The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER Will be repeated a Grand Opera Seria, called THE DAUGHTER Cdr' ST. MARK. Lusignano, Mr. Burdini ; Andrea Corriere, Mr. gprrani ; Moneerugo, Mr. Weiss • Adolphe de Courcy, Mr. W. Aarrieon ; Catarina Camaro, n Miss hamforth To conclude with the celebrated Ballet of THE PERI. Achmet, Y. Desplaces; The Peri, Millie. Plunkett; Nourmahal, oldl:e. O'Bryan ; Aysha, Mrs. Payne. The Box.otfice is open daily, from Ten in the Morning until Six IN the Evening, where Private and Family Boxes, Stalls, Places, • Tseketa may be had on applisation to Mr. John Parsons. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. B. WEBSTER. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 19, Willbe _performed a New and Original Comedy, in Five Acts, called OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEARTS. Colonel Rocket Strickland ; Littleton Coke; Mr. Charles Mathes. s : Tom Coke Mr. Webster; Bob, Mr Buckstone; Josse Rural, Mr. W. Farren ; Me Countess of t 4.mplon, Mrs. W. Clifford ; Lady Alice Hawthorn adame Vestrls; Miss Rocket, Miss Julia Lennett. After which will be repeated a New Comic Drama, entitled SOMEBODYELSE. Hans Moritz, M . Charles Mathews; Minnie, igedarne Vestris. To -e folLwed by a New and Original Farce, called YOUNG IfSGLAND Major Martinet. Mr. S;rickland; Mr. John James P3oley, Mr. Buckstone; Mrs. P.olzt-, Mrs. Humby. f'rfvate Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a.Half each. Fiekets and Places to be had of Mr. I. T. Ar cher, at the Box.otlice, From fen till Five o'Clock. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Under the Direction of Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 19, Will be rApeated (by special permission of Charles Dickens, Esq.) a New Drama. entitled TvEC El MES. A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. Toby Veck, Mr. 0. Smith; Alderman Cute, Mr. Wright • Tugby, Mr. Wilkin eon ; S.r Joseph Rowley , Bart Mr. Paul Bedford ; Will Fern, Mr. Hudson ; Richard, Mr. Selby; Meggy Vtck, Miss Fortessue ; Mrs. Chickenstalk•..w, Mrs. Frank Matthews. After which a New Drama, entitled THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. Cour t Henry dei Beausoleil, Mr. Hudson ; Count Vanille, Mr Selby; The Mysterious Stranger, Madame Celeste ; Crequet, Mr. Wright; Chechore, Mr. 0 Smith. To conclude with THE UNFINISHED GENTLEMAN, in which Messrs. Wright, Selby, and Miss Woolgar will perform. Prompter, Mr. Gallot ; Principal Painter, Mr. Pitt ; Leader of the Band, Mr. Mellon.—Box-odice open from Eleven till Four. Private Boxes to be bad at the Theatre, and at all the principal Libraries. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL Moteoric Succe•a—Enlightening and Deligting—Second Night of " The Chimes. A Goblin ;mr - y." THIS EVENINI4 will he repeated, by the especial permission of Charles Dickens, Esq., THE CHIMES; A Goblin Story of Same Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. The Scenery from the Oririnal Sketches of Darrel Maclise, R.A Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., John Leech, and R. Doyle. The Story Dramatised by Mark Lemon and Gilbert A'Beckett. PRiNESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. LESSEE, Mr. J. M. MADDOX. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 19,. WPI be repeated a New Comic Opera, entitled THE CASTLE OF AYMON; or, The Four Brothers. Baron de Beamanotr, Mr. Walton ; Olivier,Horn, Mr. Allen; Allard, Mr. C Jun. ; Richard, !jr. Hime ; Retaaud, Mr. Mattacks; Ivon, Mr. Leffler; Hemline, Mdlle. Helen Condell ; Gertrude, Mrs. Fosbroke. Tobe succeeded by a New Comedietta, entitled THE WIDOW BEWITCHED. Mr. Clement FurnivaL Mr. Walter Lacy; Mrs. Lerimer, Mrs. Stirling To oonclaule wit", a New Grand Oriental Ballet, calkd THE F.,FICLIAN FED BELL. Audio (an Hindoo Peasant), M. Roussett ; P4lmira (the Sultan's Daughter), M.tlle. Caroline !toussett; Naire (War Friend), Mdlla Tereslne; Ding Dons (the Genii of the Bell), Miss 11 arsh .dL _ _ _ . Dress Circle, Se. ; Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallo is. Half-price at Nine o'clock—Dress Circle, 2s. 6d. ; boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery, 64 Private Boxes, I'wo Guineas .nd One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce nium Boxes, Two nuineas and a-Hilf. Doors to be opened at Half east Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock. The Bex..ot6ce, under the direction of Mr. W. Massingham. Private Pi.oxes and Free Admissions for the Season to be had at the fbeatre. 1 H : - !ATRE ROYAL LYCEUM, LATE ENGLISH OPERA. HOUSE. Under the Management et Mrs. KEELEY. Thh Re-engagement of Signor Camillo Sivori for Three Nights more—To-night, To-morrow, and Saturday. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER la, Will be repeated a New Farce, called A TRIP TO KISSINGEN. Characters by Messrs. Wigan, Kin och, Stanton, Collier, Yarnold, Turner, Stoker, and Ke -ley, Mrs. Wigan and Mrs. Keeley. To be succeeded by Paganini's Adak() and Rondo, La Clochctte, by Signor Cainil:o Sivori. Atter which, a New Farce, galled TO PERSONS ABOUT TO id ARR v. Supported by Messrs. F. Mathews, Meadows ,and Stoker, bliss A rdeo, Mrs. Wigan, and Mr.. V 6 ocilliage. To which will be added Paganini's Theme Burlesque and Carnaval de'Venlae, by Signor Candi° Sivori. In the course of the Evening A DIVERTISSEMENT, in 10 ich Jullien's Mazurka and Cellarms Valse will be danced by Mdlles. Louise and Adele, Miss James, and MI -s Fairhrother. To bo followed by THE SWISS COTTAGE. Characters by Messrs. Wigan, Yanold, Keeley, and Mrs. Keeley To conclude with a New Consedietta, entitled WATCH AND WARD. Tne characters by Messrs. F. Mathews, Kinloch, and A. Wigan; Miss Fairbrother i and Mrs. A. Wigan. PRICES OF Ai) tsSI 0 N.—Baleen y Boxes. Upper - B)xes, 35.; Pit, Sts. • Gallery, 6d. Second Price—Balcony B o xes, Sr. ; Upper Roses, Is 6X.; Pit, Is. Private Boxes on the italc , my Tler fl riding eight persons), Two Guineas. Private Boxes on the Second Tier (holding eight persons), One Guinea and a-Half. Private B xes en the Pit Tier (holding six persons), One thriven. Una Pox- dice is open from Ten to Four o'Clock, under the direc gien of Er. Gri.gan, late of Covent-garden Theatre. Great attraction every Evening—Squire Fatty's Hounds meet This Evening, at ASTLYY'3 ROYAL HEATRE OF ARTS. Prnnrietor and Massager, Mr. W. BATTY. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 11, Will he repeated a New Spectacle, entitled THE ROYAL FOX HUNT; or, The Race. Horse and Life's Course of Man and Steed ; lintr ,, doring unequalled Natioi.al Fetes. Real Fox-chase on the Stage send in the Circle by living Fo< and real Pack of Hounds, purchased Mr. Batty of Mr Tattersall, to realise this novel production. tg . vsom Rugs and other Sporting Features. 4ew Scenes of the Circle, and entir., change in the Feat+ of Horse manship. The Fir-t Week of the extraordinary B•itish VauiVr and Somersault Thrower, Mr Price ' and Mailer Chai!es Price, the Little Equestrian Wender, and other Nevelt es. Acting ana stage-manager, Mr. W D. Broadfoot. Box-office open frosty Elev en till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding Mr. R. Snsith daily. Mr. BATTY begs to a , quaint the Nobility, Gentry, and his Patron+, that, in coinpli ince with numerous requests from the country, and by spacial desire, he has formed ar aneements to pra sent, during the Christmas Ho idayi, a S ries of EQUESTRIAN MORNING FETES and FASHIONABLE DAY PERFORM. A NUE, to commence at Half past One, and terminate at Half-past Threc : consisting of Batt 's Splendid Scenes of Equitation in the C rcle. Thd , first Three Morning Performances will take place on Monday, Dec. 31, Wednesday, Jaa. 2,and Fr dey, Jan. 4. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 19. TIINRMOMETER, Lowest, 38 ; Highest, 42 ; Noon, 40. IlAnomE rEr, 30.13.--Wisp, N.N.E. NOTE.—The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and " Highest" denote the lowest and highest state of the Thermometer during the preceding twenty-four hours. All the other observations are made at noon. Water freezes at 32 ; 55 crt Thermometers is marked "Temperate," and on Barometers "Fair" is generally placed opposite to 30, and " Rain" at 29 ; but there is no certainty of dry weather when the mercury falls below 30. (4 ti WATER AT LONDOLIIRIDGE THIS DAY. MO Injg ... :ninutes afiicr 9 j Evening... 53 minutes after _ P 4ECOND EDITION. • ge ~s" v4v, 4,7 •/, "'AIN - let -4--kleof. ,b h • 31 0 tr, v (11 - 13 - JentiN zN,Atit LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1844. `We have been favoured, from highly respectable quarters, with the perusal of some corresPona:dnce addressed to them, by influential parties in tl, e nor th of Scotland, on the extreme hardship to be in flicted by the enactments of the 7 ar al 8 Vie., c. 112, fu , amending and consolidating " the laws Mating to merchant seamen; and f o p keeping a register of seamen," on the brave and hardy race of seamen who inhabit the north and north west shores of Caithness, Sutherland, and Inverness-shire, the remote districts of Tobermory, and the yet further isles and western highlands. Under what circumstances this hardship is likely to be experienced is well set forth in the following extracts : (From the Scottish Guardian, Dec. 3, 1844.) "MERCHANT SEAMEN.—We understand that the issue of the tickets commenced yesterday, at the various cuitom-houses in the United Kingdom, and, to avoid any misconstruction in the intention of the new law, it is declared that the persons requiring to be ticketed, comprise all In; le persons (subjects of her Majesty) forming part of the crews of vessels, whatever may be their eapacity, whether as mates, or other officers ; engineers, firemen, &c. ; stewards, servants, &c. ; boys, or apprentices ; the only persons exempt being f RB - masters of vessels, and surgeons. All open or decked boats are, for the purposes of the Act, considered vessels,' Whether employed in trading, fishing, or in pleasuriw, if as regards the Clyde, they pass Dumbarton Castle. Masters of vessels (whatever the size may be) eaktTying wry male person as part of the crew, except as aforesaid, after Ist of January next, without obtaining his register ticket, incurs a penalty of 101. for each person." (Extract of a Letter.) " If such a Bill has really been passed, with regard to the registration of sailors, as was represented in the para graph I sent you by last post, it would be good to repre sent to the proper authorities the great hardship of carrying it into execution on the west coast of Suther land, Russ-shire, Inverness-shire, , Ssc., as the agri cultural population are generally obliged to use boats to get ascir manure, often to carry their fuel, and even their potatoes, from one part of their farm to another. It should be observed that the arms of the sea along those coasts arc so land-lucked as often to be as smooth or smoother than fresh-water lakes, so that no skill is necessary in navigating them, and that the people em ployed on them and between them and the Isle of Skye, an our neighbourhood, are not to be considered as sailors, but landsmen. The sails of poor fishermen are often formed of a patch©d blanket from their beds, which goes in this country by the name of Kintail rig. Almost all the poor people possess a boat, or a share in a boat, and i: is their carriage to go to church in, to which there is often no other easy access. The application of the Bill ought to have been confined to persons navigating boats ten or fifteen miles from land, at least in this country." (Extract from another Letter.) " It will be a most dreadful hardship for the poor people of this country, and I far there is another grie vance still greater than any mentioned in the paragraph, that is, that the tickets can only be obtained from a custom-house. Now one of the nearest custom-houses to as is at Tobernsory-, the others are at Stornoway an d Inverness. We belong to the port of Inverness. y m , know that numbers of our poor boys gain the; r liveli hood by fishing, and it is monstrous to suppo',o that they should be required to go to Inverness to ge's a ticket. If a ticket was to cost them one shilling, it wo u ld b e a vast hardship ; a n d I believe many go ,o ' ut fishing w h o are not fit to go such a journey, both oid and young." ri To laws the wisd relating to merchant s ad eamen, it is b y no n means our int en ti on to except; we enter into the st a ti s ti ca l as well as can readilypolitical views Which may render the " Keepine- a men" an object of paramount importance Registryundeorfnitay- THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1844 possible exigencies. But we are satisfied that in framing the machinery of the Act before us the par ' ties who drew, and the Legislature which passed it, must have overlooked the extravagant injustice which its unmodified application to the most distant and inhospitable shores of the British islands, and between the most widely-separated points on those stormy coasts, their land-locked archipelago, and the wide oc casional tracks of barren country on the neighbour ing main, will inflict. From points thus remote, how ever, to the nearest port which can 'Boast a custom house ; or from some secluded creek on the unfre quented west, across the wildest districts of the Highlands, to some luckier and more favoured locality in the east which possesses a trade and a revenue station, to look after the duties to be collected on it, the unfortunate fisherman of the " far Lewis, or of any part of the rugged coast line be tween Far-off-Head and Loch Broom, must find his way, be it by land or by water, 60, 70, or 80 miles, to pay his hard-earned shilling and obtain his certi ficate, with which he may then return, at this the most inclement season of the year, over the same prolonged and dreary track, to the point from whence he set out ; for the Act is imperative as to the time within which the certificate must be obtained. The preamble declares that " from and after the Ist day of January; 1845, this Act shall take effect." Clause 3 enacts, among other things, that the owner or master or " every ship under the burden of 80 tons, employed as last aforesaid, shall, before employing any seaman or other person in the service of his ship, receive from every such seaman or other person his register ticket ; and shall retain the same until the service of such seaman or other person shall hare expired, and, at the expiration of such service, the master shall return the register ticket to the per son entitled thereto." In a subsequent clause a heavy penalty is inflicted on a master who shall fail to ex plain the meaning of such ticket and receive it, sub ject to be returned as aforesaid, from the seaman or other person so employed by him. And clause 20 expressly enacts that, " every person being a subject of her MAJsm, intending to serve on board any ship, subject to the provisions of this Act (except as master or physican, or sur geon, or apothecary), shall, and he is hereby re quired to provide himself with a register ticket for that purpose to apply personally at the General Re gister and Record Office of Seamen in London, or at the custom-houses of the several outports of the United Kingdom." This clause imposes a rather heavy pe nalty on the sailor or seaman for noncompliance with its conditions. Did the framers of the Act think at all of Scotland—of the Western Highlands and Isles —of their intrepid, frugal, and enterprising, though poor, fishermen ? If they did, did it never occur to them that to make their Act take effect from the Ist of January on such coasts, and on such seas, was to put to needless hazard and fatigue the lives of a noble set of fellows, whose lot has been already cast as one of laborious toil, and of incessant peril ? How are these fishermen, for example, of the Western Highlands and Isles to make their way from their rude homes to the nearest custom-house, in search of these certificates, when, for that purpose, they may have to traverse the whole distance between, say Tobermory and Stornaway, or Stornaway and Wick, or between Thurso and Inverness ? 11l can they afford the fee, albeit but one shilling; but still worse can they afford the sacri fice of time and occupation entailed by such long journeys or voyages after these certificates, to say nothing of the tempestuous weather and difficult country that interpose their formidable obstacles at this season. There will doubtless be numbers whom physical difficulties of this kind, as well as others, will effectually prevent from obtaining the document required; but the Act is imperative, and they will therefore be subject to the penalty. Surely, on a proper representation of this case in the proper quarters, an Order in Council might be ob tained, either suspending the levy of the penalty until the re-assembling of Parliament and the passing of a remedial Bill, or providing a more practicable and considerate channel for the procuring these certificates, by authorising the officers of Cus toms, always traversing some part or other of the districts in question, to issue them, on application, to fishermen or others. Such a relief is no more than is due to the bold seamen of the coasts of Ross shire, Inverness-shire, and Sutherland, of the Ork neys and the Western Isles, from whom both our navy, and our mercantile marine, at all times draw some of their best and most undaunted sailors. We have seen in the Liverpool Mercury a very sensible letter, conceived in terms of great moderation, on the subject of Brazilian sugars. Our readers are aware of the extraordinary interest which has been imparted to this question by some of the more ex citable opponents—(and in this country it has no friends)—of slavery. In their zeal to discourage, and if possible to punish, the States which still permit the practice of this odious insult upon humanity, these parties are for excluding from our ports all sugar the produce of Brazil, inasmuch as it is t- j inferred that it must have been slave-gre:„ . T he expiration of our seventeen years' treaty with that Power, having left our hands fr:a to deal with it a s we may see fit, we are urnc,t- to punish the sin it has committed in the toleration of slavery, but which sin we have, all.thaf, time, ourselves condoned and com promised tolerating it, in virtue of that very treaty.. For sugar was not the less raised by slave ls:oour, in Brazil, in consequence of her consenting to abandon the trade or importation of slaves. Brazil, herself, might honestly consent to, and even fulfil, this latter stipulation (though that is not now the question), and yet have not attempted to covenant with, or coerce, her own subjects to employ only free labour in the cultivation of sugar. Why, therefore, the tardy suggestions of our slumbering morality, and the period of the treaty's decease, should be coinci dent, it does seem difficult to account for, on any broad and intelligible principles. The correspondent of the Liverpool Mercury argues rightly, that if the terms of that treaty had been capable of producing any positive effect towards attaining its avowed object (the repression or extinction of slavery in Brazil), the lapse of seventeen years ought to have sufficed to develop that effect. But since the commer cial policy of this country has been—as well before as subsequently to the existence of that compact—to discourage the consumption of Brazilian sugar, we cannot perceive how that Brazilian question is di rectly affected by the New Sugar Bill of last session. The much-complained-of admission of the sugars of Venezuela, or even of the United States, leaves that question, therefore, entirely untouched, without adding to, or taking away, a single customer from Brazil. The continued exclusion of Brazilian sugars from our markets for consumption is no novelty, but j a mere perseverance in a system, long established, with a view to carry out that scheme of the universal abolition of slavery for which this country h already paid so enormous a sum. But to what t extent we have achieved that vast object, beyond the shores and limits of our own colonies, is, unh - Appilv, a point of by no means easy determination, Much less to be doubted is it, that, by attempting to enforce on other States the more than literal adoption of our anti slavery views, and to enforce our enactments in respect of those views, as if we were invoking a " lex talionis"—is a course more calculated to defeat than to advance the beneficial end, to the complete accomplishment of which we have ungrudgingly made such costly sacrifices. But what have we gained—what shall we acquire— in the shape of advantage to our own sugar consumer:, at home (who have some right co be consik. e d i n such a matter), by straining *le law of our own country, touching slavery and k slave trade, against the com merce o f foreign F ., ', a t es, willing to enter into trading relations with is of mutual benefit, on con dition of our receaving sugars, the fact of which havlng been rai,.. n d by free labour, cannot be certified '...1 the man,-.,,r prescribed by th e N ew S ugar Dut i es 13111, to qualify for admission the sugars of Manilla 'and other foreign possessions ? Simply this—the vindication and unity of a great principle; name]-- I the pri nc ipl e o f utterly discouraging the ernplo;,;znent ~, of Slave l a b our . But, in 'truth, we have m a d e ship wreck of this principle already, by admitting Bra zilian sugars for the purposes of "refining." Will all the boiling coppers and the pans of the White chapel houses--all the chemistry and manip.ulation of the German refiners settled in London or - at Liver pool—purify the product on which they 1 cork from the guilt of the slave labour employed in r wising that raw commodity ? Will the atrocity or -slavery (to which no men can be more indignantly alive than ourselves) be discharged with the scum and the im purities that are swept from its surface under the action of refining ? To give the " unity" which some parties so hotly contend for to this principle of slave labour discouragement, you should have pro hibited the importation of a single particle of Bra zilian-grown suga - r, under whatever circumstanees— with whatever ostensible destination imported. Its manufacture, here, for the dealers of Hamburgh and St. Petersburgh, will not eradicate the slave-growth taint it had acquired in the plantations of Aroibe or Pernambuco. But the theory of thus utterly excluding Brazilian, as slave-grown sugars, from our own markets, in volves one enormous error, whilst its practical en forcement entails a commensurate evil. The theory falsely assumes that, in foro conscientice, Govern ments (and we will suppose the case of those which are ten times more highly organised, efficient, and powerful, than that of Brazil) are to be held as responsible, as private individuals or communities are in respect of the conduct of their servants, for the good faith with which their subjects shall discharge the obligations contracted, on their behalf, by those Governments. But there are prejudices of habit and occupation, as well as of opinion, which the most wise and the best established Government can only eradicate or defeat with the aid of time, and by the exercise of consummate prudence. The toleration of negro slavery by a civilised Christian community is one of these prejudices; and in respect of any nation wherein it exists, no other nation has a right to look too harshly or implacably at the offences of individual citizens who have an immediate personal interest in contravening the stipulations entered into between their own SOVERNIGN and any other poten tate. If French smugglers succeed in largely running contraband goods into this country, all we can expect of a French Minister is his honourable assurance that every possible means have been adopted, on his side, to discourage and disavow such practices. No man would dream of retaliating on the legitimate com merce of France with England, by encouraging Eng lish smugglers to run prohibited English goods into France. We have done enough to vindicate our sincere anxiety for the abolition of slavery. Our , anti-Brazilian policy is becoming, like Hamlet's metaphysics, apt to "deal too curiously'' with diffi cult and unsatisfactory premises. So much for the theoretical error. The practical one is that which, in the letter before us, is thus succinctly disposed of; and we have nothing to add to it, unless it be to commend it to the reader's. best attention : " We see England making great sacrifices in life and treasure, in her attempts—hitherto fruitless—to abolish slavery and the slave trade in foreign countries. She deprives her population of the advantages to be derived from the admission of Brazil sugars, and from an ex tended and beneficial commerce with that country; and whilst she is doing this, her rivals of the Zollverein and elsewhere are preparing to profit by her anti-slavery policy. She stands alone in her refusal of slave sugars, and unless she can prevail upon other nations to join her and to ' do likewise,' and thus succeed in closing up all the European markets against them, can there be any reasonable expectation of her ever being able, solo, to accomplish the object' she has in view in keeping out those sugars ?" Madrid papers of the 11th instant have been re ceived. The report that the lives of REUGIFO and his comrades had been spared is confirmed, but we regret to find on the condition that they be banished for life. After such a mock trial, and the decision of the Supreme Military Tribunal, this sentence, so far from showing the royal clemency, is an act of savage cruelty. We placed no confidence in the reputed clemency of NARVAEZ, and have not, therefore been disappointed. MADRID BounsE, DECEMBER 1 1 .—There were 110,900,000 reals done in the Three per Cents. to day ; closing prices, 32 3-16 cash, and 32k at sixty days. Five per Cents. 21i at sixty days. Floating Debt, 77 cash. Coupons, 26k at sixty days. Though the opening of the French Chambers will ake place within a week, we find not one note of pre paration in the Opposition journals for an attack on the " Man of Ghent," or the discussion of any great political measure, which may endanger the Cabinet. For many years there has not been, at this season, such a monotonous dulness in the radical and war journals. The state of Spain, and the part which Lours Pim - arra and his Minister have taken in placing Queen CHRISTINA and NARVAEZ in power, will form a good subject for conteution, but even that now is scarcely alluded .to. Enough is said in the National and Constitutionnel about the military execu tions, and the other atrocities of the Government, the responsibility of France for the wre: ...e.ned and lamentable condition o f her near neighbour is kept almo s t entirely " in the back gr o u n d. The only question , at present that appear s to excite the sl . ; .,;ntest interest is the election of Pre sident of 'one Lower Chamb er , an d even t h at i s of the trifling description. Last year the Opposition preferred M. Durng to M. SAUZET, but were opposed by the Government, and SAUZET was elected. Now he is out of favour with the leading organ of the Cabinet, and with some reason. Most of our readers will remember the disgraceful scenes in the Chamber last session when the " pilgrimage to Belgrave square," the right of search, and some other political questions were discussed, and the utter inability of M. SAUZET to preserve order. The Journal des Debats admits the fact, and would, therefore, now have a President like M. DUPIN, who though not al ways obedient to the Court and Cabinet, is a consistent and constitutional politician, and moreover has a firmness of character which peculiarly fits him for preserving order in a popular assembly. The contrast between these two members is thus drawn by the Journal des Debats:—" The session is on the point of being opened, and the political discussions which have lately been so devoid of interest are about to be renewed. For our part, we have not been in clined from the mere pleasure of battling with the Opposition to fill our columns with eternal repetitions upon Mogadore and Otaheite. Everything must come to an end, even polemics; for when a question is exhausted, and is not revived by any new incident, the best thing that journalists can do is, in our opinion, to be silent. Why should not politics have a vaca tion ? All matters in difference will come into discussion in the Chambers. We are ready for the debate, and dread it not upon any one point. The thundering aspect assumed by the Opposition does not frighten us in the least degree. There is, how ever, one previous question upon which we wish to say a word, although it has not yet been broached; because, perhaps, in the present state o f thi ngs i t can scarcely bear the character of a party question. We niP.an the question of the Presidency. Who for this year is to be President of the Chamber of Deputies ? Last year we were desirous that M. DUPIN should be chosen, and we should this year have great pleasure in seeing him placed in the chair. Our motives for this preference are very simple. The Chamber has need of a good President, and we know not where it can find a better than in M. Durisi—one more firm, more capable of enlightening a debate while directing it. When the Chit- w iv e is tranquil, M. SAUZET fills the PresideL cy any man can. lie is mild and suffering the d e b a t e to go . polite as well as towards all . He can never b e ace - on without interference ' . calling th e Charol -.used of abu s in g th e p ower o f ,er to order. It at w to the question, or it s members when the Chamber is agitated, these same t;:ca('n;:aoltitbiees Braeinddetor h c i r m eat u e n e fi in t b t arr o c a o 3 n s t in ro e l n t t3 h , e b st u o t ri h n e . knows not how to foresee and prevent them; and when the tempest bursts, no one can be more sur prised and confounded than he is. This could not P.ll the world d ur i ng the fail to be remarked by last session. In our (-1 , 4 it appears that the presi dency of M. SAUZET h as had its day ; and, perhaps, it may be thought, th a t by keeping the same man too long in the arrd.chair he may become liable to fall aslee p . SAUZET was put in the place of M. DUPIN. iiho, during nine years filled with difficul- c .:.:oties; presided over the Chamber with honour. Why, therefore, should not M. Dorm replace M. SAuzzil We may be asked—Do you then regard M. DurlN as a Ministerial candidate ? We answer, no! because we know that in all times, and under whatever Ministry, M. Durex would reject this title with indignation. It is a prejudice which, ac cording to our view of it, bas been fixed in the illus trious orator by his long and glorious career under the Restoration. We can much less believe it pos- sible for M. Durex to become the candidate of any Opposition. We see in hicu only a candidate for the Chamber, if the Chamber wishes for a good Presi dent—nothing more." The following gossip about the Court and the French press appears in the Globe, another Ministerial paper : " The ignorance of people not only in Spain, but even in France, as to the nature of the relations of Conserva tive journals with the Conservative Cabinets, or with the Crown, is very singular. We believe that there is not in Europe a King who pays less attention to journals, whe ther they attack or defend him, than his Majesty Louis Philippe. The King does not ascribe to the press so great an influence as that which is generally ascribed to it. In our opinion, it is proper not only to govern men, but, above all, to govern ideas, and journalism is the most active means of propagating ideas, good or bad. We think, therefore, that the Government should govern the press like all other things. The King of the French, however, if he has always ascribed immense importance to the two other powers of the state, has only ascribed a very slight one to the fourth power, namely, the press. • It is a fact, known by all who ap proach the King's person, that he does not read the journals—the Debats and the Globe, no more than the Reforme and the National. As to the Princes, there is more than one of them who reads the National in pre ference to the Debate, and the Reforme in preference to the Globe, and in this they show good sense, for it is better to have one's eye on one ' s adversaries than one's supporters. In short, we may affirm that what the Radical journals call the Court is entirely a stranger to the impulses and political direction of the Conservative press. It is the Debate that is particularly accused of being a dependent on royalty. This accusation is wholly unmerited. There is nothing more independent, or more disinterested, than the devotedness of the Debats to the monarchy of July." The National justly attacks the Journal des Debats for the article on the pardon of Maio:aro and his friends, and for describing this as a proof of the courage and strength of the NARVAZZ Ministry. It says : • "Clemency appeared when the Supreme Tribunal was about to quash the sentence. But see how this clemency was exercised when demanded with suppliant voice by an afflicted mother and by a whole provincial deputa tion. See how it is exercised by this pro-Consul, who, after having had twelve Arragonese shot, has had eight others put to death without the slightest appearance of trial I See how it is used towards the Generals who have grown old in the service of their country, who are escorted even to their prison by armed soldiers ! See also how mild it is towards all who are proscribed in the whole extent of the territory See if this clemency has a word to say in order to deliver those suspected per sons of Tarragona, who have been imprisoned because they would not consenetokive 200,000 reels, to avoid the exile that was to be inflicted on them I The clemency of Narvaez I the amenity of the tiger Truly, that would be a curious spectacle. The Debate has seized on the first opportunity to obtain an amnesty for some severe expressions against the savage brutality of these lawless and faithless tyrants. But, if it reads the Minis terial press of Madrid, it will perceive that it has much more to do before beipg pardoned." THE BOVESV—TuzsDAy, Dzc. 17. First Highest Lowest Last Prim Price. Price. Price. French Five per Cents.; .. 120 8.5 .. 120' 85 .• 120 25 .. 120 25 Three per Cents..... 85 05 • • 8 5 10 .. 85 .. 85 New Loan •••••••. 86 65 .• 86 bb .. 86 40 .. 86 40 Bank of France 3255 ..3255 —3255 ..3255 Laitltte Bank, I,ooof. Shareslll2 50 ..1112 50 ..1112 10 ..1112 18 Belgian Bank ........ .. 626 .. 640 .. 626 .. 640 Belgian Fives, 1840 • • lO4 • • 104 • • 104 • • 104 1842 1061 .. 1061 .. lo st •• 1061. Dutch Two and-a- Half 64 .• . 64 •64 Spanish Threes •••• • • • 37} •• 37 1 • • 37 1 •• i Portuguese Five per Cents 57 •• 5 7 •• 67 •• 57 Neapolitan•••••••••• •• • 98_60 . 98 . 60 .. _9B 60 •• 98 60 Roman ••••• •• •. RAILWAY SHARES. St. Germain •••• •• .• •.1015 •• 1015 —um „lois Versailles, R. 8... • • .... 495 • • 510 • • 405 .. L.B.•••••• •••• •• 402 50 .• 402 50 .. 398 .. 395 Ronan ........ •• ••••• . 104 2 .55 . 1042 50 ..1049 50 Rouen to Havre... •••• • .. 802 50 • • SOS Orleans •• • • ..... ••• • -• ••1125 ..1130 Strasburg to Bale .......... 310 Avignon to Marseilles—. •• 935 .. SOO ..1110 ..1042 50 •• 805 _ - .. 316 25 • 310 ••1310 25 .. 935 •• 927 50 .. 927 50 RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT, J.4.1c 3. St. Germain •• • • 102 S ..1025 ..1020 ••1020 Versailles, R. 8... 498 .. 515 .. 495 • • 500 L. 8......• ...... 395 .. 405 .. 392 50 .. 393 75 Rouen . .....•• •.1050 .•1050 ••1036 25 ••1837 50 Rouen to:Havre BO5 .. 805 .. 800 .. 800 Orleans . .1127 50 ..1132 58 ..1105 ..1110 Strasburg to Bale-- •• •• 308 75 .. 318 75 .• 312 50 .. 312 50 Avignon to Marseilles...—. 932 50 .• 932 50 . 920 920 THIS DAY'S NEWS COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.) ;Sittings in London, before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.) PARISH OF WALBROOK. GIBBS AND ANOTHER V. FLIGHT AND ANOTHER. This case, which has been looked to with great inte rest in the City, and has been kept back from day to day since the commencement of the special jury sittings, from various interruptions, came on at length this morn ing, at half-past nine o'clock. Sir Thomas Wilde and Mr. Sergeant Channell (with whom were Mr. Cowan), 'conducted the case of the plaintiffs ; Mr. Sergeant Talfourd and Mr. Adolphus ap peared for the defendants. of Mr. , C e r o w to x r st o 0 0 0 p v e e n r e d p o t s h s o e s p s i l o e n ad o i f ni on g c s ert T a i h n i a b o w o a k s s , an t h a e e p t f p e h o e d n a ' n s , t s W h a a l b d r o u o o k l a , w in fol t ly he se C iz i e ty d ofan dLoottnrdroitiezi-wawbiacyh. ro- The defendants pl ea d e d t h at the plaintiff perty of the plai n tiff s , as churchwardens of the parish o th f e S d t wore not the churchwardens of St. Stephen's, "" had not possessed the bo , ' ~;; • al rc9 wardens; and tt.: b k ; that they church general i .ses question as such the defendants pleaded on the 'P. ...sue that they were not guilty. :sin pleadings having been read, Sir T. WILDE addressed the jury for the plaintiffs. They had been informed by his Learned Friend that this action was brought by the Lord Mayor and another gentleman against the defendants, to obtain possession of certain books which they unlawfully withheld. The plaintiffs claimed the custody of these books as church wardens of the pariah of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and the defendants denied that thesplamtiffs were entitled in the character of churchwardens, which they set up. The question now brought before this Court was whether, in common law, the parish of St. Stephen's was properly governed by a select vestry, or by an open vestry of the parishioners at large. It;would be:shown, on the part of the plaintiffs, that, from time immemorial, the parishihad never been governed by the parishioners at large. Docu ments, as far back as the year 1642, would be laid before the Court to prove that, beyond all question, the parish was at that time governed by a select vestry. But the defendants thought the parishioners at large were entitled to take part in the vestry, and this cause was raised to try that question. The plaintiffs had been subjected to much animadversion on account of the course which they had thought it their duty to take in this matter; but he should b e a bl e t o show the jury on what aligh t foundations a great deal of obloquy tephe n 's, might W heapedvvaspossessed up. The pari s h o f St. of certain estates, which were rested in tr us t ees, and, as these died off, salbro b o e k others were appointed, and the estates were conveyed to them. Of course, there were besides the ordinary officers of the parish ; and thus the affairs of the parish and the estates were managed until September in the last year. In the preceding .month of August, some gentle men called upon Mr. Alderman Gibbs—now the Lord Mayor of London—and asked to see the parish accounts. The Lord Mayor answered them in the most courteous matinee, and told them that he would call a vestry, and consult that body as to whether he should comply with the demand or not, The vestry was called, but, instead of Waiting:for the result, the defendants thought proper to raise quite another question. A number of gentlemen rushed into the Vestry-room, and took possession of the books; de claring that ft was an ° ' n vestry. Tlitise wh o tamed the select ve s try thtltight it was their duty to maintain the rights or the parish. For as it had been since the year 1200 the custom of the parish to be governed by a select vestry, that had become a right of the parish, and it was their duty to mai n t a i n it, This first interruption took place in August. In September another attempt to hold a select vestry ) foP the purpose of passing the ac coutitsy Wits nude, and with a like result. The church wardens then found it necessary to eall in the aid of the civil force to prevent this irruption ; and at the first legal meeting of the vestry the Lord Mayor produced his accounts, and they were passed item by item. The whole of the accounts, from beginning to end, were printed and distributed at the expense of the Lord Mayor, who had been described as so obstinate that he refused to Make any such statement. A thousand copies were also printed, in consequence of the noise made in the Common Council on the subject, and were generally distributed. Since that time a bill in Chancery had been filed against the select vestry, under the mistaken supposition that they were trustees of the estates ; and the Lord Mayor's accounts, not only as trustee, but also as churchwarden, were now under examination. He should make no allusion to anything that had occurred in the course of that investigation. In consequence of the attempt to break in upon the select vestry in the manner that he had stated it was thought that, instead of the one side continuing to insist on their right to attend, and the other resisting that right, it would be better that the question should be sub mitted to legal decision. The present plaintiffs were the churchwardens appointed by the select vestry, and the defendants had been appointed to the same office by the parishioners at large. The question now was, in fact, who wore the legal churchwardens? The parish books were admitted to have been taken, and the action was brought merely to try the question whether the plaintiffs or the defendants were entitled to their possession. He did not know what were the grounds upon which his Learned Friend meant to resist the claims of the select vestry. He would state, however, very shortly what had been the course pursued in the parish from the earliest period. The parish books begun in the year 1648, and ho should divide the interval from that year down to the present time, into certain periods, stopping where there was any difference or alteration. In 1648 a certain number - of persons would be found acting as the vestry. It would not be in the power of the parties to show by evidence of antecedent facts how those persons were appointed, but it would satisfac torily appear what was the subsequent course of ap pointment. The first series would be from 1648 to 1672. During that time they could find the same persons always attending, with the exception that every person who, subsequently to that served the office of church warden, or paid the fine, became a vestryman, and acted in that chara c t er . It would seem, in fact, that the ancient vestry was composed of the by-gone parish officers, who had either served the office of churchwarden, or been fined. In 1672 a document came forth which could, he supposed, be made the subject of ob servation by his Learned Friend. In that year a faculty was issued by the authority of the Bishop, which ordered that the select vestry should con sist of certain persons, embracing the old 'select ves try and other individuals. It would be found that some of those persons afterwards attended, and that a consi derable proportion of them were elected to the office of churchwarden, and thus became select vestrymen by virtue of their nomination. From 1672 to 1699 the same course was uniformly adopted ; that is to say, those who had served or had been fined, were constantly added to the existing body. From 1699 to 1734 the same course was still pursued ; the mode of initiation into the office of vestryman continued to be what he had stated ; and the same remark would apply to the period between 1735 and 1834. In 1834, an Act of Par liament was passed which constituted church wardens and overseers a sort of corporation for the pur pose of their taking the property of the parish by suc cession. Formerly, where property belonged to the parish, it was necessary to convey it from one set of persons to another, who represented the parish, but under this Act the property went to the successors of the existing vestry without any new instruments or deeds of conveyance. The overseers then became trustees of the parish, and that was the only addition which had been made. Now this was the history of the vestry up to the present time. With the exception caused by the faculty, there had been one uniform system from first to last. What were the deviations which his Learned Friends would attempt to show ; or what the grounds upon which the legality of this vestry would be attacked, it was impossible far him to conjecture. It could hardly be contended that ei select vestry was an unconsti tutional body, or that it could not exist. It seldom happened in this country that large bodies of men having a common interest regulated their affairs in their own persons. Such matters were usually entrusted to governors, directors, masters, or other parties, who acted on behalf of the rest. It was not remarkable, therefore, that in olden times certain parishes came to a resolution that certain parties should be chosen as a se lect vestry to manage the parochial concerns. The jury would find no instance of an open vestry in that parish. During the time to which he had referred, the vestry was always composed of a certain number of individuals, who were appointed in a particular manner to fill the office. His Learned Friend might possibly contend that the faculty had made some alteration ; but he need not remind his Lordship that a case had been decided in which that point had been ineffectually raised. He (Sir T. Wilde) thought the whole dispute would resolve it self into a question of law ; and if so, all that could be done on that eccasion was to insure the trial of that question in the most effectual manner. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—The better course would be to turn it into a special case, or a special verdict. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD did not apprehend that on the facts of the case there would ultimately be any dis pute. It would, he thought, be desirable for his Learned Friend and himself to agree as to the effect of certain portions of the evidence as the foundation of a case. He believed he was perfectly correct in stating that in 1648 certain persons would be found acting as the vestry of St. Stephen's, and that they continued so to act down to the time of the great fire in 1666. Henry Phillips was then called and examined for the plaintiff as to certain entries in the first parish book, commmencing in '1648. The Learned Counsel were consulting as to certain portions of the evidence, when The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said if there was any nice matter of account to be decided, it would be better that it should be referred to some barrister. The witness then went over a great deal of documen tary evidence for the purpose of showing how the church wardens of St. Stephen, Walbrook, bad been chosen since the time of Henry 111., from which it appeared, that it had been the habit of re-electing persons as churchwardens of the parish. At this point of the argument, Mr. Sergeant CHANNELL stated that it was his inten tion to argue that the churchwardens of the parish were elected every year. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—WeII, I suppose from the evidence that has been given that it may be taken that there is no re-election during the intervening years as churchwarden The examination of the witness was then resumed, and concluded in favour of the plaintiff. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD cross-examined Mr. Phillips as to the attendance of several individuals who formed the committee and churchwardens of the parish of St. Stephen, Walbrook, and for the purpose of endeavour ing to prove that the vestry, instead of being perpetual, was elected annually. From 1699 to 1734 the documents showed that there were never less than eight vestrymen at any vestry meeting. In the majority of instances the churchwardens' accounts were audited annually, but there were some exceptions. From 1700 to 1734, new churchwardens were elected for the parish of St. Stephen Walbrook, every year ; a nd f rom 1 7 75 to 1843, at the different vestry meetings that took place in the parish there was seldom more than five present, in many instances only three ; and yet at these meetings rates were made for repairs of the church, a rate in flicted for the relief of the poor, and churchwardens chosen. On the 2d of May, 1833, a vestry met, con sisting of only five, among whom was Mr. Alderman Gibbs, at which a vote of thanks was voted to him, and a resolution come to that the streets should be peram bulated on Ascension Day. In his re-examination by Mr. Sergeant CHANNELL—In April, 1813, it appeared that in consequence of the refusal of Mr. Motteux to undertake the office of churchwarden, Mr. Michael Gibbs was requested to suffer himself to be re-elected, to which he (as churchwarden) acceded, and Mr. Motteux was fined 20/. for refusing to serve. From 1813 to 1824 a new person was elected churchwarden every year. From 1826 to 1840 Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Atkins were re-elected each year. In 1841, 1842, and 1843, Alderman Gibbs and Mr. W. E. Eddison were elected churchwardens. At each election of Mr. Alderman Gibbs as churchwar den, there was a vote of thanks to him, and request that he would continue to serve. On the 2d March, 1814, there was a vote of thanks to him, and that vote was directed to be published in the newspapers. There were on these occasions generally five persons present, exclusive of the Alderman himself. Overseers were first appointed by the vestry, on the Ist of April, 1818. The practice of appointing auditors of the churchwardens' accounts ap peared to have existed down to 1824. There bad been no appointment of auditors since 1825, when Mr. Gibbs and three others had been appointed auditors for that year. In April, 1885, two gentlemen attended as vestrymen, and voted, who had not served the office of church warden, but had served the office of overseer. One of these gentlemen was Mr. Whittaker, one of the present plaintiffs. ,He was chosen churchwarden in 1844. Abraham Brown, one of the Lord Mayor's servants, proved the distribution of copies of the accounts to every house in the parish in January last, and the posting we the church-door, on last Easter Sunday, of a notice for a select vestry for the election of churchwarden. Mr Phillipps, the vestry-clerk appointed by the select vestry, proved the election of Mr. Alderman Gibbs and Mr. Whittaker as church wardens, by the select vestry, bn the 12th of April, 1844. Seven persons attended that meeting. Two of the persons then present had 'never been church wardens, but they were the overseers for the year, and attended in that capacity. On endea vouring to make their way into the vestry-room on that occasion, they found the room full and Dr. Croly in the chair. . The parties occupying the vestry-room were requested to leave the room, which they did not do, whereupon a member of the :elect vestry moved an adjournment to Alderman Gibbs's house, where the election took place. On his cross-examination, witness said he had known Mr. Gibbs as a resident in the parish for thirty years, without carrying on any business. The Alderman was the chairman at the meeting at Alderman Gibbs's house. The question of adjournment was put by Mr. Atkins. On his re-examination, he stated that it was usual for the churchwarden to take the chair at the meetings of the select vestry when the rector was 'absent. There were, at the present moment, eight select vestrymen, who had served or fined for the office of churchwarden. He was present when the plaintiffs were sworn in, and also when defendants were sworn in. It was all done at the same meeting. This concluded the case for the plaintiff. Lord Chief Justice TINDAL suggested the propriety of the whole being turned into a special case for the opinion of the Court above. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD said, undoubtedly the greater number of the points at issue must ultimately come be fore the Court above for their decision ; but there were certain points on which he wished to take the opinion of the jury. Sir THOMAS WILDE would certainly have argued the question in a very different way, if he had thought it bad been intended to take the opinion of the jury on any of the points. Ho had understoood that it had been arranged that it should be turned into a special case. Lord Chief Justice TINDAL had also so understood it. Mr. Sergeant TALPOURD then commenced his ad , dress to the jury, and admitted that the custom of the parish of St. Stephen's Walbrook, by means of a select vestry, had been proved, but he wished to have the opinion of the jury as to whether that custom was not subject to two condi tions, because, if it were not, he should contend that the custom was so absurd and mischievous in itself, as to be bad in law. As a proof of the mischief of the custom without those conditions, he would allude to the very case of Alderman Gibbs himself. He did not mean to throw any imputation on the character of that gentle man, he hoped, nay, ho believed, that he had acted ho nestly and honourably, and should so believe until it were proved otherwise; but could they be surprised when they found him re-electing himself for twenty suc cessive years, never having his accounts audited during the whole of that time—could they wonder if reports derogatory to his character got into cir culation? The mischiefs arising from such a custom were very great, and no one had been, he believed, a greater sufferer by those mischiefs than Mr. Gibbs himself. He wished, therefore, to ask the jury whether the custom was not subject to these two conditions—first, that the number of select vestrymen should never be lower than eight ; and secondly, that each year fresh blood, as it were, should be infused into the select vestry by the election of some one as churchwarden from the body of the parishioners. Lord Chief Justice TINDAL—Those are purely ques tions of law, which the jury must take from me ; and I would much rather not be called upon to give an opinion at once upon such nice and delicate questions—l tell you candidly I do not like to give an opinion, until I have had more time to consider the subject. Really you had better take a special verdict ; for suppose you do take the opinion of the jury, you will gain nothing by it. It will come on again as a motion for a new trial. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD, after a long consultation with his clients, expressed his regret at being obliged to proceed. For himself he should strongly advise them to accede to the suggestion of the Court, but they were desirous of taking the opinion of the _ jury as to the condition of the election of a new church warden every year. Lord Chief Justice TINDAI—Why, that is a mere matter of law, and it might be a point for consideration whether the proper method of trying that question is not by applying for a mandamus to the select vestry, to compel them to proceed to suck election. You should decide for yourself, Brother Talfourd, in such a case. There is not a point in dispute. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD would take upon himself the responsibility of acceding to: the suggestion of the Court, at whatever risk of blame. Lord Chief Justice TINDAL—NO one can blame you. Ever since Westminster Hall has been in existence, such a case would have been made a special one. Sir T. WILDE suggested the propriety of their agree ing to name some gentlemai as referee, in case any dis pute should arise as to the terms in which the verdict should be drawn up, although he did not apprehend any such difference. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD, although entertaining no apprehension on the subject, IN ould accede to the pro position. The case, although it had excited great feeling out of doors, had not been conducted with any degree of hostility in the Court. He had cautiously abstained from saying anything that could hurt the feelings of Mr. Alderman Gibbs. No hostility was entertained towards him, and the parishioners would be inclined to address him in the words of Othello to Michael Cassio :—" Michael, I love thee well ; but nevermore be officer of mine."— (A laugh.). LordCbiefJustice TINDAL—The books shall be open to both parties, and if there is any book or document which has not been given in evidence, which can tend to elucidate the case, either party may put it in. The jury, under the direction of the Judge, then found a verdict nominally for the plaintiff, subject to a special case, and to be turned into a special verdict, if it should be deemed requisite. CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.) SHOPLIFTING.—Leah Mary Roper, spinster, aged 32 , was placed at the bar, charged with stealing on the 2d of December, from Mr. Hardwick, of Holborn-hill, 48 yards of satinet, value six guineas. It appeared from the evidence of the shopman, that on the day in question the prisoner came to Mr. Hardwick's shop, and bought some articles to the amount of about Gs. When she had purchased the articles she said she wanted to go out for some time, and did so, leaving half-a-sovereign in the hands of the shopman. She re mained out for a short time, and returned to take away the articles she bought. While she was out a piece of satinet was found to be missirg, and the prisoner was arrested. The satinet was found to have been pawned by the prisoner while she was out for 4/. The evidence left no doubt of the prisoner's guilt. The jury found her Guilty, and the Court sentenced her to one year's imprisonment, with hard labour. THE LATE BANK FORGERY.—TRIAL OF BURGESS. William Burgess, aged 23, lately a clerk in the Bank of England, was then placed at the bar, charged with frau dulently aiding and assisting a person unknown to per sonate an owner of a certain share of, and in a public stock, value 8,2004 with intent to defraud William Oxenford thereof. Mr. J. S. WORTLEY (with whom were Mr. Adolphus and Mr. Clarkson), stated the case for the prosecution. He began by saying that the jury, as commercial inpn, would give that consideration to the case which its im portance required. He would beg of them not to be swayed by anything which they might have heard here tofore with respect to this case. The prisoner had been a clerk in the Bank of England for about four years, and that situation gave him facilities for committing the fraud for which he was now being tried. The Learned Gentleman then detailed the manner in which transfers of stock took place, and said the prisoner had made use of most ingenious means to defraud Mr. Oxenford of 8,2001. The Learned Gentleman then went over the facts of the case as detailed in the following evidence:— Wm. Smee was the first witness called.—l am the chief accountant at the Bank. I produce a copy of the ac count of William Oxenford. I took it from the ledger. On being cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN (who, with Mr. Charnoek, conducted the defence,) the witness said the copy was accurate in every respect. Re-examined—The prisoner had access to all the books in .the Transfer-office. He was employed for some time in the Bank. He obtained leave of absence from the dd of September to the sth. The prisoner did not return on the sth. William Oxenford was then examined—l live in John-street, Bedford-row. I was formerly in the Cus tom-house. I had 8,2001, in the Bank on the 3d of eicp tetnber last. I never transferred or consented to transfer any part of that money. I never signed any document for that purpose. I don't know the prisoner at the bar, or a person named Joseph Elder. I never wrote this name—it is a forgery. Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—I always received my dividends personally. Richard Bloro examined by Mr. CLARKSON—I am one of the clerks in the Consol-office. I know Mr. Sutton, a clerk in the office. I got from Mr. Sutton two tickets, which I produce. I cannot say whether Ire ceived them from Sutton or took them out of the box. The prisoner was there. He told me to transfer two tickets in the name of Oxenford. I said I had transferred them. He asked me to enter them immediately as Mr. Oxenford was waiting. I proceeded to do so in the transfer-hook. While the prisoner was waiting I asked hitn if he knew Mr. Oxenford. He said he was an old friend of his. I said he must be getting an old man now. He said he was. When I completed I asked where Mr. Oxenford was. He said he was outside minding his horse. That' he had himself got an " early off" that day, and they were going down to Gravesend. together. He then went out and returned with a gen tleman. He then asked who would witness the transac tion, for that is usual at the Bank. The prisoner took the book to Mr. Ingall, another clerk in the same office. I then heard him say to the person whom he brought with him, " Come along, William, it is all right." I did not witness the act of the transfer of the stock. I after wards accompanied the officer, John Forrester, to the United States, on the 18th of September. We went to Boston. I found Elder in Federal-street, in that city. That was at the end of October. He went there under the name of Ellis. I recognised him as the person who came in with the prisoner, and represented Oxenford. Forrester asked him his name, and said, taking him by the coat, " Your name is Joseph Elder, you are a native of London." He was then taken into custody. James Sutton examined.—l am a clerk in the Consol office. I compared the two tickets with the account of William Oxenford, in order to enter them. Thomas Ingall—l am a clerk in the Consol-office. I was there on the 3d of September. I remember seeing the prisoner then ; he was a few feet from me. There was another person with him. I did not know who he was. The prisoner said to me " Perhaps, Mr. Ingall, you will see these." He had the transfer receipts in his hands. The book was on the counter. I took the re ceipts from him. The person whom he brought then signed the transfers. lie signed the name William Oxenford. The prisoner read the amount from the book while I had the tickets amid the names. The prisoner signed his name, to witness the identity of "John Oxen ford." The book was turned round to me, and I found that the names were all properly signed. I then signed my name, and gave away the receipts. Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—I do not recollect seeing the receipt signed by any one. I witness receipts of the kind without seeing the parties sign ; that is fre quently the case. Ido not see them actually sign, but they present it as their receipt. I assumed this receipt was right, and I put my name to it. Mr. Bord was six or seven fret from me. There was nothing in this transac tion to call my particular attention to it. Thomas Tokely—l am a stockjobber. I know the prisoner personally. He called on me in August, and stated that he had a friend who had 8,200/. stock which he wished to transfer. On the 3d of September he brought me a ticket filled up in the regular way, for the sale of 8,200 L I passed the ticket to Clement Smith, a stock-jobber. We agreed as to the amount of the purchase ; 98i was the price of the day, that is in money 8,107/. 15s. I afterwards received from Mr. Smith the receipt. It was not signed when I received it from Smith. I saw him afterwards, and got the two receipts from him. They were properly signed, and witnessed by the clerk. There was a person with him. I gave the receipts to Smith to get the money. The prisoner said he would wait for the money at the Auction Mart Cof fee-room. I got the cheque handed to me from Henry Smith, the son of Clement Smith, and a 100/. note, a 5/. note, and 2/. odd in cash. I took the money to the Auc tion Mart Coffee-room. Burgess took the money, and the person who was with him took the cheque. Cross-examined—lt appeared to me to be a fair and regular transaction. Clement Smith—l am a stockbroker and jobber. The last witness applied to me, on the 3d of September, to purchase 8,200/. I was to pay 8,107/. 15s. for it. I know the prisoner. I went to inquire about him. I found he was not there, and was not likely to be there. Charles Cheetam Laurence—l am cashier in the bank of Lubbock and Co. About twenty minutes before two o'clock on the 3d of September a cheque was brought to me for 8,000/. The prisoner was one of the persons who brought it. :He was accompanied by an elder person, who had a carpet bag. It is usual to ask the name of the per son presenting such cheque. I did so on this occasion. The prisoner said Oxenford. I asked how they . would have it. The prisoner's companion said A ll or part in gold. I said they had then better hare large notes, which they could get changed at the Bank of England. I then gave them eight notes of 1,000/. each. I gave them to the prisoner's companion. Hickman, a clerk in the Bank of England, proved that those eight notes were presented to him on Tuesday. The person presenting them said his name was Oxen ford. He gave,the order for giving gold for the notes. He saw the person who presented the notes emptying the gold from the 1,060/. bags into two larger canvass bags, which he had with him. He had a carpet-bag ; it was like the bag now before the Court. The person was about forty-five years old, of a ruddy complexion. He had two porters who helped him to take out the bags. This was about two o'clock in the day. Thomas Agar—l am a teller in the issue department of the Bank. I got an order to get gold to the amount of 10,000/. I got it in ten bags of 1,000/. each. I was desired to pay 8,0001 of it. (The trial was proceeding when we went to press.) NETT' COURT Before the RECORDER a❑d Alderman HUGEIES ) John Goatly, a respectably-dressed young man, was charged with having stolen, in conjunction with others, not in custody, a tub of butter, value 31., the property of H. Musselwhite. The prisoner's participation in the robbery, which was executed with much adroitness, was proved to the satis faction of the jury, and they returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner, it appeared had been convicted at the Surrey sessions, for stealing lead, and was sentenced 1° six months' imprisonment and hard labour. on the The RECORDER said he had been convicted clearest evidence. The Court had the powe r of sen din g him out of the country for life ; he however did not in tend to transport him fur that period, but for the ter m of ten years.l Mary Banks, an unfortunate girl, was charged wit ll o ld having stolen four half-crowns, five sixpences, and sg°,', ring from the person of James I3arratt, a private in t "' f Royal Marines, station e d at Woolwich, on the sth ° December last. It appeared that the prosecutor and the prisoner had been drinking together on th e even in g in question , and that, after drinking a quantity of malt liquor, a porti on of which he thou g ht w as d rugge d, h e became uric °. scions, and accompanied the prisoner to her lodg in ? e ; Ile bad produced a purse containing the property in P presence. Some of the mon e y was f ou nd on her. tni . The prisoner, in her defence, said that the pro able gave her the purse to take care of, a s he was incapsio' - taking care of it himself. The RECORDER said the jury would have to consider whether whether he gave her the m o ney t o t a k e care of, or line; ther she took it from his person with the intentio n stealing it. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. • INQUEST ON MISS CLARA WEBSTER.—(THIS DAY.) a fal Mr. Wakley, M.P., Coroner for the county of . 1 , 1 0 dlesex, and a jury composed of the most respe cts 0 householders in the neighbourhood, held an ing,„" g t r e, half-past ten this morning at th e G ree n Man New-road, on the remains of Miss Clara W e e bg ao aged 21, who, it need scarc e ly b e said, died upon Tuel dres , last, from the injuries which she had r e ceived, her of having taken tire while performing on the OW Drury-lane theatre on Saturday evening. The jury having gone to No. 54, Norton-stre et view the body of deceased, returned, a nd the first called was Anne Taylor, landlady of the house, 54, Nortonsa tre t e i where the deceased died, on Tu e sd a y morning, s h°r ri i, after three o'clock, in presence of Dr. Liston and °th e ir ., Witness was present when deceased was brought g h° 4 on Saturday night, the 14th of December, eiw e i iise. from injuries by burning. She was - perfectly se l l'i lo st The first application used was spirits of wine, and b e t and wadding. Witness continued to attend upon till her death. She was free from pain through fig, She seemed to be recovering till the Monday ereulorr when, at seven o'clock, a difficulty of breathing iv i s g de lS served. She got worse, and was insensible as°, s si rious for some time before her death. She gnil' u so s , sunk, and never described how the accident bed pened, and did not once blame any one. sslc4 Mrs. Webster, mother of the deceased lady, t be if she herself blamed any one ? and she answered 01 negative. Dr. Robert Liston, of Clifford-street, was nex t ..ht mined. I first attended the deceased on Saturday last. I found her much burnt in the upper extrer° l o e about the arms and neck. I applied spirits of wine , .„, gr u ell ding, and flour repeatedly. She appeared to be inr t. 1 pain. This treatment was not changed that nig u t bes saw her again on Sunday, but she did not apPO r i r ss to be in much pain, though suffering from low °P ort e I did sot again see her till three o'clock on Tuesday 13 ; re d ing, when I was sent for. She expired just as I s s r did the room. She gave no account of the accident, no she blame any one in my presence. f 0 Mr. %VARLET—Were stimulants of any kind giv e 0 3 her ? Witness—Yes ; wine from time to time' other fluids. tn ort'' Mr. WAKLRY—You did not see . her on MondaY - , ing ? Witness—Oh, yes, I did. She was not O wen, and breathed with difficulty. deat h Mr. WAKLEY—You hare no doubt, I suppose , Wif was occasioned from the injuries she received ? ft bt ness—Oh, none. She died from the effects o f b Mr. W AKLaY—From fappearances there could been no hope from the first of her recovery. Mr. Taylor, the husband of the first witness, reill sr o ke si that Dr. Liston had represented, on Saturday nig ht ' the injuries were not so serious as a scald. 0 iv Mr. WAKLEY—No doubt. Medical gentlemen $ r tbs the habit of saying such things to inspire he —,., relatives and friend of sufferers. Coyle, 29, s Crown-street, St. Giles, stonenirlrp was in Drury-lane Theatre on the night of Setl t set Saw the deceased about eleven o'clock, and her 0° were then on fire. let bes Mr. WAKLEY—Is there no one who saw bar s c s eSS take fire ? The Beadle—No one could say W e / • her clothes take fire.th The witness—l saw her about the time her r' it s took fire. She was then supposed to be in " the l i te!! Mr. WAKLEY—Oh, that must have been irate after her clothes ignited. erg' Witness—Yes, I was standing in one of the sid e ~r a o ings on the stage ; the deceas e d w as about fou r 4te o from me, and 1 saw her clothes on fire at the "; ( 10 0 part. She came up some steps out o f the bath t ero o to the stage. She came towards me, and then mu b e the stage, and I ran after her and caught her , ' o pt myself on my back, and rolled over her. M i d° man threw his jacket over her, and so eitinguish!Ajoe flames. Some of the other ladies' dresses, 31 nps' Plunkett's, I believe, was set on fire. There Ile thing unusual in the disposition of the lamps th e 01 ing. There are two baths, one before the other , do ,se six or eight glasses in each. The performers g° t c if about three feet, and the glass e s are about two f ee inches below the boards, and partly below the 0045; the Mr. WARLEY—If there was a wirework to c 0 0; glass, could this have happened ? Witness"' think not. of ores Mr. WAKLEY—It's a pity, th en , t h ere is 11inly sort of wirework protection. Th ere oug ht cer' s i eerl' be something of this sort for the p ro t ec tion ofperf o et o e Mrs. Mary Webster was the next witness. S h i n 0 0 widow, and resides near Euston- sq uare. War theatre, but not near the stage. 1 heard scr e w th e She ran down stairs, and her daughter was the e ; o lsis green-roora, and quite sensible. She did not t e vi ;so l any circumstance connected with th e acc ident. ' d c aiS s said to her, once, " Clara, Clara, if some one ba byf ov to your assistance sooner—oh,l if I h a d been_.° e fr - I could have saved you." She said, " Yes, moil" — could." O lf s Mr. WARLEY (to Coyle) —ls there bs kept near the stage in case of accident ? stage, —There was water near, but not on th e as no accident was apprehended. er‘ ll By the CORONER—She might have ran about 181 while her clothes were on fire. 00 Pr Mr. WAKLEY made some obser va ti ons on the t hos e tunate want of presence of mind exhibited bi h . o r whose clothes a r e se t on fire. It they would P.,i,he°' the burning clothes th e y wou ld a t once be extisP o and the second best mode was for the individua l ated to lie down at length. This being the whole of the evidence, An OCR Mr. WAJKLEY then addressed the jury. si a i prr, rence like this might eas ily b e aver t e d i f simple and per pr ecau ti ons were ta k en . I n most o f t he CS" i s o o similar natare that came before him, he generallYcliosti that fatal results might have been prevented if e r A j til precaution h a d b een taken •immediately after th e - et had taken fire. It had long been known that ge re se o ' every description could be so prepared as to P rs liir l g their being inflammable. It was done by s tg s oi o S c i them in a particul ar way ; an d h e trusted his r a y,f, O l d ing the circumstance would be productive of glof perhaps serve to pr eve nt th e recurrence o f an° fe el'', these dreadfnl occurrences. Cases of fire were de r , dreadfully frequent; within the last ten deYss the had been no less than twenty cases e' character within his district ; and b e , fro ° sure he spoke within bounds, when he said th,f l ".orlf 130 to 140 cases of burning and scalding oc curre? l ro ve r i in the division of the county in which he was `1 0 4 1 ,,,, ° lie held inquests yesterday on two children r r them were scalded to death from want of pro P e e pQ s ; cautions being taken. The first was at the Yr, l e o ssie° pital in Gray's Inn-lane. A child while us'„brit herself before the fire accidentally f e ll, a nd the no high fender, she kno c ked d own a k e ttle an d ; 0 11 1 • 1' her head so se v ere ly th a t s h e di e d soo n after 0 1 ; Now accidents of this nature c ou ld n eve r occur 10 f r dren, if their parents would take the prec a utioo:„ f e• l s i j wire fenders before their fires. In this case, tfg f danger had not been apprehended, for the case 11 % observe, that even Mrs. Webster h a d no t fore se et 1 1 • 3 , such until the calamity had actually occurred- OP, a means of avoiding the danger were 'serf ts ti oe o for if a lattice of wire had been ect i over the lamps the dresses of the actresseshi, cs'; not possibly have caught fire, and accidents of t , • IL' ratter would never happen. The precaution if s :oo7; simple one, and where the results would be en; r aen c ,, tory, it would be well at once to put it in r be eri, Where the dresses of performers were likely ° ver ge posed to flam e , th e gauzes , as h e h a d a lready' ° o r .111: might be so prepared by a solution of alumina' i s fsc toot; t as to be quite uninflamm a bl c . I m p resse d with $ he had yesterday written a note to Mr.Gardie er ' o rtle li s , excellent chemist in the neighbourhood (Gres:Ai /0 0' i o street), asking him if he knew a ny person in otit i s who was i n th e h a bit o f was h ing rnuslins' Tb or dresses in the solution alluded tn' fis erfi g is gentleman returned this answer.—(The stt er, 0, Coroner then read Mr. Gardiner's l'' 00 0 01 6; which it was stated that muriate of gi eits, or a similar solution of alumina, would have tha t the y teL of preventing ignition.) It was also stated tv o to t': o . Hodson, of 406, Strand, had given much attenti°,, matter. How far that gentleman had succeedeuot lisjl closed pattern of gauze ti mild show; it would e rl d n i at the fl ame o f a can dl e M r . H o d son proli° s It'ln c b s a starch, t o b e use d i ns t ea d o f com mon star e t ioe would answer every purpose, and at the sam e „ e isos ro perfectly sa f e i n cases lik e t h e pres ents I t t hee' oo undertake, for a trifling consideration, to keep a fire, ho " property" or dress es f r o m an y daisger sob (the C oroner ) did not k now t h at t h er e had r, q . e , s le gentleman in existence as Mr. Hodson, but we ' s jou', this case, the mention of hi s name would serveerliSfit purpos e , t h at o f b ene fi t i ng the pu blic, and , g, it I ' l doing goo d to hi mse lf , he (the Ceroner) thoUg t° com The mon to give gauss h was then test im ed puatbliacicandle, ty. and r, f° l ; co ( The all that was sa id o f it, and Mrs. Webste it obi c amination, could not find an sme ll or other fou sg e.) the 5t wive would make it inapplicable for dresses Ur „f Pi ths Mr. WAKLEY—Certairly no young chile, seed would be without an outer dress so prepar e .te d to i n. attention of families would, he hoped, be dire( ' re b,I er'3 The witoe..s, Daniel Coyle, whose hancdsorwoen daged, intimuted, at the conclusion of the , of tP 4 dress, that it had been erroneously stated i,,l l , • _s,u .. "" wa s newspapers that he was quite recovered. '-ib e l7 inie , the case, nor was he likely to be well for som . 9 , ha d dr, Mr. WAKLEY told him the intrepidity .b played on the occasion of the accident was highest praise. Ile was confident if he© : rret t : Y° t , ° : l o k u e notbeiiebfiet wanting atsom e in place theirof entertainment , end eav endeavours to s t u li ppo p r u t b .,:b l oi c oo; Coyle thanked the Coroner for his Bugg es"