The Sun. — London, England, 1844-11-08 00:00:00

ill:1.111T of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—The quiescent state of the political atmosphere in Ireland has experienced a slight inter ruption. Dr. Maunsell—whose speech in the Dublin Corporation in favour of rotatory Parliaments ex cited considerable interest among all parties in Ireland at the time of its delivery—has published his oration as a pamphlet, and appended to it an elaborate " Note, on the present state of political parties in Ireland." The position which Doctor Ilaunsell occupies in the Conservative party, would give considerable importance to any publication en the state of political parties which might issue from his pen ; the causes he assigns for the present disorganised state of that party in Ireland, and the telling blows he aims at the Government, give ad ditional interest to his present production. Apart from Dr. Maunsell's proposed remedy for Ireland's maladies, by holding the Parliament in Dublin once in three years, or oftener—the fallacy of which we de monstrated at the time it was broached by the Learned Doctor in his speech before the Dublin Corporation —there are some facts and opinions put forth in the " Note," which, emanating from one whose position enables him to see and know what is passing around him, will excite considerable interest on this side of the Channel. Assuming, as an unquestionable fact, " that the policy of English statesmen has, from the remotest periods, led them to govern Ireland, through the medium of a party," Dr. Maunsell attributes the present disorganised and enfeebled state ofthe Irish Pro testant party to the dissolution of the Orange lodges. " The revival of the Orange Institution in 1830," was, according to Dr. Maunsell, " a general party movement —the resul t of there-actien that succeeded the depression of the Protestant party by the passing of the Catholic Relief Bill of 1829. It was actively supported by the aristocracy of this country, and was joined in by the middle and lower classes, under the belief that it was at least favourably regarded, if not directly en couraged, by those English statesmen who then formed the Conservative opposition in Parliament. The head of the movement was a Prince of the Blood ; its responsible, and often active local agents, were the highest of the Irish aristocracy, and included many Members of both Houses of Parliament." The connivance of Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington in the proceedings of the Orange men was often asserted during the proceedings in Parliament which resulted in the breaking up of the confederacy. The fact that deputations were given by the Grand Master to non-commissioned officers in the army, empowering them to constitute Orange lodges in their respective regiments, was proved beyond all question. The doings of the Duke of Cumberland, the " Prince of the Blood" alluded to by Dr. Maunsell, and his man-of-all-work, Colonel Fairman, were established in evidence. The direct breach of the Articles of War which these pro • ceedings in the army involved ; their dangerous re sults on military discipline; and their unconstitutional character and tendency—of these no doubt could be entertained. Yet the " English statesmen " who passed the Cetholic Relief Bill did not hesitate to sanction the establishment of these Orange institutions, and to defend to the last their introduction into the army, for the purpose of neutralising and counteracting the political power conferred on the Catholic population by that measure ! Such is the statement made by Dr. Maun sell, who reproaches these "English statesmen"—the leaders of the Conservative opposition," with even tually abandoning the Orange lodges to their fate. " The Whigs were wise in their generation ; they persevered in their assaults upon Irish Orangism until, in a moment of panic, the English Opposition leaders were weak enough to advise, and their Irish allies in the House of Commons were imbecile enough to per petrate, the act of pusillanimous treachery which led to the dissolution of the Orange body. This act," continues Dr. Maunsell, " was the beginning of that breaking up of the Irish Protestant party which is now all but finally accomplished." We desire no strosiger confirmation of the imputation upon Sir R. Peel's dishonesty in the matter of Roman Catholic Emancipation than is here supplied. It furnishes a clue to the practical exclusion of Catholics from posts of honour and of trust, under Sir Robert Peel's ad ministration of the Government. It explains why— notwitstanding the removal of Catholic disabilities by the Legislature—the insidious distinctions between C Atholies and Protestants were kept up, and the contests between the professors of rival creeds were continued. STANDARD.—" There is some soul of goodness in things evil," says Shakspeare ; and we so far subscribe to the proposition as almost to regret the reign of the Whigs, for we do not recA lect a single day of the Whig dynasty upon which the journalist had to ask himself the question, that now recurs with such painful fro q:lency—" What has one to write about ?" The Whigs were indeed capital hands at raising food for wspapers—such benefactors to the press as Sultan A:nurath was to the owls of the desert, whom he pr Nided for amply with " ruined villages." Sir R .bert Peel will do nothing fir our order—we have n pleasant speculations of European wars, Canada re hellions, defeats and disgraces in Asia, nvmster en-etings in Ireland, Chartist risings in England— t even a falling revenue and a lively per il; ^ctive of national bankruptcy, wherewithal to interest our readers. All is peace abroad, in spite of some of us ; peace at home, notwithstanding the laudable exertions of others : sli is peace, and the Three her Cents. are at or above par. We have nothing to engage us hut debberations upon the best means of improving the condition of the labouring classes, and tattooing the face of the country with railroads; but, as Mr. Hood " There's no romance in that." The truth is, we are hard " put tol t" for topics, and the public dJes not deal fairly with us if it fails to make allow ance for a little impropriety and a great deal of sameness—oh, do not call it dullness—in our lucubrations. Let our condition be candidly considered. Write we must, but what ? Essays, in the manner of the " Spectator," " Guardian," " Rambler ?" This is easier said than done. But, were we as competent to the task as we are the re verse, would the people read our essays upon abstract topics, such as engaged the pens of Addison, Steele, ar. , l Johnson ? Are the treasures bequeathed by these great masters in fact read to the extent that they ought to be by professedly reading men ? We fem. not. Sure at least we are, that of the readers of newspapers not one in a hundred would read such essays as those we speak of. The age is practical and specific; people read with a view to some distinct object to be obtained, some we 11-known interest to be defended, or some well defined danger to be resisted. When we are left without these resources, what have we to do ? Why, there is nothing, for it, but to try to magnify some thing—a Otaheite affair, or the misdoings of the Bridgewater Union, or the disposal of the Old Fleet prison; or to imitate the respectable example of rats, who, shut up in a trap without food, relieve the monotony of their position by biting and eating one another. The exaggerations and the squabbles of the newspapers always bear an exact ratio to the paucity of topics, and the absurd extra • vagance to which we push the one and the excessive bi-terness with which we prosecute the other, may al ways be taken as the best proof of public pros perity, and of course of good Government. We have a few such proofs before us. The Morning Chronicle points our attention to an example of most absurd exaggeration, not merely in the details of the affair referred to, but in the importance imputed to the whole subject : ." In the Times newspaper of yesterday appears the following advertisement " To EGG-MERCHANTS AND IMPORTERSI.—Wanted, from 300 to 500 chests of eggs of low quality, to be de livered into warehouse in London, on or before Friday next, the Bth inst. Letters, pre-paid, with lowest prices, including cartage in, for cash on delivery, to W. L., New Corn Exchange Tavern, Mark-lane.' In another and more conspicuous part of the paper, hi a communication from Portsmouth, appears the fol lowing paragraph : • " ' Upwards of 100/. worth of rotten eggs have been purchased within the last few days from the various im porters in this and the adjacent towns, by London agents, for service on the 9th inst. in London. "This is egging on the ruffians and blackguards of the metropolis with a vengeance ? From 300 to 500 chests of eggs, 'of low quality' (of a high quality ?) to one order ; 100 L worth of rotten eggs purchased in one day at one town, with the advantage of five clear days 'to keep' and do due honour to the pageant of Saturday next. The Times is determined that nothing shall be Wanting to complete the ovation of Mr. Alderman Gibbs. " We have taken no part in the discussion about Mr. Gibbs's accounts—not because we did not think his conduct highly censurable, and still more foolish. But another and a competent tribunal will decide upon the worthy magistrate's guilt or innocence. Until that decision is come to, we will not pronounce him to be guilty. We have some reason to think that the decision will prove him innocent. If h should turn out that he has only been guilt y of great and foolish obstinacy—of what people call pig-headedness —we think most men will 6 4 6 disposed to think that he has already suffered quite Hugh for such offence. But under no possible circum stances- can the brutal persecution threatened in the dis • rremettn fuirtgraphs we have quoted be justified. If Al ibi)* were a common malefactor, every just and honourable k fee no li vi n t !zould r . evolt against such an outrage. B ea v n er ge vbod in g ted to ontra "l the refuse of' a city like this those to which they are in vited by the eorresponrentakae interested of the Times, and how malignant and inter n op ponents can meta morphose such an outbreak of v enabbrygu , ardism into 'an indignant expression of public o bore the only effect of such abomi nale m prOc u 'l nd u i tg e s will d put we be to awaken the sympathy of men hitherto or even hostile, and at once protect a fellow-citize n r f e n insult and danger, and save the metropolis from tho r di rn „ grace of tolerating the tyranny with which it is menaced." - We give the article at length, because we admire the good spirit of the Whig journalist, and concur very ge 'l erally in its opinions. We make the extract, however, chiefly as an example of exaggeration-1001. worth of rotten eggs (we suppose no one would knowingly give 101. for all the rotten eggs in the world), purchased to pelt a Lord Mayor Why, there is not one such egg in preparation ; and we will venture to say that there is not a being above the most degraded class in London, who would use such a missile upon such an occasion, how abundantly soever they might be provided for him. This is all mere trash, ex aggerated trash, but not, as the Chronicle seems to fear, brutalising trash. The English people are in no danger of lapsing into brutality upon such suggestions. Even thirteen years ago, when advised to resort to the use of " brickbats and bludgeons" in the political contest, the Londoners at least proved themselves " wiser than their teachers," and the in tervening thirteen years have not been wasted with out improvement. PRIVY COUNCIL. Yesterday a special meeting of the Judicial Com mittee of the Privy Council took place at the Council Chamber, Whitehall. The Lords of the Council pre sent were the Vice-Chancellor of England, the Vice- Chancellor Wigram, Mr. Baron Parke, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Sir B. Bosanquet. The meeting of their Lordships, was special for the purpose of considering the claims of the Earl of Dundonald to the extension of his patent for rotatory engines. On the case being called on, The NOBLE EARL, who appeared at the bar, ad dressed their Lordships stating, the nature of his in vention according to his specification, the great ex pense he had been put to in its invention, between 14,000/. and 15,000/. Added to this, the Noble Earl observed that he had not hitherto reimbursed himself one shilling of that expense, although the machine had been found fully to answer in many of the public offices. Under these circumstances the Noble Earl prayed their Lordships, under the New Patent Act, would further extend the existence of his patent. Mr. WADDINGTON, on the part of the Crown, would leave the matter entirely in their Lordships' hands, especially as there had been no caveat entered against the renewal. The VICE-Cnikfccism.on of ENGLAND observed, that as Lord Dundonald had sworn that he had not received the return of a single shilling for the great outlay he had made, no person could be injured by the renewal of the patent. Their Lordships, after some consideration, came to the determination to advise her Majesty to extend the patent for 14 years. This determination will, we pre sume, be submitted to her Majesty to-morrow in Council. Their Lordships, immediately upon the conclusion of the case, broke up. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY.—Nov. i . LORD MOYSTON V. EARL SPENCER—JUDGMENT. The Lox]) CHANCELLOR gave judgment to-day in this case, which was an appeal motion from the judg ment of the Master of the Rolls, who had refused to suppress depositions on the ground that one of the Commissioners, Cyndrick Lloyd, Esq., was a near re lation of the plaintiff in the cause, and connected with him in business. His Lordship refused the motion, with costs, observing that it was unnecessary in the due administration of justice that the rule of the Court should be strictly adhered to, to insure impar tiality and secrecy in the Commissioners. EX-PARTE VAN SANDAU. The further arguments in this part-heard bankrupt petition occupied the Court the remainder of the day. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Nov. 7. The Vice-Chancellor of England did not sit to-day, in consequence of having to attend the Privy Council. (Before Vice-Chancellor KNIGHT BRUCE.) PALIN V. GATHERCOLE. This case, which was expected to come on to-day, on a'Jnotion to commit the defendant, was not mentioned till the rising of the Court. The petitioner, the Rev. W. Palin, the Rector of Stafford, Essex, and the defendant, the Rev. Michael Augustus Gathercole, the editor of the Churchman newspaper, who had been ordered in contempt for disobeying an injunction that had been granted against him. At the rising of the Court, Mr. JAMES Russsnn said he had a motion to make for a committal for contempt, but as the defendant had given a counter notice of motion to dissolve the in junction, he would delay his motion till that was brought on and disposed of. It is generally believed that the reverend defendant will defend himself, and that the whole matter is put off till the next motion day. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Nov. 7. THE BARON DE BODE V. THE QUEEN. This was a traverse to an inquisition ou a petition of right, which was tried at bar. The verdict had been given on the facts for the suppliant, but the statute of limitations had bon pleaded, and also thitt the debt had not occurred daring the reign of her present Majesty. On these pleas a verdict had passed fur the Crown. The Solicitor-General had also on the first issue requested the Court to put it to the jury whether a certain specific sum had been paid by the Government of France to that of England, in satisfaction of this claim of the Baron de Bode. O❑ this issue the jury found for the Crown. _ . Mr. M. D. Him, now moved for a rule nisi to have the first issue found fer the suppliant, on the ground teat the question submitted to the jury did not arise 'rum the traverse to the inquisition, but from an allega tion in the petition with which the Court had nothing to do. Also, for a rule to enter up judgment for the suppliant, notwithstanding the finding as to the statute of limitations, and as to the fact of the debt hav ing accrued in a former reign, inasmuch as the statute of limitations did not apply to cases of petitions of right, and that the fact of the debt having accrued in a former reign, hal nothing to do with the matter at issue. The COURT granted the rule on all the points. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Nov. 7. (Before Mr. Commmission GotiLBuRN.) IN THE MATTER OF ROBERT BANNISTER, DRAPER, OF PORTSEA. The bankrupt, whose examination by Mr. E. James we gave at length in our yesterday's paper, was this lay brought up for re-examination, and when asked if he wished to add anything to his statement respect ing Williams, said that he had gone that morning up to Oxford-street, and at the Boar and Castle recog nised the same waiter, who distinctly recollected seeing him (the bankrupt) there with another person, and that person afterwards taking away goods from the room they occupied. The waiter was then in Court, if his Honour would examine him. Mr. E. JAMES submitted that on the face of that case the answers of the bankrupt had not been satis factory, and that therefore his Honour, in the exercise of his duty, should give him into the custody of a messenger of that Court. He thought that on looking at the whole of the examination the story bore inter nal evidence of having been fictitiously concocted, and he (Mr. James) was as certain that the person Williams was an ideal personage, as that the name Williamson, in which parcels of goods were sold, was a name adopted for the occasion. The Learned Counsel then recapitulated the main features of the case, and contended that the whole account was just such a one as a man inventing a plausible story would relate. It was laid down in Blackstone, that a general answer by a bankrupt that he lost, by selling goods under prime cost, was perfectly unsatisfactory. In his first item he specified goods sold to Moses and Son of the value of 1,0401., but when closely pressed he is forced to admit that he did not sell more than 7501. worth, thus saddling himself with a sum of about 300/. Looking at the whole circumstances under which the bankrupt stood before the Court, he thought that his Honour would be but doing simple justice between the creditors and the bankrupt by ordering his committal into custody. Mr. Lucks, in replying for the bankrupt, contended that some limit should be applied to the term unsatis factory. It was well known that in the trade there were goods known as "job goods," which were fre quently sold at half their value ; and, according to the bankrupt's own statement, he met this man Williams, who assisted him to dispose of such. The bankrupt had affirmed the truth of that transaction upon oath, and his Learned Friend Mr. James could only assert that it was fictitious. Mr. Commissioner GouLnunzi reminded the Learned Counsel that he was not there to argue the question of fact, but whether the answer of the bankrupt to a certain question, or the whole tenor of his examina tion, was satisfactory. Mr. LUCAS thought the very best test of the satis factory nature of the bankrupt's answer was its truth. All that they were to inquire was, was there any thing inconsistent on the face of his statement with what might have happened ? He thought that his answers had been entirely consistent, and he thought also that the Court would feel convinced that they might have had their origin in the truth, and that therefore it could not exercise the extreme jurisdic tion sought for by Mr. James. Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN said that the case had not occupied more time than its importance de served or demanded. The case was somewhat out of the ordinary course in all its parts, and it would therefore, he thought, be the proper course for him briefly to review the whole proceedings. The facts were these, and they were very extraordinary. It appeared that he had commenced business with a capital of 7221., and incre.iible as it might seem, he in four months—the period which elapsed from the commencement of his business till the date of his flat— hld obtained goods to the amount of 17,0331. Os. 11d., and this, too, at a time when he was leading a most infamous and profligate life; to use his own words—in saloons, and theatres, and similar places—at a time when he had depots in different parts of the country, in Southampton, in Derby, and other places, for the purpose of disposing of these goods to any person and at any price. The bankrupt, it appeared, had but one object f rom the fi rst,namely,to get rid of these goods, in and then t o enjoy fraudulentsom foreign clime the amount received in this but by th e activity of his creditors--and ma nner ; especially was ma; due to Mr. Quilton—he was captured in the island of Madeira, and brought back to this country. But the question was, were the answers given by the bankrupt sufficient to satisfy any reasonable person ? Was it altogether, he would ask, out of the range of probabi lity that this story of the bankrupt was true. He met, it appeared by his own statement, this person, whom he had formerly known, and his wicked pur • pose—for it was nothing else—being uppermost in his mind, he said at once to Williams, " Can you sell some goods for me ?" He answered, " I can." He (the Learned Commissioner) did not find the state ment so grossly improbable that he could commit the bankrupt to prison, from which he could not perhaps get free unless by perjuring himself—taking it for granted that the present story were true. But then this other question arose, what was to be done with him ? He had kept no books, his accounts were made up from memory, and wholly unsatisfactory. He would, taking all circumstances into consioeration, adjourn the further hearing of the case sine die. Mr. REID, solicitor for the creditor under the fiat, in reference to the credit given so readily to the. bankrupt, said that the bankrupts were in very ex cellent repute in Derby, and their accounts were welt kept up with the highly respectable house of Phillips, of Manchester, which recommended him to other houses is the trade. It was impossible for them to know of his irregular proceedings in London, and therefore it was that credit was given to the amount stated in these proceedings. He then made an applica tion under the 32d and 35th section of the sth and 6th Victoria, c. 120, which orders, that where the bankrupt has removed, concealed, or embezzled goods to the amount of 101., he shall be prosecuted by the assignees in the Criminal Court. Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN—You may take the order. I think this a most proper case in which to put the Act of Parliament in force, and punish the bankrupt. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) CLERKEIV WELL. George Combes, living in Coram-street, was charged with breaking the jaw of an unfortunate girl, named Anne Gorman. The poor girl was standing quietly by the wayside in Chalk-road, on Tuesday evening, when the pri soner came up and told her to accompany him. Knowing he was a violent character, she refused; upon which, without further provocation, he dealt her such a blow with his clenched fist as broke her jaw, and felled her to the ground, where she lay in sensible for half an hour. Her head was terribly swollen, and she articulated with pain and difficulty. She was then conveyed to a surgeon. The prisoner, far from showing any feeling for the poor creature, walked off laughing. The case for the prosecution having been con clusively established, the prisoner, in defence, endea voured to set up an alibi, in which he completely failed. Mr. COMBE—WiII you make the poor creature some compensation for the grievous injury you have done her ? Prisoner—l won't give her a farthing. Mr. COMBE—Then you will pay 51., or go to the House of Correction for two months. Johanna Harrington was charged with cutting and wounding Anne Connor. The complainant, who is a poor woman living in Baldwin's-place, Gray's Inn-lane, asked the prisoner, on the 16th ult., for a debt she owed her, and Har rington, without making any reply, lifted an iron hooped can, and struck her on the forehead with the iron rim of the vessel, producing a frightful wound, from which she bled until she fainted. The prose cutrix was then conveyed to the hospital, where she has remained up to this time, and at one period her case was considered dangerous. She was still ex tremely weak, and was obliged to sit whilst giving her evidence. Mr. COMBE fined the prisoner 51., or two months' imprisonment ; but the prosecutrix desiring a com promise, the Magistrate said, if reasonable compensa tion were made to the poor woman, he would mitigate the fine. BO TV- S TREE T. Frederick Marriot, publisher of the Railway Bell, appeared before Mr. Jardine upon a summons to answer a complaint preferred against him by the police for exhibiting a large flag from the parapet of his house in the Strand, so as to cause an annoyance to passen gers in the public thoroughfare. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. G. Knight Huxley appeared for the defendant. Inspector Mullins, F division, said he had applied for a summons under the Police Act against the de fendant, in consequence of several complaints being made by the inhabitants of St.Mary-le-Strand parish, particularly by Mr. Greensill, lamp manufacturer, who laid the case before the Commissioner. Mr. Greensill stated that on the day her Majesty was proceeding to the City an immense flag, mea suring about forty feet by twenty, was suspended across the Strand from the defendant's window, merely as a puff to the establishment, he supposed, and it continued flapping about in such a measure, as to prevent the parish children from singing the national anthem as the Queen was passing.' Mr. John Faulkner, 325, Strand, proved that the flag remained across the Strand till it was blown down piecemeal. It remained suspended for several days after the 28th of October, flapping about with the wind. Mr. JARDINE considered there must have been great annoyance, for scarcely any horse could pass through the Strand w ithout being frightened by it. He was bound to order a conviction ; but it would first be requisite to prove that the defendant was the odending party. The inspector said he went to the office to give notice of his intention to apply for a summons, unless the flag was removed, but /he did not see the defen dant; and it further appeared the beadle of the parish could not say he lived in the house. Mr. JARDINE considered it should be shown the defendant had put up the flag before he could inflict a fine upon him, although he was clearly of opinion it was a great annoyance, but as that could not be done he was bound to dismiss the complaint ; at the same tune he was of opinion that the police would be fully justified in future in taking any person into custody who would be found again suspending it, and the Court would put the law in full force against him. There was another summons against Mr. Bragg, the gunmaker, which met with a similar decision. Police-constable Weaver, 28, F. division, was charged with having, while on duty, committed a rape upon Constantina Jones, in a public thoroughfare. The case had been remanded from the previous day, to enable the prisoner to obtain legal assistance. The prosecutrix, a smartly dressed young woman, stated, that she had been married six years, but, during the last three weeks, owing to her husband's confinement in the hospital, she had been living with a friend at 3.5, Exeter-street, Strand (a brothel). The policeman had accosted her on Tuesday morning, at four o'clock, at the top of Bedford-street, on her way home, and had forced her into a yard leading to the back of St. Paul's Church, Covent-garden, where he effected his purpose, though she resisted him to the full extent of her ability, and at one time believed that she had broken her arm and back in the effort. She did not cry out, partly because he stopped her mouth, and also because she feared he might turn upon her and give her in charge, on the pretence that she had committed an offence. She told her husband of it, and also her friend, the next day, and by their advice preferred the charge against the prisoner, whom she had never seen before the morning in ques tion. In answer to the Magistrate's questions, she admitted there were houses on both sides of the yard (Church-place), and a cab-stand in the street. The prosecutrix objected to repeat the words used by the policeman, before committing the offence, but said she should not mind writing them. She was accordingly furnished with pen and paper, by which this part of the examination was rendered complete. She ap peared to write very well. The prosecutrix was cross-examined by Mr. Lewis, the solicitor, to who:n she was compelled to admit that, from the age of 14, when a gentleman eloped with her from her parents at Bristol, and seduced her, she had led a life of profligacy up to the time of her marriage, at the age of 16. She would not deny that she had been unfaithful to her husband (who was in Court), and, to crown the whole, confessed that she slept with another gentleman, the night after the alleged rape and assault in Church-place. She stated that she was 24 years of age. Mr. Twyroun said, after the admissions which had been made by the prosecutrix, he did not think he could entertain any further the very serious charge which she had made. The Court was densely crowded throughout the examination, principally by police-constables. The prisoner is said to have borne a good character in the force, and some few months since distinguished him self by taking a person into custody in spite of the interference of a superior officer, who happened to be a friend of the offender, and who was, consequently, punished and further suspended. WORSHIP -STREET. Yesterday a ruffianly-looking fellow, named Johnson, was charged with violently assaulting Mr. Everington, a surgeon residing at Hackney. The prosecutor stated, that at eight o'clock the preceding evening he was walking in company of a lady through the public footpath leading from Hag gerstone towards his own residence, when the lady's veil happened to waft forward by the wind and be came entangled with the union pin in his stock. Whilst in the act of disengaging it the prisoner and several other blackguards came out of an adjoining field and pelted them with stones and brickbats, one of which struck hint a violent blow on the back of his head. 'The prisoner said, in answer to the charge, that he RH his mates had observed the prosecutor and the lady who accompanied him in a position which implied great indelicacy, and that on his speaking to the pro.. secutor on the subject, the latter struck him a violent iblow, which knocked him down, and afterwards se verely kicked him. It had been his own intention to give the prosecutor into custody, but his inten tions had unfortunately been anticipated by his oppo nent. Mr. BINGHAM asked him what he was, and what le was doing in the field at that time of night ? The prisoner said that he was out of work at present, and Thad gone to the field with his mates to keep watch, in order to prevent persons conducting themselves as the prosecutor had. The policeman who had the case in hand said, that the neighbourhood was infested with fellows who were in the habit of prowling about for the purpose of making similar false charges against respectable persons of both sexes who were obliged to pass that way, in order to extort money from them. Mr. BINGHAM on this said, that however distressing it might be to the lady's feelings to attend in such a case, yet, as the prisoner positively denied the state ment made by the prosecutor, it was absolutely neces sary to hear her evidence, and he theretbre requested that she might be sent for. After the lapse of a short interval, a very mudest and lady-like young woman, the daughter of a gentle man in the India-house, attended, and fully confirmed the account given by the prosecutor as to the cause of their momentary stoppage, and added, that on being assailed by the prisoner and his companions with a shower of brickbats, she called out for the police, upon which one of the men seized hold of a small work-basket she was carrying in her hand, and turned it completely over. She would not go so far as to say that the men had robbed her, but her cambric handkerchief and purse, which were in the basket at the time, were both lost. The prisoner, in confirmation of his statement, called one of his companions, who gave a similar version of the affair to that which the prisoner had given, but with such a manifest appearance of false hood, that Mr. BINGHAM expressed his entire disbelief of all he had stated, and ordered him to be detained, in order that the prosecutor (who had been obliged by pro fessional business to leave the Court) might be con sulted as to indicting him for perjury. The MAGISTRATE then said the prisoner had been guilty of a most abominable outrage, greatly aggra vated by the false and cruel slander which he had at tempted to fix upon two persons of undoubted re spectability. He had no doubt whatever that he and his mates were lurking about the spot to assail the passengers with similar disgusting accusations, and thereby work upon their fears and extort money from them. In order to put a stop to such an infamous system, he should impose upon the prisoner the full penalty of 51., or in default of payment he should commit him to the House of Correction for a month. The money was not forthcoming, and the prisoner was removed in the van. Jane Dowling, the mother of the little girl Jane Kingston, whose complaint against the schoolmistress of the workhouse of the Bethnal-green Union we in serted in yesterday's paper, attended in Court and stated, that on her return from the Court to the workhouse on the preceding evening, the master of the house told her that herself and children should be placed in confinement, by themselves, until the case which had been sent to the sessions had been finally decided. She remonstrated against his so doing, and told him that she should return back to the Court and mention the circumstance to the Magistrate. The master answered, that in that case she must take all her children out with her, which she said she was willing to do ; but one of the overseers, who was standing by, said he should not allow the children to be taken out of their warm beds at that time of night, and that if she was resolved to go out of the house, she must go out alone. She said, that rather than be shut up by herself, she would prefer going out; and a messenger was then sent up to the place in which her husband was, who brought him down stairs with him, and they were both turned out of the house. Under these circumstances, she wished to know what she was to do, as she considered that she had been very harshly treated, having committed no other of. fence than that of taking the proceedings on the pre ceding day on behalf of her child, who had been so ill-used. Mr. BINGHAM said that he had no jurisdiction whatever over the internal regulations of the work house; but from the woman's own statement she had left the house at her own particular request. If, however, she had been unfairly treated, he should direct instructions to be given to her how to make out a written statement of her complaint, which she had only to take immediately to the Commissioners at Somerset-house, and it would be thoroughly in quired into, and if anything wrong had been done, he felt quite satisfied that she would have redress af forded her. The applicant thanked the magistrate, and went into the waiting-room adjoining the court. Henry Miller, William Johnson Thompson, and his wife and daughter,, and Samuel and Charlotte Edge, whose former examinations on almost innumerable charges of fraud and felony in all parts of the metro polis we have before noticed, were brought up for final examination, and, the cases against them having all been completed, the depositions were ord ere d t o b e taken, and the prisoners were fully committed to Newgate for trial. LLOYD'S SHIPPING, EAST INDIA SHIPPING. Arrivals at Singapore—Anonyme, Aug. 7, from Cal cutta, and sailed 9th to China; Coromandel, 9th, from Bombay, and sailed 10th to China; Malacca, from Cal cutta, and sailed 10th to China; Chatham, from Calcutta, and sailed 10th to China; Little Catherine, 10th, from Bombay; Ellen, 11th, from Glasgow; Stork, 11th, from MadraQ, and sailed 13th to China ; Anmundchunder, from Penang; Emelina, from Penang; Britomant, from Calcutta. Departures from Singapore—Emma, Aug. 7, to Pe nang; Wisanichon, 7th; Antelope, Bth; Paul Jones, 10th ; Castle Eden, 10th, to China; Archimedes, to Manilla; Druid, 9th, to Liverpool; British Merchant, 12th, to London. Loading—Helvellyn, for Cowes; D'Arcy, for Liver pool. Departures from Manilla—Macassar, June 15, to Hamburgh ; Marznolia, to Cork ; Brookshy, 24th, to Sydney; Colon, 25th, to Cadiz. Loading at Manilla—Vindicator, Fortescue, and Mis chief, for London; Chance, for Sydney; Pandora, for Cork; Marchioness of Douro, for Macao. Arrivals at Ascension—Agueda, previous to Sept. 18, from Bombay to Liverpool. Arrivals at New Zealand—Bella Marina and Sydney, previous to May 31, from London. Arrivals at An3panam—Elizabeth, from Sydney, and sailed to Manilla; Amazon, from and loading for 'China; Bazar and Rouble (American) ; Jean, Elise, June 24, from Bourbon. Departures from Singapore —Her Majesty's ship Dido and Plegethon, July 26, to Borneo; Harriet, 26th, Batavia ; Red Rover, 27th ; Earl of Balcarras and Pau lina, 27th; Scaleby Castle, 28th, to China; King Henry, 30th, Pedeir Coast ; Emma, Eugenia, 31st, Mauritius. DUTCH MAIL. THE HAGUE, Nov. s.—ln the sitting of the Second Chamber of the States-General, on Monday, the 4th, a royal message was received with a project of law relative to the excise on salt. In the sitting of the Second Chamber to-day, the Committee of petitioners made, through M. Tetting, a detailed report on a very great number of petitions, all relating to the proposed tariff of import, export, and transit duties. The report was ordered to be printed, and all the petitions to be laid on the table. A report was then made by the same Com mittee on many petitions of a different kind. The Dutch Railway Company publishes the ac count of the number of travellers, and the receipts, in the month of October, 1844 : Receipt; Number of travellers, 50,054 Previous amount..... 515,956 . Total .. BERLIN, OCT. 31 —Mensen Ernst, the celebrated Norwegian pedestrian traveller, who, according to many journals, died on a journey in search for the resources of the Nile, and was buried near the cataracts, is come to life again. According to the Journal of Aix-la-Chapelle, he has lately arrived in India, and has performed the journey from Constantinople to Calcutta and back on foot in fifty days. HAMBURGII, Nov. 2.—The number of ships that passed the Sound in the month of September, 1844, was— From the North Sea. 1,445 From the Baltic 2,671 Of which the English was— From the North Sea From the Baltic 315 668 Yesterday the half-yearly court of that old -esta blished institution, the British Lying-in Hospital for Ararried Women, in Brownlow-street, Long-acre, w as held, at which Mr. Edward Ward presided, Doctors H. Davies and Lee and other governors being present ; when it appeared that the relief afforded to the class of poor married women usually seeking the aid of the charity had been of the most effective kind, both as to in and out-door patients, and that the only regret to be en tertained was that neither the subscribers in point of number, nor the funds of the institution in point of amount, had permitted the admission to the full extent of that respectable but por class of women invariably seek ing its valuable assistance. It was, however, pleasing to those taking an interest in the charity to contemplate that by the improvements commenced and in progress in its immediate neighbourhood under the Acts for Metro politan Improvements, the buildings of the institution (its own freehold property) will soon become so advan tageously situate as to warrant the anticipation of a great imam in ita patronage. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of a great deal of public business. HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE CIT t 4' 1 1 0 . 8 4 1 :. ' 4 The Loan MAYOR stated t o th e C our t t . i t 1 's received her Majesty's most g rac i ous an ft e' address. P. Mr. Woodthorpe, the Clerk of the Court, read the Queen's answer, which was received with loud cheering. Upon the motion of Mr. Joiner DIXON, seconded by Mr. JUP/', her Majesty's answer was ordered to be entered on the journals of the Court. The RECORDER read the letter of Sir J. Graham to the Lord Mayor, announcing her Majesty's warm approbation of the manner of her reception in the City of London on the occasion of her visit upon the open ing of the Royal Exchange, and of the whole of the proceedings adopted. The letter, which was addressed " Sir. William Magnay, Baronet, Lord Mayor of London," was read most emphatically by the Learned Recorder, and loudly applauded. Sir PETER LAURIE and Mr. JCPP seconded the motion that this letter be entered on the journals of the Court. Upon the motion of Mr. Deputy HICKS, the report of the proceedings of the 18th of August, 1831, was read. That report related to the opening of London bridge, and the honour conferred upon the Lord Mayor of that p-riod. The Deputy said that he was induced to call for the reading of the document in consequence of the similarity of these two occasions. Sir PETER LAURIE stated that there was a differ ence between the two occasions. In the former in stance the communication that i the Baronetcy had been conferred was announced by the Secretary of State, but in the case of Sir William Magnay the Queen herself had thought proper, with her own lips, to con fer the dignity; and he (Sir Peter Laurie) had heard the expression fall from her Majesty's lips, and the citizens of London felt grateful for the honour. Mr. HEPPEL wished to know when the report of the Royal Exchange and Gresham Committee, stating the amount of the expense incurred, would be pro duced ? Mr. ANDERTON was anxious to learn when the building itself would be opened for the mercantile community ? Mr. JOIN DIXON said there were some defects in the tesselated pavement, which would be very soon remedied, and as soon as that objection was removed (as we understood Mr. Dixon), the area would be opened. The great rooms above stairs would not be completed before Christmas. THE CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL-NEW SCHOLARSHIP. Mr. HALE, the Chairman of the City of London School Committee, brought up the following report, which was received with the warmest applause : " To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled. " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, of your Committee for managing the affairs of the City of London School, do certify, that in the month of December last we received from Francis Hobler, Esq., of Bucklersbury, whose father was for many years a valuable and highly-respected officer of this Corporation, a communication offering for our accept ance a set of steel dies, which he had caused to be cut and engraved, for the purpose of striking a medal commemorating the name of the late Colonel Mark Beaufoy, F.R.S., and formerly a Member of Parlia ment (who was also a man eminent for his attain ments as a mathematician, and for his researches in many important departments of practical science), with a proposal that a medal to be struck from such dies, and to he called The Beaufoy Medal,' should be annually offered in coippetition amongst the pupils of the school, as a premium for proficiency in mathe matical knowledge ; and such offer of Mr. Hobler, which was also accompanied by a present to the library of the school of a splendid volume, containing part of the scientific investigations of Col. Beaufoy, was accepted by us with becoming acknowledgments for the kind consideration and regard then exhibited by him towards the school. " On the occasion of the first presentation of the Beaufoy Medal,' which took place at the annual dis tribution of prizes, presided over by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor on the 26th day of July last, your Committee had the extreme gratification of be ing informed, by a public announcement then made by Mr. Hobler, that Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy, Esq., of South Lambeth, s3n of the late Colonel Beaufoy, in testimony of his gratification at the respect shown to the memory of his father, and from a desire to prom o t e th e o bj ec t p ropose d b y the before-mentioned medal, and to encourage the study of mathematical science, with a view to the practical application thereof to the use and service of mankind, had authorised him to signify his intention of investing in the public funds, in the names of cer tain trustees, a sum of money, sufficient to produce, as dividends, the yearly sum of 50/., to be applied to the perpetual support of a scholarship, to be called the Beaufoy Scholarship,' to be established in con nexion with the City of London School, and to be enjoyed by pupils proceeding thence to the Univer sity of Cambridge. I. ‘ We have now the satisfaction of reporting that, in furtherance of this beneficent intention, Mr. Beau foy has since caused the sum of 1,717/. stock to be purchased in the Three per Cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities (which will yield a nett sum of 501. per annum, clear of any deduction for income-tax), in the names of the Right Hon. William Magnay, Lord Mayor ; Anthony Brown, Esq , Chamberlain ; Mr. Warren Starmea Hale, the Chairman of your Com mittee ; and Mr. Francis Hobler, as trustees for the purpose above-mentioned; and a deed of declaration of trusts, similar to the deed with respect to the esta blishment of the Times Scholarship, having been pre pared and settled under the advice of counsel, and also perused and approved by the Comptroller of the Chamber of the City, on behalf of tke Corporation, we beg to recommend the same for adoption by this Honourable Court, and that this City's seal should be accordingly fixed thereto. We feel assured that this Honourable Court, as Governors of the City of London School, will fully participate with us in the gratification afforded by so distinguished an act of beneficence as that which it has been our pleasing duty thus to submit to their notice. The advantage which must result to the school from the acquisition of so valuable a gift, and the stimulus which it will perpetually afford to the pupils for the study of practical, as well as theoretical science, combine to render it one of incalculable importance. A peculiar interest must also ever attach to the endowment, from the manner in which it has been bestowed ; springing as it does from the spontaneous liberality of a gentleman who has hitherto had not the slightest connexion with the school, or with the Corporation, beyond that of being a citizen of London ; in accomplishing an act of gene rosity rarely paralleled in an individual, and who has manifested a spirit of genuine philanthropy towards his fellow-citizens, which entitles him not only to their grateful thanks, but also to their lasting respect and regard. In order that the remem brance of so valuable a benefaction may be effectually preserved, and its object be the better promoted by being constantly kept in the view of those for whose benefit it is designed, we beg leave to recommend that a tablet, with a suitable inscription, commemorative of th e esta blishment of the 'Beaufoy Scholarship;' and also the armorial bearings of Mr. Bes,ufoy and of Mr. Hobler should be placed in a conspicuous part of the school, at the expense of this City, in like manner with the memorials already put up by the Directors of this Honourable Court with respect to the Times Scho larship,' and other benefactors to the school." Mr. HALE, in moving that the Court should re ceceive the report, gave a history of the magnificent gift presented by Mr. Beaufoy, and spoke in terms of high approbation of the conduct of Mr. Hobler upon the occasion. He observed that a twofold benefit was likely to arise from the circumstance. The public might say amongst themselves, " Go thou and do likewise ;" and the tablet would not only perpetuate the memory of the benefit, but provide against any future misappropriation.—(Cheers.) Mr. R. TAYLOR, in seconding the motion, said that, amidst all the censures of the Corporation, they had, at any rate, to boast that, young as their school was, it had several scholarships already established.—(Hear, hear.) He considered that the recommendation of the Committee was calculated to induce men of sta tion, fortune, and learning, to follow the example of Mr. Beaufoy. The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the City seal was set to the deed of trust. Upon the motion of Mr. HALE, seconded by Mr. STEVENS, a vote of thanks was voted to Mr. Beaufoy (for which see advertisement), and the thanks of the Court were ordered to he ornamentally written and presented to him, and to be advertised in the usual papers. STEAM- VESSELS. Mr. BEDFORD asked whether the Court of Alder men had done anything to prevent the crowding of the steam-vessels, and the other objections so long ex isting and complained of ? The LORD MAYOR stated that the Committee of Aldermen had framed a set of regulations for the go vernment of steam-vessels, and were waiting for some further information, after receiving which they would proceed immediately to the enforcement of what they considered to be necessary for the complete security of the public.—(Hear.) By those regulations the number of passengers would be limited. Mr. KING moved that the report of the R o y a l Re ception Committee, which was read at th e l as t Court, should be received and printed in the minutes. After some discussion the report was ordered to be printed, and the consideration of it was adjourned. WHOLESALE DEALERS. Mr. BEDFORD desired to put a question to the Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Court for the purpose of compelling the rich merchant's and wholesale dealers to become free. He wished to know why, upon it matter of such deep importance to their ' Reipptipn4, the directions of the Court had not i " * ); : 41.01 gip, while poor retail tradesmen were bar -0:4:141. . Octpressed by constant threats of actions? ,s t se., , vol, in the absence of the Chairman, said that . the Cbitmittee had experienced great difficulties in giving effect to the orders of the Court, because the inquests of the different wards had failed in most in stances to present the class of persons to whom the resolution of the Court principally applied. They had, however, now succeeded in obtaining the names of several, and the strongest measures would be adopted. Mr. GRESHAM said that a letter, signed " J. Pon tifex," ward clerk, had been sent to retailers in his ward, threatening them with prosecutions, and he wished toknow whether, pending the inquiry, these pro ceedings would he permitted to go on ?—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Jour/ Dlxorg said that, in his opinion, mea sures should be taken to bring the question to an immediate decision ; and that in the interval these vexatious actions ought to be suspended.—(Hear.) Mr. ASHURST (the Chairman, who then entered the Court) said it was only within the last few days the Committee had been able to make the selection from the numerous persons presented by the ward inquests. They had now selected persons who stood on the ward books as occupying the largest establishments in the different wards—men of station and means— competent to try the question of liability as wholesale dealers, which it was the object of the Court and the Committee to have fairly set at rest. Mr. GRESHAM—But ✓ what do you say as to the suspension of proceedings against the poor ? Mr. ASHURST requested that the City Solicitor be questioned on these points. The CITY SOLICITOR being called 'upon, said that in no single instance, since he had been in office, had he taken proceedings against any one, either whole sale or retail—poor or rich. Under a resolution of the Common Council, passed several years 'since, no action could be brought against non-freemen, except by the direction of the Chamberlain, and through the instrumentality of himself, as attorney of the Mayor's Court. He had received no such directions, and, of course, he had taken no such proceedings. The case, however, was now altered.' On Satur day last he received instructions from a Com mittee, under the authority of the Court, on which he should promptly act. A list of twenty three persons, principally merchants, bankers, and wholesale dealers, had been selected by the Com mittee from the ward inquest presentments, and he had received directions to write to them to take up their freedom, and, in case of non-compliance, to sue them for the penalties in the Mayor's Court. Upon investigation, it appeared that some of these persons were already free, and others were exempt, having served in the army or navy. As in all proceedings of this nature something depended upon the manner in which they were commenced, he had framed a letter to apprise the parties in the list of the measures in contemplation. That letter he had submitted to the approval of the Chairman and the Learned Town Clerk, under whose advice the Committee were acting, and, if it met their approbation, not a day should be lost in giving effect to their directions. Alderman LUCAS presented a petition' from the rector, churchwardens, and authorities of 'Gravesend, more especially of the parish of Milton, praying for assistance in building a new church. After some discussion, the petition was , ordered to lie upon the table. INFIRMARY FOR THE CURE OF CUTANEOUS DISEASES. Mr. ANDERTON presented the following petition against the establishment of an infirmary in Bridge street, Blackfriars, for the cure of cutaneous diseases : " To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor; Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London. " The petition of the undersigned, 'a Committee appointed on behalf of themselves and other the inhabitants of New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, and the adjacent parishes of St. Andrew-by the-Wardrobe, St. Ann, Blackfriais; and the Bridewell precinct, " Showeth,—That the inhabitants have heard, with the greatest alarm, that it is proposed to establish an infirmary for the cure of cutaneous diseases-at No. 25, in New Bridge-street, Blackfriars. • " That an infirmary for such purposes•conducted in a small building, without an inch of open ground at tached to it, and situated in a plpulous and -respect able neighbourhood like that of New Bridge-street, is not only totally unfit for a public.inWttition like that contemplated, but will create so great a nuisance to the neighbouring inhabitants as to drive many of the most respectable families from their present resi dences, and depreciate the value of, property not less to the tenants than to their landlords. " That the Governors of Bridewell Hospital, being the owners of a very considerable property in New Bridge-street, did, on the 13th day of October last, pass the following resolution, viz. " Resolved, that it is desirable that the .cstablish ment of the infirmary should be opposed by the Go vernors of this hospital, and that the clerk be di rected to make known the opiniOri of this Committee to the Apothecaries' Company, in the hope that they will not supply the said infirmary - With hot water, or give their countenance and support to it • and that the Governors will assist the inhabitants of the street and neighbourhood in preventing a continuance of the nuisance. " That in confirmation of the opinions of your peti tioners and other the inhabitants of the neighbour hood, and of the opinion expressed by the Governors of Bridewell Hospital, the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries have decided on withdrawing the per mission (conditionally granted) of supplying hot water to the Cutaneous Infirmary , and the Directors of the New River Company have also determined not to supply the said infirmary with cold water from the main. "That the house taken for the said infirmary is, to gether with many of the most re= ectable houses in the street and neighbourhood, the property of the Corporation. " Your petitioners, therefore, pray that your Ho nourable Court will take the subject of the, said nuisance into your consideration, and afford your aid and support in preventing the same from being esta blished. " JAMES ANDERTON, Bridewell-precinct. " J. HARTLEY, New Bridge-street. " JAMES BROMLEY, Churchwarden of St. Ann's, Blackfriars. _ " D. J. APLAUdIILAN, Printing-house-square. " DANIEL COCKERELL, Churchwarden o' St. Ann's, Bla,chfriars. " H. SILVERLOCK, Churchwarden of St. AL drew•-by-the-Wardrobe. " W. F. A. DELANE, 4, Chatham-pace. " NORTH, SIMPSON, and GRAHAM, gib, 36 and 37, New Bridge-street." Mr. ANDERTON supported the petition in a very resolute tone. The Corporation of London, he said, were bound to protect the citizens of London by all the means in their power against nuisances of all descrip tions. They had never failed to petition Parliament for the abatement of steam smoke, and those other abominations by which the public health, in so dense a population, is constantly assailed. They had com bated the various sources of annoyances that existed for a length of time; and here was a nuisance which had not grown up amongst them, but had been brought into the City in its entire condition, and oc cupied a building in one of its most populous neigh bourhoods.—(Hear.) It was quite impossible that the inhabitants of Bridge-street and the vicinity could remain there if an hospital, to and from which deplor able objects would be passing in constant succession, were to be permitted to be established in one of the houses. For himself he would say, that nothing could induce him to allow his family to reside in the street. A MEMBER-It is not on your side of the way. Mr. ANDERTON said that was perhaps so much the worse, for the objects would be seen from morning till night by those who resided opposite to the place to which they would have to resort.—(Hear, hear.) He might be told that the diseases which the hospital professed to remove were not contagious, and, there fore, could not be objectionable as regarded the health of the neighbourhood. He knew that the itch and the ringworm, the sufferers from which would form a mass of visitors to the institution, were contagious.— (Hear, hear.) Chatham-place was constantly re sorted to by nurses with children, and afforded an airy and wholesome recreation to the youthful branches of the neighbouring families. What might their condition be if they were surrounded by crowds of the objects whom the infirmary professed to aid ? —(Hear, hear.) The very size of the building selected for the purpose formed a capital objection in itself, for there was not an inch of ground belonging to it, and yet 700 or 800 individuals were expected to crawl there every week to taste of its advantages.— (Hear, hear.) Mr. Anderton moved that the petition be referred to the City Lands Committee, with direc tions to assist the petitioners to remove the nuisance. Mr. HARTLEY seconded the motion. He stated that the objections to the establishment of an in firmary in such a place were innumerable. They would be proved beyond all doubt by evidence which should be produced before the Committee which would be appointed. The thing was a complete de ception. The words, " suppprted by voluntary con tributions," was a gross misapplication of the language, for the projectors of the scheme sold them medicine and charged for their baths.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) It was also alleged, most modesty, that the infirmary was established to supply the deficiency of the royal hospitals, and other large establishments of the kind. Why, the royal hospitals never rejected a patient, and the poor were at all times supplied with everything requisite for their cure in those ad mirable establishments.—(Cheers.) But it was pretty well known that the philanthropic establishment for the cure of cutaneous diseases was a mere bubble, blown out by parties whose object was pecuniary profit. Why did not Mr. Moxey, who was the prime mover of the undertaking, give up part of his Commercial Hall for the undertaking ?—(Laughter.) No, no. Lie would not attempt to set pp eilch 4 concern in that neighbourhood. He (Mr. Hartley) trusted that the Court would see the necessity of scouting a de sign calculated to destroy a most respectable neigh bourhood, without in the slightest degree serving the poor, for whose benefit it was falsely declared to have been projected.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. MOGGERIDGE also contended in favour of the petition, and declared that the house was much too small to answer the purposes for which it was said to be intended, and that an hospital in such a situation would completely destroy the neighbourhood. Mr. WILLIAMS was against the petition, and in favour of the hospital. He really considered the objections to be imaginary. Those who were best qualified to judge had decidedly expressed an opinion that no public injury would be constituted by the esta blishment of an hospital there, and certainly no situa tion could be better adapted to the purposes than that which had b. en selected. He gave every credit to those who originated the plan for purity of intention, and stated that, at all events, if opposition should be persevered in, those who had: exerted themselves for the purpose of rendering such service to the poor, would be interrupted.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. STACEY was against the petitioners. The Court, he thought, ought not to be placed in the unpleasant situation of interfering between the miseries and the relief of their fellow-creatures. Alterman LUCAS strongly contended against the establishment of an hospital in such a place ; and as president of Bartholomew's Hospital declared that at that institution, and he was convinced at Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals, everything that was possible to be done was done for the patients, without regard either to trouble or expense.—(Hear, hear.) After some further discussion, in which Mr. R. Taylor advocated the cause of the petitioners, and Mr. Peacock and Mr. Corney supported the institu tion, the petition was, by a large majority, referred to the Committee. THE POLISH CAUSE. Mr. PEACOCK presuited a petition from Lard Dudley Stuart, upon the part of the Poish exiles, praying for the use of the Guildhall, for a ball in support of the Polish exiles. The motion was carried by a large majority The Court adjourned at a late hour. CALUMNY REFUTED. The following letter has been addressed by the late President of the Court of Session to the Editor of Blackwood's Magazine. The story to which it re fers is familiar with most of our readers, and probably was swallowed by some of them, from a belief that Sir Walter Scott would not give currency to such an atrocious accusation except on the best authority. It now appears he had no authority - whatever for the wicked charge:— TO THE EDITOR OF BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE. Edinburgh. Oct. 25, 1844. Sir,—l did not read Mr. Locithart's " Life of Sir W. Scott," and therefore it was only lately, and by mere accident, I heard that he has inserted an anec dote of Lord Braxfield, which, if ,it had been true, must for ever load his memory with indelible in famy. The story, in substance, understand to be this—That Lord Braxfield once tried a man for for gery at the circuit at Dumfries, who was not merely an acquaintance but an intimate friend of his Lordship, with whom he used to play at chess ; that he did this as coolly as if he had been a perfect stranger; that the man was found guilty; that he pronounced sentence of death upon him, and then added, " Now John, I think I have checkmated you now." More 'nnfeeling andyutal conduct it is hardly possible 16 iMagine. The moment I heard the story I contradicted it; as from my personal know ledge of Lord Braxfield, I was certain that it could not be true. Lord Braxfield certainly was not a polished man in his, manners ..and,, mow-a-days espe cially, would be thought a coarsemnan. But he was a kind-hearted man, - and a wiern Ad steady friend— intimately acquainted with all myfamily, and much esteemed by them all. I was undei great obligations to him for the countenance he showed me when I came to the bar, just sixty years ago, and therefore I was resolved to probe the matter to the bottom. For that purpose I directed the record of the south circuit to he carefully searched, and the result is, that Lord Braxtield never tried any man for forgery at Dumfries. But I was not satisfied with this, as it might have been said that Sir Walter had only mis taken the town, and that the thing might have hap pened at some of the other circuit towns. Therefore I then directed a search to be made of the records of all the other circuits of Scotland, during the whole time that Lord Braxfield sat on the'Justiciary Bench; and the result is, that his Lordship never tried any man for forgery at any of the circuits, except once at Stirling; and then the culprit, instead of being a friend, or even a common acquaintance of Lord Brax field's, was a miserable shopkeeper in the town of Falkirls, whose very name it is hardly possible he could have heard till he heard it read in the indict ment. Therefore I think I have effectually cleared his character from the ineffable infamy of such brutality. I understand that Mr. Lockhart became completely satisfied that this story did not apply to Lord Brax field; and therefore has set it down, in his second edi tion, to the credit, or rather to the discredit, not of Lord Braxfield, but of a " certain Judge." But this does not sufficiently clear Lord Braxfield of it, Be cause thousands may never see his second edition, or, if they did, might think that the,•story still related to Lord Braxfield, but that Mr. Lockhart had sup pressed his name out of delicacy to his family ; and, therefore, as your excellent Magazine has a more extensive circulation in Scotland than the Quarterly, I beg of you to give this letter an early place. I understand one circumstance which satisfied Mr. Lockhart that the story did not apply to Lord Braxfield is, that the family had assured him that he never played at chess,a fact of which could also have assured Mr. Lockhart. But the search of the records of Justiciary which I directed to be made, is the most satisfactory refutation of the infamous calumny ; and I cannot 'imagine how Sir Walter could have believed it fol. a. moment. Cer. , tainly he would not, if he had known Lord Brax field as intimately as I did. I owe a debt of grati tude to his memory, and am happy to have an oppor tunity of repaying it.—l am, Sir, your most obedient servant, ' C. HOPE. , VAUXHALL-BRIDGE COMPANY. - Yesterday the half yearly meeting of this Company took place at the George. and Vulture Tavern, Cornhill, Mr. Barron in the chair. The secretary read the report, from which it air peared that the Company held 2,5001. in Exchequer bills, 200 shares in the bridge, and an 'amount in un claimed dividends of 1,363/. The Lambeth Suspension bridge, after passing through a committee had been withdrawn. The Equitable Gas-light Company had applied for privilege to lay down their main, and had been allowed on payment of 1001. to the Company. The steam-boat pier had not yet been complet, d, owing to circumstanc , s. The toll had increased during the last six months by 3761.; the amount received for toll dur:ng the half-year was 5,8631. 9s. Scl. In conclusion, aIP committee recommended a dividend at 'the rate of 16;. Pe r ,hare. Aft r a short discussion, the report was adopted, and thanks were voted to the chairman, when the busi ness terminated. There is, we understand, a ward untenanted in our gaol, which has ever before boasted a regular supply an d succession of inhabitants. The last of the old race c' debtors was discharged on WednesdaY by an order of Judge Williams under Lord Brougham's Bill. We be lieve the debtors' ward was only once before empty sinc e the erection of the gaol, now upwards of forty-fou r years ; it then remained vacant only a fortnight. /"' 9 . r nearly three months its sole occupant has been the pri soner liberated last week, and the new law will probably prevent the introduction of an early successor.—Bill Herald. BIRTHS. On the 31st of August, at Poonah, the lady of Captain Paget W. Clarke, of the 2d Grenadier Regiment of the Boor bay Native Infantry, of a son. On the Ist inst., at Staple Fitzpaine, the lady of the R 4 ' l ' F. B. Portman, of a daughter. On the 3d inst., at Hampton, the lady of Thomas H. I ° l° berton, Esq., of a daughter. On the 3d inst., at Flintham Hall, Nottinghamshire, the lady of T. B. I'. Hildyard, Esq., of a son. On the 4th inst., at Hastings, the lady of John Sny el f' Esq., of a daughter. On the sth inst., at the Vicarage, Old Windsor, the la d y of the Rev. E. H. Hopper, of a daughter, still-born. On the sth inst., at Dyrham-park, the Hon. Mrs. TN" of a daughter. On the 6th inst., at Upper Clapton, Mrs. Calvert Toullo ill ' of a son. MARRIED. On the sth inst., at St. Nicholas Church, Brighton,,_.e Rev. J. L. Roberts, M.A., of New Inn Hall, Oxford, to API ' Augusta youngest daughter of the Rev. George Pr o D.D., of Kemp-town. cvg. On the sth inst., at St. Giles's Church, Norwich , Ty pr . Miller, Esq., M.A., Professor of Mineralogy in the IlLu c be sity of Cambridge, to Harriet Susan, second daughter of late R. V. Minty, Esq., of the Ordnance Civil Services DIED. At Hong-Kong, on the ;25th of July, Lieutenant genii Dallas, 98th Regiment, aged 2L On the 29th ult., in the parish of St. Mary, Novi 14 °13 ' Surrey, William Wallis, aged 87. rths t rliS On the 19th of August, near the Neilgherry Hills , Whitmore, On Esq ,of the B , ngal Civil Sevice. he 25th of August, at Almoran, r India, E. N . Broom' of the Benal Native Infantry On the 22d g 31st ult., at Edenbridge,. Kent, Mrs. B. Cole/ widow of tbe late Mr. John Cole. On the 3d inst., in Montagu-square, Charles Grant Udnl' Esq., Bengal Civil Ser at vice. ,kg. On the sth inst., Claptons House, Wooburn , 1311— J. Frtunow, Esq. On the 6th inst., at Farnham, the Rev. Joseph J0hn.,9310i: On the 6th inst., at Market Drayton, Sarah , the wile Captain Horner, late of her Majesty's 55th Regiment. sq, her On the 6th inst., in Portland-place, Iltid Majesty's Procurator-General. Hereford' On the 6th inst., at the Rectory, Bishopst ooe, shire, Uvedale Price, Esq. On the 6th inst., at Nutfield, Surrey, Mrs. Harris on. On the 7th inst., Henry, second son of T. B. Fleming, Champion-park, Camberwell. _ - Luubon: rrnited and rublished by Blls.ttuU 112, No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sup Office, N o 4 . a Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy , in the COANT Iliddleaes, FridayaToyember ii, 1844. A del TT tai Lt tior Mr, and Chi , 4 7 , ft 7 4 lie Lt Pelt trot it P. tify Ma Peci The tood rtrlN oft" In el THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 8 184*.