The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-05 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN STEAM-SHIP COMPANY. SPECIAL MEETING. (From the Bristol Mirror.) A special general meeting of this Company was held on Tuesday last at the office in Princes-street. There was a large number of the proprietors present, trie questions for consideration being of vital im portance to their interests. Henry Bush, Esq., having been called to the chair, the notice for convening the meeting was read, which was followed by a lengthened report from the di rectors, in which the necessity of raising additional capital, by the creation of new shares, was fully and Clearly- explained. The sum required was stated to be 50,0001, which was proposed to be raised by the crea tion of 1,784 new shares of 301. each, being the same number as the original shares. The following are the terms on which the new shares were to be issued, as detailed in the report : " 1. That out of the net proceeds of the undertaking, after paying and providing for the cost of management and repairs, and other expenses incident to the conduct of the business of the Company, a dividend of 5/. per cent. per annum shall be paid half-yearly upon all moneys paid in respect of such 301. shares, previously to any moneys being set apart for the reserved fund, and the payment of dividend upon the existing 1001. shares. " 2. That after the payment of such dividend on the 301. shares, the surplus moneys of the Company, ap plicable to the payment of the dividend shall be appro priated to or towards the payment of 51. per cent. upon the existing 100/. shares ; and if after the last-men tioned payment any surplus shall remain, the same shall be divided among the proprietors of both old and new shares in proportion to the amount of capital paid up on each. " 3. That if in any one year there shall not be suffi cient to pay the full dividend of 51. per cent. upon the capital for the time being paid up in respect of new shares, the net proceeds (as before-mentioned) of any future year shall be applied to make good such deficiency before any portion thereof is applied to any other purpose. _ _ _ "4. That on the sale of any portion of the Company's property, the proceeds of which shall, under the deed of settlement, be applicable to the repayment of capital, the capital paid up in respect of the 30/. shares, shall, at the option of the proprietors of such shares, be first dis charged thereout. " 5. That the proprietors of the existing shares shall have the preference of taking such new shares, and if the whole be not taken by them, the directors to have the power of disposing of the remainder. " 6. That the first call upon such new shares shall not exceed DA per share, and no subsequent call to exceed 5/. per share, and that there shall be an interval of three months at least between any two calls. " 7. That interest at the rate of 51. per cent. be paid upon ell moneys advanced in anticipation of calls." The report of the directors then went on to state that it having been urged at all the meetings of the Company for the last three years, in the strongest manner, that measures should be adopted for dispos ing of the Great Western and the works, not only with the view of providing the requisite funds for completing the Great Britain, but as a step pre paratory to the disposal of that ship when completed, and the final dissolution of the Company, the directors had made, from time to time, every effort to meet the wishes of the proprietors. Repeated attempts had been made to sell both the Great Western and the works by private contract, and ultimately by public auction ' • but all had been alike unsu c ce ss f u l. No offer had been made to purchase the works at any price, and there had been only two bona fide negotia sions for the purchase of the Great Western. The first negotiation terminated abruptly; the other was with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, to whom it was agreed to sell the vessel, provided the Govern ment surveyors should approve of her as a fit and proper vessel for the Royal Mail service. Some time was occupied in her examination by these officers ; the result of which was most satisfactory, proving as it did that the ship and machinery were in the best condition. The Government engineer not being satisfied as to the sufficiency of steam for the Royal Mail service, alterations were made for the purpose of meeting his views, and the Peninsular and Oriental Company were requested again to send him down. After waiting his arrival ten days, during which time the ship was kept at Kingroad,: manned and ready for sea, the last post-day for writing to the United States previously to her sailing having arrived, the directors had no alternative hut to decide at once upon placing her upon her old station. The Peninsular and Oriental Company then applied for and obtained an injunction to prevent her sailing as advertised. This, however, on the case being argued before the Vice-Chancellor, was dissolved, and, subsequently, the bill filed by the Peninsular and Oriental Company for a specific per formance of the contract had been dismissed, and the contract rescinded. This result the directors could not regret ; the price at which, under the pressure from their proprietors, they felt bound to agree to sell the vessel—namely, 32,0001.—wa5, in their opi nion, far below her value. The report then went on to explain that these proceedings had operated preju dicially to the interests of the proprietors, both from the loss of traffic occasioned, and from having given rise to reports which had caused a serious diminution in the earnings of the Great Western. The directors had during the past year devoted themselves most ear nestly to the consideration of every measure which ap peared calculated to meet the expressed wishes of the proprietors. With that view they had attentively considered the question of separating the interests of the proprietors in the manufacturing and in the mer cantile departments, and especially the very valuable suggestions of Mr. Charles Bowles Fripp on that point. They had, however, most reluctantly been obliged to come to the conclusion, that however de sirable such plans might be, the difficulties which ne cessarily attended them were of such a nature as to pre sent insuperable obstacles to their being carried into ef fect. They were, therefore, compelled, for the present at least, to abandon the idea of providing for the more profitable use of the works by any measure of that description ; nor were they prepared to suggest any , other plan, it being their opinion that it would be more for the interest of the proprietors to defer the consideration of their disposition for the present. The superiority of iron steam vessels of the largest class was now so clearly established, and the convenience for building and repairing both vessels and machinery at the Company's works so great, that the directors could rot doubt that ere long an opportunity would occur either for selling or letting the works, without that sacrifice which must necessarily attend a forced or hasty attempt to dispose of them. At the com mencement of the present year they were not pre pared to advance such an opinion with the confidence they now entertained; circumstances, however, had since occurred, which, in reference to the value of the works and the prospect of an advantageous disposal of them, the directors deemed of the la.t importance. They alluded to the determina tion of the Dock Company to widen the entrance locks into the port, which, when effected, would afford to Bristol the means of taking advantage of the undoubted facilities it possesses in all other respects for manufacturing and repairing iron steam-vessels, and from which it was at present debarred solely by the narrow dimensions of the locks. It was needless to remind the proprietors that at present there were no works in the kingdom, save those belonging to the Government and that ompany, in which the largest class of steam-vessels could be docked and equipped. Under those circumstances the directors thought that the most prudent course would be to defer the question of the disposal for the works for the present. After adverting to some minor matters, the report proceeded to state that the completion of the hull and machinery of the Great Britain was accomplished, that she would pass through the outer lock in the course of next month, and should the proprietors adopt the proposition for the consideration of which they were met, she would be ready to sail on her first voyage to New York in the spring of next year. The report then went on to allude to that proposition and to enforce it on the proprietors, and then stated that the object of the directors was not to secure the :iermanent prosecution. of the undertaking, but to a•ovide for the discharge of the liabilities of the Corn , any, in such a manner as to prevent the property of the resent proprietors from being "absolutely sacrificed, and, at the same time, afford the opportunity of at least attempting, now that the time for so doing had arrived, to realise those expectations of success which induced the proprietors to embark in the undertaking; and they did not hesitate to express their firm convic tion, that if such an opportunity was afforded, the re - ult would be (if not a realisation of the expectations of the most sanguine) such a one at least as would be satisfactory to the proprietors in restoring their pro perty to its legitimate value. The report concluded by showing what had been the yearly nett earnings of the Great Western, and then gave an estimate of her future probable returns, which were calculated at 8,2481. The net proceeds of the Great Britain, taken on the same basis, would probably amount to 22,4651. per annum ; those sums would amount together to 30,7131., which, i: was obvious, would not only give a fair return to the proprietors, but provide a reserve ample for every contingency, and for the ultimate re demption of the capital of the Company within a very limited period. 2 , ltich conversation ensued upon the fourth and fifth clauses of the report; to the latter was added, " upon the same conditions, but not at a lower price." It was also arranged that the operations of the Company should be restricted solely to the working of the Great Western and Great Britain steamers, and to the ne cessary repairs of these ships and the Company's works until otherwise determined by the proprietors. The report was then unanimously adopted. vote of thanks was given to, the Directors, for the ponsu,:lity they had taken upon themselves in the res alteration of tn . : 'lock, to allow of the entrance of the Great Britain into t,h v bas,_in• A vote of thanks was given t o th e Chairman, I; for the able manner in which he tad conducted the proceedings. TIE SUN, LONI3ON, TIITTRSDAY EVENING, DECEMIIER 5, 1844, TURN-OUT of the LANCASHIRE and CAESHIRE COAL-31INERS. WIGAN, TUESDAY MORNING —Very gr t excite ment prevails at present amongst the col trs of this part of the country. Meetings are holding very week, in various parts of the district, at whic resolutions are always adopted unanimously, to the effect that their labour is not sufficiently rewar ed, and that it is desirable to join the union, and collect funds to enable them to stand a strike in the event of its being necessary. Mr. IV. P. Roberts, solicitor, from New port, commonly called the " Miners' Attorney-Gene ral," has taken offices in Manchester, with a view, it is said, of being on the spot to give such legal advice as may seem necessary. Delegate meetings have also been held in, various places, but their proceed ings, as far as the press is concerned, are kept private. Matters now seern to be fast arriving at a climax. On Saturday last the workmen in every pit in Lan cashire and Cheshire, except the St. Ilelen's district, sent in to their masters a written application demand ing an advance of twopence upon each shilling they now earn. Should their demand be refused the result will, of course, be a general strike. Yes terday several meetings were held, and, as far as it was possible to ascertain, there was not a coal-mine at work in the whole district. Two of the most im portant of these meetings were those held at a place called Bardsley, between Oldham and Ashton, and the other in the village of Lamberton-green, about two miles from this place. At Lamberton-green a delegate meeting was also held, at which delegates were present from every coal-pit in the two counties, except those in the neighbourhood of St. Helen's, The public meeting at Lamberton-green was at tended by about 3,000 persons. George Ramsey, of Marsden, near Colne, was called on to preside. • The Chairman, Charles Parkinson, from Durham, Benjamin Emberton, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and James Price, one of the secretaries to the delegate meeting, spoke at some length, and urged the necessity of a firm and determined union among themselves, in order to carry out their object effectually. Mr. W. P. ROBERTS, solicitor, was next called upon by the Chairman. He said he was there that day to offer his advice and counsel to the men who were engaged in that most mighty movement. He was there for the purpose of encouraging them to persevere in their good cause. Their motto was " Peace, law, and order." They sought to accomplish nothing by means of physical force. They utterly repudiated that doctrine, and sought only to obtain their object by legal and con stitutional means. The proceeding lasted upwards of two hours and a half. At the close of the business the chairman again urged them to stand firm, after which they separated. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. GLOBE.—We have frequently had occasion to expose the impolicy of high duties on articles of general consumption. The bounty they offer to the smuggler ; the temptation to embark in illicit trans actions which they present to the trader ; the injury they inflict on the fair dealer ; and the loss which they occasion to the revenue ; have been often alluded to, as combining to form an array of evidence against a course which is no less subversive of morality than it is mischievous to the commercial, trading, and fiscal interests of the country. In an article on this subject which appeared is our columns a few days since, we alluded to the great expense at which the several descriptions of force for the pre vention and detection of smuggling are kept up; and remarked that this large item of expense would be greatly diminished were the duties on such articles materially decreased. It is not, therefore, from the fact, that in the case of tobacco, and some other articles, the quantity smuggled into the country amounts to nearly a moiety of the entire quantity consumed, that the extent of loss to the revenue is to be calculated. A considerable proportion of the expense at which the de tective and preventive force is kept up, must be added to this positive loss. When these two items are added together, and the discouragement which such restric tive duties inflict on commerce are also taken into the account, who can suppress surprise that a system so fraught with folly should have found advocates ? A Parliamentary paper, issued on Saturday last, sup plies evidence on this branch of the subject which will enforce the necessity of revising the Import Du ties, with a view to their diminution. The folly of persisting in the " save-at-the-spigot-and-letting out-at-the-bung " policy, which has been adhered to with insane and cruel pertinacity, could scarcely be more forcibly demonstrated than by such returns as that before us. Towards the close of the last Ses sion, the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Hume, ordered " a return f the several establish ments maintained for the prevention of smuggling in the United Kingdom, in each of the years 1842 and 1843 ; the expenses of prosecutions by the Customs and Excise; the produce of seizures ; the rewards paid to officers, &c: STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian.) The near approach of the Christmas holidays, and the continued decline in the price of cotton at Liver pool, combine to diminish the activity of this market. The demand both for goods and yarn yesterday was limited ; and, in some few cases, slight reductions of price were submitted to. Generally, however, spinners and manufacturers are so bare of stock, that they show no inclination to relax in their demands. ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, DEC. 2.—There has been very little change in the piece market to-day. The demand still continues limited, and prices low. In the wool market the manufacturers purchase very sparingly, at last week's prices. THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON (From the Plymouth Times.) There are considerations to be entered upon in the construction of such ships as the Queen besides mere , sailing qualities, which we think have been too much insisted on at the expense of others, perhaps equally important—for example, stowage, ease of motion, capa bility of keeping the sea in heavy weather, cost, &c. Now the Caledonia and St. Vincent are admitted to be very superior ships in all these points of view ; they steer easily, are readily handled, they mount 120 guns on a measurement of only 2,600 tons, and their launch ing cost at the present time would not far exceed 75,0001. The Queen, on the contrary, does not steer well; she rolls much, and the motion is sharp and uneasy in bad weather. She mounts only 110 guns, on a measure ment of 3,000 tons, and her launching cost is 90,0001., making a difference of 15,0001. We have been informed, on very good authority, that this ship, the Queen, had no less than six men in the sick list, from the fatigue experienced at the wheel. Neither did there appear so much difference in the inclination of the two class of vessels as we might, from the great breadth of the Queen, have expected. In a strong wind the inclina tions of the ships were not very different ; the Caledonia inclined eight degrees, the Queen six degrees. In the course of these trials the Queen carried away two topgallant-masts, showing that every effort was made to bring out her sailing powers, but without effect; and it is quite clear that, as a line-of-battle ship intended for the efficient and solid services of the country. she is far inferior to the others, that is, so far as experience has hitherto gone. When we consider that the working sails of the Queen expose an area of 29,3511 square feet, whilst those of the St. Vincent or Caledonia have only 25,619 square feet, the superiority of the latter as adapted for sailing is quite apparent. We come now to examine the capabilities of the Al bion. It should be observed, that the Albion is, by measurement, one of the largest ships in the navy—she is no less than 3,100 tons. Her spread of canvass is enormous—the area of her working sails—viz., courses, topsails, topgallant sails, jib, and spanker, is upwards of 30,774 square feet, being mere than that of the Caledo nia or St. Vincent by at lea , t 5,000 square feet. The foremast of the Albion would make a mainmast for the St. Vincent. She has only two decks, and is very fine under water. Now to expect anything like an equality in sailing between such a ship as this and the St. Vin cent and Caledonia in moderate weather, encumbered, as these ships are, with an additional tier of guns, and 500 tons more load displacement, would be very unreasonable; accordingly,, the Albion, in the general weather in which the ships were tri e d, e v inced a superiority in point of sailing. When, however, the weather being stormy, the ships were brought und er re d uce d canvass , th en the com parative sailing of the Caledonia and St. Vincent became greatly improved ; ind ee d so muc h so th a t one morning off Cape St. Vincent, with a close reefed main-topsail, reefed foresail, and main-stay sail, the Caledonia gained not only upon the Albi on but the whole fleet. It is hence doubtful if in severe Albion, wea ther the Caledonia would not prove the faster ship. But whatever may be the merits of the Albion in respect of appearance, or sailing, certain it is she has been found to possess many very inconvenient and unsatisfactory qualities—like the Queen, she steers laboriously, espe cially before the wind ; and in a sea way rolls awfully. It is all very fine for persons ill disposed to enter into the solid merits of the case to say that the Albion and ships of her class are splendid ships—and noble ships— must sail fast—and such like indefinite forms of expres sion. But the real question is, are such ships calculated We for the hard services of the Briti sh navy? know, as a fact, from undoubted authority, that the celebrated Dupin, during his visit to England, said at Portsmouth, in the dockyard, " This form of vess el is certainly very handsome, but such ships will never answer the purposes of your country." That the Albion, in the compara tively smooth waters of an inland sea, with her fine bot tom and her enormous spread of sail, would in light winds win the cup, as a great yacht, is very possible, especially under the command of Captain Lockyer, whose thorough knowledge of every particular relating to the navigating and sailing of a ship is certainly equal to that of any one existing. Had Sir W. Symonds sifted the whole 1\ avy List he could not have found a better officer for his purpose. With respect to the beauty and grandeur of her appearance under sail, there is no deny ing that; but we put these questions to Admiral Bowles, or any of the gentlemen who were present :—When the Albion ran down to the Caledonia befuro the wind, on the 6th of November last, rolling so sharply and terribly as she did, with a difficult steerage, and with her lower deck ports barred in—was she at that time in any one sense, a match for either of the three-deckers ? Could she lave fought her lime; deck it 111.5 011Tellientli ? Could she have fought them at all ? Did she not roll lull 12 degrees when the three-deck ships scarcely moved? Now, it is easy to see here that the peculiar situation of the ships was such as to realise a palpable naval lost tion. We may suppose the Albion, in fact, to have been the headmost ship of a fleet in chase, running down upon an enemy, quite prepared, with all her ports open, to receive her. Now, in spite of all these facts, a writer in the Morning Post talks of the great superiority of the Queen and Albion over the other ships. This may do as a sort of fashionable announcement within the sound of Bow bells, but it will not do in the seaports, or amongst naval men generally ; we know better. Here is a ship of more than 3,000 tons—that is, 400 tons more than the St. Vincent, with an armament no greater than that of the Rodney or Nile, measuring only 2,600 tons. She is built at a launching cost of 80,0001., being 5,0001. more than the St. Vincent, and she is inferior to her in arma ment by nearly a whole tier of guns. Now, what can possibly be the use of such a ship as this ? Is she, for the purposes of the country, in any one sense superior to the Nile, the launching cost of which is nearly 20,0001. less ; the armament equal ; the capacity for stores for sailing trim greater = and the ports above the water nearly two feet higher? Has the naval department lost sight of its judgment altogether, in permitting for one instant the existence of such a state of things as this ? Indeed, so evident is the conclusion from the premises, that we feel confident, with all the defects in the sur veyor's department, such a ship as the Albion would never have been proposed had it not been intended to make her superior, or at least equivalent to a three- deck ship, by placing in her an armament of larger calibre ; in short, she was originally intended to carry sixty-eight pounders—that was really the secret of this imposing structure, and it was guessed that she would have carried her ports so high out of the water as to have been en abled to fight these guns, when a three-decker's lower ports were obliged to be shut. Now, by a miss in the guess work, either on the part of the surveyor of the navy, or, most probabry, of the professional adviser, it was found impossible to give the Albion any such an armament. By another mistake, the lower decks of this ship have so little height under the beams, that in order to mount the four or five 68-pounders which the ship carries, it was found absolutely necessary to cut down the cells of the ports. So much for building of ships by instinct, without any regard to the general principles of physical science. We have no hesitation in saying, that in the very na ture of things the form adopted by the surveyor, viz., that of a wedge with a protrusion at the water surface, which he calls " bearing," is most unfavourable to an easy motion, and it is ruinous in heavy weather. By the swelling of the body above water, the rolling tends to immerse a greater solid on one side than that raised up on the other ; but since, by the laws of hydrostatics, the weight of the whole ship is that of the water she displaces, be the position what it may, therefore this tendency to inequality in the opposite solids, alternately immersed and emersed as the ship rolls, must necessarily , produce a distressing rising and falling during the roll ing, which cannot but work everything in pieces at last. Let any one look at the report on the repairs of the Vernon, after being only two years at sea, and he will be,quite surprised at the refit. " Each end of the upper deck beams was found to have separated from the timbers in some cases seven-eighths of an inch." In the present case the oakum had worked out of the seams of the decks of the Albion, and she applied for 70 cwt. of junk on board the Caledonia for caulking. This is the second time since she left Plymouth, and we venture to predict that ere long dm ship will come home to refit, We should think that the results of these trials must come home with considerable force to the minds of the Admiralty, who hold in their hands the destinies of the ship-building department of the Government ; and we do hope it will lead to something like an improved board for the construction of our ships. We have no personal ill feeling of any kind toward the surveyor of the navy— no desire whatever to deprive the country of any advan tage to be derived from his talents ; but we do solemnly protest against our science and our reputation being muzzled and beat down in the way it has, merely to sus tain the fanciful views of an empirical party, who imagine there is a sort of royal road ,to learning in naval archi tecture. If the many-repeated failures in the department of the surveyor of the navy should not make that impression on the Admiralty which we anticipate, certain it is that sooner or later it will reach the understanding of the Prime Minister through the pulse of the Treasury. Was it wise, was it politic, was it consistent with any one principle in practical experimental philosophy, however empirical, to fill the building slips of our dockyards with a series of ships—such ships as the Queen, Albion, and i?ique—and before the qualities of any one of them had been fairly ascertained ? Of the Queen's class we have the Algiers, Victoria, Royal Sove reign, Royal Frederick ;—building cost, including the Queen, full 450,0001. Of the Albion's class we have Aboukir, Exmouth, Hannibal, and four others ; —building cost, including Albion, 500,0001. Of the fifth rates after the Pique, proved to have been at best an unsatisfactory ship, we have Active, Cambrian, Flora, Sybille, Constance ;—building cost, including the Pique, nearly 200,000/., and so on of many others. Here is at once more than a million of money laid out on the mere building—to say nothing of the outfit of the ships for sea, without any regard whatever to ascertained facts, and on no better ground than that of individual opinion, and a fancied new but indefinable light in the method of constructing ships for our navy. This new light at last turns out to be no light at all, but a mere ignis fatuus, which, having led its followers into all sorts of blunders, has vanished and left the Ad miralty in total darkness. Verily, experience is a dear school. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dec. 3. (Before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL.) WOODCROFT V. REYNER AND ANOTHER. This case, which is important to the manufacturing districts, and has occupied nearly three days, when divested of all the technicalities belonging to the process of weaving, is an exceedingly simple one. The action was brought for the infringement of the plaintiff's patent right in what is called a tappet, which is an instrument used in looms for determining the pattern of figured or fancy cloths. The tappet in use before the plaintiff's, and usually called Bowman's tappet, consisted of a number of solid circular plates with prominences, causing the requisite elevation or depression of the warp threads, and, when a new pat tern had to be made, it was requisite generally to pur chase new plates, or recast the old ones. The plaintiff conceived the idea of dividirig these plates into sec tions corresponding with each other, so as to be trans posable and form a new tappet plate, and thus to effect an almost infinite variety of patterns out of the same plates by merely transposing the sections, without breaking up the plates. The plaintiff al leged that the defendants had borrowed the idea of their tappet from the patent tappet, and that it was a mere mechanical equivalent. identical in principle. After the case had been fully investigated, the jury retired to consider their verdict, and, after they had been absent nearly two hours, a proposal was made on the part of the defendants, which ultimately resulted in a verdict being taken for the plaintiff, with 403. damages. The CHIEF JUSTICE at once gave his certificate that the merits of the case had been fully investigated. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Dec. 4. (Before Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD.) IN RE JAMES GIBBS. The Court was crowded during the morning by per sons anxious to hear the further revelations likely to be made in this extraordinary case, which it may be re membered by our readers, was, after the last examina tion, adjourned sine die. The present proceedings arose out of an order by the Chief Judge of the Court of Re view that the matter should be referred back to the Court of Bankruptcy for re-examination by the Hon. Commissioner. Mr. Edwin James appeared for the assignees and for a creditor named Thompson, Mr. Montagu Chambers 'attended for the bankrupt, and Mr. Bagley for Mrs. An drews, another of the creditors. Mr. EDWIN JAMES, having briefly recapitulated the leading facts which led to the adjournment of the bank rupt's examination, with fixing a day for his passing, and having read the order from the Court of Review, added that it would that day be the duty of the assignees to examine fully into the correctness of the bankrupt's accounts. He had indeed filed a sheet which was par ticularly intricate, and as he (Mr. James) was instructed, anything but saticfactory. The transactions therein stated extended over a period ranging from 1823 to 1843, the date of the fiat. The debts amounted to some 121,000/.; the liabilities to 80,0001. more, making, in all, about 200,0001. But there were some of the transac tions so singularly striking, so very extraordinary, that, on first sight, they might be deemed altogether impro bable. The bankrupt had been what is termed a scrivener; he raised money for parties upon annuities or otherwise ; hi?, transactions had been of a most extended character, and yet all the books pro duced by him to that Court were only two in number—a cash-book and a ledger. The ledger, how ever, was itself no voucher, but a mere echo of the cash book. Was the bare fact not a startling one, that a man supposed to carry on cash operations to an amount above a million of money, could do so with only one cash-book. lie asked if it were possible to do so? That cash-book was also grossly inaccurate in its details, ane. dated only from 1835, for some book which had existed before that period had been destroyed. They were not told why, but he (Mr. J ames ) could, perhaps, assign reason. At that time a bill h a d b een filed against the a bankrupt by Lord Glammis, and when called upon to produce the book it was discovered that it had been destroyed. That was certainly a remarkable coincidence if nothing more. lie (Mr. James) would now draw his llonour's attention to some of the feature s i n t h e case. The bankrupt's profits appeared to have been about 5,0001 a year, and yet, when he came to that Court, there was one sum of 90,0001 charged for discounts and commission. They had not had one voucher for even 5/. of that amount. Not one voucher from the man who had 5,000/. a year, and who yet charged 90,00Q1 in his sheet for discount and com mission. It was preposterous. But in th n at sum e of a b g e ais c t rea a s n d oth b e y 9 15 0 :0 0 0 0 0 0 1 /.. : large as ho it was, when he himself, and he only, was personall ; y lied ch h a a r d getd o liable for it. The Learned Counsel then entered into a detail of the bankrupt's transactions with Lord Kensington—transactions running over a term of years, and involving accounts upon bills and annuities—the considerable sums realised, with scarcely an ex ception, baying been appropriated by the bankrupt to his own purposes, The discount then upon the amount so appropriated by the bankrupt being 15,000/. 1 would, if lidded to t the 90 1 0001, paccouted for, make 105,0001. Titere were other transactions of a similar kind with Major-General Wyndham. The bankrupt, on the 11th November, 1842, a time when he was notoriously embarrassed, had written a letter to that gentleman, stating that he had an excellent opportunity of investing money to considerable advantage, and he persuaded General Wyndham to entrust him with bills to the amount of 18,000/. These he discounted for his own use at 40 or SO per cent., and he had now got, of course, to account for the money. He also got General Wyndham to ad vance him 10,000/., in two notes of 5,000/. each, under pretence of lending them to a mar. named Youde, at a large rate of interest ; but that amount also he retained in his own hand. Such was but a specimen of the manner in which his business was trans acted. His transactions in bills were very large indeed, but though he had a book of bills payable he had exhibited none of bills receivable. That there had been such a book was perfectly clear, for it would have been impossible to carry on such a business without it. The profits accruing from bills of costs amounted in one year to 23,000/., yet the drafts of those bills had been also destroyed. Mr. W. C. Wright, accountant for the assignees, was then called, and verified the statements advanced by the Learned Counsel. Mr. CHAMBERS said, that in obedience to the order of the Chief Judge in the Court of Review, the bankrupt had attended that day before the Hon. Commissioner to be examined touching the accuracy of his balance-sheet, and he (Mr. Chambers) protested against the unusual course adopted by Mr. James, of making, in fact, an ac countant, however talented or however respectable, usurp the functions of the Learned Commissioner, and adjudge the case by the evidence he advanced on the occasion. He submitted that the Learned Commissioner could only found his judgment upon the examination of the bank rupt himself, and not on the opinion advanced by the accountant. _ Mr. JAMES replied to the objection, which was ulti mately overruled by the Hon. Commissioner. The bankrupt was then placed in the witness-box, and examined by Mr. JAMES.—He had no vouchers for any part of the 90,000/. He never had a book of bills re ceivable. The date of bills due could be ascertained by the cash-book. The dates in that book were not always correct, but he could not explain why they should not be so. In some cases " l um pi ng sums " were set down to certain accounts, which might balance them exactly. He did not put them down, nor did he intend that they should be so balanced. His intention was to pay General Wyndham's bills when they became due. He had not done so. They were all dishonoured. After some further examination the matter was ad journed for' two months, in order that the bankrupt might furnish vouchers, where that could be done, or give the names of the parties to whom the amounts had been given, and the dates at which those payments were made. (Before Mr. Commissioner EVANS.) IN RE THE REV. DR. KENNY. The insolvent is the Rector of St. °lave's, Southwark, and this day came up upon application for his interim order. His schedule states debts and liabilities (the latter chiefly upon accommodation bills) at from 7,000/. to 10,0001.; but it was admitted that that statement was not to be entirely relied upon. Th e Rev. Doctor's living was set down at about 650/. a-year, of which he proposed to set aside 3501. a-year for the benefit of his creditors. The insolvent regretted much his present position, and was willing to give every information in his power. After some further discussion, the further hearing was adjourned to the 24th, the insolvent in the interim to furnish the required information. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT—Chelmsford, Dec. 4. The commission of gaol delivery for the county of Essex was opened on Tuesday evening, and this morning Mr. Justice Williams attended Divine ser vice, and immediately afterwards took his seat on the bench in the Court. The number of prisoners is not very great, but the charges are of the most serious description, including murder, arson, sending threaten ing letters, and indeed all the most grave offences known to the law. The Learned JUDGE, in his charge to the grand jury, said that with regard to a charge of murder against a man named John Young, it would be a material question for them to consider whether the cause of death was clearly made out, and whether it was established as the result of violence, or whether it might not have arisen from accident or natural causes. There was another charge of murder, against two persons named William Walton and Mary Charlotte Field Lorkin 7 • and there was this pecu liarity in the case, that whereas the parties were charged with the murder of an infant, of which the female had been delivered, nu trace of the body of the deceased had been discovered, and fur all that there appeared positively by evidence to the contrary, the infant might still be alive. It was a case certainly involving very grave suspicion, but the grand jury would consider whether, upon suspicion only, they ought to find a true bill, recollecting, as they would do, that if the accused were sent to trial upon imperfect evidence and were acquitted, that whatever evidence might afterwards be obtained would be of no avail, as the subject would be then closed for ever, and the guilty parties, if guilty they really were, would altogether escape. He also observed a case in the calender in which two pri soners, one a boy of thirteen, were charged with firing a stack, and it appeared by the depositions that the, younger prisoner had stated before the magis trates that he had put fire to a hedge to destroy a wasp's nest. If the grand jury believed that this was his original intention, and that he, in the first instance, had no intention to commit any mischief, although afterwards the fire might have spread and done the injury now complained of, in law the prisoner would not be liable to the charge now made against him. The grand jury then retired. THE CASE OF 11IISS RICHARDSON. It will be recollected that a young lady, named Ellen Richardson, the daughter of a gentleman residing at Brentwood, was committed for trial a short time back upon the charge of stealing a quan tity of silk, the property of a tradesman at Brent wood. The case was to have been disposed of at the quarter sessions, but an application was then made on behalf of the accused to allow the case to stand over until the assizes, on the ground that the young lady was too ill to take her trial. The magistrates granted the application, and the charge, which has created very great interest in the county, on account of the respectability of the accused and her friends, accord ingly stood over until the present gaol delivery. Mr. Ronwnts. now applied to the Court for a fur ther postponement, and he produced the certificate of a medical gentleman, stating that it would he of im minent danger to the health of the accused if she were to attend and take her trial at these assizes. Mr. Justice Wriaaasis said he could not attend to a surgeon's certificate. There must be a proper affi davit. Mr. RoDWELL said an affidavit should be prepared in the course of the assizes. The trial could not come on on that day, because Miss Richardson was at large under recognisances, and she was unable to attend. Mr. RYLAND said his witnesses attended at very great inconvenience. He thought that his Learned Friend ought to state when he would produce the affidavit, and not keep them waiting there all the assizes. Mr. Justice WILLIAMS said he would not take the case that day. Mr. RYLAND said there were some peculiar circum stances in the case—the parties came from Brent wood, and— Mr. Justice WILLIAMS said he knew nothing of the circumstances of the case, or whether they were peculiar et- not. He had never heard the name of the accused. before, and he never wished to hear it again. All he would say was that the trial should not come on that day, and any application respecting the case must be made upon affidavit. Joseph Gladwell, 44, Joseph Gladwell, 20, and Chenery Ciladwelt, 18, were indicted for feloniously stealing a cabin-door, a quantity of rope, and planks, and other articles, the property of Thomas Carey. In another count the prisoners were charged with the offence of stealing property from a vessel that had been wrecked. Mr. Rodwell prosecuted, and Mr. Ryland de fended the prisoners. It appeared from the evidence, that on the 9th of October a vessel called the Hazard was moored off Great Clacton, on the Essex coast, and while she was lying there a storm arose, which drove her from her moorings, and she went on shore and broke up, and became a complete wreck, her timbers and other ma terials being washed upon the beach. One of the Ensex constabulary was set to watch the wreck, and, about three o'clock the following morning, he saw the three prisoners come with a horse and cart, which they proceeded to load with timber, rope, and other articles washed from the wreck, and on their being asked what they were about by the officer, they told him they were only taking "shore wood," and they considered they were entitled to it. Mr. RYLAND, in his address to the jury, said he could not attempt to defend the proceeding of the prisoners, or to contend that they had not been guilty of larceny. His Lordship had, however, intimated his opinion that the more serious charge of stealing from the wreck had not been made out, and there fore the only question for the jury was, whether the prisoners were guilty of the- minor charge. Th ey were aware that is =my parts of the country, i d. though happily -not in Essex, there was a very gene ral opinion among persons of the lower orders that, when a vessel was unhappily wrecked, her materials id, d became the property o f any person who was a bl e to possess himself of th em . The prisoners were probably impressed with that o pi n ion, and did not b e li eve they were committing a felony in acting as they al though In law they undoubtedly were so. Mr. Justice WILLIAMS, In summing up, said there was no doubt that such an opinion as that alluded to by the Learned Counsel did prevail in some parts of the country, and he must state his impression that it inflicted no small disgrace upon it. To suppose that a vessel which had been suffering, and perhaps de stroyed, by the tempest, was afterwards to become the F rei otpersorts urin *law; wso sal* illiaChleyclUi and illegal doctrine, and one that it was high time to put an end to. —The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. Justice WILLIAMS then sentenced the elder prisoner to be kept to hard labour for four calendar months, and the younger prisoners were sentenced to two months' of the same punishment. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--York, Dec. 3. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.) Edward Wright was charged with feloniously stealing a bay gelding, the property of William and Robert Shaw. Mr. Bliss conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner. The case as stated by Mr. Bliss, and as corroborated by Thomas Shaw, was very clear and simple, exhibiting the very great gullibility yet to be met with occasionally, even in Yorkshire. Thomas, or, as he called himself, " Tummus Shaw," was the son of Willy Shaw, and the brother of Robert Shaw, farmers and millers, of Liver ton, a small parish in the North Riding. Willy and Robert had a bay gelding, which they were desirous to dispose of, and of all persons in the world Thomas was fixed upon as the most fitting to take the gelding to market, to treat with horse-dealers, and to make an ad vantageous bargain. Thomas, accordingly, set off to Yarm fair, and having arrived the night before, that his horse might be fresh and sprightly, in the morning he walked him up and down, and showed him off to the best advantage. In the market. place of Yarm Thomas met the prisoner riding a grey mare. The prisoner asked the poor wight what he would take for his gelding,andThomas, anxious to make a good bargain, demanded 171. The prisoner replied, that if he could sell his grey mare lie wouldn't mind purchasing the bay gelding. At this moment up came a third person, whom Thomas, with much sim plicity, designated as " a stranger," and he offered the prisoner 16/ for his grey mare. The prisoner said, " Na, he wudn't tak less than eighteen pun for t'mare." On that the stranger called Thomas on one side, and said, "If you can get me the grey mare for 161., I'll give thee 10s. for 'tself." Thomas promised to try his powers of persuasion with the prisoner, and " the stranger" went away. Thomas commenced bargaining with the prisoner on behalf of " the stranger," but he was stopped short in his dealings by the prisoner saying that he had overheard what " yon man" had said, and if Thomas would give him (the prisoner) the 10s. he should have the grey mare. Shaw agreed to this, and handed over 10s. to the prisoner. Shaw and the pri soner then changed their saddles, and Shaw rode the grey mare to a public-house, where the prisoner had told him that he would find " the stranger," leaving his gelding with the prisoner. On reaching the public house, however, Thomas discovered that he had been done, tor " the stranger" was not forthcoming. He re turned to look for the prisoner, but alas ! he too and the gelding had alike vanished; so there was Thomas minus 10s., and enjoying full possession of an old lame grey mare in the place of his neat little gelding. Thomas then informed the police, and the prisoner was soon after apprehended. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sen tenced to be transported beyond the seas for the term of ten years. Henry Hargreaves was charged with having, on the Ist of October last, at the parish of Mirfield, in the West Riding, burglariously broken and entered the dwelling. house of Ann Sharp, and feloniously stolen therein five pieces of Irish linen, 100 pairs of black worsted stock - ings, 50 pairs of men's worsted stockings, four pieces of stuff, 100 cotton handkerchiefs, six ends of muslin, and four pairs of men's shoes, the property o f A nn Sharp. He was also further charged with having, on the Bth of October, at Kirkheaton, in the West Riding, burgla riously and feloniously broken and entered the dwelling house of Joseph Wild, and stolen therein Islb. of tea, his property. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summed up at considerable length, explained to the jury that the evidence of dis honest witnesses was not to be credited further than it went in corroboration of, or was corroborated by the evidence of others. The jury foundthe prisoner Guilty. A former conviction for burglary was put in, and the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for life. In a subsequent case which occurred, where three women were charged with stealing is. 6d. from the per son of an old man named Lee, Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoners. The Learned COUNSEL commenced his address to the jury by observing, that something had been said to them the other night about the respectability of the police, and they were asked whether it was likely respectable men would enter the police, when Mr. Justice COLERIDGE (interrupting) said, I cannot conceal from myself, Mr. Wilkins, that you are referring to me, and I cannot allow you to make observations offensive to the Bench. Mr. Wit.xiNs—l had no desire to be offensive, my Lord. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—If you must remark upon what occurred, do it—and you know well how to do it, if you choose—in a less offensive manner. Mr. WILKINS—I had no desire to be offensive. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—I will not have a reply made on the judge's address to the jury. I care as little for observations made with regard to myself personally, I hope, as any man can do; but I have the highest respect for the office of judge, and I will not allow gentlemen of the bar to make such observations. Mr. Wxuarts —Well then, gentlemen, I will not com ment on what the Bench has said, though I am often made to put up with observations when I can't reply, and so are many of my brethren. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—To be sure you are, Mr. Wilkins ; and whilst you are at the bar, and I am on the bench, you must put up with it. Any comments that you may please to make must be made in a re spectful manner. Mr. WILKINS then proceeded in his address to the jury, and laid it down as a general rule, based upon his own experience, that policemen were prone to exagge rate against the prisoner. The Learned Gentleman made an eloquent appeal in behalf of the unfortunate women at the bar. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE having summed up, the jury consulted for a short time, and returned a verdict of Guilty against two of the prisoners, and of Acquittal Ms regarded the third. Previous conYietions for felony were put in, and the prisoners were each sentenced to ten years' transportation. WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, Dec. 4. William Jones, servant and Henry Jones, were indicted for stealing a quantity of candles from the store of Geo. Clark, at Lymington, on the 9th of November. The prisoners were found Guilty. William Jones was sentenced to fourteen years, and Henry Jones to seven years' transportation. Very great delay and inconvenience have been occa sioned at this assize from the following circumstance : The magistrates in this county have refused to allow the expenses of briefs for the prosecution and the fees to counsel in all cases where the bills are ignored ; the con sequence is that counsel are not instructed till the bill is brought into court, and are unprepared to proceed with the case when it is called on, and much time is lost. Mr. Baron Alderson said this was a most improper thing ; the Government had thought it right to put the people of England to the expense of sending a judge down to try the prisoners, and the magistrates refused to put the county to the expense of employing counsel to prosecute them., He thought the magistrates would find such paltry economy a disadvantage, as the assize would probably last a day longer than it otherwise would, to say nothing of decency in the administration of justice. In addition to this, it was almost expressing an expecta tion that bills would be ignored, which was a libel on the committing magistrates, for prisoners ought not to be committed except upon a reasonable expectation that the bills would be found. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Worcester, Dec. 3. (Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.) The commission for this county was opened yesterday evening. In the course of his charge Mr. Justice COLT MAN observed, that he had received literally a mass of depositions, indeed, the largest and longest he had ever seen, against a person named Hassall, imputing to him the murder of his wife. It was a case which appeared to have created a great excitement in the county, as far as the reports in the newspapers enabled him to form an opinion. There were only two ways, consistent with the mass of evidence contained in the depositions, in which a charge could be presented to their notice against the ac cused—either that of accelerating the death by the admi nistration of improper food or liquids, or by neglecting to supply proper care and nourishment to the deceased, both of which offences would amount to the offence of manslaughter only. It was, however, an important fea ture in the case for the consideration of the grand jury, that his wife was a person very much addicted to the ibe of ardent spirits, and was described by the witnesses to be seldom in a state of sobriety. The calendar contains the names of 24 prisoners, whose offences may be thus classed:—,Murder, 1; bur glary,mmi m: 1; 2 2; b h e i as g hay ti w ait y r , o l b ; be r r a y p • , e, lO l assault o u w s i t s h h o i o n t t i e n n g t , o ; uttering counterfeit coin, 1; stealing from the person, 1; and 5 for larcenies. Among the foregoing is not in cluded the charge ag a i ns t M r. Hassall, whose case con tinues to create very lively interest in the county. The bill of indictment is to be presented to the grand jury to morrow morning. ?4r. Godson, Queen's Counsel, who is specially re tained on behalf of Mr. Hassell, arrived from London yesterday evening at the Star Hotel. Mr. Justice Coltman has disposed of four cases this afternoon, none of which presented any features of ge neral interest. policeman. This had the desired effect. The defendant pulled off his dog, and, having, bden compelled to give his name and address, walked off. This statement was proved by Samuel David, of De vonshire-street, Mile-end, the dealer referred to, and by the woman who endeavoured to part the dogs. Crispin, one of the constables employed by the So ciety, deposed that he had seen Thompson's dog some days after the fight, and it was then in a miserable plight. The defendant denied the statement of the witnesses, and called a young lad to prove that Thompson's dog had bitten the bullterrier first, and that that had caused the fight. This witness deposed to such being the case eight days before, but said that he knew nothing of the transaction sworn to by the wi.nesses for the pro secution. David said that he passed Thompson's house every day, and knew his dog well. It was a quiet, inoffensive animal of the mongrel breed, while the defendant's dog was a regular fighting dog, and bore evident marks about the head and body of having be-en engaged in many similar encounters. The defendant said that the dug was not his, ifut that it belonged to his master, Mr. Norris. He hoped thar the magistrate would deal leniently with him. Mr. HENRY fined the defendant 30s ; in default, four• teen days' imprisonment in the House of Correction. THE TEN HOURS' BILL. MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY MORNING.—Last evening a meeting of the Lancashire Central Short time Com. nlictee was held in this town on the subject of the Fac tory Bill. The operatives appear to be as determined as they ever were to prosecute their favourite measure, and to leave no stone unturned to bring it w a successful termination. At the meeting last night the subjoined letters were read by the Secretary : " Manchester, Nov. 25, 1844. " My Lord,—At a meeting of the Lancashire Central Short-time Committee, held this day, several letters were read from the District Committee, inquiring what steps were to be taken to promote the passing of the Ten Hours' Bill in the next session of Parliament. The operatives of Lancashire appear to be as deter mined as they ever were to prosecute their object, and to leave no means untried to bring their labours to a successful issue. In Manchester they are equally resolved. May I therefore respectfully request, on behalf of this Committee, that your Lordship will be good enough to inform us, at your earliest convenience, what course you intend to adopt on the opening of Parliament, as we cannot satisfactorily answer the inquiries of our constituents until we have had your Lordship's advice, and are made acquainted with the course you intend to pursue ? We fully rely on your Lordship's judgment and zeal in this good cause, and havint , placed our entire confi dence in your wisdom and determination, we shall be guided in our line of action by the course you intend to pursue in Parliament.—l am, my Lord, your most obe dient servant, " HENRY GREEN, Secretary. " The Right Hon. Lord Ashley, M.P." " London, Nov. 27, 1844. Sir,—ln answer to your letter, in which you desired, on the part of the operatives of Lancashire, to learn what course I should think advisable in the ensuing session of Parliament, I must reply that I see no reason why the question of the Ten Hours' Bill should not be renewed at the earliest possible period. " I will endeavour on the first night of our meeting to fix a day for bringing the subject again under the con sideration of the House.—l am, Sir, your very obedient servant, " ASHLEY. " Mr. Henry Green, Secretary." THE LATE DREADFUL ACCIDENT NEAR NOTTINGHAM. ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MR. VARNELLS. VERDICT OF THE JURY. We have received the conclusion of the above inquest from our correspondent at Nottingham, as follows : At ten o'clock the jury sent for the Coroner, and in formed him they could not agree upon their verdict, and that there was no probability of their agreeing. At eleven o'clock the Coroner was again sent for, and, at a quarter to twelve, the hall doors were opened. The CORONER—Mr. Foreman, are you agreed upon your verdict ? The Foreman—Yes, Sir. The following verdict was then recorded : " We return a verdict of Accidental Death, and the jury impose a deodand of 1,0001. upon the engines, tenders, and carriages, being the property of the Mid land Counties Railway ; but in so doing we beg to re mark that we are convinced that the collision took place in consequence of mismanagement, and the want of a clear understanding on the part of the Company's ser vants of the directions which were given, but owing to conflicting evidence, we are not able to decide who are theparties individually implicated. " We are also of opinion that much improvement may be made in the general management of the Midland Railway, particularly at the Nottingham station, tend ing materially to secure the public safety. We think it important that the servants, and particularly the engine men and guards, should be instructed in and suitably impressed with the importance of the printed rules, and that as much as possible they should be observed to the letter. We are also of opinion that Jonathan Raven, the Beeston-station master, has given evidence before this inquest which the jury can place no reliance upon, and that he ought to forfeit the confidence of the Com pany, and be no longer retained as a public servant." CORONER—That is your verdict, and you are all agreed in it? Foreman—We are. The inquest was then adjourned to Thursday, the 12th instant, at seven o'clock in the evening, at Mr. Pick's, the Three Wheat Sheaves Inn, Lenton, for the purpose of the verdict being signed. Thus finished, at ten minutes to twelve o'clock, this protracted investigation, the jury having been locked up from twenty minutes past three. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. COLLECTION OF CHARTS AT LLOYD'S. I❑ addition to a valuable set of charts presented to Lloyd's by his Majesty the King of Prussia and his Majesty the King of the French, the Admiralty, and the East India House, &c., the collection of that establish ment has been further augmented by the arrival of a set of charts published in America by order of Congress, and presented by his Excellency the President. At a meeting of the members of Lloyd's, to be held on Wednesday, the 11th inst., it is intended to propose a vote of thanks to his Majesty the King of the French and the President of the United States, fur their valuable assistance towards a collection at Lloyd's of sets of charts of all nations—an object with the Committee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's of a very important na ture, and which will be appreciated by all interested in maritime affairs, as affording a free and easy means of reference to the navigation of the whole world, alike open to the foreign as to the English mariner. EAST INDIA SHIPPING. Arrivals—Mungo Park, Thomson, from Batavia, off Dover, sailed July 31 ; Eliza Scott, Beale, from the coast of Africa, off Falmouth, sailed Oct. 1, St. Helena 14th ; Inchinnan, from Bombay, off Falmouth, sailed Aug. 10, Mauritius Sept. 8 ; Pearl, Heyward, from Ceylon, off Dungeness, sailed Aug. 1. Arrivals at Mauritius—Amelia, Mulholland, Sept. 2, from the Cape ; Cingalese, 3d, from the Cape; Dawson, Carder, from Launceston ; Emma Eugenia, 4th, from Singapore ; Mary, from Madras ; Monarch, from Co ringa, Lady Nugent, from Calcutta ; Diadem, from Calcutta. Arrivals at St. Helena—Princess Charlotte, Oct. 11, from Bombay; Elizabeth, 12th, from Sumatra and Mau ritius ; Cowslip, Woodmansterne, Maid of Mona, 12th, Floraville, Pursuit, and Thames, 13th, Mountaineer, 14th, from the coast of Africa ; Sultan, 14th, from China ; Drie Vrienden, from China ; Devon, from Bengal ; Freedom, from Ichaboe ; John, 15th, Hone, 15th, from Ichaboe. Arrival at Sumatra—Lady Leith, July 14, from London and Cape. Arrival at Ichaboe—Claremont, from London. Arrival at Penang Chilena, from Clyde and Singapore. Arrivals at. Bombay—Stag. Oct. 12, from London ; Inglis, 13th, from China ; John Cooper, 15th, Eliza, 17th, from London. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. REASONS WHY THE ALBION, 90. AND QUEEN, 110, SHOULD HAVE BEATEN THE ST. VINCENT, 120, AND CALEDONIA, 120. Ist. Because the Albion is a new ship, fresh off the slips, only two years old, recently out of dock ; her tim bers and planking have not yet had tinie to get saturated with water, consequently are comparatively light and buoyant. It is a well-ascertained fact that all vessels, from a boat to a first-rate ship, always sail better when new and fresh put into the water than when they get old. The Queen has the same advantage, though not in such a great degree as the Albion, she being but four years old, whereas the St. Vincent has been built 29 years, and the Caledonia 36 years. 2d. Because the Albion, being recently out of dock, had clean copper. The Queen is also clean, having been in dock at Portsmouth early in the spring of this year, whereas the St. Vincent has not been in dock for four years, and as she has been lying in Portsmouth der bour nearly that time, no doubt her bottom is foul with both grass and barnacles. 3d. With respect to the Albion, because all two deckers should beat in sailing all three-decked ships (particularly on a wind) in the same ratio that frigates generally beat two-decked ships, and because the Albion spreads a much greater quantity of canvass than either of the other ships. We are not dertain that either the Albion or the St. - - Vincent are fast ship s , th e f our h a v e only tried t h e i r POLICE INTELLIGENCE. qualities relatively with each other. It is well under LAMB ETH- STR E ET. stood that the Fox frigate beat the Albion most de- Doo Fiairrixtro —William Benjamin, a journeyman cidedly a short time since, and we regret that some baker, in the employ of Mr. Norris, King-street, White- known fast ship was not sent out to test the sailing of chapel, appeared before Mr. Henry, charged by Mr. these untried ships. 1 Thomas, the secretary: of the Royal Society for the I're- The Caledonia has always been a " slow coach," inee vention of Cruelty to Animals, with having wantonly ill- her thorough repair in 1830. We remember her the finest treated a dog. - and fastest ship in the British navy. In 1813 and 1814 Mr. Thomas stated that on Saturday last the defendant she carried the flag of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, after was passing throu g h White's-row, Whiteehapel, fol- wards Lord Exmouth, Commander-in-Chief of the Aledi lowed by a bl ac k bull-terrier, a n d a s h e passed the house terranean fleet, which consisted of nine three-docker , , and of a Mr. Thompson, he made a noise which brought twenty two deckers. The Caledonia was the largest and out a dog belongi ng t o th a t p erson . The defendant best ship of that large fleet, sailing well, and a orkieg like kicked his dog towards the other, and endeavoured a cutter: excepting the Boyne, three-decker, and four or to set them fighting ; but as Mr. Thompson's do.. five of the two-decked ships, she beat all the other ships on was more disposed to run away than to fight, the all points of sailing, and for working no ships came near defendant took up the bull-dog by the neck and tail, her. In 1830, she hada thorough repair, and although Lord and dropped him upon the other. This proved sue- I Exmouth was most decidedly opposed to it, this ship cessful, and a desperate fight took place, in which the • was thrown out on each side about fourteen inches. It defendant's dog sadly punished the other, inflicting several was expected this increase of beam would make her severe wounds about its head and body, and under more buoyant ; but it had the contrary effect, as she the cheek bit out a piece of flesh, making a hole large . increased her immersion on being put into the water enough to insert two fingers. Among the crowd astern- some four or five inches, and the result has been, she bled to witness the brutal scene was a vendor of eat's has never been a fast ship since, although said to be a meat, who called loudly on the defendant to take his dog good ship in a sea, and weatherly in heavy bree-zes, and away. He, however, refused to do so, and threatened possesses many good qualities as a man-of-war. to knock off the head of a woman who kindly eadea- N o on e can forget the outrageous puffs about the youred to separate the dogs. The fighting continued Queen on her Mediterranean cruises—in one of them until the dealer in eat'e meat dispatched hie pen fig s L this Tear ihp " Wee the most manageable and easy flip" her captain had met 1 , with ; but " she had been 111'rj pos,ely kept light, her water-casks were not fillid,lo she was rather short of three zn-nths' previsioir" she started. This was her trial with the serv e Y'ell frigate Vernon, when it was trumpeted forth ts the world that additional " laurels had been added to oa surveyor's brow " by the Queen beating the ' Verv e which was stated to be " the fastest f r igate in Os o r vice." Now it' the Queen, by beating this frigate,' t de ferred so much honour on Sir W. Symonds, ws l. 4 gree of mortal praise is due to the venerable const ru ,: v e of the St. Vin c ent, w hi c h vesse l h as p r oved so 5 10 rior to the Queen ? And, allowing the Albion credit of putsailing the three-deckers, it 11151 t o asked how shall we estimate the sailing qualities OJ , he : Vernon, " the fastest frigate, in the service," t w o we find that the old Fox, 49, fri ga t e , heat the Alo that ship, having beat the three-deckers, :aniong,. t a the Queen, which ship was said to be superior in to the Vernon ? bG THE SURVEYOR'S SAFETY VESSELS.--!-OR two 0 , occasions, to bolster up ano claim a superiority O r b i e l " intuitive" vessels of the survey or, the disasters as betel the Acorn, and some of 'the old 10-gus b or were triumphantly pointedout by a morning CO porary. That journal, however, would seem ~,,P 'b e e/ oblivious of the loss of life and property which Woe. sustained by the surveyor's ships, although their tier have been preserved. hout Taking into consioet the narrow escape of the Pique, 36, from total wrs c / 10 her voyage from Canada, when she was saved eel I V, indomitable skill and perseverance of Capt. Rous officers, we may allude to the mishaps of the Star P lc , Three times w.,s this vessel thrown on her bearn-es ui dil frightful loss of life ; on one occasion a lieutenants° odj men—a whole watch—were washed out of 136 01 drowned; and she was saved from going down by e V) away the masts, which, fortunately, they were eu„sw ip d do from the channels of the Star having been IDi t . .„'"' - iof a principle to the patentee of which the 511 ,„'ii, and his officials have offered very great 0 1 3 P''fico' The Racer. 16, was also thrown on her beans7endsll4 with loss of life. The Mercury, tender, neterlYd r°vi ilei the pay clerks at Chatham-yard, and as nearly 1 their money, off Sheerness, and afterwards ter - 4 0 with loss of many lives, a similar specimen of b er 'iti qualities in the Bristol, hannel. On this o ccasi° ll ' 4o o mate in command, by almost superhuman eier: no e saved the tender, and his meritorious service was 6 _,,, c '• o pei ledged by his promotion. The causes which 0 00 10 such losses as those of the old Acorn and Mar till •ttiJ been properly explained in the House of Com Mo ns the above-mentioned instances will show that th e . • d ; little reason for boasting of the safety of the " vessels.—Herold. [f ir, COURT-MARTIAL ON LIE STOKES. s f el Some little time since we were led to offer te rl remarks upon the case of Barnes, the carP el3 „ o 4 4 mate of the Resistance, and especially with refe' t y to the extraordinary determiation come to hi o o Lords of the Admiralty, in incarcerating the for two years, for the commission of an offene e 2o cognised indeed by the articles of w ar, but f el would have been scouted out of an civil cour t 0 .41 0 governed by the principles of justice and 0 1 1 0 1 sense. Barnes, it will be remember e d, was c° ll, oo l of lifting an adze against the boatswain (Lee).9 010 0,, in a state of insensibility, the effect o f Lee's r ial e. and was sentenced to be hanged at the yarcr o ftl e such one of her Majesty's ships as the Lords ae ei Admiralty might direct. We then stated, that there was a case showing the necessity fora r e 10 of the articles of war, that of Barnes g ',Ji t i , identical one. We have, however, this nos! record a still greater anomaly, in the ,0 1 0 of the trial of an officer upon a charge ~,i tY in a civil court of law would have involv u f iei liberty of the accused for a cons iderable P; 5 O An officer of the Tartarus, Lieutenant Stokes9,.,l (11' Tuesday brought to a court-marti a l u pon eer'td, gusting charges, preferred :'against him named Terry, belonging to the same ship. J - i' bei si for us to question the judgment of the rael n that court who tried the p r i soner , i n coming tee d decision they did, but c er t a i n ly th e conserlu e ln eor that decision shows a lamentable amount of r cb tli gruity in the various degrees of punishment vil i . j e at! articles of war prescribe for offences recognlg the service. Thus, in the one case, where 6 , proved to have been insensibl e , an d by coney irresponsible, lifted a weapon i n se lf-defence !,te a brutal boatswain, the punish men t was , accor w l ,, y these precious articles, death. In the present'," cO, the court is of opinion that an officer is guilty , ri d' of the most disgusting o ff ences k now n to e t e sr! man, the sentence is, we presume, by the stl i % to Iles, simply dismissal from th e s hip in vviL l :o; offender was serving at the ti me o f th e comma, the offence. Thus much with r egar d t o the ifo )° , o eri ° and folly of those articles of war ; now for the ot tr of the case in question. We have sa id it does e or come us to impugn the jud g m en t o f the oe , br of the court on Tu es d a y l as t, b u t it 0 7 1 come us as public iiurnalists to exP re ajell e i, opinion as to the na t ure o f the eli P u " adduced in support of th e c h arge agai," s r t r y officer, and, -if possible, t o di scover whew e i , prisoner's guilt was r en d ere d as conc lusive ilt d made by the sentence of the court. The PI; it! upon whose evidence alone the charge res t m 'br . proved by witnesses of irreproachable credit " - bell been anything but a good character—to br ie t e guilty of falsehood, and to have evinced not our' many times, a spirit of hostility to the accuseufor fir himself admitted that he had been punished oaf, glect of duty, and, what was o f s till great e av l quence, that Lieutenant Stokes was o bnoxia, crew, who desired to get him out of the ship , he was too strict a disciplinarian. These we ste r portant facts drawn from the prosecutor, allu, a e ete s 'i what jury of conscientious E ng li s h men voll' taro such a charge after admissions of so une (1 .40 4 ,,,,) a nature ? Again, it was pro ve d th a t the nitiPi had exulted in the belief that by his instrumen t :dote( prisoner was " in for it," and this, too, irn lll 4 after the commission of the alleged disgusr be r A For the credit of human nature, it is not to 00r". lieved that an individual, und e r suc h circtinn g if i r d could have acted with the gross l ev ity whit e ", distinctly sworn the prosecutor did._ The coin, of the Tartarus and the br o th er officers of P r P a i soner gave him the highest c h arac t er for 111 %, religious bearing, and th e me di ca l o ffi ce r of 1101 entirely disproved the statement made by thenc , 01; cutor as to indications of th e o ff ence h av ing er .4 'flitted. Ought such a pr osecu t or t o have 1 " - f .0 !: $ dited ? Was not the testi mon y t o c haracter ° l ;gr,., importance, and was not the evidence of the! 0 . , P r c of the highest importance? Notwithstau di e l f e st court thought 'the charge proved, and Lie u w .. .r Stokes was sentenced to be di sm i sse d his 9e; of two things is certain—eith er th e p r i so ner vn o (1 1 : 4 of the imputed offence, and ought to have r t . ; or e missed her Majesty's service, and subjected 5 isli f punishment, no matter ho w severe ; o r he 0 4 11: 1 , 4 1 cent of the charge—that it was a f o ul cl ef t against him, and that h e oug ht t o h av e heen,i e tt to his previous honourabl e p os iti on in s " - Devonport Independent. Al o v, DEAFNESS— ACOUSTIC INSTRuMENT9 — 3 onduCt marle-street, Piccadilly.—lnvisible Voice C!! when fixed in the cavity of the ears, are not m, () ; piec e o l' fortable nor perceptible than having a soln tt 0 13 0' wool in its place. They enable i n dividuals vanced age, and of forty o r fifty y ears ' stami lll er Ot i l l treme deafness, instantly to j o i n i n gen eral cu n : s ler6t) and to catch the sound of a distant, sP" t i o n church, theatre, &c. Th e y p our t h e c onvere a re ci r , or the ears to such an extent, that in most se ge l ; f edi deafness cannot be observed. Also original vac s, ' O l nets, French, German, and Spani-h Artificial 'v.. , W e t improved Hearing Trumpets of every deseripti;tioori. of those instruments have received the aPP,. l.° Gr e _at t elt the Royal Society and R o y a l I ns tit u tion of .„ e 4l o tt taro. The Newly I nvente d Sp ec t ac les, i0";oior)so they are placed before extremely imperfect... 5;4r is brought to its y ou thf u l, na t ura l, and orig1"110'00 Also Achromatic T e les co p es , Opera-glose 9 o oil o scopes, &c.—Caution : Messrs. S. and 13' late 41 ;1 Opticians and Aurists, are n o t i n a ny way 0 - tie' e ol a person of the same name i n th e ir immea ui i i•e` bourhood, nor in any p ar t o f t h e cou ntry'. be dt e' mistakes, be cautious, and observe—Only ta ir a ri" 39. Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the da t BIRTHS. , t bt On the 29th ult., at Gorway L o dge, East l'elp Mrs. Frederick Besley, of a son. le _Sol( ll ,'betik On the 30th ult., at the Vicarage, Kirby- c jaae v the wife of the Rev. W. L. Coxhead, Curate, of* Ile tab On the 3d inst., in Grosvenor -street, Lady -a o °° hams, of a daughter. On the 3d iu.st., at Park-terrace, Islington , Wheeler, of a daughter.l3 On the 3d inst., at Croyd on , th e l a dy of ADO v jun., Esq., of a daughter. Ewe s, On the 3d inst., at Elm Cottage, West Carson, of a son. ofe* ° 0 i MARRIED. n •ehtve i i b i ti° On the 30th ult., at St. Ni c h o l as Church, -r 24 1 - 0 1 Plews, Esq., of Buckle rs b ur y, L o ndon, to Jo eldest dau g ht er of M r . S. Ridl ey , o f Brighton. On the 3d inst., at St. George's, Hanover-squ;llls Iltid Thomas, of Eath o rp e H ouse , Warwick , bo , widow of Colonel Rathboe, of ensington. bite , On the 3d inst., at W n ithyb K rook, Warwic,,,"! r iogo Chavasse, Esq., sur geon , o f Ed g b as ton, t: 5414 Miriam Sarah, daughter of the late James "" grapher to his late Majesty William IV. f or 1)/it, o f the late On the 22d ult., a t B o th, J ess y Innes, re li ct age d ' o fessor Beattie, of Marischal College, .Aberdeol.ta P olton, On the 29th ult., M ar y, w if e o f Mr. John E litel3 rey-place, Old Kent-r oa d. On the Ist inst., at Upham Cottage, peckha yob' wife of Mr. Peter Biggs, aged 78. Catherine .4 On the Ist hist, at Walpole. near LYII I3, „ sicl 9 " the wife of the Rev. Ed war d F. E. Hankios7; r poalt On the Ist inst., a t W a lt on H a ll, near LI o f Leyland, Esq., banker. _„ „ Ts . , _, ;0 0 hi the 2d inst., Adolphus Planta, rnin e -pancil° Arbuthnot, Esq., of St. George's-terrace, 113_ of Atr- On the 2d inst., Elizabeth, third (laugh"' P4,4' Long, of Nelson-squa re , Bl ac kfriars-road- 110 1 0 /..t i er, In Queen. street, W es t m i ns t er , William ° to , WA"' o f Lately, at Sienna, Co r d e li a , wife of Re ds ul t,tat I'O Loa,i.ot: Printed ~,ntt i'ablisned by 3 U 3 CS LA;Did i l So. 112, Strand, Printer, at The S Strand, in the Precinct of the Sev o _,,Y. Middlesex, Thursday, December 5i 1W Th Lt I 'IONs Tooief. Fe bec: G bar4 l e4piti ntx tly 4 * 8 A B _ ll l,l Tk ;Z:.41 St o t Tb h A XL i'°kA the dal -. 1 , k , Ititi , 14ntio 1 110) 0 the *ben gi *lnt it stri ct 0 Pc ;4 4ti L 44 1: )o.o‘l ~' . 4 kt t I c 11: di 32 , "0%4