The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-18 00:00:00

.--............ 1% .• • ... ) 40 .•••• 1 1 ••••• 2 4 DA Y .4 ,. ) f er;yj Ay 0 e ats' dod gd rw to , an . 73 ,. OA ° xt P e ' d olft l coni°"o inud too, „j u t .1- 41 r dd 19 store If, 16 hore , trAd - 04j to to loct t4 . 0 , 6 1 ate° , 8 10 4de. C1°,4, /4 1.5 5 1 I.- Os Pfal, CO 6 „J. ll is ; 20 P er 00 "air dittO yer - Ole sto blot doll. ve9 colt ) I n oll; e ibtro! t 4 3,0 Od "Od p rieto"to oh ° ) c k • lane 413° 1 g Oe t a, :A01617' n the f b ; e too of rro le, upoo tb , 'ov oi d Irian es, r ee f iliP pt r, f er pio Briw io prey eci , i 70 ,0 , ne t i c red by tins of pucbo c ie rime,. it T ti a. cl AC V. At, AIL age yad t r ever 0 s, vri le .sa caws P-A boy o f t h e t o b a e _ i s deP, e ° • 't s l ' er 1 f el e autlks - Itu„q 1 1 % 74 liA i 68~ ..• 12;; 2V; •••• 1 6 1 0 .., 1 $ .... ..- ,/ ./ 1 / 9S 00 ,ROLLS' COURT.—(THIS DAY.) 4ii3 Lordship sat at ten o'clock. The Med EARL NELSON V. LORI) BRIDPORT. r e3i , aruments on be half of the defendant in this case were ", g und occupied the whole day. ICE-C I LUC CERY .—(THIS DAY. ) ll ls i ldonour th e Vi ce-Chancellor of England took short e atise the ;• 44(1 unopposed p e titi ons to -d ay, none o f w hi c h were o f ko:o',g.litest importance. His Honour will not sit to- SHE RIFFS' COURT._(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURCIIELL. Th RICIL P. POILE. —DEBT AND COSTS. h 13 wae an action to recover the sum of 211.125. 6d. on a -ar antee Th • )a , i „ e defendant was landlord of the Cart and Horses, Turn dele'ltreet, Clerkenwell. An action had been brought against btf e n ,, ( l 4 at ' 8 brother, and execution obtained on the goods. te4euent, however, consented to pay the debt, 1/. Is. 6d. and I'l ring altogether the sum at present claimed. ea,at pe UND ER -SHERIFF said they were large costs for so debt The • Colirt Attorney said there had been an application to the Th e 5e arising out of the case. i tith at . ND ,Eit-Sueruee—So the defendant has to pay costs NV "'Loh, and this for one guinea.. Gentlemen, this is le e , e rY Cheap law, but vou have no choice. The costs have ' l4 lrecl by - Il e . the proper officer. Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiffi ih ( f u t i l e ' 11 4 A W t taosrre WALLS r. THICK EY. y action to recover the sum of 71. for bricks. for the plaintiff said that in this case he `llt e s , ll hrnit to th.e Under- Sheriff that the debt had been Lillt ra c ,;', l ", by fraud, and that, upon proof thereof, the defen- 1 l 'his , under the new Act, be taken in execution as wel lamiood.toh• f Wells was called—Remembered defendant going :•41. 8. 4a T ti ler, andgiving orders for _bricks, to be sent to th ' i 'lle - ta "Yous, oil and colourmen, Kent-road. Defendant il t T n h alt le er Trickey but he did not mean to trick ;1 1 1' . T . " " bricks were sent. ' Defendant said they were for k ~ya r, I who would pay for them. Had since called 44 41 5. 5 ." L '!2 11 :wh0 refused to pay, on the ground that they ,Th puy paid Trickey. ; 43 ,_ a‘ft b tat-SnEluir said, what Lyon had told the wit me l e t t6',°t ev'elence ; he, therefore, did not consider there The r h e ' e nt evidence to convict the defendant. . • 1 1 concurred, and a verdict was given for plaintiff. / tin " P 1 . ft • • BI:s".3IIN v. landlord a public-house in 1 4 tu r 4 2 tiff in this action s 'l`'n.teese,:rd, Drury-lane; t the defendant is a truss-maker in I t Nt !jaile court, Ludgate-hill The action was brought to 1 for Money lent and goods sold. 4 e , t14 4 441415 re1 0 e f -1 ; - as ' Called, and stated that he had occa &At se rved the sy ' defendant with brandy, cigars, kc., on 1e 7,111 1 , - °f plaintiff, who was a friend, and witness assisted Ch 4 e;l4iness. He had taken an account to defendant, who ,I h he had been very unwell, and had not been out of 4.40Z1te since he was at the plaintiffs, but when he could t ii to as ue would call and pay. . 6 ° a ,; l el ainined.—Had been a licensed victualler, and kept 4,,,, •° t b . ll°• „ eB eY, Bow -street, but had been out of business for 041, 1 1nd had since assisted at two or -three public t",„, fle a l,lad been on railway business. Was not a stag, nor 44 1 1 / 4 - ,l' e ni t ehares. Had been doing something better. Was e S lAZ is e li or," d but had been taking traffic, employed by Bl d 11, of Mildred-court. He declned 14111 1: 4 1) 11 "v Iri an h h ail e e ceived Plaintiff's house was for- LA }. ii'lteh S lunch he received. Plaintiff's house was for . 'Leh Sam' and before ;hat Money Moses was land ti,"'olte tue account charged defendant with 1/. Bs. for a glass e," (1 11 11 e1, 11 the parlor. There had been a scuffle, as defendant ee t e t 'ad hadlf et ocket picked. The waiter was a man d.,. 4 8 -. I) .44 ", alias n " the Starling." Could not say whether I t lida ti l'its , sannlied amounted to 10s. lie could not say that k i ' lo te• th ' e broke . the glass. as contended that there was no IP it: 4.111 „ i efi k eY e l u e d n a t u n t o i r t co w uld the witness say - what amount of i ie il if, t : been sup ' plied, or that defendant broke the glass. I ' th e ," I) tn-SnEniee said the case was as weak as it could w l / 4 .l4 l l i v yas no proof of any delivery of an account, but the 04,, w !_r_ed by Kelsey alluded to one of which, if that ko tni. ,_e s io be believed, defendant was aware of, in which "1 %47 t'aY .1, defendant. 11 . th ' t tNAL COURT.—(THIS DAY.) N 144. 0r OLD; COURT. 6 t he Lord Chief Justice TINDAL and Mr. Jus tice PATTESON.) Oa „ T ,RE MURDER AT NEWINGTON. . l tire s e l e ' e ‘ Quennell, aged 22, was indicted for the wilful , 1 1 r - ',„ef baniel Fitzgerald. L g a: 'Akin with whom was Mr. Clarke, conducted `,Sin-°seelltion'; and Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Huddlestone ),/,: e h ted the defence. ,f l ,°otute stated the case to the jury, briefly °B h the the leading points of the evidence. He then ,(1 0 , 14 , as .6ll , o ll `Carthy, who stated that he resided at N o. 6, 1 / 4 „ t444 i:Vet, Walworth. 13as been in the employment '..N. v .` 174 . Quenncll, a builder, in Lower Kennington 11°Yetei,- a s in his employment on Thursday, the 27th of ‘,,!'llil i , -- „ e . r . Had known the deceased Fitzgerald. He " L til " il i a Mr. Quennell's employment, and was there I la C til it a o t " IL Y• ne left work at about five o'clock in the titts 4 ~I 3e and p rocee d e d t owar d s Kennington-lane. s, ll Z`Z o tcl wits in his (witness's) company. They crossed `ht, W ib i ngton High-road, and then went into Peacock -10 i t 4 7 w hen they got there witness saw the prisoner Or i l bu ayels them. Had . known the prisoner about Vl:lo ) ,„ s weeks before that time. He had been in the ~ r. : g ent of Mr. Quennell, but had been dismissed. • It .., . L . "(4, 1 4 0 carr i age-way in Peacock-street, it is quite a s'' .4 ) , bate' r ti N The - prisoner came close to . them, and im 1, sy LbY afterwards his (witness's) sight . was taken dirt' t sudden flash ; he at the same time heard a tk,tt 'she could see he saw deceased lying l t . 4 ll .`e i sil l .° soon d as I a away a dead man." The prisoner ~,,c ' wealk ic mi quietly away towards Newington. Witne . ss t v t :lecl, ' l4 a and cried out after him. Witness saw him TIP d 'vita s then went to prisoner's brother, and a kt i2 0 11,t ei $ to methPs ation-house. Had seen the prisoner h `rta, () eh t day, not 20 yards from the place itl i e 4 C° murder was committed. Was present at the b r h oe the body, and identified it. . p ' °, I)k,'lenry Cutting was then examined by Mr. ,t 4 I', - -He stated that he is clerk to his father, Mr. ip 4- 1 1 Cutting, a solicitor in bankruptcy. On Thurs ,,ltb"°"(. 27, - s; as near the corner of Peacock-street. Ne ;‘ ll ,ed down Kennington-lane, which almost faces ,tii,"„ ll q of Peacock-street. When he got near the in t ki l i n . he heard the report of a pistol, and saw a d m b an ,7tes - c ,„_ clown Kennington-lane. lle was followe y i?Pper 0 ? 1 , who were calling out to stop him. Witness Ita , aside until the man who was pursued came up to 1 4 t; 1 1 11t1 he then seized him by the collar. That man Llle ofen.Prisoner. Some of the pursuers came up, and " 1 10 - : 4 ,, ern attempted to seize his collar roughly. The I: t l 4 S ahl, " One is enough," and then " Take me Issae- sta tion-house." Witness went with him to the N -11 ,:heuse. He was then asked whether he had any Mile Pistol with him. He said no; but as they were ' l kli i '-° search him he put his hand into his trousers L lls e- f t when the constable seized his hand and took a " I 'ti l o -r°4l it. The cock of the pistol was down, and a ,tly ll o l an exploded cap upon it. 'jitjar. 1-1 1JDDLESTONE—When witness first saw the k ' l 4Ct he was 50 or 100 yards off. He was quite cool Ls; . „ \v ittless collared him, and stopped at once. There 4° der, Person with witness when he stopped the , t4 4tTP . Y, Martin Hallam was then called—He stated iNti, e AS a barge builder, residing near the Waterlo?- L ' 4 ab; u e• Thursday, the 27e'n of November, he was in iNegton-lane It was about five o'clock in the Ztfi r ,"g• Witness was near the Newington-road, not NaC l24 the police-station. Saw the prisoner,,who was Nalt towards him from the Newington end. He St,' Witness and ho then heard some people calling " I tti - 14 P him , . Some erson then collared him; and t" the seized him li kpri n also. 4 ', l e t nenyee stated she was in Peacock-street She k ,l'i , t° -°ell 'an Thursday the 27th of November. p e ,, t4 the narrow - part ' of the street. She heard the t lt k . t t „q a - tolanel saw a man fall. She afterwards (I t ii" ti- ae l) sp ls ot, and when a light was brought she saw k Zh , W ,lits Fitzgerald. She had known him by sight. re:4' o g the report a man passed rapidly by her, and 4 4 ( i : 4: flocked her down. That man went towards 4 4 .1 0 t 0n-butts. Had seen the man before, and 44 knew „Y,,uight. Th e p r isoner is the man. lie walked to ks r i" of the street. IV Vie " lb. Hope Popham stated that he is a surgeon, ,;14 . - o n g, at Queen's-row, Newington. He was near the N 7 e public-house at about five in the afternoon on n1 2.1 ' of November. He heard an explosion of fire ta4.• In consequence of information he received he fire eat the Peacock tap-room. He there saw the de ;7l% l e ft uPported by two men. There was a wound on ebreast. He was very much exhaused, and died L k st llB , t hart a minute. Afterwards made a t post taw tem ' 1 h i-ati °n• Found. that the wound passed through lean and lungs, til ltt ° T , ta tss William Carter, inspector of police, stated klien the 27th of November, he was on duty at the i-Zstation in Kennington-lane. The prisoner was he in by Mr. Cutting. After the ''s id asked if he had a pistol or knife about him, and e,tsti l k,"a that he had not. Witness ordered him to be ta hni, and when the constable commenced he put wit -44 into his trousers-pocket, and pulled out a pistol.. kkle 4 „,... 4 s seized it, and found a part of a cap on the nip . Witness also , found a rule and a piece of cord on NI ,Witness afterwards searched his lodgings at ,stek -e , tie k - place, Newington-butts. lt was not more e kit, a w eety yards from Peacock-street. A. box was 'pt,,,• -, out to witness as the box of the prisoner. On /4 sat A -11 1 4 the box witness saw eleven bullets. On the kat :4`shelf he found eleven percussion caps, some shot, , d ° S ahli quantity of powder. t4Cta Wilson stated that the prisoner occupied a room Iht- °li h ° ll se. Witness pointed out the prisoner's box to c e. Willi ON, ~L a ul Quennell was then sworn—He stated that he I, he deceased. He worked for witness, and had b riti o - h il l his employment seven or eight years. The ~,q h - ,;, e r is .a half-brother of his. His age is about 22. 1 4 ? „ . " 4 t® .a employed by witness for about five months. 4 41;:l t de himself generally useful. He had been to te ` l .,° l 'o coming to work with witness. Had told him °` r out for work elsewhere as business would be tais s i ; that wa s th ree or f our wee k s b e f ore the corn ll'itea-°ll of the act. The last day that he worked for () a t i -218 Was Wednesday, the 19th. He came to wit n es s Th e e Saturday before the murder and received Ss. qo„,l3l*Yoner had a conversation with witness's wife ),,,,,u"._this leaving off work. His wife said, " How came hee,,' 6 Peak so unkindly against William after he has Badwa 80 kind to you." The prisoner appeared surprised, lag nted to know what it was that he had been say thitt ', S he told him that Daniel Fitzgerald had told her op ft l ° (the prisoner) intended to give William a knock he ~,e head, and also that the prisoner had said that if he x r a t nioney he would set up an opposition business said , ° ,°r• His wife also remarked that she had not th at i . l ! that Fitzgerald had told her. The prisoner said lt,s,, eitzgerald had urged him on to speak against wit thaiii an d that it was all Fitzgerald's fault. A gentleman ea e , c am* in to pay a bill, and that put an end to the tooi ers ation. Could not say whether the conversation t e:, .' Place before or alter the payment of the Ss. Wit -1,,.; toil him that evening to look for work elsewhere. 4'l,lolg:raid and the prisoner appeared to live on good II Y M In.; r. CLAnnsorr—lt is about f our y ears s i nce the `o94er wen to sea lie returned in January hut. . _ .. .. On his return home his mother was living in Brandon street. Witness saw him every time he returned from sea, as he always called. Up to the time that he last re turned from sea he had always conducted himself quietly and properly like any;other man. Witness had observed of late that his conduct and character had very much changed. Other members of the prisoner's family had been unfortunate in the state of their minds. His father had been subject to fits of insanity. The prisoner had a brother that died about two years since. Had a sister named Sarah, and saw her up to the time of her death, which occurred about 12 years since. She used to com plain of her head, and used at times to be quite uncon scious. Had heard something about the brother that died, but never noticed anything himself'. Witness was separated from his father before his death. His death occurred through his being thrown out of a chaise. Was present when his father imagined that there were devils in the drawers of his room. No representation made by Fitzgerald was the cause of his telling the pri soner to seek for work. No such statement was made to the prisoner. His attention had often been called to the prisoner's conduct about three or four weeks before the murder. Has told the prisoner to do things, end he has answered in a peculiarly indifferent manner. His Rife remarked it also. Has heard that tha prisoner had set the bed on which he was lying on fire. Re-examined by Mr. BODKIN—His father was never placed under any restraint for any insane fits. He managed his business himself, and sometimes employed 50 men. The prisoner, up to three or four weeks before the murder was like any other man, but from that period to the time of the murder his conduct was not that of a man in his sober senses. Had never seen anything in the prisoner's conduct before Fitzgerald's death that could induce him to swear that he was not of sound Mind, but he had remarked to his wife that his conduct was not that of a man in his senses. The pi sorter was always of a violent temper. Did not tell Fitz gerald to look for work, as he always kept him. By the COURT—His brother knew that he did not intend to discharge Fitzgerald. The other, men did the same work as the prisoner and Fitzgerald. Julia Quennell stated that she is the wife of the last witness. Remembers the prisoner coming on the bight of Saturday, the 22d of September, to be paid his wages. Had a conversation with the prisoner about something that he said. That was in the presence of her husband. On telling him something that Fitzgerald had said of him, he appeared very much dejected and hurt. Fitz gerald had made a statement to her the day before. By Mr. CeamesoN—The prisoner had appeared very much dejected for six months before the murder, but for three weeks before it, witness could not get a proper answer. Has noticed the prisoner to sit by himself' with his eyes fixed on the ground apparently quite lost to himself. For the last three weeks before the murder, he could not give a proper answer. Her husband was always very attentive to him. There had been no cause for his apparent dejection. Witness could not tell what to make of it, and spoke of it to her husband. Has heard her husband talk of his father, who was deranged during his lifetime. Re-examined by Mr. BODKIN--The prisoner on his return from his voyages always appeared to be cheerful. He used to answer of late in a gruff surly manner, and sometimes not answer at all. Ile used, however, to do whatever he was told to do. James Parkes stated that he is a plane-maker, residing in Timothy-street, Newington. On Saturday, 22(1 of Nov., he was at the shop of a Mrs. Tubbs, in the New cut, Lambeth. It was about eight o'clock. The pri soner was there. Ile came up to the shop, and took a pistol which was banging at the door, and examined it. Ile pulled the trigger, and the cock broke. Wit ness heard that 5.z. 6d. was the price of the pistol. The prisoner paid 2s. for the damage done. He came into the shop after breaking the pistol, and purchased another, for which he paid ss. The pistol produced is like the one that he purchased. 'William Welling statad that he is an oilman, residing at No. 1, Amelia-place, Walworth. Knows the pri soner, who has dealt with him for some time. On Thursday, the 27th of November, at about four in the afternoon, the prisoner came to his shop. He purchased a pennyworth of gunpowder. He asked for the best. John Marne, a gunmaker, residing in the Walworth road—On Wednesday, the 26th of November, he sold a quarter of a pound of bullets to a person. Can't say whether the prisoner was the person. The person was dressed in a different manner to the prisoner. Saw him before the magistrate, and his dress was then like that of the man who bought the bullets. They were to fit a pistol exactly like the one produced. It was dusk when he came into the shop. It was about five o'clock. The evidence of this witness closed the case for the prosecution. _ _ Mr. CLARKSON then rose, and said that in the observa tions he was about to make he would not attempt to deny that the prisoner was the person who fired the shot. There was another duty imposed on them, which belonged to them alone—a duty which he ex pected them to discharge, uncontrolled by any thing they had heard, or with respect to anything that they might] hear on the subject ; and unless the evidence they had heard did not leave a shadow of doubt on their minds, that at the time of the commission of the offence the prisoner was an agent answerable for his own actions. Although the law left it upon the prisoner to show that he was not fit to judge of his own actions, he (Mr. Clarkson) hoped that he would be able to show them, on his behalf, that such was actually the case. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to comment at some length on the evidence which tended to raise a question as to the prisoner's sanity. At the conclusion of his address, The Lord Chief Justice TINDAL proceeded to reca pitulate the evidence in a general manner, commenting on the various facts as tending to prove the prisoner's insanity. Thejury then consulted for a short timo in the box, and then requested to be allowed to retire. The usual officer having been sworn to keep them in safe custody, they left the Court. After an absence of twenty minutes the jury returned into Court. On their names being called over, The foreman of the jury delivered a verdict of Guilty. The usual proclamation of silence having been made, the Learned Judges put on their black caps. The Lord Chief Justice TINDAL then addressed the prisoner as follows Samuel Quennell, you have been found guilty, by the verdict of a jury of your country men, of the crime of murder—a crime which has always been, with the exception of the crime of treason, regarded as one of the very deepest dye by the laws of England, and against which the punishment of death has always been enforced. It is my duty to say that the jury have come to a proper conclusion on this question. There are circumstances in this case of great aggravation—as the crime was not committed under the influence of sudden anger, or cir cumstances of provocation; and unknown almost to the unfortunate victim of your crime, you reserved to your self the preparation of the instruments of death, against which the deceased felt quite secure. Under these cir cumstances, it is my duty to impress upon your mind the sentence of the law, which will as suredly be carried into effect. Exert yourself therefore to employ the little time allowed you to pre pare for that great change which you assuredly will shortly undergo. It only remains for me to pass upon you the sentence of the law." His Lordship then passed sentence of death in the usual form ; and ordered the prisoner into the custody of the sheriff of the county of :Surrey. The prisoner, who seemed quite unmoved during the passing of the sentence, was then removed. CLERKENWELL.--(THIS DAY.) James Fisher, 7,413 badge, was charged with the following outrageous conduct to wards Mr. William Elmar Adams, of No. 11, Phoenix-place, Liverpool-road. Mr. Adams deposed that on the previous night, having been at the Princess's Theatre, he went up to the prisoner and said he would give hiM a shilling to convey him thence to the turnpike in the Liverpool-road. He drove him to the gate, where he got out. Mr. GREENWOOD—YOU got out just at the turnpike. Witness—Yes, just before we passed through it. Mr. GRBENWOOD —Did you not consider that was cheating the toll- keeper. Witt ess said as he had not passed through it, he did not. Ile might have driven through the gate if he liked, for there was nobody there that time of night. Witness proceeded to say that without any provocation the prisoner knocked him down, rolled him in the mire, tore his hair, and called him bad names. Witness cried murder and police, and policeman 396 came to his assistance. The prisoner denied having attacked the complainant in the first instance, and said he had promised to give him 25. - M. GREENWOOD told the prisoner that, even supposing what he asserted was true that the complainant had promised 2s. instead of ls.—he might have summoned him, instead of treating him in so brutal a manner. lie would sentence him to 14 days imprisonment. MARLBRO'-STREET.-(THISDAY.) Mary King, a respectably dressed woman, was charged with attempting to drown herself. From the statement of Thomas Devall, deputy superintendent of the Royal Humane Society, it appeared that about half- past nine o'clock last evening, he observed the prisoner at the head of the Serpen tine River, in Hyde Park, walking to and fro. She appeared to be in great anguish of mind, and was wringing her hands and crying. Suspecting that her intention Was to commit suicide, the officer watched her for a considerable time. At length she walked to the north bank of the river, and taking off her bonnet and shawl; threw them on the ground. The officer had then ap proached within a yard or two of her, but screened himself behind a tree from her observance. After looking anxiously around her to see that no one was watching her, she went. down on her knees, and commenced saying her prayers. She concluded by imploring the forgiveness of God for what she was about to do. She then rose up and instantly rushed to the water's edge, and lifting up her arms, was in the very act of throwing herself Bice downwards into the river, when the officer, who had followed closely behind her, seized hold of her clothes and drew her on to the bank. On being questioned as to what induced her to attempt her life, she at first refused to say, but after she was given in charge to the police she said it was distress of mind that had driven her to do it. She also stated that she was married, and that her husband resided at No. 9, Barnes-terrace, Lambeth. She had no money in her possession. Mr. Fitzpatrick, the chief clerk, asked the prisoner in what manner she was distressed? The prisoner said her husband ill-treated her. lie was a sadler, and possessed property. The husband here stepped forward, and said his wife was of intemperate habits, and that caused them to disagree; but he never ill-treated her. Last night, while sitting at supper with her two grown-up daughters, she took . oll her wedding ring, put it on the table, and wishing him good night, went out. Lie took no notice of her, as she was in the habit of behaving very unaccountably. The priscner said she was now very sorry for what she had done. Mr. HARDWICK, after admonishing her, gave her into the charge of her husband. AFFRAY AT BLACKFRIARS PIER. Yesterday another affray took place on the newly-erected City pier, at the north-eastern corner of Blackfriars-bridge. The circumstances arose out of the dispute now pendine between the Navigation Committee and the Directors of the Watermen's Steam-packet Company, some particulars re lating to which, elicited at the Mansion-house on Tuesday, appeared in this journal of yesterday's date. Upon the occasion referred to, Mr. Newbon, the solicitor to the Steam packet Company, made an ineffectual application to the Lord Mayor for a warrant against ore of the officers placed on the pier to prevent the landing of passengers conveyed by the Watermen's boats at Blackfriars. Mr. Newbon's applica tion was made for the purpose of testing the question legally, no violence having been practised upon him ; but in the pre sent case it is to be regretted that a very respestable inhabit ant of Woolwich was made the subject of brutal ill-treatment by the officers on duty, and at the same time had a very narrow escape from drowning. The question between the disputants may be thus briefly described :—Shortly after the establishment of the Water men's Steam packet Company, the Directors obtained from the free watermen of Blackfriars the privilege of calling with their boats at the pier erected by the latter. The 'Wool wich Steam-packet Company's boats never called at Black friars, the directors selecting Temple-bar pier as the land ing-place for their passengers in the City district. The Watermen's Company continued to enjoy the same privilege up to the erection of the new pier ; and upon the faith of their arrangement with the proprietors of the pier a very large number of season- tickets have been issued to passen gers accustomed to land at Blackfriars. During the summer season the Watermen's boats run three times every hour between Woolwich and London, viz., at the hour, twenty minutes past, and twenty minutes to the hour. The Wool wich Steam-packet Company's boats, during last season, ran twice every hour, the period of starting from the respective termini differing occasionally, but being generally fixed at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour. The Water men's Company have recently taken two of their boats off the station, the boat leaving at the hour only running at present. In consequence of this boat frequently arriving at Blackfriars-pier about the same period as that belonging to the opposition company, the directors of the Watermen's Company, a short time since, received a notice from the Na vigation Committee, informing them that unless they con sented to alter the period of starting their boat, it would not he allowed to call at the new pier. A long correspondence has taken place between the Navigation Committee and the solicitor to the Watermen's Company on the subject. No satisfactory arrangement, however, has been agreed upon, and since Monday last a body of about 30 or 40 policemen have been stationed on the pier for the purpose of preventing vi et arniis any passengers by the Watermen's boats from landing at Blackfriars. The directors of the Watermen's Company, on their part, have instructed the captains of their boats to tender their passengers at the pier as usual, with the additional order that if the pier-master refuse to receive the warp, the boat is at once to proceed on its destination. This has been done in order to satisfy the season-ticket passengers that the di rectors have done all in their power to land them at Black friars. The affray, to which the above is a necessary introduction, occurred at a few minutes before two o'clock yesterday after noon. At that period, the Waterman steamer, No. 8, approached the pier from the direction of Woolwich. As the boat neared the dummy, the pierman, together with the officers on duty, of whom there were at least twenty, rushed to the spot in a body, and presented a formidable phalanx to oppose the landing of any person. Several passengers went to the gangway for the purpose of lauding, but the first who attempted to leave the boat was Mr. Edward Smith, a re spectable boot and shoe maker, residing at 22, Richard• street, 'Woolwich. Mr. Smith was wholly unaware of the existing objection to allow passengers by the Watermen's boats to land at Blackfriars, and upon being repulsed by the pierman, he inquired by what authority he was interrupted? No answer was given to his query, and the next instant he made another attempt to step on shore ; lie was then met by a severe blow which took effect on his mouth and nearly felled him. While in the act of threatening to give his assailant into custody, he was dragged ashore from the boat, and narrowly escaped falling into the water. 'He was then taken off between two policemen, followed by five or six others, to the station in Black Horse-court, where he was charged by Thomas Ware, one of the pierman, with assaulting him while in the execution of his duty. The affray was observed by the passengers on the bridge, and when the officers reached the street they were greeted with groans and hisses by a mob of at least 200 persons, whose sympathies appeared warmly excited in the prisoner's be half. Nor was this at all extraordinary, for the diminutive figure and mild appearance of the accused seemed to eve the lie to the asserted fact that he had been guilty of vio • lence towards any party. On reaching the station the charge was regularly taken by the inspector on duty, who ordered the accused to find bail, himself' in 201., and one householder in the same amount, to appear at the Mansion house this day. Mr. Smith represented the great inconve nience he had been put to, and the deep injustice of con fining him (a stranger in London) until he could obtain the required bail. He was informed that there was no appal, and, but for the accidental presence of a person who had witnessed the whole affair, and who offered to become an swerable in the necessary amount, Mr, Smith would, most certainly, have been locked up until he could have commu nicated with his friends at Woolwich. 1V Is TV COURT. (Before the RECORDER.) Elizabeth Sears was indicted for stealing a saw, a pair of silver spectacles, and a box of sights, the property of Henry Pocock, Bermondsey. Henry Pocock said he was an engineer. The prisoner was in the habit of being employed in his house two days a week, in the capacity of a char-woman, for about three months previous to the present indictment. Witness in the course of that time missed a small hand-saw, a box of sights, such as are used by opticians in their business, and a pair of silver spectacles. The sights and the spectacles were kept in a room to which the prisoner had access. Witness asked about these at the prisoner's, but she denied having seen them, or knowing anything about them. However, after she had been taken into custody they were found in consequence of the prisoner's information, in the possession of an optician in King-street, in the Borough, to whem she had sold them. Thomas Taylor, cabinet maker, in the parish of St. Sa viour's, swore to having purchased the saw produced in Court, and identified by the prosecutor as his, from the pri soner. She had a pair of spectacles on her at the same time. The constable who took her into custody, said she had refused saying anything to the charge. She wished to go the prosecutor to tell him all, in hope he would R forp-2the jury, who ger. :::ore The Learned RECORDE set the facts b . who found her Guilty, but with a strr_;„l recommendation to mercy. This recommendation sr:ernea to take the Recorder by surprise, who requested_ 'to know the ground on which it had been made? The foreman was understood to say the jury were not satisfied there had been premeditation in the case, The pr i .daner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and kard labour. aarlotte Brown was indicted for stealing Various articles, the property of Robert Sorrell, hosier, 88, Strand. John Scott, a shopman. with Mr. Sorrell, said that the prisoner came into the shop on the 11th November, and looked out goods to the amount of 61. 95., directing them to be sent to Mrs. Parker, 31, Queen-street, close by. He him self went with the goods to that address, and made inquiry in several adjoining streets, but could find no such name. Had not seen her again till the 29th November s when he saw her in the shop of Mr. Farmer, who had sent him information, and he had her taken into custody. A brown silk purse, beaded, was shown him, which had been found on the prisoner, and which he had NO doubt was the property of his employer. There had been but one such purse in the shop at the time. It was missed immediately after prisoner leaving ) and the box in which the purses were kept had not been opened to any other customer from the time it was shown to the prisoner till it had been found on her person. The female searcher and the constable who had taken her to the station-house, were then called to speak to some of the same facts. The jury, after a short consultation, found her Guilty. A verdict of not guilty had been returned immediately before on an indictment of a similar kind, though of a more adventurous character against the same individual. Three other indictments for shoplifting were not tried. She has been already convicted of the like offence, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment and hard labour. One of the police force informed the Court that the pri soner was the greatest shoplifter in London. She had been in nearly every shop in London, and the policemen seemed to say they had abundance of materials of previous con viction, although wherefore they were not used did not ap pear from his statement. The prisoner is a widow, with a young family of two or three children ; her own age does not exceed twenty, and she is respectable, even handsome in her appearance. The sentence of the Court was that she be transported beyond the teas for seven years. The prisoner was taken out. of Court seemingly under a painful feeling of her present con dition. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAT. TIMES.—The announcement of the approaching and in evitable repeal of the corn-laws is already travelling fast and far over the world. The widening wave of public excite ment is circling round the globe. Wherever men labour, or congregate, or converse, this coming change intrudes upon the common occupations of their lives, and they lift up their heads to be spectators of its accomplishment. The repeal of the corn-laws will prove to be an event of the utmost im portance to our foreign relations. Its effects at home have doubtless been exaggerated by the fears of its opponents and the hopes of its friends; for, in a state of society constituted like that of England, no single event, however important, produces a decisive or permanent change on the great inte rests of the country. But with reference to our intercourse with foreign states the case is different. The immediate ob ject of the measure is to promote the interchange of oommo dities with foreign nations, and to bring the multifarious po pulations of the earth to one great market. Such a result as that is the greatest to which a statesman can aspire, for it in= chides the questions of peace and war, the progress of improve ment, the destruction of prejudices, the spread of civilisation, and the diffusion at home and abroad of a larger measure of prosperity and knowledge to mankind. At this moment, therefore, we turn our eyes with the deepest interest to our allies, our dependencies, our competitors, our customers, and even our adversaries in all parts of the habitable globe, in anticipation of the effect which this event must produce upon cur relations with them and upon their own social condition. At this very moment the ;passions of the American demo cracy, and especially of the western states, are probably in flamed with extraordinary violence by the language of the Man to whom their votes have intrusted the destinies of the Union and the peace of nations. We have lately received evidence, though not yet of a formal official character, that Mr. Polk, in resuming his diplomatic intercourse with the republic of Mexico, has thought fit to designate England as " the common enemy." It is needless to disguise our expectation that the message will be framed in very intemperate language with reference to this country and to the Oregon territory ; and to such language the Ministers of the Crown, whoever they may be, will know how to reply. But the vigour of their reply will be heightened by the contrast offered by the policy of the two States at the present moment. A more niernorable spectacle has scarely occurred in the annals of free nations. A more signal contradiction has never arisen between the two great systems of constitutional monarchy and of popular government. On this side of the Atlantic the greatest aristocracy and landed interest of the world are gra dually surrendering long-cherished convictions and the tena cious prejudices of interest to the influence of more enlarged views of the public welfare, and to the demands of public humanity. The vast majority of those who have earned the respect of the people of England by their talents, their patriotism, and their public services, far more than by their illustrious descent and their princely fortunes, are slowly, and sometimes reluctantly, but nevertheless steadily, arraying themselves on the side of truth, and acknowledging no law but the general interest of the country. Here, in this state, where party traditions are so deep and strong, party opposition has already been reduced to the desperate struggles and the in effectual protest of a faction, and the opponents of years are startled to find themselves at length enlisted in the same cause. Nor is this unanimity of wise and good men dictated solely by the pressure ofa present calamity at home. This cause is that of peace and of civilisation at home and abroad, now and for the future. In the United States, on the contrary, the Execu tive Government formed by the ascendancy of the Demo cratic party, seems ready to sacrifice every great interest of the Union, and of its neighbours, to the miserable exigen cies of its own existence. Its whole conduct to Mexico is an aggravated copy of the policy of Russia towards the Ottoman empire, at the worst times, and before the rest of Europe interposed to preserve the remaining dominions of the Sultan. The American Cabinet mainly rests its popu larity, and its hopes of renewing power at the expiration of four years, upon the reckless pursuit of worthless and unlawful objects; and the people whose pride it once was to be known to the rest of the world by their trading pursuits, their love of peace, and their renunciation of the hackneyed crimes of intrigue and ambition, are now hurried along in a course of aggression which can :only terminate in war, unless it be eflectually resisted by the Senate of the United States. Let the nations judge between this picture and the other ! POST.—Notwithstanding the acuteness of an Evening Contemporary, and its very interesting discovery that the Morning Post would be willing now to accept of a moderate fixed duty, in lieu of the present sliding-scale, provided a Government could be formed with that policy in view— not withstanding all this, we do in reality remain of our old opi nionthat the Whig scheme of 1841 was a foolish one then, and won't do now. The fact is that, however romantic and impracticable the notion may seem to be to the modest gen tlemen of the Liberal school, we go not only for the whole protection of British industry , which the present law allows, but for something more. It is not less protection which would satisfy us, nor a continuance of the present, but only a more real and effectual protection than that which now exists. We do not say that this is a matter to be effected all at once, or by one Act of Parliament. We do not say that no Government should be trusted which did not promise to increase the scale of pro tecting duties. Much has yet to be studied upon the difficult question of the best means of fully developing and fairly re warding the industry of the people. This, however, we say. is clear, that neither the one nor the other is done as it ought to be under the system of law and government which now exists. We say, also, that in our opinion no Govern ment will be fully worthy of the earnest support of this nation, which does not adopt as a principle that it is right for the Government to do all it can towards more fully developing the industrial capabilities of this nation, andtuni. ing the reward thereof more towards the pockets of those who do the work, than hitherto it has been turned. Amongst men who call themselves "Liberal," the great object always seems to be to serve the interests of the owners of capital. Now, we would protect those interests too, but we would not do so at the expense of the working people. We would not depress the millions that the hundreds might make a better per centage on their capital. We do not think that the welfare of the capitalists is best promoted by those who try to make them more rich by a process which impairs the security of the general framework of society. A man with eighty thousand pounds in a country where peace, security, and good feeling reign, through the general com fort and contentedness of the population, is in very truth a richer man—an owner of a more valuable property—.than the possessor of a hundred thousand pounds among a people whose condition is fast driving them to despair. Our delibe rate opinion is, that, having regard to the increase of know ledge in the art of producing food and clothing in this country within the last thirty years, the people ought in all reason and justice to be better off than they were thirty years ago. The population has increased, but it has not in creased in anything like the saine proportion as the increase of productive power. We say that were the nation managed as it ought to be, the people at large would share in the benefits which may be furnished by the new discoveries in the arts of production. The very reverse is noturiously the fact. It is notorious that as the national means of feeding and clothing have become greater in proportion to the population, the state of the population has deteriorated. The mass of the people cannot now pay the taxation which it paid without perceptible difficulty thirty years ago. Luxury has made great progress. There are classes who live in a much more profuse, though not more virtuous manner, than they did thirty years ago, but the working people do not live nearly so well. This fact, in a nation which has been all the time advancing in wealth, is in itself a condemnation of the system which governs the reward of the peoples industry. During the last thirty years the system which is called " Liberal," and which we deeply regret that mercantile and manufacturing people so generally approve, has been continually making progress. During all that time the protection of British industry has been in various ways undergoing diminution. The nation has been getting richer—the masses have been growing must which bring regards poorer. If this go on, the end will be either the complete debasement of the British working people, and the ruin of Britain in that way, or the rage of the British people rising e h e o f L t i h b e e r p a e l o s p y l s e t , em, into revolution, and producing ruin in that way. In either ecvaeslela r t ationa w l e r t i lt n h . and not the DEATH OF A RETIRE D CUSTOM-HOUSE OFFICER BY FIRE.—On 'Wednesday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Bricklayers' Arms, Gloucester -street, Mile-end-road, on the body of Mr. Frederick Greenwaller, aged eighty years, a retired Custom-house officer, lately residing ,in Gloucester street. On Friday evening last he was sitting by the fire • side, when a noise was heard as if a heavy body had fallen, and when one of the witnesses went up stairs, he found the deceased lying on the hearth with his trousers on fire. He was much burnt about the lower parts of his body, of which injuries he died on the following day. At the time the acci dent occurred lie had a great quantity of sovereigns in his pockets, and on the m ante l- p i ece was a bank note of consi derable value, which h e p l aced i n a b ox containing lucifer matches. There w as no evidence as t o how the deceased set himself on fire. Th e j ury returne d a ver dict of 14 Accidental death." This is not all. The case was ordered to be heard before the Lord Mayor this day, at 12 o'clock. Subsequently to the occurrence of the proceedings above detailed, however, ap plication was made to his Lordship for summonses against the captains of both the Watermen's boats, at present on the station. The complaint against them was literally and simply " for calling at Blackfriars Pier." The Lord Mayor, on ascertaining that the summonses could not be served in time to hear the case against the captains to-day, directed them to be brought up on Friday next, to which day his Lordship also ordered the charge against Mr. Smith to stand over. _ _ _ _ Thus in, addition to having been dragged through the streets as a felon (for such was actually the case, each police man grwri;ing an arm of the accused), Mr. Smith will be put t'2, 'tile additional inconvenience and expense of travelling from Woolwich to London and back, merely to ascertain that he has to appear again on the following day. Kinchin, the captain of No. 8, behaved with great circum spection throughout the affair, and on witnessing the treat ment to which Mr. Smith was subjected, jumped off the boat, and accompanied him to the police• station, Mr. Wakley, n held an inquost at the university Col legeP"lslnica PATIENts Hi itosrrrALs.-;-Testerclay, Hospital, o n th e body of Emma Willing, aged fi ve y ears and a half, wh ose parents reside in Victory-place, Edmund street, Battle-b r id ge. On Friday last, during the momen tary absence o f d ecease d' s M o ther, g younger brother tiorti;- menced playing with the fire, and in so doing ignited her clothes. Th oug h t h e flames were ex ti ngu i s h e d prompt l y , deceased was f a t a ll y b urned: an d h a ving be en c o n v eye d to the above hospital, She died in it the next morning. The Coroner institut e d minute inquiries amongst the patients to ascertain whether or no t deceased had been threatened with punishment to still h er cr i es , by any of the nurses or hos pital authorities: Finding that she had not) he expressed his satisfaction ) and told the jury he Made the inquiry bey cause he had seen in one of our hospitals a birch rod hung up on the b e d o f a j uven ile patient who had undergon e a painful and dangerous operation: The child could not look 11 6 pneivellkttlhaeWeitrliieostitthaaetelanggonthy m ight force from it. is instrument of tortu re p laced to Verdict— " Accidental death," A PIECE or GoOD Lucx. Some days since a gentleman in thiS city, being a bout to rSinote &OM one reg. dente id anbthek, sent fiji a par otY wh TrAt the habit Of purchasing books and other articles, and dealing them, And telling him that as lie wished to clear away a quantity Of old lumber that lay in the kitthen and underground cel lttr, he had better look at Dion and gee what he would give as their value. The dealer accordingly, did So, and frotn time to time purchased them for what he conceived they WereavOrth: Among the, rest was an old iron box or safe, Whiell hail lain fbr neglected in.one of the cellars and appeared intrinsically worth very little. He o#ered f/. for it, upon which the owner said he might have it, and directed biin to Sake it away at. once: The aid of four men; who were ht the house *as obtained to remove it, bUt they *ere un able to carry it, and four more had to be bro ught in, wlioa'e united exertions placed it on a car, and it was conveyed to the purchaser's house in Mallo*-lane. Before it was taken Off the car a pawnbroker; from Blackpool, saw the chest af ter pos to,buy The original purchaser offered it, some hi for 37: 10s: : the pawnbroker would give but 31., and as he could not get it for that weitt ?.:way. The *eighty bargain *as then taken off the car, but the par- Chaser nbt liking to ,put it on timber floor, left it in the street for a couple of nights. On sending, however, for the key, which could not be had when he bought it, it was found by a label attached to it, that the contents of the box must iia - ve been worth more than 205.; and accordingly a gentle man, on behalf of the owner, went to where it lavi but could not open it from the rusty state of the lock. The services of a locksmith were at length obtained, and when the box was opened it was found to contain plate and other valuables to the amount of, we understood, over 5001.—Cork Reporter. DEATH Imorit i SCALDlNG. — Yesterday evening, Mr. Baker held an niqUeSt at the William the Fourth Tavern, Bethnal-green-road, on the body of Julia Osborn, aged two years, whose parents reside in the above street. On the morning of Thursday, the 4th inst., the deceased was sitting in front of a large fire on which was placed a saucepan of boiling water, and whileithe mother waslifting the saucepan off the fire-grate, it slipped, and the contents fell over the head, shoulders, and neck of the child, who expired on Satur day morning last. Verdict, "Accidental death." The West Indiaman Duke of Blanchester, Willi a m Scott Murray, master, bound t o Jamaica, got on shore on the Goodwin Sands on the 13th instant, and is now on her way back to the river Thames, to discharge her cargo in the West India Docks, preparatory to the Teasel going into dry dock to be repaired. I.ltyrinistAhler OF COLONEL R EID FROM THE 2D itEGUSIENT OF LIFE GUARDS.—COIOneI Reid, the recently elected M.P. for Windsor, has just, retired, upon halfpay,. from the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 2d Regiment of Life' Guards. It is expected that Major INl'Douall, who stands next for promotion in the regiment ; will succeed to the vacancy created by the retirement el Colonel Reid. A step in their respective ranks will also be obtained by the isenior captain, lieutenant, and cornet. The Countess of Lichfield and the Ladies Harriet and Geraldine and the lion. Adalbert Abseil art ekpected to remain in the French capital until the end of the ensu ing month, what they return to rejoin the Noble Earl; at Graeffenburg. SERIOUS CABRIOLET AtcitYkirr.--testerciay after noon, between tWo And three o'clock, Edward Middleton, ESq., of Montague-square, was driving at a quick rate along Park-lane, when in passing a coal waggon, the driver dentally struck Mr. Middleton 's horse over the back With his whip. The horse instantly set off at a furious speed; 'ant). Mr. Middleton in his nlaem lost all control over him, and leaped out of the cabriolet into the road, unfortunately falling on his head. The groom descended froin behind the cabriolet; and succeeded in stopping the horse without further mischief being done. On examination, it was ascertained that the injuries sustained by Mr. Middleton, though severe, were net datigerons. " FATAL ACCIDENT AT rcIN'CI 'TAME 'S bTAIRS, WAP• PlNG.—YesteNay Mr", sager held an inquest'at the London Hospital s bti 'View of the body of Mary Jeffreys, aged twenty four, whose death was caused by falling over the wharf ad joining King James's-stairs, Wapping. The deceased, who had been six years in the service of Mr. Foster, a gentleman residing at Wapping, on the 29th of September ult. had holiday. She was returning home about ten o'clock at night, when in mistake she turned down the thoroughfare leading to King James's-stairs, which was near her master's residence. On reaching the end she fell over the wall of the wharf, which is unprotected, and was precipitated a depth of about twelve feet. On being taken up, her left ankle was found dislocated. She was removed home, and from there was conveyed in a cab to the London Hospital, where she lingered till Monday last, on which day she. died f 7 cm exhaustion aritkinL; ? - 1 OM the injury. It having been stated by Mr. Foster that many accidents have occured at the same spot, the Coroner, at the request of the jury, said that he would write to Mr. Mellish, the vestry clerk, to have some protection placed there. Verdict—" Accidental death." The Earl of Pembroke's extensive stud and splen did equipages have been removed to Paris, and we hear the Noble Earl contemplates a protracted residence in France• THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1845. RAILWAY RESPONSIBILITY. (From the Times.) The railway drama approaches its denouement. Each day developes sonic new effort of the actors to escape the toils they have spread for each other. The more they struggle the more the plot thickens, and the deeper becomes the interest of the scene. There is a strange peculiarity in the perform ance. It reverses the established order of things, and inverts the common proportion of numbers between the players and the audience. Here we have on one side a crowded stage and a whole community for the dramatis personce, on the other a beggarly account of empty boxes, dotted thinly here and there with a few critical and uneyrnpathising spectators. For our own part we have but little pity for the sufferings of disappointed speculators. They have not, for the most part, any legitimate claim upon our feeling. Theirs is a common case. A large adventure and great risk; enormous gains on one side, ruin on the other. The throw of the dice has been unlucky; but the gamester, though entitled by pre scription to accuse the fickle goddess he adores, has no right to quarrel with the better fortune of his fellow-worshippers, and certainly none to ask assistance from the bystanders. We speak, of course, of those only who have been playing with their eyes open. It is a very different matter when the dice have been loaded and the cards packed. Then all who see may interfere, and it is the duty of all to expose the cheat. It cannot be doubted that in the monster catalogue of railway schemes there are many bubbles. Companies there must be which never had an idea of proceeding beyond provisional registra tion, nor any object but to raise deposits and " rig" the market. These are not bond fide associations. They have flourished by false pretences, and are, in fact, fraudulent and illegal. The public needs not to be informed, that the promoters of such schemes can have no claims upon sub scribers which a court of law will enforce. Deposits that have been paid to them may be recovered back; and de posits that are apparently due to them upon letters of al lotment, but which have not been paid, are safe in the pockets of the holders. It is idle to talk of partner ship and liability to contribution and an equitable adjustment of losses. There is no partnership where the contract has been a fraud practised by some members upon the others, and consequently there can be no claim to contribution. And what equity is there in sharing losses where- there never would have been an account of profits? But unfortunately it is often difficult to prove fraud. There is a strong rule of law that it shall never be presumed, and the burden of proof lies always on the party who makes it his defence. It may thus happen that bubble companies who have laid their plans well, and so cautiously worded their advertisements and prospectuses that no false pretences can be shown, will be bold enough even to assume the offensive and to take legal steps for enforcing the payment of their deposits. This has often been threatened, and sometimes, we fear, with success. The form of the threat hitherto has been a simple demand of payment on a certain day. One company, however, has gone a step further, and holds forth the terrors of a Chancery suit as the penalty of non-payment. The circular of the Great Welsh Central Railway Company is in these words:— " December 10, 1845. " Sir,—Upwarde of 400,000 shares were applied for in this undertaking by yourself and others, persons of known sub stance and respectability. On the faith of such applications the Committee of Management was induced to make very considerable outlays, proportioned to the extent of the line and the high estimation in which it was held by the public. The deposits on a considerable number of the shares allotted to other applicants, as well as on those allotted to you, have not been paid. " The expenses, considering the magnitude of the scheme, will be but small, if borne rateably in proportion to all the allotments, and as it would be manifestly unjust to throw such expenses exclusively on those parties who have honour ably kept their engagements, the Committee have thought it their duty to lay this case before high legal authority, and are advised that every applicant to whom shares have been alloted is legally compellable to pay the full amount of his deposit. " Acting under this advice, and with a view to a fair and just apportionment of such expenses, the Committee have directed me to request that you will, on or before Thursday next, the 18th inst., either pay into the hands of one of the undermentioned bankers the sum above specified, being at the rate of 4e. per share on your allotment, and your average ratableproportion of such expenses, or that you will forward to me before that day the name of a solicitor who will under take to appear for you to a bill in Chancery at the suit of the Company. Thus you may be spared the personal inconve nience and annoyance of being personally served with the writ of subpoena.' The " high legal authority" which is here alluded to is probably that of Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who has, we understand, given an opinion to the effect that the application for shares and letter of allotment constitute of themselves a complete contract, by which the applicant binds himself to become a partner, to the extent of the shares allotted to him, in a copartnership recognized by law—namely, by the Joint-Stock Companies Act. This opinion certainly appears to be quite irrespective of the issuing of scrip or the signature of the Parliamentary contract. Such, we believe, is the general impression among the lawyers who have viewed it favourably. If it be correct, we can only say it is most un fortunate; for the extent of liability it imposes upon thou sands of imprudent individuals cannot be viewed without alarm. It is, however, to be remarked, that the Solicitor- General's opinion does not touch the case of a party, who, having paid his deposit, applies for his scrip and offers to sign the contract, but is refused the one, and not allowed to do the other. It would certainly appear reasonable that the law should make a difference between such a per son and one who refuses altogether to pay his deposit, because he finds there is no chance of premiums in the market. If the former has been the case of the Welsh Railway, we are strongly inclined to doubt their having been well advised. At all events, there are some crumbs of comfort still remaining for the victims, which we are at all times ready to distribute to them ; but, be it understood, more out of pity than from any acknow ledgment of their deserts. It may so happen that the ques tion will be, whether the contract is one of present or futare partnership—a question which, of course, depends very much upon the terms of the prospectus, and the particular acts of the parties. If the projected company be advertised to con sist of a certain number of shares, a part only of which are allotted—a considerable portion being reserved—no matter for what purpose, the individual who has agreed to take shares in such a scheme may well be heard to say that the partnership he contracted to belong to has never been formed. There is no doubt that the original projectors are the parties liable to pay all expenses. In the absence of any express promise on the part of the so-called shareholders, these are not chargeable for contribution. It has been said that if persons set a scheme afoot, and assume to be directors or managers, all the expenses incurred before the scheme is in actual operation must, in the first instance, be borne by them. When it is in operation, the expenses and charges of manage ment will be borne by the concern ; and then it may be fair that the preliminary expenses should be paid in the same way, for then the subscribers have the benefit of them. There is no lack of decisions on this point, and "Nickels v. Crosby" may be worth an attentive perusal. It may, how ever, be urged that what the Committee of Management seek to establish in the case under consideration is not so much a partnership, as a contract to pay an ascertained sum for the purpose of carrying out a certain undertaking, the specific performance of which contract will be enforced by a court of equity. This is probably the real state of the case. If se, we advise all those who are sought to be charged to remain perfectly quiet, and to keep their money in their pockets. Let these projectors try their luck in Chancery. If they do, we promise ourselves the sport of seeing "the engineer hoist with his own petard." GREAT MEETING OF THE ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE IN COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. The first great aggregate meeting of the League took place last night, iu the Theatre Royal, Covent-garden. It has been our lot to visit, as the faithful chronicler for the public information, every meeting of the League that hes taken place within this spacious building ; but we must confess that, of all the demonstrations we ever witnessed in favour of free trade, and the principles pro pounded by the League, the one of last night, exceeded all. We had anticipated an immense meeting, in conse • (pence of the lately-published opinions of Lord J. Russell, Lord Morpeth, and others, in favoue of a repeal of the corn-laws, but we were astounded by the demonstration of last night. Long before the opening of the doors every avenue to the theatre was choked up by masses of human beings, all anxious to obtain admission ; and when the doors were opened the rush was tremendous, and the house in a very few minutes was filled to suffocation in every part. The arrival of Mr. Cobden, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Pattison, Mr. Milner Gibson, and other influential and prominent members of the League, was hailed with loud plaudits. The theatre, before the commencement of the meeting and through its duration, presented one of the most magnificent spectacles it is po , sible to imagine, On the platform we noticed the Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P. ; R. Cobden, Esq , M.P. ; John Bright, Esq., M.P. ; T. C. Grainger, Esq., M.P. ; Henry Metcalf, Esq., M.P. ; Howard Elphinston, Esq., M.P.; Benjamin Smith, Esq., M.P. ; Thomas Milner Gibson, Esq., M. . ; James l i Pattison, Esq., M.P. ; Arthur Pattison, Esq. ; W. J. Fox, Esq. ; William Metcalf, Esq. ; Adam Smith, Esq.; Captain Cogan ; John M'Clode, Esq. ; W. A. Wilkin son, Esq. ; P. A. Taylor, Esq. ; Norman Wilkinson, Esq. ; ])r. Stoner • William Leaver, Esq. ; Colonel Gardner ; Dr. LAI) ; George Stephenson, Esq. ; A. Stone, Esq. ; IL Fowler, Esq. ; Henry Staples Foster, Esq., Cambridge ; J. Phillips. Esq ; Henry Lloyd Morgan, Esq. ; Rev. S. Luke ; J. A. St. John, Esq. ; Boyle St. John, Esq ; Wm. Mortimer, Esq. ; Wm. Pollard, Esq., Hertford ; B. M. Roberts, Esq. ; J. Per ratt, Esq., Somerset ; J. Somers, Bridgewater ; J. Col vervvall, Somerset ; Alfred Levibond, Middlezoy, Bridge water ; Sir Wm. Baynes, Bart. ; T. M. Robinson, Esq.; J. M'Call, Esq., Manchester ; Hugo Reid, Esq. ; Hills, Esq., Stilton ; F. Scheer, Esq., Cherapanot, Estrinorburg, Siberia ; Ralph Ricardo, Esq. ; James Brotherton, Esq. ; John Moss, Esq., Derby ; P. Davy, Esq., Crediton ; H. L. Keeling, Esq. ; Sylvanus Par tridge, Esq. ; Robert Price, Esq. ; and Summers liar ford, Esq. At seven o'clock, the time appointed for commencing the business of the meeting, Mr. COBDEN came forward, amid tremendous cheering, and stated that Mr. Villiers had kindly consented, in the absence of their friend Mr. Wilson, to take the chair. — (Cheers.) C. P. VILLIERS, Esq., M.P., took the chair amid great cheering and some confusion, and cries of" Open the doors of the boxes," occasioned by the extremely crowded state of the house. When silence and order had in some measure been restored, he said— Ladies and Gentlemen, a person has been di rected to open the doors of the boxes, which some persons seem anxious should be done.—Xheers, and cries of " That's right.") Ladies and gentlemen, the only purpose for which I have to ask your attention for one moment is to explain the reason why I should oc cupy the chair this evening. It was only a few minutes before I entered this theatre this evening that I was in formed by my friends around me that the gentleman who has so frequently, and so efficiently, presided as chairman of these meetings, was seriously and suddenly indisposed ; and the gentleman who in timated that to me, stated that it would be convenient if I would supply the place of our friend Mr. Wilson for the evening. Ladies and gentlemen, when the re quest was made to me to preside over the meeting, I had some misgivings that it would be no easy duty to discharge, and I at first declined to discharge it ; but subsequently I assented to occupy the chair this evening, and I do so upon the principle which I—(Great noise and confusion, occasioned by the over-crowded state of the house, and the anxiety of parties to obtain admission.) Ladies and gentlemen, this confusion does not arise from any spirit of disrespect to the meeting or its object, but only from an over-zeal on the part of persons to obtain places where they can see and hear. Ladies and gentlemen, I knew it would be no easy task to preside on this occasion, and I really did assent to do so when the request was made to me for no other purpose than that which, for the last six or seven years, has always actuated me with respect to the Anti-Corn-law League—namely, to cordially co operate with them whenever my humble services could be made available.—(Great cheering.) I remember the difficulties that beset the repeal of the corn-laws before the establishment of the Anti-Corn-law League, and I have been always of opinion, that if some such powerful, intelligent body was not originated, there was not any prospect of success for the cause of the corn-law repealers—(Cheers)—and because I earnestly desire to see the repeal of the corn-laws, I have thought it my duty to place my feeble services when they were required, at the disposal of the Anti-Corn law League. —(Great cheering.) Notwithstanding the errors said to have been committed by some of the gentlemen composing the body of the Anti Corn-law League, I am of opinion now, that if our opponents should come to their senses, and consent to the abolition of the corn-laws be fore the people are maddened by starvation and want, it would be the measures that have been adopted by the Anti-Corn-law League that had brought about so glorious a consummation.—(Cheers.) One of the reasons for which I so sincerely regret the absence of our respected friend Mr. Wilson is, that I know it was his intention to detail to you the extraordinary exertions which have been made by our friends, and those who represented the League in the provinces, and which afford clear and indisputable proof of the extent to which conversion to our opinions and conviction of their truth has gone.—(Cheers.) I hope it is satisfactory to our friends to observe that, wherever they go, or their names are mentioned, their valuable services are duly appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.—(Great cheering.) Gentlemen, it would probably have been one part of the address of my friend Mr. Wilson to congratulate you, as I do myself, most cordially, upon the accession of strength we have lately received to our cause, in the conversion of some of the most eminent statesmen existing in this country to the principles and views propounded in this theatre by the Anti-Corn-law League.—(Loud cheering.) We do learn now that those persons who alone could be referred to by the Crown to form an Administration, have come to the conclusion that they would be no longer parties to withholding one of the most obvious rights of the people of this country —the plain right of feeding themselves.—(Cheers.) We have now the only men who can, in the present state of affairs, be called to the councils and the assistance of their Sove reign, recording their opinions in favour of free trade, and condemning the existence any longer of a duty on foreign corn.—(Cheers.) Lord John Russell, there can be no doubt— (Great cheering)—is a free trader, and in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws. He has, in a bold, manly, clear and intelligent way, made that manifest to the world.—(Great cheering.) You have all, no-doubt, read his recent address to the electors of the City of London, by which he has plainly shown what his opinions are, and leaving no doubt as to what his inten tions for the future are also.—(Cheers.) It was with no rurprise that I read that Noble Lord's address, be cause I cannot but recollect that in the last session he voted with the motion that I made for the repeal of the corn-laws ; and by the speeches that he made also during the last session he exhibited himself perfectly alive to all the injury and miscief that the corn-laws had produced—(Cheers)—and pre dicted that a time might arrive when they should be precluded from calmly considering the question of the repeal of the corn-laws, and that when scarcity came they would be obliged at once to act, and repeal those ob noxious laws. I did not therefore read this address with surprise when the emergency arrived.—(Cheers.) All believe that that emergency has arisen, and that, unless something be done, an that without delay, it is obvious the people of this country: will be put to considerable privations.—(Cheers.) Lord John Russell has come forward at a most opportune moment to declare that he will be no party to obstruct the procuring of food for the people.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, it has been asserted—it has not been contradicted— and it has received the strongest confirmation, by the resignation of Sir Robert Peel, that he has brought his great mind to the conclusion that the peo ple ought to feed themselves.—(Tremendous cheering.) How this conversion and conviction has been brought about is matter of indifference to us.—(Cheers.) It may have been the bad potatoes—(Laughter)—or the good arguments that have been used in favour of a repeal of the corn-laws.—(lncreased laughter.)—Be that as it may, the fact of such a conversion and conviction has been announced, and it is for the people to turn that circumstance to the best account.—(Cheers.) This seems to be the great difficulty: we have arrived at a crisis, and nobody knows what will be the result.— Now, I say, that ",if these public men are true to you, and you are true to yourselves, there can be no difficulty about it.—(Cheers.) If Lord John Russell is of opinion that the corn-laws ought to be abolished, and he has been summoned to the councils of his Sovereign and commissioned to form a Government, let him declare that ho will form it on the principle of abolishing the corn-laws.—(Great cheer ing.) If Sir Robert Peel has been properly represented — if he has really been convinced that the corn-laws ought to be abolished—then let him come forward and strenu ously and faithfully support Lord John Russell.—(ln creased cheering.) If we can be thoroughly con vinced that these two men, of these two parties, are really earnest and honest in this purpose, it becomes the duty, as it is the interest, of this great and powertul and intellectual association—the Anti-Corn-law League, to devote their energies in support of Lord John Russell and Sir R. Peel.—(Great cheering.) Now Ido believe, if we can found the common ground of the total abolition of the corn-laws for each of these parties to stand upon, the month of February will not pass over before we shall relieve the statute-book of one of the foulest blots that ever stained it.—(Great cheering.) If I might be allowed to offer one single syllable of advice, it would be, let the people depend upon themselves, for of this I am assured, that if the people of this country depend upon anything —upon any person or persons — with more confidence and reliance than upon themselves, they run the greatest risk of being deceived and disap pointed.—(Cheers.) The time has now arrived, the pre sent is the moment.—(Cheers.) We have got these great parties in such a state of confusion—we have got these public men in such a fix—(Great laughter)—that if we only do justice b ourselves in this cause, nothing will prevent our succeeding.—(Cheers.) This is the moment When every person—when all men are required to make COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.--The Queen and Prince Albert took their early morning walk in the vicinity of the Castle pleasure-grounds. The Royal Family went out for their usual riding and walking exercise before th• rain came on this morning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert took equestrian exercise in the riding-school this forenoon, attended by Major-General Sir Edward Bowater. The unfavourable state of the weather has prevented her Majesty and the Royal Family from taking their afternoon airings. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty this afternoon. Lady Fanny Howard and the Baroness de Speth were in attendance on the Royal Duchess, _ _ There was no addition to the royal dinner circle at ;he Castle this evening. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester house, The Marquis of Lansdowne had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday evening, at his residence in Chesham-place. The Right Hon. Edward Ellice and the Right Hon. E. T. Baring had also interviews with his Lordship yesterday. Lord John Russell dined with Mr. Russell on Tuesday evening, at his residence in Belgrave-square. The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, the Earl of Lincoln, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. The Edelesisstieal Commissioners for England had a meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office in Whitehall place. There were present the Archbishop of Canter bury, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Ely, the Bishop of Llandair, the Bishop of Rochester, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, the Judge of the Prerogative Court, and the Right Hon. Sir George Grey. Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Dispatches from the Governor-General of Canada, and also from the Governors of the other North American Provinces, were received yesterday at the Colonial office. Dispatches were also received yesterday from the Governor of Gibraltar. Sir Charles and Lady Mary Fitzroy and Mr. George Fitzroy left Farrance's Hotel, Belgrave-street, yester day, for the Duke of Grafton's seat, Wakefield Lodge. THE LATE MINISTRY.—Sir Robert Peel bad a meeting of certain members of the late Administration, yes terday morning, at his residence in Whitehall-gardens. The meeting took place at the early hour of ten o'clock, and among those present -were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Lincoln, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and the Right Hon. Sydney Herbert. The meeting se parated at half-past eleven o'clock. Lord Stanley is expected in town this afternoon from Burghley House, the seat of the Marquis of Exeter. The Earl of Aberdeen leaves London to morroiv fOr Brighton. Lord Wharnchffe is very much indisposed at his residence in Curzon-street. Lord Granville Somerset has left town. His Lordship has not 'attended to his official duties since the members of the Cabinet - tendered their resignation. STRO-EGYPTIAN SOCIETY.—.A. very numerous meeting was held on Tuesday evening, Dr. John Lee, F.R.5.," President, in the chair, when a paper was read bY.Mr". John son on different types of the Mongolian race, particularly - illustrated by remarks on the analogy of the BiLllsmen of South Africa with the Gongas of Abyssinia. There were exhibited two interesting juvenile specimens of the former race, which, on account of the unremitting hostility prac tised against them by the Kaffirs and Hottentots, and by the whites prior to the occupation of the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies by the English, are fast becoming extinct. The parents of the two children were killed by a Kaffir tribe, by whom they were sold to a Dutch Boer for a gun. An in teresting conversation followed, in which it was satisfactorily proved that they formed an important connecting link in the scale of an universality of the origin as well as the religion of the human race. FREE-TRADE MOVEMENT .—We are glad to find that active committees have been formed in Bath and Bristol since the recent free-trade meetings in those cities, for the purpose of promoting the enfranchisement of free-traders in East Somerset, West Gloucester, and North Wilts—a pro-. ceeding at all times constitutional, and more than ever ne cessary at the present crisis. A forty-shilling freehold may, by means of these committees, be so easily obtained, that we hoe to hear of many hundred applications, and that the conveyances hare been duly made before the 80th of January next. every effort and sacrifice, in order to convey to men who are in power the natnistakeable determination of the people no longer to put up with a tax on their food. Gentlemen, I had no intention of presiding at this meet ing ; I was not advertised to do so, and I will not stand. for a moment in the way of other members who are more eloquent than myself, anel who are anxious to ad dress you. I beg at once to cal,' upon Richard Cobden. Mr. Cobden then came forward, amid reiterated cheering, and attempted to speak, Wit for several minutes he was totally inaudible. He attempted oft and again to address the meeting, but every new attempt was drowned in acclamation. Silence being somewhat re stored, Mr. COBDEN spoke as follows :—I think some of the protection societies would be glad to have our overflow to-night.--(Cheers.) If this agitation continue we shall have to build an edifice as large as St. Paul's to hold the Leaguers.—(Enthusiastic cheering and laughter.) I be lieve to-day we have had applications for 30,000 tickets of admission. There are many thousands around this building who cannot be accommodated, and there are a great many more inside than can be comfortable.—(Load cheers.) But I have full confidence in the disposition of all good Leaguers to ac commodate each other, and I must say, that I have seen in front of me every disposition to be quiet ; but it seems to-night, as I have observed it generally in my great ex perience of public meetings, that if there be any disorder, it is always amongst the aristocracy on the platform. I think this meeting is a sufficient proof of the circum stances under which we meet to-night. The manner in which we are gathered together; the excited feeling which animates all present, indicate something peculiar in the present phase of our movement. I do not know how it in but if I see others excited and inclined to throw up tine: , hats, it makes me look grave and serious, because always think there is most danger when the people are least on their guard in this wicked a orld.—(Cheers.) Doubtless we have brought ow' cause to a new position. We have got it in the hands of tiee politicians ; the ins and the outs are quarrelling over it ; but I am anxious to impress upon you end upon our friends throughout the kingdom (foe' what we say here is read by hundreds and thousands elsewhere) that it is not our business to form Cabinets—k 7 choose individuals who shall carry out our principles. We are not to trust to others to do cur work. Wie are not to feel confident that the work will be done until ii: is done, and I shall not consider that it is done until I see the Act wet from the printer's containing the tat' 1 abolition of the corn-laws.—(Loud cheers.) Now e have always expected that in the course of this agita tation we should knock one or two Governments on the head before we succeeded.—(Cheers.) The Government of 1841 can hardly be said to have been killed by the corn-law ; it took the corn-law as a last desperate • dose, in hopes to cure it of a long an.l egering die ease.—(Cheers.) But it proved fatal.—(Rernwed cheers and laughter.) I think, however, that we may say that the lest Government has died of the corn.la'v, and our business must be to try and make the fete of the last. Government a warning to the next.—(Cheers.) We certainly do not yet exactly know why Sir Robert Peet ran away from his corn-law. We have had no explana tion. I thought when I came from the country that I might get a little behind the scenes, end learn something about it. But lam as much in the dark now as when. I was in Lancashire.—(Loud cheers.) I can't learn why Sir Robert Peel " bolted."—(Great laughter.) It was his own law. Ile passed it in. 1842, after considerable deliberation. It was not asked by the people, for I know that some two or three millions petitioned against it. It was his own handiwork,. in defiance of the people ; and now, in 1845, with the same Parliament to back him, he suddenly runs away, and leaves his sliding-scale as a legacy to his successors. —(Cheers.) Now, if he had carried his corn-law with. him—(Cheers) —if he had only carried off his sliding scale to Tamworth—l do not think we should have made many inquiries about him ; but he has left his law, sed no one knows how he is going to deal with it in future. When we meet in Parliament, which may be early next month—at all events I should say the sooner the better—(Cheers) —the first thing for which I shall look with great interest will be the reason of this sudden dissolution of the Cabinet. I shall await Sir Robert Peel's explanation with great interest. He, doubtless, will be able to tell us whether the facts collected by his Commissioners in Ireland and. in England were of a nature to impress him with the idea that we were verging on a probable famine in one country, if not in both? If that be the case, I suppose he will tell us that he at least was ready to subvert his own handiwork, the sliding scale. Well, that being the case, I presume he will then assist us to do what he could not himself accomplish with his refractory Cabinet.—(Cheers.) I expect—l don't know whether I am rash in expecting so much—but I do anticipate that straightforward course from him.—(Great cheering.) There are people who tell us that this corn-law must not be suspended suddenly, that it must not be dealt with rashly and precipitately ; but that if we are to have a repeal of the corn-laws it must be done gradually. Well, that might have been in the eyes of some a very states man-like way of doing the business six or seven years ago. Some would have thought last year, when wheat. was 40s. a quarter, that if a law had been passed then providing for the extinction of the corn-laws in two or three years, that would have been no very bad measure ; but who would propose now to pass a law im posing a fixed duty on corn, next spring to take off 3s. or 45., the next spring to reduce it still further, and so on, till none was left?—(Loud cheers.) That won't suit the exigencies of the present moment—(Cheers.) Our wise Legislature would not deal wi!la the question when they might have done so with advan tage to their own policy. We were pressing on the Government to deal with the corn- I;wslast - year, and the year before, when wheat was 475. per quarter ; but we were told then that we were rash men—that the corn-law had not had le fair trial—that we must wait to see how it worked. Now they do see how it has worked.—(Cheers.) But there is no time for temporising now. Nature has stepped in. Providence has stepped in—has inflicted a famine on the land, and has set at nought all the con trivances, the delays, and the modifications of States.— (Great cheering.) There is now b u t one course t o pur sue. It i s no use asking us for a feather bed to drop the aristocracy on. We might if we had one to offer them, but they can have no feather bed now.—(Cheers and laughter.) They must have a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws; not because the League demand it—not out of any deference to the Shibboleth of a club like ours; no, we don't wish to inflict any unnecessary humiliation on the landowners ; but they have put off this good work so long that nature has stepped in, and now they must bow to the law oi nature without de lay.—(Great cheering.) Well, we meet Parliament next session with, I take it for granted, ant one propo sition before us, and that is the immediate abolition of the corn-laws.—(Applause.) No Minister can take office without proposing that measure. Whether Sir Robert Peel or Lord John Russell, I defy them to take office without coming to the House of Commons' and in the Queen's speech proposing that measure.— (Loud and continued cheering.) No one would exult over them. It is not our doing after all. We have merely prepared the public mind, in some degree, to take advantage of a great national calamity. But it is not so well prepared as if they had given us two or three years more. The potato crop has tripped up the heels of Sir Robert Peel; but it has also stopped our registration agents. I should have liked another year or two to have qualified for the counties.—(Cheers.) We would then have shown the monopolist landowners that we can transfer power in this country from the hands of an exclusive class totally into the hands of middle and industrious classes.—(Loud cheering.) We shall go on with that movement, and I hope it will never stop.(Cheers.) But we shall have to deal with the crisis of the corn question next session.— (Hear.) The Queen's speech, within a month of this time, must recommend the abolition of the corn-law.— (Great applause.) I want to get into the House of Com mons again, to have some talk about this question. It is very different work there, I assure you, to talking in these meetings every day, where there are no opponents. I don't know how it is, but I have that quality of com bativeness, as the phrenologists call it, so inherent in me, that unless I meet some opposition I am as dull as ditch water.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) Now, there is no man to be found at large, out of the House of Commons, to say one word in defence of the corn-laws. I am anxious, therefore, to meet these protectionists in the House of Commons. Yet I don't know—it will be an odd scene when we assemble next session—for we shall not know where to sit.--(Great laughter.) There will be such a gathering in the lobbies —one saying to the other, " Which side are you going to sit on ?" Then, the greatest subject of interest will be, to see where Sir Robert Peel is to sit.—(Laughter.) I should not wonder if we should have to find him a chair, and put him in the middle of the floor.—(Renewed laughter, and cheers.) Now, I shall be somewhat inte rested to hear the arguments that will be used by the protectionists in defence of this corn-law. Recollect, the debate will come on with respect to the present exigencies of the moment. The corn-law must be suspended instantly. If Lord John Russell take office—he will be a bold man if he does—but if he does, I suppose he will either suspcid the law th e next day by an Order in Coun cil, or will call us together, and submit his proposition to suspend that corn-law at once—(Gnat cheering) —or, if he does not do that, he won't hold office a week.—(Cheers.) Th en the debai will turn on the necessity of suspending this corn-law,, a nd we shall have gentlemengetting up f r o m Dorset shire and Essex protesting that ther e i s g reat abun dance? of everything in the country, that there is no• scarcity at all, no potato ro t, an d a f u ll average quantity of wheat. Then I should not wonder it we should have some very novel receipts for feeding the people.— (Loud cheers and laughter.) Dr. Buckland has lately been publishing a paper, which he road before the Ashmolean Society at Oxford, and he has shown, you know, that people can live very well on peas—that they get on tolerably well with beans, and if there is nothing else, they can live pretty well on mangel wurzel.—(Great laughter.) And he gives an instance, you know, of one good lady who lived, I don't know how many days, by sucking the starch out of her white pocket handkerchiel.—(RenTed laughter.) hlangel Wurzel, starch, and beans, mixed with a little curry powder, I should think, would make a rich treat for starving people.—(lndignant laughter.) Well, we shall have divisions as well as debates, and I should like to see the names of those good men in the House of Commons who will vote against opening the ports—that is, of those men who will declare that we shan't be treated as well as Rus sians, Turks, Poles, and Dutchmen.—(Cheers.) If they out-vote us on that proposition we shall have a general election, and I should like to see some of those curry powder candidates that will go down. I would advise you to get some curry powder ready; a little hot water with a pinch of curry powder stirred up makes a man very comfortable to go t o b e d with! —(L au ghter.) Try it on some of the protection can didates.—(Great laughter.) But really this is no laughing matter alter 1111 ' Al my friend Air, Villiers