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

tipirb Nbition THE FUNDS-(C BRITISI Bank 5t0ck........... 208% 3 per Cent. Red WO% 3 per Cent. Cont. ..... per Cont. Red ----- New 3 per Cent. 1033( Now i per Cent........,.. . . ... Long Annuities to etpire J*n. 12 1-16 Ost. 186 D.....».»..... 11 15-16% Jan. 1860.............. Incliaa Stoa:::::::: 00000 ... FOREIG Austrian, 5 per Cent — Belgian, 5 per Cent.....„.„ Brazilian Bonds — Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent Ctillian, 6 per Cent 100 Colombian, 6 per Cent Danish, 3 per Cent Greek, 1815, 5 per Cer.; — Mexican, 5 per Cent .. Neapolitan Bonds, 5 per Ct — Prussian Bonds, 4 per Cent — Peruvian Bon d s, 6 per Ct 3O Portuguese Bonds, a per Ct SH A Bristol and Gloucester, 30 p Cambridge and Lincoln, 13 Cornwall, 3 paid, 2% Dublin and Belfast Junction, 234 paid 4% Dublin and Galway, 234 paid .N 2 N% Eastern Counties (25 paid) Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 5 paid Hull and Selby, 50 paid 69 London and Birmingham (Stock) London and Brighton (50 paid) London and South Westein (411. 6s. 10d. paid) 7 6 14, Midland (100 paid) .. . ........... ...................... ll3 Birmingham and Derby, £lOO paid 8 334 Newcastle and Darlingron Junction, 24 paid Newcastle and Berwick 13(, paid... Northern and Eastern (45 paid) North Kent, 2% paid 3g Richmond and West End Junction, 1 paid ..... South Devon, 10 paid ll Trent Valley, 2 paid B% York and North Midland (50 paid) Ditto, Selby Scrip, 20 paid 66 Ditto Extension Orleans and Bourdeaux, 2 paid .................« 7 Strasbourg and Bale (14 paid) 12% OSING PRICES FUNDS. Ditto Bonds Xl,OOO Pm, Ditto under £l,OOO 73 pm South Sea Stock Ditto Old Annuities Ditto New Annuities Ex. Bills, 1,0001. I%ci ... 59 pm. Ditto 5001.....„........ 9 pm • Ditto Small 59 pm Bank Stock for Acct 9 1,914 Console for Opg. ..... 100% India Stock for Acct 286 FUND& Russian, 5 per Cent Ditto, Metallic ..... Spanish, 5 per Cent., 1810 251 i Ditto, 1841 Ditto, Ditto, 1843................ — Ditto, 1844 Ditto, 3 per Cent Venezuela Bonds, 2 per Ct — French, 5 per Cent...—. —t c French, 3 per Cent —f. —c. Exchange Dutch, 2% per Cent Ditto..s per Cent RES. aid 4 paid DUTY ON PAPER. MEETING OF MANUFACTURERS.—THIS DAY. An important meeting of paper-manufacturers was held at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, this afternoon, for the purpose of taking steps to procure the total abolition of the duty on paper in the ap • proaching session of Parliament. At one o'clock Mr. John Dickinson was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN said he felt great satisfaction in seeing so many respectable paper manufacturers pre sent at the meeting. In the year 1836, when by a vigorous effort they succeeded in obtaining a re duction of the duty, a hope was entertained that the law would be placed on a more certain basis by the equalisation of the duty. That hope had, however, been disappointed ; and there was now no other means of removing the difficulties under which they laboured, except their total abolition.—(Hear, hear.) The amount of duty paid, in 1836, on some branches of manufacture was not less than 150 per cent. ; it was now reduced to about 80 per cent. He then proceeded to describe a process of paper-making, for which a patent was taken out in 1833, which had been exempted from the payment of duty, on account of the mode of ma nufacture- The paper in question was called sheath ing and rasping paper. The Excise authorities had declined to enforce the duty, notwithstand ing the apparent stringency of the last Act ; and the fact, that the law could not be made to reach such a case formed a powerful reason in fa vour of the abolition of the duty. If the duty were 14s. per cwt. upon an article, the original cost of which was only about 18s., hew was it possible to compete with the inventors of this process ? The Excise had attempted and failed to remedy the evil. A case of defrauding the revenue had lately come before the Court of Exchequer, and such cases were in fact extremely common. A superannuated paper-maker had confessed, that in the mill where he was employed, in a distant part of the country, it was cus tomary to pay half the duty, and retain the other half.—(Hear, hear.) The present law was most pernicious in its operation upon other branches of trade. It affected millwrights, hair and felting manufacturers, printers, bookbinders, cardmakers, and many other classes. The late Mr. Rees, of the firm of Longman and Co., had stated before a Committee of the House of Commons that, on the average, only one publication in three paid its expenses, and that publishers were obliged to remunerate themselves in the price of the one for the loss on the other two. The peculiarity of the injustice was, that the duty was paid upon the whole of the paper used, whether the work succeeded or failed ; a practice totally different from that which prevailed in the case of dealers in brandy and gin, who paid no duty whilst the spirits were in bond.—(Hear, hear.) If this law operated thus injuriously upon publications, it must operate also on education.— Hear.) Persons of all political parties, and of all re ligious opinions, were now agreed as to the necessity of extending facilities for education; it was recognised as the right of the poor and the duty of the rich—(Hear, hear)—but the present tax on paper greatly diminished the advantages to be derived from that source.—(Hear, hear.) He firmly believed that the abolition of this duty would confer benefit, not only on the poor, but on almost every class of persons in this country. Some opposition was expected from the stationers, but he did not think it would be near so great as it was in 1836. As regarded the persons engaged in the manufacture, he believed the repeal of the duty would lead to the em ployment of as many additional hands as already derived their subsistence from that source. He had no hesitation whatever in making the assertion that such would be the result. Sir W. MAGNAY, Bart., stated that he had received letters from several paper-manufacturers in different parts of the country, expressing the full concur rence of the writers in the object of the meet ing. He believed the chief objection of the stationers had reference to the uncertainty caused by the agitation of the question. If the duty were abolished at once, a great part of the difficulty would be removed. Ile conceived that one great advantage of the•change would be the employ ment given to women. There was no class of females in the country who were suffering so much as the distressed needlewomen, and such persons might by this means be greatly relieved. Ile concluded by referring to the importation of certain boxes from France without paying duty; and contended that the many hardships of that nature which constantly occurred, entitled the manufacturers of the country to the total abolition of the duty. Mr. GA USEN proposed a resolution embodying the sentiments of the meeting in reference to the object for which it had been convened. The resolution being seconded, was carried unani mously._ Slr:Nonnis urged upon the meeting the absolute necessity, if they took any steps at all, of acting vigorously, and bringing the question to a speedy issue. No one could doubt that the 5 per cent. duty, which had been imposed, had, from the very first, been paid out of the pocket of the manufacturer.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that if, by any means, they could indem nify parties who had a large stock on hand against loss, they would obviate any great difficulty and secure more combined efforts. A resolution was then carried appointing several gentlemen to act as a committee, and to take such steps, by communicating with the Government, and in other ways, as would be most likely to accomplish the object. A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, and the meeting dispersed. GRAND BOAT-RACE BETWEEN CLASPER AND COOMBES. (From the Newcastle Advertiser of this day.) This long-expected match between the champions of the north and south waters came off yesterday ; the distance being from Tyne-bridge to Lemington Point, for 1801.; Coombes staking 1001. to Clasper's 801. The length of time to which the preliminaries were extended gave more than an usual interest to the race, though the mere fact of two such men as Clasper and Coombes was sufficient of itself to create much ex citement. For the last four or five days scarcely any thing else was talked of, and bets to a considerable amountwere laid,the friends of both parties being equally sanguine _of the success of their favourite. The " London Merchant " brought down a large acces sion of visitors, who added much to the bustle, by the freedom with which they backed Coombes, and most of them visited many of the inns on Tuesday night offering 5 to 4 upon him, which in many instances was taken. At at early hour, the morning being extremely mild for the season, with a slight breeze from the south-east, every spot which commanded a view of the west side of Tyne-bridge was crowded with spectators; the banks of the river presented a similar spectacle, and in one instance, an employer finding that the match was more interesting to the men than wages, made a virtue of necessity and gave them a holiday. Many boats were out, and a number of steamers went up the water, and the Carlisle Railway Company ran special trains on both sides of the river, so that there was no lack of accom modation ; in fact, until the parties beg an action, the to wn appeared to be comparatively deserted. Both men came to the starting place in excellent condition, and in boats which excited universal admi ration, that of Cl asper ' s i n partieula,r, as much fr om its beatify as from th e ingenuity displayoedninbuitisldicon struction, and from it s b e i ng o f his w All being ready, at the app o i n t e d s i gnal they start n el . ' 1 Coombes gradually drawing a-h ea d ;when off Ski nner Burn, Clasper unfortunately run into a keel —an accident which his opponent did not , tala advantage of as he might have done, THE SUN, LONIYON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1344. but kept leading him by about five or six boat's length ; when, however, he had got this distance, he ceased to exert himself as powerfully as he had done, apparently reserving his strength for any push which Clasper might make; at this time 401. to 10/. was offered upon Coombes and accepted. At the Curds and Cream House, Clasper made a desperate effort, and decreased the distance between them to about 80 yards, and, that space apart, they rowed beautifully evenly to the winning point, neither of them gaining or losing scarcely an inch in the whole distance, which was done in 34f minutes. The race was good throughout, and has added to the fame of both the men. Coombes (though never doubtful of the result) admits that Clasper would probably beat many of the best London men. A dispute took place in reference to an alleged infringement of the articles of agreement, upon the supposition that Parish had signed to Coombes that he was going to near the shore, and who, taking the hint, altered his course accordingly. It was at first proposed that the match should be rowed over again, but this proposition was decidedly negatived by Coombes, who declared that the matter should be left to the referees, and if given against him, he would present the money to Clasper. The affair will not be decided until this day (Thursday). Mr. Went zell, of the firm of Cowden and Wentzell, the builders of the champion's boat, with Newell, Parish and others from London, were present, and the best feeling was manifested towards both parties, though from the cheering it was evident that the Tyne-siders wished their man to win. It may be stated that Clasper dis claimed all connexion or sympathy with a few black guards who hissed Coombes at the beginning of the race ; and Coombes publicly acquitted Clasper of any participation in it. _ _ - It is likely that Clasper and Newell will make a match before the latter leaves on Saturday. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS PROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. GLOBE.—Petty Sessions justice has passed into a proverb of reproach for its dissimilarity to that substan tial law, ought to be administered in a free country. The vast disproportion between the fines imposed by magistrates on summary convictions for trifling offences, and the fees demanded on those convictions by their clerks, has been the subject of frequent remark. The latter, being often from ten to twenty times the ameunt of the former, and, being beyond the means of payment by the defendant; having caused the petty delinquent to be imprisoned for several days or weeks, at the discretion of the ma gistrates, entailing all the consequences, personal and relative, which such a proceeding is calculated to pro duce. The evil has been somewhat modified ; and, to a slight extent, mitigated. The source of the mischiefs has, however, remained untouched. The system of pay ing magistrates' clerks, and the other functionaries— whose " expenses" press in such cases with ruinous severity on the class of peesons who constitute the great mass of those who are summarily convicted—by fees, instead of by salary, required to be abolished. That system, however, was retained ; and, while it continues, will operate as an engine of oppres sion, and source of misery and demoralization on the lower classes ; while it will increase the burdens upon the county and parish rates—upon the former, for the expense of maintaining the poor defendant in the gaol; and to the latter, to support his wife and family in the union, or by an allowance in money to prevent them from going thither. This, however, is not the only form in which the system works to the discredit of justice, as administered is petty sessions. The defendant is not the only party who is made to suffer by its operation. If the convicted party be unable to pay the fino and the fees, he or she is committed to gaol ; and thus pays in person through inability to pay by purse. The Queen loses the amount of the penalty, whether it be a penny or a pound. But not so the magistrates' clerk, and the other fee-paid officers of the petty sessions court. The complainant must pay them. He may be a poor cottager ; his garden hedde or gate may have been broken by the act of a malicious neighbour, and the growing crop of vege tables, on which he has bestowed great labour and care, may have been extensively injnred by the act ; he may have been also assaulted by the person who has perpetrated the offence against his property. For the of fence he causes the party to be brought before a magis trate, who convicts him summarily, and inflicts a tine and costs—and, on the non-payment of which, to be imprisoned for a specified period. The de fendant does not pay, and is committed. And there the matter ends, so far as the complainant is concerned, would be the conclusion to which every one who, in ignorance of the law and practice in such cases made and provided, had merely watched the pro ceeding up to this point. The poor man had been seriously injured. He had obtained no compensation for the wrong ; but he had caused the wrong-doer to be punished by the law ; and had thus taught him, and taught others actuated by mischief or malice, that they cennot indulge their propensities or passions with impunity. A person who would so reason would obviously reckon without his host. The law, in the person of the magistrate's clerk, has yet a hold upon the person, or purse, of the poor complainant. And, if he be unable to meet his claim for the fees incurred in obtaining satisfaction and protection against the party who injured him—why then, as, an illustration of petty sessions justice, he will by sum mary process be sent to keep company with the party he has prosecuted I We are not drawing an imaginary sketch. Our observations are founded on facts, for which we are indebted to a correspondent, to whose for mer communications respecting petty sessions practice in his neighbourhood, we have been indebted for some striking illustrations of" Justice's Justice." STANDARD.—We do not think that by any means too much importance is attached in this country to public dinners, though it has bern a fashion with many abroad, and to some among ourselves, to sneer at such demonstrations. The principle of centralisation, now contended for with so much zeal by particular schools of politicians, is neither convenial to the feelings and habits, not consistent with the con stitution of this free country. Englishmen like to form their own opinions, and to express those opinions in their own way—like to express their personal indignation, when they think they have reason to be indignant, in their own words, and when the debt of gratitude is to be paid to a great public benefactor, they will not forego the high gratification of paying their share of the debt in their own persons. The Constitution allows them this indulgence, and the effect is in the highest degree ben, ficial ; for the punishment of mis conduct or the reward of merit is thus multiplied in finitely beyond the force of a single censure from any authority how high soever, or the greatest fa vour in the power of the Crown or the Legislature to confer. Public dinners, however, present one of the most convenient channels for the expression of the public sentiment, and there is no danger that they will ever have the effect of perverting that sentiment, for they will be always estimated at their proper value. A dinner to Mr. O'Connell at Covent -garden, presided over by Mr. Thomas Duncom be, and enriched by the speeches of Mr. Coppock (we forget the other speakers), is a dif ferent matter from a public dinner given to Sir H. Pot tinger, under the presidency of the chief magistrate of such a town as Liverpool, attended by a principal Minister of the Crown, Lord Stanley, and by such men as Lord San don, Mr. W. Patten, Mr. Entwistle, and the leading mer chants of the second commercial emporium of the world. Such a dinner as the latter is not inferior in interest and importance to the most serious and most dignified discussion of the Legislature ; and it presents the advantage of a gratifyint harmony, never found in parliamentary debates. These reflections are sug gested by the proceedings at the late Liverpool dinner, a report of which will be found in our first page. Will the reader forgive one other pre liminary reflection, before alluding' particularly to the incidents of this splendid national celebration ? We are, unfortunately old enough to remember the address of the House of Commons to the Duke of Wellington, upon his return from the Penin sula, delivered with such feeling and eloquence by the then Speaker, the late Lord Colchester. It was remarked upon the occasion, for the scene made a great impression through the whole country —" That such rewards must make heroes." " No," replied a veteran fellow soldier of the Duke's " heroes are never made—least of all are they made by the prospect of rewards, even as precious as this. Heroes are inspired by the consciousness of genius and the con suming sense of duty, which extinguishes all selfish feel ing —when the country gives to them the meed of her approbation, she gratifies herself and honours her self. I, though not accus t ome d t o s h o d t ears , wept lik e a child at the scene in the House of Commons— wept for joy, not that I was the hero's fellow soldier, but that I was an Englishman, and that as an Englishman, I too had my share in p a yi ng t h e d e b t of gratitude." A feeling of the same kind, th oug h perhaps different in degree, will, we are persuaded, affect every reader of the honours rendered at Liverpool to our great pacific con queror. Apart from these considerations, however, the proceedings upon the occasion are full of interest. Sir H. Pottinger's speech is precisely what might be ex p ecte d from so great a man. An inferior or less ingenious per son would have magnified his service by expatiating upon its difficulties, as enormous difficulties the Right. Hon. Bart. must have had to er.counter. Sir Henry alludes to nothing of the kind : he speaks warmly and generously of the encouragement and support of the Queen's Government, and of the bound less confidence reposed in him ; delights to honour the hearty and effectual co-operation of his naval and military colleagues, and takes a noble pleasure in doing justice to the wisdom and good faith of the diplomatists with whom he had to deal, whom he will scarcely allow to have been opposed to him: his own share in the negotiation is treated as nothing. In a word. according to Sir Henry Pottinger's account, Sir Henry Pottinger was a mere cipher. You may hear of his talents and labours, the ,difficulties he overcame the immense service he rendered to his country, everywhere except in his own speech. This is the true English spirit, the spirit that claims no merit for self in the faithful discharge of duty, however gloriously or successfully the duty has been discharged, but anxiously and gratefully devolves the praise upon all who have contributed to its success. We are requested to state, that a paragraph which appeared in our last paper, copied from the Perthshire Courier, having reference to the sale of the estates of the late Lord Lyndoch in Perthshire, is incorrect in several places. The sales of Lynedoch and Balgowan, to Messrs. Simpson and Thomson, are made by Mr. Graham of Balgowan, not by the trustees of Lord Lyne doch, and are conditional sales, dependent upon Mr. Graham's power to sell, which is disputed by the heirs of entail, and will form a question in the courts of law --Edinburgh Advertiser. LAW INTELLIGENCE. PRIVY COUNCIL, Dec. 18. THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF GUERNSEY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday., Mr. WADDINGTON having concluded, Mr. BURGS proceeded to reply, but not having con cluded when their Lordships rose, the further consider& tion of the case was adjourned till Friday at ten o'clock. VICE-CHAIVCELLOR' S COURT, Dec. 18. (Before Sir J. WIGRAM.) WALTER V. THOMPSON. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) His HONOUR directed that the plaintiff be at liberty to bring an action at law to establish his right as patentee, the motion to stand over till the decision of the corn nr:n-law court should be obtained. The defendant could, of course, apply to the Court in case the plaintiff should nut proceed at common law. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--Durham, Dec. 17. Mr. Justice Coleridge took his seat on the bench this morning at nine o'clock. Robert Brown, aged 25, and George Muchleroyd, aged 23, were severally charged with having, at Waldridge, on the 25th July last, feloniously fired off a gun into the house of John Walker, with intent to do grievous bodily harm to the said John Walker and Isabella, his wife. Mr. Granger, with whom was Mr. Thompson, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Otter for the prisoners. In this case it appeared that the occurrence eomplained of originated in the recent strike of the pitmen of Dur ham and Northumberland. The prosecutor was a " black-leg," who refused to enter into the pitmen's union, and never left his work. On the other band the prisoner Brown was a unionist, and had, shortly before the offence was committed, been ejected from the house which he had held under the colliery he worked at. As to the other prisoner, no evidence was given directly to show in what capacity he was engaged, but in directly ground was laid from which to infer that he also was one of the recusant pitmen. On the morning of the 25th of July, about one o'clock, the prosecutor was awakened by a loud report, and immedi ately after felt himself wounded in the left arm and groin. His wife also was wounded in the left knee. He got out of bed with great difficulty, and summoned assistance, after which he proceeded to the colliery office, about 400 or 500 yards off, when, some time after, four or five shots were taken out of his arm and four or five more out of his groin. The knee of his wife appeared to have been penetrated by the shots, but the surgeon had not been able to find them. The next door neigh bour of the prosecutor was awakened simultaneously by another explosion, and it was ascertained from the marks outside the houses that the person or persons who had fired the guns had run from the place where the £rst shot was fired to that whence the second one was dis charged; and in the latter case the charge of the gun had penetrated the window shutters outside the window, broken the panes and window frame, passed through the back room, into which it was fired, and lodged in the front wall of the front room. Luckily none of the inha bitants were injured. - To prove the malicious motives of the offenders, it was shown that the prisoner Brown and another person had bees seen, during the previous afternoon, inspecting the premises from the outside, where they would be able to see the position of the bed on which the prosecutor and his wife lay; and that as the ground behind the cottage was an ascent, the parties had knelt down on one knee, in order to take a more delibe rate and certaim aim at the prosecutor. To connect the prisoners with the transaction, it was shown that Brown had borrowed a double-barrelled gun of another pitman a few days before, holding out an intimation that he would purchase it, that the g un was handed to him ready loaded in both barrels, an that the shot found in the prosecutor's bed, and taken from his person by the surgeon, were of the same size as those with which the gun bad been loaded. The previous day and night had been rainy, and a quantity of sand had been washed down from the hill sides on the foot-path which ran behind the prosecutor's house, whilst the ascent behind had been rendered soft by the same cause. On the rising ground were seen the marks of the man's knee and toes, where he had knelt to fire the two shots, and both there and along the footpath were the distinct marks of two persons' shoes. The two prisoners were apprehended at different hours the same morning, in the tent erected by a pitman, named Hepplewhite, a unionist pitman, who had been ejected from his house by the owners of the Edmondsley colliery, about one mile from Waldridge. The clothes and shoes of both were wet, and marked with the peculiar kind of clay which was carried down the rising ground, and the trousers of Brown were daubed with clay on the right knee. The shoes worn by the prisoners were compared with the footprints near the prosecutor's house, and found exactly to correspond. The juiy found Brown Guilty, and Acquitted Muckle• royd. _ His LORDSITIP, in passing sentence on Brown, said no doubt could exist as to the intent of the prisoner in firing the gun at the prosecutor, and a very few years ago the offence would have met with capital punishment, for no doubt if the man had died of his wounds the case would have amounted to murder of the most deli berate kind. The motive for this outrage was apparent enough. He and other workmen had thought fit to strike, and it was not the first time, on this circuit, to his own knowledge, in which those strikes had led to similar offences, offences induced by the opinion that they could not succeed in the object of their strike so long as other men were willing to work ; and those men who did not adhere to their party were generally the objects of their malice. The sentence of the Court on him was, that he be transported beyond the seas for the term of fifteen years. _ . John Marley (who had yesterday pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary), William Plummer (who was acquitted on one of those charges), and Mary Wilkinson, aged 26, were charged with feloniously breaking and entering into the house of James Hay, in the parish of Monkwearmouth, and stealing therefrom ♦arious arti cles, his property. Mr. Granger conducted the prosecution ; the prisoners were undefended. In this case it appeared that on the night of the 28th of October the house of the prosecutor was broken open, and part of the articles were found in the house in which the prisoners resided, in the rooms respectively occupied by Marley and Wilkinson (who resided with him a s hi f wile), an d by Plummer and a woman named Hannah Ewing (who passed as the wife of Plummer). A tele scope had been placed in the hands of a publican at Sunderland, for the loan of two shillings ,by Plummer ; and Wilkinson had sold a tea-caddy (in which were afterwards found a silver knife and fork belonging to the prosecutor), to the wife of smother publican, living at South Shields, for five shillings. Marley and Plummer Guilty of the principal charge ; Wilkinson Guilty of receiving. There were three more indictments against the pri soners for similar offences ; but this conviction being ob tained, no further evidence was offered. His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, observed that the prisoners had been guilty of several other offences ; and it was evident that they had lived on the plunder of others, and that they were pursuing a regular and systematic course of burglary and housebreaking. Such persons could not in justice be permitted to infest any country where the laws held their force, and th eir sen tence was, therefore, that they each be transported be yond the seas for twenty years. In addition„ Marley was sentenced to one month's imprisonment said hard labour for the burglary at Thornely, to which be yester day pleaded guilty. Wilkinson, twelve months' impri sonment and hard labour. Thomas Matthews, a g ed 21, was found Guilty of forging and uttering a bill of exchange at South Shields, with intent to defraud Robert Simons, but wiu , recom mended to mercy by the jury on account of W s youth. Two years' imprisonment and hard labour. True bills have been returned against David Buglass, one against Matthew Watson, and one against the said Matthew Watson, James Watson (his son), and Henry Russell, for a forgery on the Stockton and Durham Bank, and with uttering the same. The trial is fixed for to-morrow. True bills have been returned against all the other prisoners. _ December 17. The Court was engaged the greater part ''of the day with the trial of several cases of rape, the particulars of which are unfit for publication. One petty case of robbery from the person was dis posed of. It contained no point of public imterest, and terminated in an acquittal. WESTERN CIRCUIT.—Exeter, U ec. 17. The same course has been pursued in this county as in the other counties on the circuit. Mr. Mixon Alder son arrived in Exeter late last evening, and opened the circuit. This morning his Lordship atte a ded Divine service in the cathedral, after which the Court; was opened and the business of the assize commenced. There are 41 prisoners for trial, as given the calen dar. The offences of which they are chic rged are as follow :—Six for arson, three for horse and . sheep steal ing, one for bigamy, one for false pretenoi )s, four for wounding, with intent, &c.; five for larcenis a fr om th e person, one f ar ra p e , one or uttering base c oin, one for manslaughter, one for administering drugs a iith an un lawful purpose, and the remainder for simple larcenies. William Hurford was indicted for stealing a sheep, the property of John Wi se . Mr. Kekewich prosecuted. The prisoner 'was not de fended by counsel. By the evidence for the prosecution, it am 'eared that Mr. Wise was a farmer, living at Halbert on, in this county, where, on the 7th of November he had a flock of sheep. In the morning of the Bth. it was dis covered that during the night one of these sheep had been killed, the head, entrails, and the skin h eying been left on the ground. Suspicion fell on the pie , soner, and a search warrant was obtained for the purpos e of search ing his house, and there, in one of the bed-ri )oms which the house contained, was found a quanti9 - of mutton salted in a pan, and another quantity fresh al a a bucket. The mutton, it was proved, had not been c ut up by a butcher, from the coarse and clumsy pieces in to whi c h it was separated. In addition to this, a piece a f the neck was found to fit exactly with a piece of flesh • which h a d been left attached to the skin. The con 81 'Able who searched the house stated that he had beard du 4t the son in-law of the prisoner lived with him, but he could not say, as he had never been In his house before. The prisoner, when called upon for his defence, said that his son-in-law lived with him ; that the r amtton was found in his room, and that he (the prisoner). k new no thing about the matter beyond the fact that t boa mutton had been found where he stated. Mr. Baron ALDERSON summed up, telling sthe jury that, as the evidence on the part of the I iro, secution had partly raised the difficulty about the son- in-1 aw, the prosecutor was bound to have removed that diffit ulty if he could, by showing who did live in the hot me in ques tion. The point in the case was, was the mu /ton found in the prisoner's possession ? The jury, afte - r a short consultation, Ac ;quitte l I the prisoner. John Bendle, a miserably-clad and lame man, was charged with having, on the night of the 27th September last, set fire to a rick of oats, the property of John Laud. Mr. Rowe prosecuted ; the prisoner was undefended. It was proved that Mr. Laud was a farmer, residing at West Buckland, in this county, where the prisoner also existed as a pauper. Two or three days be fore the fire the prisoner was met by a witness, who asked him if he was going home. (The wit ness stated that at this time the prisoner was living in a linhoy or cowshed, but had before been in the union.) The prisoner replied that he was, on which wit ness said that he ought to go into the union. Prisoner answered that he never would go into the union again ; but he ►4euld do something before Sunday that would prevent that. He had no animosity, be added, against any one in the parish except the prosecutor, and he hated him because he had used hits so badly when they lived together at Mrs. Dean's. He then went on to say that before Sunday he would burn down his house or his barton. On the morning of the fire it was proved that the prisoner had bought a box of lucifer matches. On the night of the fire two witnesses were passing near to the place where the oat-rick in question and seven other corn-ricks stood. They perceived the fire, ran to the spot, and succeeded in extinguishing it. The fire had been applied at the lower part of the rick on the out side, and had burnt a good way in. In a few minutes more their efforts would have been ineffectual, and this rick, and in all prebability the seven other ricks, would have boen consumed. The prisoner, by another witness, was seen, near about the time that the fire took place, within a quarter of a mile of the spot on which the rick stood. On the same evening another witness stated that he saw the prisoner, who told him that he had set fire to Mr. Laud's rick, to do which he had bought a box of matches. He then went on to describe how ho had done it. Witness replied that he did not believe him, as he should have heard of the fire. Prisoner then insisted it was true. " Then," said the witness, " I suppose you will be transported for it." Prisoner replied that he hoped he should, and that he had done it on purpose. A box which contained limiter matches was found be tween the rick and the gate which led out of the barton. The prisoner, when called upon for his defence, put in a written paper, which was read by Mr. Gurney, and which, we presume, had not been written by the prisoner, from the style in which it was written. In very good language it denied his guilt, and declared that the charge had been made by the prosecutor out of spite to him. After hearing the Learned Judge's summing up, the jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. Baron ALDERSON—You have been convicted, prisoner, by the clearest evidence of this crime of at tempting to burn down Mr. Laud's ricks, since there can be no doubt, had not the fire been discovered when it was, the whole of the seven ricks had been destroyed. You did this for revenge, and you must now suffer the consequences of that revenge. I saw too much of this most detestable crime last summer to feel any doubt as to what my duty is in this case. Those who deal with such crimes with lenity make themselves to a certain degree accountable for the crime when. again com mitted. I will not do so, but will wash my hands of all responsibility by inflicting the heaviest punishment of the law. His Lordship then sentenced him to be tran sported for life. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, Dec. 17. At the sitting of the Court this morning, at nine o'clock, the trial of Downing and Powys, for the murder of Sir Thomas Boughey's gamekeeper, was resumed. Mr. Yardley and Mr. Boughey were counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Allen and Mr. Huddleston for the prisoners. _ _ By the desire of Mr. Justice Coltman, two of the wit nesses who had been examined yesterday were recalled and re-examined, but their testimony did not vary in any respect from that which was yesterday adduced. Several other parties gave evidence of a material na ture, to account for the motives which in all probability induced the murderers of the unfortunate man to take away his life. _ _ _ Downing, it appeared, was a man of notoriously bad character, and had repeatedly been in gaol, sometimes upon charges of poaching, on one or two of which Cooper (the deceased) had appeared as a witness against him. He was proved on more than one occasion to have threatened, in terms devoid of much ambiguity, to wreak his vengeance upon Cooper as soon as he was liberated. The report of yesterday's proceedings comprises, how ever, all the material evidence against the prisoners, which we have given more in detail than ordinary, in consequence of the peculiarity . of the circumstances, which scarcely admit of being intelligibly arranged in the form of a narrative. Upon the close of the cue for the prosecution, Mr. Allen rese to address the jury on behalf of the prisoners, which he did with much care and ability ; and Mr. Jas tice Coltman thereupon proceeded to sum up. It was three o'clock, P.m., before the Learned Judge commenced this arduous and responsible duty, which was discharged with the greatest impartiality. His Lord ship detailed in order all the various minute particulars, dwelling carefully upon those which were material, mad pointing out a probable solution to difficulties and appa rent inconsistencies, which might arise in the course of the deliberation upon which the jury had to enter, ar ranging, at the same time, with perspicuity and clear ness, all those facts which bore with the greatest weight upon the case, as well as those which in any way tended to exculpate the prisoners. At five o'clock precisely the jury retired to consider their verdict, and in three quarters of an hour returned into court, when they pronounced both the prisoners Guilty. After the verdict had been fullyirecorded by the officer of the court, and the jury had again expressed their assent thereto, the foreman (turning to his Lord ship) said, " So far as mercy can beshown in a case of murder we would wish it to be extended to the prisoners in the present case l" The Learned Judge thereupon made a note of recom mendation, which cannot but be esteemed a most ex traordinary one, in a case of deliberate and diabolical murder such as the present, in which it is impossible to _observe one single palliating or .extenuating circum stance. Mr. Justice COLTMAN, having covered his head with the black cap, thus addressed the culprits :—" You two young men have been found guilty of a most deliberate and cruel murder, committed no doubt from motives of the deepest and most cold-blooded revenge. The jury have thought proper to annex to their finding a recom mendation to mercy ; it will, however, be out of my power to do more than to lay that recommendation be fore her Majesty's Ministers. It only remains for me now to pass upon you the last painful sentence of the law, and to entreat you to prepare for that dreadful end which you must so shortly experience. It is not for me to extend to you either mercy or hope ; all that now remains for me is, to direct that for this your offence you, and each of you, be conveyed to the place of eon finement from which you were brought here, that you be taken thence to a place of execution, and hat you be there hanged by the neck until your bodies be dead, and that after death your bodies be buried within the pre cincts of the gaol, according to the form of the statute." The prisoner Downing, who throughout the trial had conducted himself in an insolent manner, laughing in a sarcastic manner at intervals, during the proceedings, here made a loud protestation of his innocence, and on being conveyed from the dock, catching a glimpse of some of the witnesses, looked at them in a menacing manner, and shaking his fist, poured forth a volley of threats and execrations against them. The district from which the prisoners come is de scribed as occupied by the most desperate and lawless set, and has been the scene of more than one fearful tragedy of late. It is, therefore, to be hoped that the awful fate of these criminals may operate as a warning to the inhabitants of the district which was the scene of their atrocious crime. MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Nottingham, Dec. 17. (Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.) Thomas Jackson, aged twenty-one, Joseph Bailey, aged twenty-one, and William Harrison, aged twenty-two, were charged on the coroner's inquisition, held at Newark on the 27th of August, the former prisoner with killing and slaying John Toder, and Bailey and Harrison with aiding and abetting in the same. Jackson and Bailey were also arraigned upon an indictment, proceeding from the Court, for the same offence. As against Harrison, the grand jury ignored the bill. Mr. WILLMORE, on the part of the Crown, said that as the bill against Harrison had been thrown out he should offer no evidence against him on the inquisition, and he would, consequently, be acquitted. A verdict of not guilty was according taken in favour of Harrison, and the case proceeded against the other two. The prisoners, who were undefended, were mild, inoffensive-looking youths, in circumstances apparently of the better order among the poorer classes. Simon Caunt, sworn, examined—ls an ostler living at Newark. On the 26th of August he saw the deceased, John Toder, near the Trent Bridge, and a number of persons following him. Witness understood,. there was going to be a fight, and he went with them in order to keep them out of a close of his master's. Went into a field with them belonging to Mrs. Cooke. Saw Jackson and Bailey there. When in the field the deceased and Jackson pulled off their clothes, shook hands with each other, and then began to fight. Had previously heard Jackson say he had ss. ; whereupon Toder said he would rather fight him for 10s., but as he had only got ss. he would fight him for that. The men fought for an hour and a half. Jackson seemed at first to have the best of it, and then Toder, until within the last six rounds. Heard Toder say "He would take the shine out of Jack son," and after that the battle seemed to go against him. Saw Jackson in the last three rounds hit Toder several severe blows on the body. It was a fair fight. When time was called, Toder said he would give over. He was sitting on his second's knee. Jackson went up to him, shook hands with him, and witness then left the field. Saw Bailey " hand" or second Jackson for several rounds, when a man named Elvidge came and took his place, and Bailey did not do any more. William Kirby deposed to having been present during the whole of the fight. Saw Bailey there. He acted as second in the early part of the affair. Mr. Justice PATTESON—Were you present the whole time? Witness—Yes, my Lord. Mr. Justice I'ATTESON—Do you know you have ren dered yourself liable, and may be indicted for man slaughter ? Witness (with a look of ludicrous astonish ment)—No, my Lord. Mr. Justice PATTEsoN—Then you are ; t.nd you had better understand that every man who is present at a fight of this description, death ensuing, is liable to be indicted for manslaughter. Understand that, and recollect the caution I have given you. Mary Hanson, an elderly woman, stated the deceased was brought to her house on the 26th. He was very bad and never stirred or moved. His head was very much swollen and bruised. Washed it over with warm water. The doctor came, bled him, and ordered the ap plieation of nine leeches to the head. About three in the morning Toder threw front him a quantity of dark 1 matter, which she considered to be blood. He died about SCYQII. The surgeon who was called in (Mr. Dobbs) de scribed the nature of the injuries deceased had received: there were severe bruises on the face and head, such as might be produced from blows. Made a post mortem examination the day following the death. On opening the scalp found a considerable extravasation of blood on the left side of the head. There was a large quantity of blood on the brain. The rupture of the vessels was the cause of death. Blows given by the fist would produce injuries of a like nature. Jackson, in his defence, said the deceased had been fighting in the afternoon before he fought with him— he had a black eye, a bruise on the forehead, and his nose was plugged up. Mr. Justice PArrssoN—You should not have fought with him if he was in that state. Jackson—My Lord, he would fight with me. Mr. Justice PATTEsox—You know you fought for a wager. Both prisoners were found Guilty. The Learned JUDGE, in passing sentence, said he wished it to be known that, whenever there was a fight and death ensued, the parties concerned in it may be and generally aro guilty of manslaughter, even when proceeding from a quarrel and the passions are aroused, when it may be almost called natural to fight with those weapons nature has provided ; but, if death resulted, it would be manslaughter, though, under such circumstances, it was not customary to visit it with severity. He found Bailey had been in prison since August, and, therefore, had suffered enough; he should, there fore sentence him to pay a fine of ls. and be discharged. With reference to Jackson, who had been out on bail for some time, the sentence was that he bo confined for two months in the House of Correction, and kept to hard labour. This case finished the business of the assize, which has been very light. The commissions of the city and county of Lincoln were opened this day (Wednesday). There are four cases only for the city, and about four teen for the county. Of the latter several are charged with the commission of rather serious offences. NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Norwich, Dee. 17. The commission of assize for the city of Norwich and county of Norfolk was opened this afternoon by Mr. Justice Williams, who afterwards attended Divine ser vice at the cathedral. The calendar contains the names of forty prisoners; among these are, one for murder, nine for the crime of arson, four for burglary, and other serious offences. The business of the circuit commences to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN and Mr. Baron ROLFE. Elizabeth Smith, 21, Catherine Edwards, 20, Wil liam Palmer, 21, and Sarah Bing, 24, were indicted for robbing George Martin upon the highway, and were also charged with using personal violence to the prosecutor at the time of the commission of the robbery. George Martin, the prosecutor, deposed that, on the evening of the 25th November, he was in the Wa terloo-road, about ten o'clock at night, when he met the prisoner, Smith, who asked him the way to the Elephant and Castle, and he directed her the way to go. While he was speaking to her the prisoner Ed wards came out of the side-door of a public-house close by, and struck him on the eye and knocked him down. He got up and laid hold of Smith, and a struggle ensued, and they fell down together, and while they were upon the ground he felt her hand in his pocket, and when he got up he missed ten and fourpence. He called out that he had been robbed, and had hold of Smith to secure her, when Palmer and Byng came up, and Palmer shoved him on one side, and the women ran away across the Waterloo road, while Palmer ran off in another direction. He afterwards saw the prisoners in custody, and identified them as the persons who had acted towards him in the way he described. The prosecutor, in answer to questions from the Court, admitted that he had been drinking before the occurrence took place, and was not sober, and as there was no corroboration of his testimony, the jury ex pressed their opinion that the charge was not clearly made out, and they therefore acquitted the prisoners. The prisoner, Palmer, was then indicted for felo niously cutting and wounding Daniel Martin, a police-constable. This charge arose out of the former transaction. It appeared that the constable, Daniel Martin, having received information of the robbery, was induced to seek after the prisoner, but, in his attempting to ap prehend him, ho made a violent resistance, and drew a knife, or dagger, and attempted to stab him, inflict ing, in the attempt, a slight wound on his person. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. John Greunhall, 32, was indicted for obtaining goods by a forged order. It appeared that the prosecutor is a shoemaker, named Fribe, and the prisoner went to his shop with a written paper, purporting to come from the Rev. Mr. Hall, the Vicar of Hayes, in which the prosecu tor was requested to send six pairs of boots by the prisoner, in order that Mr. Hall might select a pair that would suit him. The boots were given to the prisoner, and the paper was soon afterwards found to be a forgery. The prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to be kept to hard labour for two years. The Court adjourned soon after four o'clock, and it was formally announced in the course of the day that there would not in future be any evening sittings. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) MANSIOIV-HOUSE. Richard Sargood, the ClAver of an errand cart, was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having been instrumental to the death of a man named Dean, in Threadneedle-street, on the evening of Tuesday. One of the City policemen stated that the cart in which the prisoner had been driving, at a little after five o'clock on Tuesday evening, came in contact with some stones which had been laid in the carriage -way of the street, and turned over upon a poor man who was drawing a truck, and crushed his head in such a manner as to cause his death. A boy, who was in the cart, was thrown out with great violence by the collision, and had been taken to the hospital in a very desperate condition. G. W. Home, a person employed in the Hall of Commerce, stated that he heard the noise of the collision, and upon going to the spot observed the deceased under the cart. The head of the deceased was completely smashed, and the prisoner was doing all he could to render assistance, and appeared to be greatly excited and agitated by the dreadful occur rence. The deceased was taken on a shutter to the hospital, but after breathing about three times he died. The LORD MAYOR—What stones are these with which it has been said the wheel came in contact ? Witness—The stones with which they are paving the foot-way. The LORD MAYOR—Were they on the foot-way ? Witness—No; they came off the kerb in the car- riage-way. The LORD MAYOR—Was the prisoner sober at the time ? Witness—Certainly he was. The LORD MAYOR—Was there room for the pri soner to pass where the accident happened without touching the truck which the deceased was drawing? Witness—There was. The LORD MAYOR—How, in your opinion, did it happen ? Witness—l am of opinion, that in endea vouring to keep clear of the truck, the prisoner came in collision with the stones, which he did not see. The prisoner stated that he was going at the time at no quicker rate than about five or six miles an hour, and not seeing the stones, which were piled up in the carriage-way, he avoided the truck, and came in contact with the stones. Thomas Kyte, one of the labouring men emp l oye d by Mr. Chadwick, the surveyor, to repair Thread needle-street, stated that he had placed the stones in the street, and they might have projected into the carriage-way about two feet, but there was a great deal of room for all vehicles. The Loan MAYOR---I do not see that I can allow you to be sworn, as your statement is calculated to affect yourself. Mr. J. K. Gallard, a gentleman connected with a commercial-house in the City, stated that he witnessed the collision. The prisoner's cart was going at the rate of about six miles an hour—a quicker pace than he should wish to travel in the City. He saw the cart overturned, and thought at first that it was occasioned by the falling off of the wheel. My friend afterwards thought the accident was occasioned by the wheel coming in contact with the stones, about half a yard higher than the pavement, and appeared to him to be sufficient to cause the overturn. The LORD MAYOR—Under the circumstances, I am disposed to take bail for the appearance of the prisoner on a future day ; but I must order Thomas Kyte, Mr. Chadwick's man, into custody, for it apt pears to me that he has been the cause of the death o this poor man. The boy, too, has suffered greaf injury. It was stated to his Lordship that a summons had been issued by the police on the preceding day to the principal engaged in repairing the street, in conse quence of the obstruction, which had since been so fatal. The LORD MATOR—Yes, I know that a summons has been issued. Bail was then given for the appearance of Sargood, 1 and Thomas Kyte was taken into custody and re manded till Friday. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE POOPS'-BOX.—The Lord Mayor acknowledged the following contributions to the Mansion-house poors'-box :—The Fishmongers' Company, 10/. ; H. S., a lady, per J. Shaw, Esq., 51.; he Mercers' Company, 10/. BO W-STREET. POST•OFFICE ROBBERY. —An elderly man of respect able appearance, named Robert Hobson, who keeps the receiving -house at Walthamstow, was placed at the bar before Mr. Jardine, charged with stealing the postage of a letter, the property of the Postmaster-General, under the following singular circumstances:— Mr. Peacock conducted the prosecution ; and Mr. Swan, a solicitor, appeared for the prisoner. Mary Carter, a widow, residing with her brother, at the Cock public-house, March-street, Walthamstow, stated that on Saturday last, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, she took to the post-office the letter produced, addressed "John Carter, seaman on board the Samuel Boddington, Captain Knock, master, Calcutta, or else where; and, having seen the prisoner, she delivered it to him with is., which he said was the amount of the postage. He then stamped it " Walthamstow," and after marking with red ink " paid one shilling," ho placed it in a drawer under the counter, upon which she left the shop; but a few minutes before twelve o'clock she was called upon by the prisoner's son, and in con sequence of what he told her she gave him 10d. more, which he took away. When she delivered the letter to the prisoner, she told him she wished it to be dispatched by the next mail to India, which would be the 15th of the present month, and on the same afternoon, having seen Holmes the letter-carrier, she made a communication to him respecting the letter. In cross examination, witness said the distance from her house to the post-office was not more than five minutes' walk. There was no money in tho letter, and the boy made no observation when she gave him the additional 10d. George Holmes said he recollected having seen the last witness about two o'clock on the afternoon of Sa turday, at the public-house, and in consequence of what she told him respecting a letter addressed to Calcutta, he spoke to the prisoner at the Post-office on the follow ing Monday, saying he had to make inquiries about a foreign letter, at the request of a lady, for the purpose of ascertaining if the postage of Is. 10d. was correct, and if he had sent his son for the extra charge, to which he replied, it was correct, and his son had been sent by him. Witness said the lady was very anxious about the letter going at the proper time, and inquired by what collection it went. The prisoner said he had sent it by him (witness), which he knew was not the case; and hav ing denied he ever had it, the prisoner said he sent it at the right time by Reeves, another carrier. Witness was then about to leave, and the prisoner said, " Please to tell the lady I have added the 10d., or she may think I have been robbing her." Witness's duty was to go to the Walthamstow post-office every day at half past three o'clock, for the purpose of taking the letters to the post-office at Whips-cross, where the bags are made up and put into the London bags, to be forwarded to the chief office ; and previous to his having the con versation with the prisoner, on the 16th, he had collected the letters, and the one produced was not among them. He had also collected the letters on the 14th, and was positive no such letter was among them. On Saturday, when the prisoner gave him the letters, he also handed him the bill, by which it appeared there were fifteen let ters, the postage of which amounted to Is. 4d.; and on Monday there were twenty-four letters paid, the postage amounting to 25., as appeared by the prisoner's hand writing in the bill. Cross-examined—The postage of the respective letters was not specified, but the entries were made in the gross amount, and he had collected from the prisoner about two years, the time he kept the receiving-house. When he spoke to him about the lady, he showed him a printed paper on the wall, that had been furnished by the post office in consequence of his having on other occasions charged too little postage. Mr. sculthorpe, a president of the Twopenny Post office, said that on Tuesday he went to Walthamstow to make inquiries, and the prisoner said he had sent it by the twelve o'clock dispatch ; but on showing the letterletter bill, he said he must not have sent it on that day, as his boy did not return till the post left. He was then asked if he had sent it on the Monday ; and he replied he had delivered it, with the others, to the carrier, which was not the case, as appeared by the bill of that day. The officer Peake was then called in, and on making a search the letter produced was found in a drawer with the pri soner's private letters, which his wife said be must have put there for extra care. Mr. Swan said the prisoner had carried on business as a grocer at Walthamstow for the last thirty years, with an irreproachable character ; and he hoped there would be no objection to accept of bail for his future appear ance, which he could procure to any amount. Mr. JARDINE said, as the prisoner would be brought up again to complete the evidence against him, he could not, at the present stage of the proceedings, consent to accept of the bail.—The prisoner was then removed. WORSHIP-STREET. POLYGAXL—Thomas Bartholomew Imbert, alias Ste vens, a respectable-looking middle-aged man, described as a colour manufacturer, was charged with having in termarried with a yowlg woman named Abigail Isted, he having no fewer than four other wives then living, but one of whom had since died. It appeared that the prisoner was apprehended in consequence of instructions from Mr. George Wilson, a parochial officer, of Mile-end New Town, the father of tho third wife, who had circulated handbills, offering a reward for his apprehension. The prisoner was married to Miss Wilson on the 30th of July, 1838, but he deserted her some time after, and was in consequence apprehended and brought to this Court, when an order was made upon him to allow her a weekly maintenance, which he did for a short period, and then absconded altogether. Searching inquiries were made after him, in the course of which it was ascertained that at the time of his mar riage to the prosecutor'sdaughter he had two other wives living, the first being the daughter of a person named Grimsdale, and the second a young woman named An drews, residing at Walaorth. Information was at length received that the prisoner was living in East street, Kennington, with a fourth wife, whom he had subsequently married, and the officers, Holland and Rowland, proceeded to that address, and took him into custody, while he was engaged in making preparations for starting into the country that Right. The officer Rowland produced certificates relating to two of the marriages, the last of which was solemnised at Islington Church, on the 3d of January, 1842 ; and the witness stated that he had also in his possession a mass of amatory epistles, which the prisoner had ad dressed to the unfortunate young woman he had so heartlessly beguiled. The fourth wife, Abigail Isted, vtas in the first in stance charged, in conjunction with the prisoner, with robbing their furnished lodgings at Kennington ; but as her evidence was considered essential to establish the more serious charge against him, the magistrate directed her to be removed from the bar, and received as a wit ness. The third wife, a very good looking young woman, was also present, but her evidence was not taken. The prisoner (who declined saying anything) was re manded, to enable the officers to obtain further evidence to substantiate the case. THAMES POLICE. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF ROB=ERT.— Thomas Smith, a master shipNiright• and barge builder, of Mill wall, Poplar, where he has cariieB on business for many years, and has long been consid'eied a man of good re pute, was brought before Mr. Broderip on a charge of stealing a quantity of deals, the property of Mr. Thomas Fossey, timber-merchant of the same place, and Mr. Snook, a ship-builder. Mr. Pelham attended on behalf of the prisoner. It appeared from the evidence that Mr. Fossey and Mr. Snook had recently missed deals from their pre mises, and the prisoner had been transacting business at both places. On the 2d instant a barge load of pine planking and deals were landed on Mr. Fossey's wharf. On the 7th he missed several. About that time deals were lost from Mr. Snook's premises, and the prisoner, their neighbour, was the last person suspected, until Saturday last, when a remarkable circumstance led to suspicion falling on the prisoner. A person named Phil pot, a manufacturer of patterns and castings for engi neers, sent five pieces of timber to Fossey to be cut up into smaller pieces and planking, and Mr. Fossey immediately identified four of them as his own pro perty. One was a pine plank, another a spruce bat ten, and two others Swedish deals, and very black, in consequence of their having been confined when they were green. The other turned out to be one of the deals stolen from Snook's yard. Mr. Fos sey subsequently waited upon the prisoner, who said that a man named Tom Kent picked up the deals and sold them to him, and took the prosecutor to several places under pretence of finding the party, but was un able to do so. The prisoner afterwards informed Mr. Evans, a Thames police-inspector, that he had known Kemp fur two or three years, and that he worked for Gabriel on the Regent's Canal, and that he gave him 12s. for four deals, the price at which he disposed of them to Mr. Philpot. It afterwards transpired that the prisoner had sold eight deals to Mr. Philpot, and he produced a receipt for 125., signed " T. Kemp," for four of the deals. There was a great mass of evidence against the pri soner, and the deals were clearly identified by Mr. Fossey, and by a sawyer in the employ of Mr. Snooks, as having been stolen from their premises. Others found in a boat adjoining the prisoner's wharf, by Inspector Webb, of the Thames police, were also identified by the same parties, while no such person as Tem Kemp could be traced; In cross-examination by Mr. Pelham, the prosecutor (Fossey) said he had known Mr. Smith for many years, and had hitherto considered him a respectable man, in capable of acting dishonestly. Mr. Pelham said the prisoner would decline saying anything at present. Mr. BRODERIP said he should commit the prisoner for trial, but as some further evidence was required to complete the case, he would stand remanded till Tues day next. TNS NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY.—This under taking is advancing rapidly in the neighbourhood of Berwick-on-Tweed. The excavations having been commenced in tho Duke of Northumberland's property adjoining the town, should the weather, during the winter, be at all moderate, this section of the cutting is likely to be completed by March or April. In a circular issued from the Directors'. office in Edinburgh, on the 6th instant, we observe it stated " that the works on the main line will have ali been let to respectable contractors at prices considerably under the estimate, that they are progressing in a very rapid and satisfactory way, and th ,t they have every reason to think they will be com pleted, and the line opened, within the stipulated period, viz., by Ist May, 1846."—Berwick Advertiser. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—We have this week to announce the death of the oldest inhabitant of Brigh ton. Mr. Edward King, residing at 2, Kensington gardens, died on Friday, in his hundredth year, having about a month previously completed his 99th year. Mr. King was a clerk in the Middle-street Brewery before the time even of the late Mr. William Wigney, and con tinued in the counting-house till he was nearly 86 years old, discharging his duties with accuracy and fidelity. About twenty years ago he retired from Messrs. Wig ney's service on a pension, which Mr. George Wigney paid up to the day of the centenarian's death. Mr. King was a man of great integrity, and enjoyed the esteem of all who had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with his worth.—Brighton Guardian. On the 11th inst., at B D elm lE on D t; Bath, John Thu .acke, pg . ; of Boughton H ouse , Ch es hi re. "rife' On the 13th i ns t., at Newby-plaee, Poplar, Mart ia l J. 13. Gordon, Esq. dea r On the 13th inst., at Hastings, Jemima, the eldest - „ ar Y:i ter of Sir Charles Wager Watson, Bart., of Wratting ''' Cambridgeshire. 0 0 c t of On the 15th inst., at Bath, Dame Catherine, roll late Sir George Glyn, Bart., of Ewell, Surrey. ...ifid On the 16th i nst., at B r i g h ton, E mma , youngest 5 11 .., - .. e s , daughter of the R ev . W. W a lf or d, of Hatfield Peverel,n7o, On the 16th inst. Rosina Poland, the only , d au ghter Dru Drury, Esq., of Blackheath. Thonss P. On the 16th i ns t., a t W oo tt on , near Gloucester, Lewis, E sq ., age d 60 . e o n of On the 16th i ns t . , J ames W ar d Harper, younges t Adam Yates Bird i sq , of Kidderinster. sclu ilre On the 17th ns E t., • in Charlotte-street , Bedf ord- Catherine, the wife of Henry Langley, Esq. ..-... AO On the 17th inst Elixabeth, eldest daughter of om ~ Chappell, aged 18 the elderOn the 17th inst. at Ramsgate, Elizabet h, daughter of the late Rev. John Manley Wood. lINu °f YO 19 London: Printed and Published by MURDO No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tke .Stos Office, ) •,., - 1 0 - Strand, in the Predict of the Savoy, in the COIN/ Middlesex, Thuroday, December 19,1• DISCOVERY OF A LONG CON• CEALED MURDERER. CHESTER, SATURDAY.—A considerable sensation was produced here this morning by the arrival of two police officers, one from Parnell, in IVarwickshit e • and the other from Alcester, who severally rep" . sented to Mr. Hill, the superintendent of the Chester police, that they were in search of a man named Jone s Crowley, of P a r ne ll, c h arge d w i t h t h e w ilf u l m urder of William Tilsley, also of that place, as far back es the 25th of December, 1842. In consequence of in:, formation suppli e d by th e officers in pursuit, Mr.llw sent some of his men to the Black Dog public-bous e t where the party in question had been staying for some time. 'He had, however, removed to a lodging on the, Eaton-road, leading to the seat of the Marquis Westminster; but it was ascertained that his trun ks and other moveables had recently been tak en to the Castle and Falcon, a small public house in Watergate-street, kept by a person nam ed Mary Jones, at which place he occasionalli called for refreshments, and, on inclui r Y ‘ ' Mr. Hill was gi ven t o un d ers t an d t h at h e (C ro wleY , / was expected the re a t a b ou t noon to -d ay. Accord' ingly two officers from Parnell and Alcester, accon' panied by two of the Chester police, repaired to t he house at the time specified, and there found Crock,' seated with a glass of ale before him. It was known that he was always provided with pistols, and there' fore due precaution was used in apprehending He was seized by each arm before he was at' aware of the presence of the officers, who than If j formed him of the nat ure o f th e h eavy c h arge a lleged against him. _ I admit it I" he at once exclaimed; and, subsr quently, as they were placing the handcuffs UP ° him, he added, "I am a dead man." He was forthwith tak en b e f ore th e ma y o r an d magistrates; and on bei ng searc h e d , t hi rty - s i x sole' reigns were found upon him, together with a double' barrelled pistol. The weapon was not loaded; paper, containing a number of balls, a n d a es' " powder, were found in one of his pockets. It appeared by the statement made before the It gistrates, that the pri soner h a d f ormer l y resided 1" his parents at Parnell ; but, in consequence of 1111 violent conduct, his father had forbidden him t i t house, at the same time providing for him a o ° 4 cottage in the neighbo ur h oo d, an d allowing hilD:fte per week and a horse to ride on. Notwitbstandl this arrangement, however, the father having S t a i rt reason to dread some fatal act of violence on the P of his son, had one of his farm-servants, nol o William Tilsley, sworn i n as a spec i a l cons t a ble his (the tether's) protection ; and on Christmes•tJi 1842, the family and a party of friends having.l% taken their seats at th e di nner t a bl e, the pr i so n mother suddenly started up, an d sa id to h er husbl' e ; "For God's sake, go up s t a i rs ; there's 30.„, coming across the field with hi s gun to shoot 50.7,8 of us. " The old man acco r di ng l y h urr i e d f ro m apartment, and the prisoner, who had been seen t i 4 his mother through the window advancing in, the way she described, we n t roun d t o t h e back o f,lea house, and thrust the muzzle of his double-barrel o gun through a pane of glass. In the meali ti ne Tilsley went out to e x p os t u l a t e w i t h the pris.,°"rii., who, on seeing him, r e t rea t e d a f ew paces, orc,_" i" ing, "It's you, is it ?" an d a t t h e same instant t u be the unfortunate ma n , mid shot hi m d ea d upon, to spot. He then shouldered the gun, a n d was hear d f or say as he walked away, "I've another charge g e somebody else." No one ventured to stop him• an d went home, saddled his horse, rode to Tring , a t there left his horse at an inn, took the 01 44 ., o f stopped at the first stati on , w h ere h e bought Islip° spectacles to disguise his person, and was hes be n more until a few days si nce . H e h as, it appear 3, .jed in the United St a t es i n th e i nter i m, but has reslitt ever since March last i n Ch ester. A woman *lo3t whom he has recently cohabited in a fit of jolt ) betrayed him. The prisoner, after having been duly caution, signed the following declaration:— have to say I am guilty of what I shou again to-morrow. I did s h oo t th e man i n open ' l 7 l I think I did my duty." be He was ordered to be taken to Warwick, wile'" will undergo further examination. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. CO.r PORTSMOUTH, TUE SDAT .—A court-martial, - vt prising R ear -Ad m i ra l H y d e P ar k er, C. 8., Presid e r. Captain Mowbray, of the Victory; Captain t o t; Rowley, of the St. Vi ncen t, Fl ag C apta i n o f the de r Commander Willcox, of 'the Excellent ; Cellont l e f Smith, of the Syr en ;and Mr. Ge org e L. Greet s Deputy-Judge-Advocate of the fleet, asse mbled morning by signal gu n , on board the Victory' , l ie Capt. Mowbray, to try Mr. George Bellis, mate of Excellent, at the instance of Captain Sir T. Hast ll 24 of that ship, o n a c h arge o f having left the deck d u !Se his watch (the dog watch), o n the evening of 7th instant. Capt a i n Si r Th omas H ast i ngs , C ° ; ', 01, mender Lowe, Lieuten an t Moorman, Lieut. ffna i s Mr. Gough, mate, an d t wo private arines, all e' ce l Excellent, appeared for the prosecution, and addjecaic evidence to 'prove that the p r i soner l e ft the during his watch on the evening above-mentioned;ip went to smoke in the galley, which was the substance of the charge I De xe•e- Mr. Archibald L ow , o f P ortsea, an d de reux, of Portsmouth, attorneys, conducted a t „ o we fence. The case f or th e prosecution closed 11 ' rs 0 o'clock, when th e p r i soner requested three botthaipg prepare his defence. This was demurred to as flO too long, when the prisoner, by the advice o f counsel, 'reduced hi s requ i re d t i me to two N th' (The prisoner was only informed on Saturday t hee he would be brought to trial.) The court W 5 p ot cleared, and re-opened at two o'clock, when s • excellent defence was entered into by the le4 -61 , 1 50. tlemen above-named, which went to prove tns' it eb Bellis, the prisoner, was not in charge of the i. w " jt at the time he was declared absent from the ( 16. '0 has generally been supposed that the Excellent h ip, the beau ide a l o f a we ll-di sc i p li ned l i ne-o f - b a ttles dr where the striAest order and regularity in everf t he partment were observed and enforced; but, frl io ta nature of a portion o f th e ev id ence, we are iac bet to believe the Excellent does not so well deserliter name as is generally supposed. The court, 01 hearing the whole of the evidence on both s ides' a p o what the prisoner had to allege in defence (be 112 / 0 111 witnesses), was of opinion that the charge l'ilsaisF proved, and adjudged him, the said Mr. George list to be severely reprimanded, and to remain on tt e vi p to of mate s t wo years l onger t h an the usual terra promotion. ie te, The royal ya c ht Vi c t or i a an d Alb ert i s cont tte d all but her ventilating apparatus, which is being l' e r under the superintendence of Dr. Reid. It is bet ber petted she will lea v e th e d oc k an d ma k e t r ial ° f speed after her alterations in a few days. bef The St. Vincent, 120, progresses rap idl y it refit in dock. It is expected she will be $ leave in about two months. hw A The Dwarf, stea m -t en d er t o t h e roya l .7 - he alongside the Dryad hulk, having a new fie re the fitted ; she lost her former one by running 111 2;: ni ert George, Isle of Wi g ht an d Southampton sw" lying at the Victoria-pier, last Wednesday : eted The Siren, 16, C omman d er S m i t h (b), rer„- to be paid off on Friday. p The works of the new s t eam -b as i n are rarfilsP greasing. The foundation-stone is expected to in about a month. te a 0 , , The Harlequin an d P e li can are h ourly Weed val Spithead with treasures from Singapore, a n from Liverpool, as has been erroneously staff - BIRTHS. - r cA r On the 3d inst., at H a lif ax , N ova S cot i a, t h e lacif ° SO tain Mellish, Rifle Brigade, of a son. On the 14th inst., at Amherst Lodge, Edward Dolhuan, of a daughter. 001 0 On the 16th inst., the wife of Lieutenant Robert r R.N., of a son. 40 es the " On the 16th inst., at Takely Vicarage, Essex, o f the Rev. Charles Clarke, of a son. the isalia On the 17th inst., at Lewis -crescent, Brighton, te' Hammersnlith' .0f Captain Vernon, Coldstream Guards, of a daughter._, (o , On the 17th inst., at Lynchfield House, near Taun ted gt s lady of S. Blyth,Esq., of a son. ch On the 18th inst., a t E pp i ng, th e l a d y o f the Rev' ill s e Sale, of a son. the On the 18th inst., at Duke-street, Westminster , of J. P. Kay Shuttleworth, Esq., of a son. ______,.../.1 MARRIED. Sic b On the 7th inst., at St. George's Church, Lisboa, isa bt Tonson Evanson, M.D., to Lady William Montitgu , u oittp of James Du Pre, Esq., of Wilton Park, Bucking DO", Oa the 12th inst., at the Minster, Beverle_ t v , Walk rick, Esq., of Hull, to Anne, only daughter of Willi a "". son, Esq., of Beverley. Piriot On the 17th in s t., a t St. P ancras, William Timbre to r Esq., of Kentish-town, to Margaret Ann, eldest Vote George F re d er i c k Ab raham, Esq., of Great Mari . 51 t , street. On the 17th i ns t ., at T ottenham Church, Hsn Hand logb of Southwick, Sussex, to Arabella Marianne, eldes t of the lat e John Holt, Esq., of Tottenham.