right Hon. Baronet oppo site and the Noble Lord (Lord Ingestre) were, per haps, the only persons who, from the knowledge of the circumstances, were competent to give an'opinion as to the recent experiment, and they both expressed their opinion that the experiment deserved further investiga tion: It was dangerous to listen to a speech like that of the Gallant Commodore, which had convulsed the House with laughter. He thought they ought not to enter into die discussion at all until they had seen the whole of the correspondence. The mode in which the examination of Captain Warner had been conducted by the Commis sion to whom the question had been referred, was, to his mind, far from satisfactory. The Commissioners seemed to have arrived at most extraordinary and unfounded conclusions from the answers of Captain Warner. He knew nothing of that gentleman except what he had heard in that House, but he must say that, with due pre caution as regarded the public interest, he thought the experiment worthy of further consideration. He agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet that the point most worthy of consideration and of the utmost importance was the long range. He thought the Government ought not to grudge some expense for the purpose of trying the ex• periment of the long range. He thought it was unfair to Captain Warner to refuse to have Lord Hardwicke and the Noble Lord who had brought forward the question that evening, on the Commission. He hoped, though the question was dismissed fur the present, it would not be wholly lost sight of. If the invention was of the nature stated it ought not to be lost by this country. Mr. BROTHERTON doubted, even if the invention answered all that Captain Warner proposed, the policy of the Government encouraging, by premiums, these destructive machines. He thought it would be better that the invention should remain with Captain Warner, than that the world should know anything about it. Mr. WAKLEY said, if war could be prevented, he for one should rejoice at it ; but as long as it lasted he thought they should get the best means they could of defence against their enemies. He was glad that the Right Hon. Baronet was inclined to give an opportunity to Captain Warner of trying the long range, because he, considered that he should have an opportunity of show ing what he could do. He did not think that Govern ment had acted unfairly to Captain Warner ; they had, in his opinion, done more in this case than any other he recollected, because they had offered that he should try his experiments at the Government expense. As to the experiments at Brighton, looking at what had been stated in the newspapers, he did not think it worth a straw, because Captain Warner had been on board that vessel before the experiment was tried, and he had the vessel in tow by a steamer. If Captain Warner could succeed in blowing up a vessel which he had not been on board of, by means of the long range, then he ought, in his opinion, to receive a competent reward for his discovery.— (Hear, hear.) He regretted the subject had been brought under the consideration of the House, because now the question must be determined. Sir J. COCKBURN hoped it would be clearly un derstood that any further experiments would depend upon Captain Warner showing the power of the long range. As to the invisible shells, he looked upon them to be of little or no moment. Lord INGESTRE replied. After the statements of the Right Honourable Baronet, he would leave the whole subject in the hands of the Government. With respect to the experiment at Brighton, he had no hesitation in saying that there was no explosive matter in the ship, and that the same effect would have been produced upon any vessel. He thought the lion. Member for Salford had acted unfairly in repeating those accusations against Captain Warner which he had brought forward last year, and which had since received ample explanation. It was a difficult thing for Captain Warner to contend single handed with all the prejudice which had been raised against him, but he felt confident as to the result of any investigation which might be instituted, either as to the character of Captain Warner or the merits of his in vention.. There would be no difficulty if he were treated with confidence, and not called upon to expose the nature of his invention without being guaranteed a reward by the Government, in the event of his experi ment succeeding. The offer which Capt. Warner had made was that, if he succeeded, he should be rewarded ; but that, if he did not succeed, he should not receive a single shilling, and that offer he, on the part of Captain Warner, again repeated. Mr. BROTHERTON explained. The motion was then agreed to. INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in moving the second reading of the Insolvent Debtors Bill, said that he was prepared to go into the discussion at once, should it be deemed necessary. But what he proposed was—to take the second reading now, without discussing it ; and to go into Committee on the Bill on Friday next, at twelve o'clock. Mr. HAWES did not object to the adoption of that course, but before they went into Committee he thought it would be as well that some statement relative to the Bill should be made. Mr. WAKLEY said the Bill created great anxiety out of doors, and he wished to know if it was the de cided determination of the Government to pass it during the present session. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said it was the un doubted determination of the Government to pass the Bill during the present session. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next at twelve o'clock. CASE OF MR. JOHN HEATHCOTE. Mr. M. GIBSON rose to gall the attention of the House to the petition of Mr. John Heathcote, which had been presented a few days since by the Noble Lord the Member for Dorsetshire. Mr. Heatheote had been for ten years a superintendent of factories, and &ring that time had discharged his duty with fidelity and zeal, and had given satisfaction to his inspector. He had since been dismissed by the Government on a charge of having written an anonymous letter to the Hon. Member for Knaresborough, and having denied that he had written such letter. The charge - was so much that he had written the anonymous letter as that he had denied it, the gravamen of the charge being that he had been guilty of falsehood. He was willing to admit that in general no subordinate was dismissed by the Government until the charge was brought against him, and it had undergone a full inves tigation, and he believed that the present case was one of misapprehension on the part of the Right Hon. Gen tleman. The facts were these. In March 1843, the Hon. Member for Knaresborough had received an anonymous letter, suggesting certain alterations in the Factories Bill. The letter contained nothing -to which any lierson might not put his name. The Hon. Member for Knaresborough gave the letter to the Lion. blember for Dorsetshire, who submitted it to Mr. Horner, the in spector of factories, who said that the handwriting closely , resembled that of Mr. John Heathcote, one of the super"- intendents. Mr. Homer wrote to Heathcote on "the subject, and Mr. Heathcote denied positively that he had written an anonymous letter to Mr. Ferrand, Mr. Horner then authorised Mr. Heathcote to proceed to his duties, and he had every reason to suppose that the accusation had bean met by his denial. Mr, Horner, however, laid the correspondence before the Secre ary of State for the Home Department, without having had the courtesy to inform Mr. Heathcote that he intended to take such a step. The Right Hon. Gentleman wrote to Mr. Heath cote, requiring a justification or explanation of the charge. Mr. Heathcote replied, that he had offered no explanation, but had solemnly denied having written the letter. He received another letter from the Home-office requiring him to state that he did or did not write it, and he wrote back in these words :—" I do most positively deny, that I am the author of an anonymous letter received by Mr. Ferrand, and signed, An Overlooker.' " The similarity of the hand-writing was, however, such, that in the opinion of the Home office, it counter-balanced the assertion of Mr. Heath cote, a gentleman who had always borne the highest character, and who produced the highest testimonials from his superior officers, and from the residents in his district ; and on the 29th of April, last year, he received his final dismissal. The nephew of Mr. Heathcote, Mr. Gilbert, hearing of the charge which had been brought against his uncle, came forward and declared that he was the author of the letter. This declaration, however. did not shake the determination of the Home-office. They thought that both the uncle and nephew had been guilty of falsehood notwithstanding the nephew's statement had been corro borated by a gentleman, who had stated that it was at his instigation that Mr. Gilbert had written this letter. After Mr. Heathcote's dismissal, he and Mr. Gilbert had gone before, the mayor of Manchester, and Mr. Heath- cote had made a solemn declaration that he was not the author of the letter, and Mr. Gilbert had made a decla ration that he himself was. The Right Hon. Gentle man said that the letter bore no resemblance to the handwriting of Mr. Gilbert, and the Right Hon. Gentle man had permitted himself and the Hon. Member for Salford, to inspect the documents at the Home-office. The Hon. Member for Salford had decided that the anonymous letter was not the same handwriting as Mr. Heathcote's. He himself thought that the anonymous letter bore more resemblance to the writing of Mr. Heathcote than to that of Mr. Gilbert, but still the r'e'semblance was not sufficient to induce him to condeitin Mr. Heathcote. They were all aware how uncertain was evidence as to handwriting, and he would call the attention of the House to a case which appeared in the " Annual Register" for 1831, in which a man was indicted before Mr. Justice Alderson for sending a threatening letter. Evidence was given as to the handwriting, and as to the fact of the paper on, on which the threatening letter was written being of a similar quality to that found in the pri oner's possession. lie was found guilty ; and notwithstanding he protested his innocence, the Judge, in passing sentence, said that the evidence was sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man, and that he would rather trust to such evidence than to the most solemn declaration even made on the scaffold. The man was sentenced to transportation for life. The judge and the jury then retired for a short time, and the son of the prisoner, 17 years of age, acknowledged that he had written the letter without the knowledge of his father ; and being furnished with pen and ink, he wrote at the table a letter, varying only in a few words from the letter which was the subject of the indictment ; and which, when compared with it, left no doubt on the mind of any one on the subject ; and all the words which were mis-spelt in the threatening letter were similarly mis spelt in the one written at the table. On the return of the judge the copy was laid before him. His Lordship expressed his surprise that the facts had not been brought forward before. Ile said it looked like a trick, but though the application came late, it was never too late to do what was right. lie was tried upon two other indictments of a similar nature in both of which he was acquitted. The son was convicted and sentenced to seventeen years' transportation, and the father received the royal pardon. He thought the Government had dis missed Mr. Heathcote upon evidence of an unsatisfactory character, and they were not justified, on such evidence in convicting Mr. Heathcote of falsehood, and leaving a stain on his reputation which must be prejudicial to his prospects through life. It should be recollected that in dismissing this gentleman under existing circumstances they were inflicting a stain upon his reputation, and the Right Hon. Baronet should be very cautious in exercis ing a power which might deprive a man of the means of earning an honest livelihood.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Heathcote was not dismissed because he had discharged the duties of his office negligently or inefficiently, or because he was not a useful and diligent officer.— (Hear, hear.) There had been no complaint of the kind against him—there was no evidence to show that he had not discharged his duty with fidelity and assi duity. Mr. Horner, the inspector of factories, stated that if Mr. Heathcote could free himself from this accu sation of writing this anonymous letter, he would be very glad to act with him in a cordial and harmonious spirit in future. The preyailing opinion in Lancashire was that he had not been fairly dealt with. He (lir. M. Gibson) had received letters from several gentlemen of the' highest respectability, from mill owners in Lan cashire, some of whom Mr. Heathcote had prosecuted under the Factory Act, and from extensive mercantile houses in Manchester, and all these gentlemen stated their firm belief that, from the manner in which Mr. Heathcote had discharged, his duty, they could not be lieve him to be capable or so gross a falsehood, and en treated of the tlovernment to grant a full and fair, in quiry, and to give Mr. Heatheote an opportunity of being heard personally in his own vindication. He did not quarrel with the power which the Government possessed —it was, perhaps, very often useful, in order to ensure a proper observance of the duties, of office that so prompt and effective a power should be in the hands of the Executive; but, at the same time he though that every opportunity should be afforded to the individual about to be dealt with, to rebut the charge, and give every explanation in his power. It should not be forgotten that a third party had come forward and avowed the authorship of the letter ; and with so strong a fact, he though he was fully justified in mov ing that the petition of Mr Heathcote be taken into con sideration. Sir J. GRAHAM said he had no reason to complain of the tone or manner in which the lion. Member had brought forward the queStion. He would assure the House, that of all official duties, nothing was more pains great influence, hear) Since he had thef e l than hoao that a of fofd holdingns soaffil . ( a fi n e d a e r r , the Crown, this was only the second case in which he felt obliged to dismiss an official. The lion. Gentleman was correct in stating that his (Sir James Graham's) decision was impar tial ; it was so ; he did not -know—had never Heathcote until this affair. Many and to whose opinions spersonsen or heard possessing of—Mr. g re he would be most anxious to defer, had endeavoured to persuade him to re-consider his decisiim, and, amongst others, his Noble Friend the Member for North Lan cashire. He had acted with the utmost deliberation. He had not come to his decision without weighing all the facts of the case ; but he felt it his painful duty to state to the House that nothing which he had heard before or during that night had shaken his conviction. It should be remembered that Mr. Heathcote held his situation as factory sub-inspector under Mr. Horner, and it should also be recollected that he held that place during plea sure. An anonymous letter bad been received by the Hon. Member for Knaresborough, signed " An Over looker." This letter was placed in his hands by Lord Ashley-. It was sent to Mr. Horner, and that gentleman at once recognised it as the letter of Mr. Heathcote. In this letter there was the strongest internal evidence that it was written by an inspector or sub- inspector of factories. The particular mode in which the books were kept appeared in this letter; the time-book, which stated the hour at which the mill started, the time the mill stopped for meals, and other such particulars.—(Here the Right Hon. Gentleman took up a copy of the anony mous letter)—that letter could be no other than the production of a person intimately conversant with these subjects. The moment Mr. Horner received the letter, he knew it to be Mr. Heathcote's. The other inspector (Mr. Saunders) also gave it as his opinion that the writing was that of Mr. Heathcote. The fact of Mr. Heathcote's communicating with any Member of that House, without theconsent of his superior officer, although it must be rather an original mode of proceeding, would not in his (Sir James Graham's) opinion have involved any great degree of culpability. He would not have attached much importance to that; bat the whole substance of the of fence was that when Mr. Horner asked Mr. Heathcote if he had written that letter, he had solemnly denied it; that was in reality the whole matter. Mr. Horner after this denial forwarded this anonymous letter, and Mr. Heathcote's letter of denial, to him (Sir J. Graham), and thus the whole matter was brought under his considera tion. Upon the reception of these documents he di rected his Hon, Friend the Under-Secretary of State to write to Mr. Heathcote, asking for explanation, and to glee him an opportunity of reconsidering the matter; he held Mr. Heathcote's answer to that letter in his hand, in which he stated—" Sir, I have the honour to acknow ledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th inst., and I beg leave to request that you will inform Sir James Graham that I most positively deny having written the anony mous letter addressed to Mr. Ferrand, and signed An Overlooker: (Signed) " JOHN HEATHCOTE." By the oddest coincidence possible the paper, ink, and writing was the very same as that on which the anonymous letter was written, and this formed the strongest conviction that both letters were written by the same hand. This was his (Sir J. Graham's) opinion, but he did not trust to his own judgment. He put all the letters into the hands of Mr. Maule, the Solicitor to the Treasury, who forwarded the two letters signed by Mr. Heathcote, and the anonymous letter, to the in spector at the Post-office, who, after the most minute inspection and comparison, declared he entertained no doubt but they were the same handwriting. Now, there was the opinion of a person conversant with Mr.Heathcote's handwriting (Mr. Horner) and two witnesses, altogether impartial, the Inspector of the Post-office and he (Sir James Graham), and their unanimous opinion was, that they were in the same handwriting. Having arrived at this conclusion he considered that it would be impossible for him to retain Mr. Heathcote in the public service. —(Hear, hear.) The next step in the matter was Mr. Gilbert, writing a letter to him stating that he was the author of the anonymous letter. He compared Mr. Gilbert's with Mr. Heathcote's letters, and had no doubt that the handwriting of the anony mous letter, and that of Mr. Gilbert were entirely dif ferent He however, took precisely the same steps in this as in the former instance, and the inspector of the Post-office was of opinion that they were not written by the same hand. The case quoted by the Hon. Member for Manchester, and the decision of Baron Alderson did not at all support the Hen. Member's case. In that case the writing of the son was different from the father, and entirely corresponded with the letter produced in evi dence so there was no parity whatever. He thought the facts of this case were conclusive against ]fir. licathcote. ! In conclusion, he must say, that if he was to be respon sible for the mode in which he performed the duties of his office, he ought to be allowed to exercise his own - judgment. Mr. BROTHERTON defended the character of Mr. Heathcote, and contended that the Right Hon. Baronet was labouring under a mistake. The letter in question was written on the 25th of March, and Mr. Heathcote had satisfied him that he was from hone on that day. In the next place Mr. Heathcote had solemnly denied, that he had written the letter, and after that Mr. Gil bert had acknowledged himself the author of it. He (Mr. Brotherton) had examined all the documents con nected with this case, and his firm conviction was that Mr. Heathcote did not write the letter. And after all there was -nothing in the letter of any consequence. There were two sentences as to the necessity of inspee tors of factories residing in thew districts, and ne doubt this wowed create a prejudice in the minds of Messrs. Horner and Saunders. Oil cotnearing Mr. Heathcote's letter with the anonymous one, he (tier. Brotherton) perceived a difference in the characteristics. Further than this, he had that day received a letter from Mi. Gilbert, which was in the same writing as !he anonymous letter. (The Hon. Gentlemari here heeded the letter to several Hoo. Membe s roil , d hi n. wao compared it with the aniinymens ()ie.) Mr. He ithcote was opposed to him in pelities, but, b lievine hie, to have been unjustly treated, and knowing hen to b a re; akee men, he had taken up his case, and had done a, lie could to get him reinstated. Mr. BRIGHT thought the internal evil nee in the letters in question was not su conclusive as the Right lion. Gentleman imagined. As to its containing phrases used by inspectors of factories, that could be. easily ac counted for. Such phrases were common to everybody residing in Lancashire, and any person writing on the subject of factories would be sure to use them. The letter of Mr. Horner to Mr. Heathcote was not of a na ture to lead Mr. Heathcote to suppose he had committed any great offence. What motive was there to induce him to deny it, if he wrote it ? On the other hand, Mr. Gilbert made a solemn affidavit that he was the author of the letter. The Right Hon. Baronet pointed to the sig nature of the letter—"l am, An Overlooker," and to the resemblance it bore to the other. Why, he (Mr. Bright) would not, to use a common phrase, hang -a dog on such evidence. The letters " k." and "r " • were as diffe rent as they could well be, so that the evidence from the letters was rather favourable to Mr. Heathcote than other wise. This gentleman had been in London for more than seven months, endeavouring by every means to get hiscase considered by the Home-office, for the sake of having • his character cleared, if he could not be restored to his situation. He did not believe that a man would lose so much time and money, if he did not possess honest feel ings. He understood that Mr Horner would not now object to act cordially with Mr. Heathcote ; and if the Right Hon. Baronet could only be induced to regard the question in a different light, there would be no difficulty on this point. The person charged solemnly denied hav ing written the letter. A second person had avowed that he was the author of it, and a third party had de clared that he induced the second person to write it. He would ask whether, in any court of justice, this weight of evidence was not enough to bear down the unfortunate suspicion that had taken possession of the Right Hon. Baronet's mind ? Mr. B. ESCO TT said it was ja question whether this was a case that ought to be discussed in the House of Commons; but when a question of this kind was brought j bef ire them, it being one of great importance to an in , dividual, they ought, from a sense of justice, to express their opinion honestly on the state of the facts. He must say that there was one deficiency in the statement of the Right Hon. Baronet. One of the reasons he had given for dismissing Mr. Heathcote was, because he had denied having written a letter, which the Right Hon. Baronet thought he had written. Now had this gentle man, or either of the parties, been called before the I authorities of the home-office in order to defend them selves ? He did not think the evidence of similarity of handwriting was alone sufficient. Mr. M. SUTTON denied that the similarity of the writing was alone the ground or the dismissal There was also the resemblance of the ink arid paper. He contended that Mr. Heathcote alone had published the ground of his dismissal to the world. Mr. HAWES said, the question was who wrote the anonymous letter, Mr. Heathcote or Mr. Gilbert ? The evidence against Mr. Heathcote was, that the real letter agreed with the anonymous one. On the other hand. Mr. Gi.bert ssys he wrote the anonymous letter. But then it was said, that Mr.:Gilbert's han.l-writing was dissi milar to the anonymous letter ; aed that Mr. tleathcotit's real letter was similar to the anonymous one. Now, if they assumed that Mr. Gilbert disguise 1 his hand writing, that would account for one great difficulty in the else, namely, the dissimilarity in the hand -writing between Mr. Gilbert's real letter and the anonymous letter. Then, when they considered that Mr. Gilbert ha 1 access to Mr. Heathe,te's office and papers, it would not be surprising that t'ie anonymous letter should exhibit a style of hand-writing somewhat similar to Mr. lleathcote's. They had, en the other heed, the Positive denial of Mr. Heathcote, that he wrote the letter, and the acknewledgment of Mr. Gilbert that he wrote it. He did not think that the internal evidence was r f much value. It principally consisted of a tabular statement, to which a person only - in the official situation of Mr. Heathcote could have access. But then it was known that Mr. Gilbert had access to his his office. Mr. WAKLEY said it was one of the most difficult things in the world to decide with regard to hand writing. He knew of a case in which a most distin guished author was provoked with some handwriting that was shown. him, and yet it was his own. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would recollect that this was a factory. question, and that he would reconsider his decision.—(Laughter.) The Right Hon. Gentleman had asked the House to reconsider their opinions on a former occasion, and the House consented. The House now asked the Right Hon. Gentleman to reconsider his opi nion, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would consent. He did not think that the Right Hon. Gentle man had adopted the best means of coming to a correct conclusion, that was, by getting both Mr. Heathcote and Mr.. Gilbert to write a copy of the letter. If he did that, he was sure. everybody would be satisfied with the decision to which he had come. Mr. MILNER GIBSON' replied. He entreated the Right Hon. Gentleman to consider whether the evidence of handwriting were sufficient, and, if there were any doubt, to re-open the case. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he only wished to say that the question whether Mr. Heathcote had been guilty of falsehood, or not, was a question, not raised by him, but deliberately -raised by Mr. Heathcote himself. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. On Tuesday, summonses which were granted against several persons for riots and assaults committed on a pier belonging to Mr. Francis, at the end of Essex-street, Strand, being made returnable, the court was crowded with a number of lightermen, watermen, and several of the Thames police, with persons residing in the neigh bourhood, who had for some time suffered the greatest annoyance from the uproar and confusion continually occurring in the locality, in defiance of a strong bosly of police, who were constantly in attendance. The case seemed to excite much interest. Mr. Twy •ford c =nsented to have the defendants called on c:M siderahly earlier than the usual hour of (lisp sing of assault summonses, and shortly after one u'cl , c 1 Wil liam Irish, George Everard, James Ererard, J /and, and H'ik am Reeves, all of wilom 'tope ro persons employed on and about the o-, were p'ac t the bar, charged, at the in , tance of Hoary n with having, on the 'no ri;ng of the 23tti in •t assaulted him, to which they .eve•• lly a guilty. Mr Bodkin attended, on the part ••• h • Xe Coeipenv, to prefer the ceeielaiat ; err peered for the defendan s, s of wheel ea shovel-, hammers, erew s. an t the court if tt • Mr. Bodkin seid it st e tit a resolve itself tnt t a mu et as tr • -e common assault, to be p is a •ientnery tiara !, and if he was borne out in tee. evidence, as he : hou he should, that it was d-•serving of ihe consideret eo eret superior tribunal, he eh iu:d apply to the. Cou t to send the case before a jury. The misim lerstsnding arose re specting property belongieg to Mr. Francis, who oe. Ned a floating-pier at the end of Essex street, in t'rout his premises, which, for a considerable time, h.s ti-ea tto td to be of the greatest convenience to the public. He un derstood that the pier was made upen a culvert, er bleak sewer, under the jurisdiction of the Cornmissionere, whe would, at a future time, take step. against the off-toting parties. On the day in question the defen !aids came at an unusually early hour to destroy the works erected by Mr. Francis, which, being taken notice of by two o r three men left i n c h arge , t h ey were opposed by above thirty persons, who succeeded in destroying the bridge, during which assaults were committed, in addition to a serious riot and confusion which ensued, to the annoy ance of several respectable inhabitants in the neighb iur hood, who were present to give evidence • and had not a person who happ ene d to b e present guard -A off the hlaw levelled at the head -of a man in the service of Mr. Francis, the consequence would have been of a very alarming character. He would call witnesses to prove the facts, and then apply to have the defendants hell to bail for the purpose of subjecting them to be indicted. Henry Maynard, who had his arm in a sling, in con sequence of the wounds he received, stated that, being in the service of Mr. Francis, he was placed on Thursd at the top of Essex-street, for the purpose of protecting the bridge, which occupies one half of the steps. A"out three o'clock in the morning he was called by Charles Hill to the-upper part of the pier, where he saw. ehe de fendants, with about thirty others, some of whom were then in court. (The witness here pointed out Henry Collins, who was instantly placed at the, bar.) Sevt.ra! of them came from Execution Dock, and when he came up they were breaking down ' the steps at the pier. He addressed - Rutland first, and. said he thought he was more interested in the workiihan to act in such a man .ner, when he instantly struck him on the breast, after driving him from the gate, saying he would attend to his own interests before those of " old Francis." The next assault he received was from Wm. Reeves, who struck him three blows, merely because he was protect ing his master's property, while Geo. Everard held hien by the throat to enable James Everard, assisted by Irish, to fell him to the ground, where he received several kicks from Geo. Everard ; and when he eared Hill to Protect him, they threatened to do for him if he attempted to approach. They at length succeeded in tearing tip the platform and destroying it. The def ndalit Geerg.- Everard held a crowbar, with which he aimed a blow a witness which struck him in the mouth, and had :he blow not heon war led off by a y un t mail who was pre sent. he would have received a very serieus iejues. After he was repeatedly assaulted by a twin -tamed Fitz gerald, and Reeve told hint th-y were pail I wh th had done, and if he would pay thin they woald b-ti d'up the works again. Richard Overird repeatedly 44id belonged to the Woolwich Company, the - boats of ehich sties at the next pier. - Charles Hill, after confirming the tatetnent of the last -witness respecting the a .saultS old r ot, said that-on Monday week it was agreed, iri the praence of Inspector Lewis, of the Thames Poice, that his olaster should in future make use of half the way wi h rut itttorruption. By Mr. Ralkin—The stage had b -en equally divided when the defendants came to knock it down. Mr. TWYFORD oeserviel that, in previrg the assault, fe way. right Mr. seemed in c li ne d to spea k as to the t Mr. Child replied that bath parties claimed the right, although neither had any authority granted to them by the Navigation Company. Mr. TWYFORD thought it. would serve a general pur pose to call upon the 'defendants to put in bail to answer the charge of assault at the sessions. Mr. Child hoped that, as the defendants were merely engaged in a disputed right of way, their own recogni sances would be sufficient. - Mr. TWYFORD said he would require them to put in bail, themselves in 20/. each and two sureties in 10/. eacti, to -answer the charge at the sessions. Mr. Bodkin observed, that if the men were hired, and there was no reason to doubt it, the persons who had employed them ought to come forward and offer them selves as sureties. The defendants were immediately provided with the required sureties, and they were discharged. WORSHIP-STREET, • Tuesday .a man named Richard Cole, a well-known character in the neighbourhood, was placed at the bar before Mr. Bingham, charged with Cutting and maiming, with intent to kill, Mr. Joseph Gill, the landlord of the. George the Fourth public-house; in Old-street-road. The prosecutor, who had his head bandaged, and was evidently in. a very weak state, said that the prisoner used formerly to frequent his house as a customer; but, in: consequence of his grossly misconducting himself whenever he came there, he had f o rbidd en him his house about six months ago, since which he had seen nothing of, him until /bout eleven o'clock on Wednesday night, the 17th instant, when he again entered the place and began to assail him in the most abonaitiab'e language. Witness, .who was behind his bar, requested him several times eo. desist from hii annoyance and to leave the house, but the' prisoner refused to do either ; and on witness telling him . that he would put him out if lie did not peaceably leave, the prisoner exclaimed, " Then, if you attempt to put me out, you b--; I'll muzzle you." Witness went to the door for a policeman, bat could not find one, and en his coming back aga:_n, the pri soner told him he would make as much row as he continued his threatening languag . e, and thrust his face into the witness's several times in the most insult ing manner. Witness remonstrated with the prisoner upon his scandalous conduct, upon which the - prisoner. cried out ; " B!---t you, I'll do for you," and got hold of a large pewter water-jug, but the witness being for tunate enough to seize the handle of it, after a severe struggle with the prisoner, he succeeded in wrenching it from him. Thus thwarted of his purpose, the prisoner rushed down the-counter to where two quart pots were standing near the beer-engine, and, possessing himself of both of them, flung them, one after the other, with all his force at the witness's head, but witness provi dentially escaped them both, the pots smashing a quan tity of glass at the back of the bar. The prisoner, burst ing with rage ; then swore that he would settle him, and seizing a large thick glass tumbler, hurled that also sith all his strength at the witness's h ea l, au I the glass catching him j ust on the top of his foeehead, was shivered into fragments. The blood gushed out profusely, and the witness, who was staggering from the force of the blow, was only saved from falling by his barmaid, who wag near at the time, and supported him till assistance arrived. The witness was insensible for more than art hour, and, although the o,:eurrence took place nearly a fortnight ago, was still under surgical treatment. The instant the prisoner had thrown the glass, he 'exclaim e d, " D--n-yeu, I've done for you now," in a tr i ump h ant tone, and ran out of the house. 4, leV II The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion Against it 23 Majority against the motion —7 ART-UNIONS. On the motion for going into Committee on the Art Unions Bill, Mr. WYE said the Bill, as it now stood, applied only to the art-unions of Dublin and Edinburgh. He proposed so to change the preimble as to make it applicable to the art-unions of England, and particularly to that of London. The Bill then went through Committee, and certain amendments were agreed to. The other orders — of the day were then disposed of and the House adjourned at a Quarter before Twelve. THE MURDER ON BOARD THE SALADIN. The arrival of the Britannia brings us the opening proceedings of the trial, at Halifax, of the Saladin mur derers. The Court of Admiralty met on the 11th July, Vice- Admiral Sir Charles Adams taking his seat as Presi dent, and having the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Ha liburton on his right, and Mr. Justice Hill and Mr. Justice Bliss on his left. The prisoners were brought into Court in custody of the High Sheriff, and, six in number, were placed at the bar and arraigned. The prisoners severally pleaded not guilty. The four first, viz., George Jones. John Hazleton, William Travesties alias William Johnson, and Charles Gustavus Anderson, were charged in the indictments, which were real, with piracy On the high seas, committed on the 14th of' April last, and ths murder of Alexander Mackenzie, master of the Saladin, and Robert Mitchell, the mate ; and subsequently of George Fielding a passenger, the insti gator of the revolt, or a person name unknown ; and William Carr and John Galloway were charged with the murder of the said George Fielding, and also of George Fielding the younger. . The plea of not guilty was, with two exceptions, uttered in a firm tone of voice, although the men ap peared to feel the awfulness of their situation. Johnson in particular was much dejected, and on entering the dock sighed deeply. On the inquiry being made when the prisoners would be readyifor their trial, Mr. Uniacke stated on Thursday, and the Court was accordingly adjourned over till that day. Eliza Adams, the barmaid, fully corroborated her mas ter's testimony, and detailed in addition many other aggravating circumstances. Mr. Alfred Middleton, of Finsbury-squaw, the surgeon who attended the prosecutor, described tin. nature of the wound, which he said was of a very dangerous descrip tion, and had laid the scull bare for a considerable distance. Milgate, a policeman, who had been in search of the prisoner for four days, was at last informed that he was at a brothel in the Vinegar-ground, in the City-road, and, on going there, found him, and took him into cus tody. The prisoner was in bed at the time, and on telling him what he took him for, the prisoner said, with great bitterness, "I wish I had killed the b--- right out." The trial was resumed again on the 18th, the day of the Britannia's sailing from Halifax, so that we cannot have the result until the arrival of the next steamer. Mr. BINGHAM asked him if he wished to say anything? The prisoner sullenly said—No, I shall reserve what I have to say for my trial ; but a good deal of what has been stated is false. Mr. BINGHAM said that the case had been very clearly established, and fully committed the prisoner to Newgate for trial. - The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Com mons, on Saturday next, gives his customary entertainment to the officers of that branch of the Legislature, previous to the adjournment of the House. NEWLY INVENTED SPECTACLES, Deafness Relieved Telescopes, Opera Glasses, &c., 39, Albemarle-street,Pic cadilly. Deafness Acoustic Instruments—lnvisible Voice Conductors when fixed in the cavity of the ears are not -perceptible, they enable individuals at an advanced age, and of forty and fifty years' standing, of extreme deaf ness, instantly to join in general conversation, and to catch the sound of a distant low speaker at church, theatre, &c.—lt pours the conversation into the ears to such an extent that in most severe cases deafness cannot be observed. Also original Ear Cornets, French German, and Spanish Artificial Ears and Improved hear ine. Trumpets of every description. Immediately the Newly Invented Spectacles are placed before imperfect vision that mist and dullness which appear before the eyes is removed, every object becomes clear and distinct, so that the most aged defective sight becomes bright and brilliant, and is brought to its youthful, natural, and ori ginal state. Also Achromatic Waistcoat Telescopes and Opera Glasses. Every kind of Telescopes of larger size, with increasing powers, for S'iooting, Sea purposes, and upon stand for astronomiCal observations, with the cele brated Lenses of the most clear, transparent brilliancy; the powers are so great and the Lenses so bright and brilliant, that minute objects at an extraordinary distance are brought completely under the eyes.—Sportsmen, Tou rists, and sea-side visitors will indeed have a great treat. Caution. —Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians and Aurists, are not in any way connected with a person of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood ; nor in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes be cautious, and observe,—Only to be had at 39, Albemarle street, llocadilly, opposite the Yerk tet In t he , bl LAU:- - r.t64:e6 She had lived „, insanv:y s been h-ouzht:ony-usage ana cr vedra ‘VAndsw or th, h er native b ipc with Henry fhC F:-. 1, 0ch, a journeyinaoi carpenter and cl. maker, be -.Own s h a d h er c hild ren. Th i s ma r, „ vember.last, W 35 chae4ed at Wandsorth stealing a silver wal . ci, which had by accident been Bolo' the drawer of a ch.e, - Tolner he had to repair, and 044 , 0 " mined for trial. The woman Alfred, who was 'hen saP.,,,rof to be his wife, froved her great attachment' for the ', ti tb` for she nev,r cf , ased ioiling persons to speak for hin; b - e pti day of trial. The p warm even recommended t 01 9 6,; soner to me , cy on her account, and he conSequently o fl? a slight sentence pas..,ed on him. At the expiratie ll i yiog imprisonm,nt Frencia returned to Alfred, who wa s i e l tr, with her mother, a washerwoman, at the water-side , b° worth; but he no sooner recruited his strength tP„ducl basely deserted her and his children. This cruel e7dolle was not without its effect. Thepoor creature, who han s , A ra 4 all that a devoted woman could •to save, and afn t rst e comfort him, became mad, and was passed by the ma& t rsi at Wandsworth Poi'ce-court, as a lunatic, to the . 6 1$ County Lunatic Asylum, at Garret, whe re she ref:0:08 short time, and was discharged a s cure d. From tha" c l it up to Monday she lived a t hom e w ith h er brother,t,, ted, was generally noticed that s h e a pp eare d very much dei`i,tte - 'Whilst the woman was beingstripped at the union, ll ''al fell from her bosom. It was a wretched scrawl, fro m fellow . French, and the s u b s t ance was, that he never in.! vit il! to live with her or any o th er woman again, and 81 °00 work and do her best for herself and children, as s he expect_ nothing front him. de Yesterday the superintendent of th e V di v i s ion Clive, the sitting magistrate, acquainted with the par"„7, o oP and it is understood that as soon as the wretched w°'d e rg ° capable of removal she w ill b e t a k en to t h e cour t to ;0 4 0, examination upon the charge of a tt empt i ng to mut(' children. A 1 16 The affair. has cast- a gloom over the ne i g hbourhoow sympathy of all is in the wretched creature's behalf. MARKET NE WS.-(YESTERv- RN-EX CH.A.NG We had rather a large show of Monda E. y's unsold P os ioi of English Wheat, whil e the demand for that article w ore' ve-y sluggish st a t e a t b are l y previous rates. In 05' Wheat so little was d o i ng th at t h e pr i ces were almost tic)„ of. Barley and Malt w ere a slow sale, and might have hee";00 chased on lower terms. Oats, B. ans, Peas, and Flour? about stationary. Oats. oar a p iyt rF 20 qrs. ...„ 0 .• - I 8 , 940 5,320 6,930 I lo : soo Malt. 2,400 qrs. gt ViTHITECSAPEL. For prime Beef and Mutton we had a steady den, d 13 7 ,0 full prices; otherwise th e trade ruled heavy. Into 2s 4d to 3s 4d ; M u tt on , 2 s 4d to 3584 ; Lamb, 3s sly 4s 10d ; Veal, 3s 4dto 4s 2d ; and Pork, 2s 4d to 46 En~llsh. Wheat 1,780 qrs. ARRIVALS. lEarirl. 290 qrs. •f••••• 00000 COMPETITION I—The Forth and Clyde Canal pany are now carrying passengers from Glasgow to j 1 burgh for Is. in the steerage, and Is. 6d. in the es ' A was not for the Canal C ompany, w h at would the Edinburgh by railway be?—GLlsgoro Saturday Post' 0% - 0 7 SIX POUNDS of TEA, and upwards, sent, carnage f t.----ee 7 ll‘ part of the Kingdom, at the Wholesale Price, on receipt ° C tance, or Post-office order. __ ........... .... ....... Black, 2s. Bd. 33., 3s. 44., 3 s. Bd ., 45., 4s. 4d. 4s. Su A 't bS. Green, 3s. 44., 3s. Bd., 45., 4s. 4d., 55., ss. 4d. 65., 7 !' Is. i• Coffee, 9d., Is., Is. 2d., Is. 44., Is 6d., Is. Bd.. ls.!ur liCf b ie G. T. MANSELL a n d CO ., W holesale Tea Dealers, 2 .,, , pew LERSBUHY CHEAPSIDE. Agencies will be given to r 7 parties _s- • BIRTHS. 0. 0 011 On the 28th ult., at O gwe ll H ouse, D evon, t h e la moos' Richard Plasket, o a daughte b'" - r. go On the 18th ult. f . at Bagni di Lucca, Mrs. E. L. of a son. On the 24th u l t ,, t h e w if e of Edward Whitaker, sli.' - 0 3 Lincoln's Inn-fields, of a daughter. On the 24th ult.. at Hunter-street, Brunswick- s g a.l ' re ' lady of Fr e d er ick K P arkinson, Esq., of a son* f the P 1,,. On the 26th ult.. at F areham, Hants, the lady 0 N. Midwinter, of St. Michael's, Wi nc h ester, o f a son; Gee° d On the 26th ult., i n W o b urn-square, the lady co Capes, Esq., of a (laughter, still-born. of On the 27th ult., a t B arton-place, near Exe ter, of Herman Merivale, of a daughter. of 11 On the 27th ult., at O x f or d , J ane, the wi f e Wright, Esq., of a daughter. 1 11 On the 28th ult., at Stratford-grove, Mrs. 3 a 01e1 ...,b, kins, of s son. '''- On the 28th ult., a t M ontague -square, the wife ofv, deacon King, of a son . On the 28th ult., at Hayes, Middlesex, the lad,' o f `Q. d Christie, Esq., M P., of a d aug h ter. g On the 28thM of July, a t S onn i ng - on-Thames , the go. .D. B. Willia ms , E sq., of a daughter. On the 29th of J u l y , at Trinity-square, Tower-ilijt W. C. Smith, of a son. ~, MARRIED. On the 3d of January, 1844, at Australind,l , ottlied tralia, William Pearce Clifton, Esq , to AnnetteaL daughter of the Rev. W. G. Huet, Rector of 1d 114°. " h wickshire, and widow of H. Gaudin, Esq. On the 27th of February, 1844, at St. John's Cburc.,i'll ceston, Van Diemen's Land, Edwin, second son of t i r Esq., of Cranbrool:, Kent, to Sarah, youngest daug" c oula: 0 , late Francis Lucqs,Esq., of 'Blackheath, in the Saul Gotb: o On the 23d of July, at Middl eton, F or f ars hire, ', w e' Esq., younger, of Guthrie Castle, to Harriet, eldest of Barnabas Maude, Esq., of Leghorn. UNION-HALL. Tuesday James Buckley, Catherine, his wife, Edward Haynes, Bridget Brown, Caroline Wigze4 and Mary Quin, were charged with stealing a cash-box, containing gold, silver, and Bank notes, to the value of 1801, the ' DIRD. Fred e" property of Mr. Conolly, a newsvender, residing n-ar : the%tation of the Greenwich Railway, at London-bridge. • On the 21st. of July, at Clieltehh in Augustus DP , the youngest of 'g defb About three or four months since the prosecutor Mr.fi Hampton, Middies , x, aged 31. Of tie late Rev. Samuel n Hemming' J o ho th Conolly, was robbed of a cash-box containin old and On the 26th or' July, at King , ton, Portsea• -° ,400t 1- t its , notes of the value as stated above. At the period, f the Esq.. first clerk Royal Engineer Department, P° r ' - cbitri° Herts, _ .. „4 robbery the prisoner Brown was in the s erv i ce o f Mr.. On th e 27, hof July, at Ilickmansworth, Conolly, as a domestic servant, and from circumstances widow of the late Mr. J. Swannell. • V ti'". which came to his knowledge, he suspected that the rob- 1 On the 27th of July, at Croom's-hill, Jo bery was committed by Brown, but could not bring it ! Parry Martyr, Esq., aged 22. near Settle, 13, home to her for want of sufficient testimony. Brown mtetchke 2 E 7th ( , ) , f ,, J i ta, at Auley House, Isiioo , !t. was related to the prisoner Wigzel's wife by marriage, '-'" terrace: l,o , 4l, On the rg . h. '7 ,f Judy, at eloudt- slew and was in the habit of visiting at her house, in Russell- Gi , wt‘;''', .o ,. '"''' ' ' ,'. 11r. I. 1,,,,•1;,,,,d, of Stati", itte r ut . court, Drury-lane. Buckley was at the period an io- 0;1 the t - 1.!. . . • ~ , Aciu, nu:, youoge.-,t, ‘1 , " 4 " Pt i° patient of Charing-cross Hospital ; but it appears that n ;1 —av,t •:-;tlioci '' ~ .!f1, , -,_ll-si refit. - Ch 'lle , gor the prisoner Brown and Mrs. Buckey were on very inti- At 11.,,dtha;,•, ,•,,o- Yap, New South Walu , , ~ ,dsl et mate terms, visiting each other daily. A policeman, in Nelson Matchml, : , , , q , aged 38, Jolitt P',!1: 0 private clothes, was set to watch the motions of Brown, On the 29.' 1 ~t• ~ , ly , at s; tepne y-erect',, . 1 ,. E,- Greenivieho and he proceeded to the home of Wigzel. where Mrs. E , .q.,latc as , i-7 - -'lla,t,r-fatentlant to E.• tit . jo9eo Buckley was staying, and questioned her respecting C", 1 :1). 1 .‘ ,. , '•--:*, 6 .1 . .., the robbery, but failed to elicit any evidence relative , ."' ti; ....• • 1.. hr., in Anrfolk. str. et, P;i rk-l ' ine' a * gel' i li ev, to the cash-box. Nothing further was heard of the " I ' l l eda '' i. ~ . . , t . 156,th-l' 0, o , i tilt' 26,11 t ~t, . .1, "..). Pollock. Lig., a transaction until about a fortnight ago, when 8 . 11 i on. iii „'6 - P arlf ' Mary Quin was charged at Bow-street Police -court, , ' I jn the 27th inst., in Janus-street, St. ;hi on suspicion of haring one of the stolen notes Bedford, Esq. o f .04 , , in her possession, which note she said was given to her 11 1 11 ' o' Of by her mistress, Miss Harrison, who keeps a cigar -shop Londmi ~,,., ta g adjoining the English Opera-house. The note was is Bank of England note, of the value of 5L The note was gtor.24i,2,inSv(t; , identified by Mr. Coolly, its baying been ot9leit from iiiiddlettsa, Thuroday, Auguat 1, 1844. • - Precinct I.rai t e o r i theTShaevoSrill the ° • . • • w • 5t,1,2,4t.-- ;•,•,. Several i ktr- •,, • fined in the :um of 10.;. 1 01 '7 1 . 0 0 obstructiolis On the 'p avement , b y plac i ng baskets ° for sale. • • . 10 6 Mi. TRAILL said the obstru c ti on was a gr eat 1 1111 ' and he would fine all parties who came before him. • ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. • .-- to ~A On Monday -eveni ng great exc i tement •prevallv-' p la of! parishes of Wanlsworth and Battersea, in.consequee,f: o o woman having attempted the mur d er o f h er two chi her own destruction. de r ill The circum s t ances connected with this dreadful &job these :—On 11or.dav evening, ab ou t fi ve o'clock, 'a , ' l° 0 1 about 2G years or. e g e , name d A mel i a Alfred, l e ft her NI the water-side, Wandsworth, w ith h er two childreilr a ' Pi and boy, aged rerectively six and four years, and P i _ ri t.,fof ro il to Wandswo7t . :l-,:o.irmon, where she wandered . ft wu- poll'i nearly an hour, and then approached a large. and deeP ot i r k called the," 13!...-.,A - Sea." It would appear that whilst es 0 ing on the rrp.-.,ia of the pond she tied the two dia l Th. her waist, r. , :cl hen precipitated herself into the water'tlo bank was slie!viog, arid the water wa s ra th er ' s halloW et point, but so d e t erm i ne d was the wretched woman. er, making away with herself and h er o ff spr i ng, t h a t she ee rta wards tlr.-ew her-elf on her b ac k, so t h at the wa ter ce s for , both the chit,--,n and herself. At this critical period, oil Alfred, the t; other of the unfortunate woman, a lad li ° t . o the than 14 y,-±.l:-; ‘;f age, ran up to the spot, j rl mped ilL t he water, and `, -, •ed to rescue the children.- Finding t' ... ., 1 10( 1 could not re 1 ., , a.•3 them, he held their heads above wa j t e " if er! hallooed for• afsistance. Mr. Alexander and his - JaeY d, stA, walking on their lawn, which is adjoining the P °ll o ls o hearing the boy's screams, Mr. Alexander instantly s n ,d o per that - some one was in • the 'water, and taking his gi rd t 1 36 with him, ran to the pond. The lad. was still keel )l „ n driT, children's Letils above water, but appeared readY;: r , trii! from exhaustion. The gar•lener jumped into the viand the With his r: , i'o - -vered, the handkerchief, and rele - ,_ vet children f•o• , : • -..-• 9eritoos situation. l'olice-consta v ` t tiog 38 V, who •,, • '.ity on t'e common, assisted in g e eo the wretc', , s-: : I out of the pond, having previow6 , o es to the ititi:,:i - , i'. c-, test the ma s t er an d matron 000' warm b:• ;1 ..,, ,:. s•,•; appliances in readiness. The CI 00 who . , thro , ',•; , ''. ,, c valorous conduct of the lad lair blo' not ser'.6:l.'y : :'Areil, we.e kindly taken charge of -uY Th e Alex:nide?. a:ci conveyed by, that lady to her resider/ o '4 o unfortima.-e wrrruto Alfred when taken out of the wa ter , plr to all apeiranec.(iead; she wa s conveye d as qu i c kly °-" i s sible, however, :.o he Wandsworth Union, where Mr' to re the tn. ,, ,t,.r, , t :! .i !,'::.,:.;e, the matron, were- prepared ' ,ro or ceive iltr. ties te:ms ascii in restoring pe rsons from ;6 ing we-e ad , vr.,l,:! ~t bcforc the arrival of the medical ° te rtr Dr. Cu,:,-,., the ~,o.- urcattire Cx:iibited ofr th e . symptoms A to, „; ing anim.e . .ion.• i.. - :, -v attention ',as beer, since pah'iov wretched wonin, bet she is still in an extremely Pr d y condition.- - There is little (icralit th it the woman,, d is insane, en•sttlisj ter ~ • - • ••• ___ .d di u his caQh•box. Miss Harrison, on being requeste re account for the possession of the• note, sa'd that she ; ceived it from the prisoner qrs. Wiazel. Quin had leo the .etviee of hiss ilarrison ii.h , tit four lays this latter o,!e:irren,e, and was then.stayng at the bor t of the prier ',,V:gz,- , . Fro, inf rm4tio. , criv nto ; 1- I "litti - , they ;r :. ee•le.l t., . ~,, , „ , ~...z - i, , I . d `• 1 ; sear •h ~, , , 4 th . 'muse, ~.,. 1 ~r . ~,„.s ;- t trolig 1 tin 'II it} ..t . ,e r •- • l- ~ - ' ~, r t',"' . ; ~, ~,,,-, i:., , - •,,,, ,-, ' . ji o ,:a.t. previoul... 'i. 0 1.6 r, .11 a d Lil• .1I 11 • ; th en > I , le „ii, t ., e t e quaenY' : Mi-e; H .r is, •n ceceived the 5/. n .te frog! one the the prise:;rs and he kv4s prepared \ .:ar to thP " 1.1 heo . t .,. M • r•: s.ody 'tier n . irtrY ra:•• ut there was • c.. in it. ji e,ound o‘e; . . in th 50/. , eaell:' b., ~upthc P r l t itS 114' ttini :art'l rr t ~,id called.for "rr,11i,44- with tile • •-•; th:o . ; :hey e,•erited it pv tt the se, and coitlii conveYtue' compau: a mob ot with t!r to the st:t female prisoner was iin e Th e - 111 . , , 1'ec to hod bail to keeh o t t e , ,nsulline h t in the timiAe ofeorrection• Kt-al op 11 ilei4ult. irge I rith ui peace f or sevow :1 4 prisot:er, 3 1~~1 v •iE troy aiid thruwii Pie p `: ~ y _,