The Sun. — London, England, 1839-04-06 00:00:00

EVEIVING EDITION. THE LORD MAYOR'S DINNER. I _ TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. ) Sza,—l sent the following letter to the Morning iChronicle yesterday, but not observing its insertion, may I beg you to give it a place in your columns. I have the honour to be, &c. W. S. NORTHHOUSE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE. 1 SIR, —During the long period (upwards of twen t y years) I have been a reader of the Morning Chronicle, 1 I have had occasion to observe its marked abstinence from personal attacks in the discussion of pub lic or party questions, or should an occasional error of that sort be committed on grounds afterwards shown to be unfounded or unfair,' I have also remarked the readiness with which an explanation was inserted and the evil remedied. Confiding in your consistency and sense of justice, allow me to assure you that you were mistaken in charging the Lord Mayor with prostituting the civic feast of Monday last to party purposes. Your charge is founded upon the report in the Times. Had you in quired of the Man. Member for Leicester, who was present, he might have informed you that it was the omissions and exaggerations of that report, which chiefly gave the proceedings a party colouring. After Sir F. Burde4 had been stopped in his rabid attack upon the Irik Government, the Lord Mayor distinctly and impressively stated that he had trusted that all allusions to politics would have been avoided, and that all his in vitations had been sent without reference to party opioions or objects. Those observations were entirely omitted from the report in the Times, which omission, along with the colouring that was given to certain Tory favourites, led you into the error of imagining and ascribing party views. It is true that the health of the Queen Dowager was more enthusiastically drank than that of the Queen Regnant, but smarting, as the citizens do, under what they, perhaps erroneously, believe to have hem " a sharp reception and a short answer," to their recent deputation in defence of their ancient rights and privileges, it was not in human nature to act. otherwise. Cheering and shouting are voluntary acts, and to expect rapturous enthusiasm while a sense of pain and mortification prevails, is to expect more than the infirmity of men's feelings will permit. There was not, however, a single disrespectful sound or indication after the toast or during the anthem. Then as to the company and the speeches— With the single exception of Sir Francis Burdett, I observed nothing to give a party hue to the proceedings. There were no " Church and State" toasts, though three Bishops were present. No " Immortal Memory," and " No Surrender" sentiments. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, who 4s no party man, had the chief place in the proceed❑gs. The next was allotted to the Mar quis of Normanby who is a decided Reformer, while visa vis with Sir R. Peel sat her Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor-General. The seats arranged under the eye of the Lord Mayor evidently indicated an intention that the " toying cup" should be drank to each other by gen tlemen of the most opposite opinions. You challenge the Lord Mayor to produce a list of the guests. Whether his Lordship may accept the challenge (and he has evinced no lack of courage during his Maycralty), I do not know, but I could from personal observation disabuse your mind of the impression it has received. The following gen tlemen in the room were not likely to have been in vited for their Tory predilections The Marquis of Nornaanby Ald. White The Lord Lilford Ald. Kelly Tke Attorney-General Ald. Magnay The Solicitor-General Mr. Anderton (Chairman of Sir I'. Troubridge, M.P. Mr. Hume's Committee) Sir C. Adam, M. P. Mr. R. Taylor Sir J. Duke, M. P. Mr. Alex. Galloway Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M. P. Mr: Lawrence Mr. Easthope, M.P. Dr. Birkbeck Ald. Humphery, M.P. Mr. Jones Loyd Colonel Maberly Mr. Edward Wilson Sir John Cowan, Bart. Mr. Steevens Sir John Key, Bart. Mr. Gurney Sir John Ross &c. &c. These names in a company consisting in a great mea sure of ladies, and in a still greater of gentlemen who have no political character at all, must convince every one that the room was not " packed with Tories." In fact the cheering to the Marquis of Normanby was quite as great as to any other speaker, and the hissing to Sir F. Burdett was more marked than any cheering at all. The Lord Mayor, while he has preserved a cautious neutrality on all party matters during his Mayoralty, has shown that he belongs to the highest and most useful class of Reformers, viz., the Reformers ripractical abuses. The Lord Mayor has, single-handed, grappled with and laid prostrate one of the worst monopolies that disgrace and deeply injure our land. In this great work his Lord ship ought not to be obstructed upon slight grounds, more especially by the leading advocate of Free Trade in all its branches, and I am sure by inserting this letter you will not allow the Morning Chronicle to prevent or impede the public good. I have the honour to be, &c., W. S. NORTHHOUSE, 4 Parliament-street, 4th April, 1889. THE COAL TRADE. Yesterday a deputation from the Anti-Coal Mono poly Association, consisting of Mr. Rennie, Mr. Ewart, M.P. ; Mr. Howard Elphinstone, F.R.S. ; Mr. Hol r9al, F.L.S. ; Mr. Bird, from Wales, four of the Pro visional Committee of the Anti-Coal Monopoly Asso ciation ; Mr. Gay, surgeon to the Royal Free Hos pital and the Refuge for the Houseless ; and several other gentlemen, waited upon the Lord Mayor, for the purpose of communicating to his Lordship a vote of thanks for his great exertions in opposition to the long existing coal monopoly. Mr. RENNIE—I have the honour to in form your . Lordship, that at a meeting held at Storey's-gate Hotel, on the 23d ult., an unanimous vote of thanks was passed to your Lordship for those great and patriotic exertions which have so signalised your Mayoralty, towards ob taining for the inhabitants of this vast metropolis a free and unrestricted supply of coals. In offering this tri bute of our gratitude to your Lordship, we only speak the sentiments of every individual unconnected with that odious system, by which an article of the most imperious { necessity to the comforts—nay, even to the existence of all classes, has been raised to a price almost beyond the means of the former consumers. To the amusement, perhaps rather than to the enlightenment of the public —a Noble and Gallant Marquis, more celebrated in the saloons of fashion than distinguished for wisdom in the Senate—more renowned for chivalrous indiscretion than for diplomatic prudence—has again entered the field on behalf of himself and his brethren in monopoly. This aristocratic dealer in coals can imagine no reason why Ihis coals arc dear, but on account of their superior qua lity. With that single sided view of every case for which his Lordship is so remarkable, and with that sel fishness for which all monopolists are remarkable, the Noble Marquis loudly asserts the innocence of the coal cwners, and assures your Lordship that it must be the ship-owners who are te blame, that they must be the delinquents. Well may they ask if this be what you call hacking your friends. Your Lordship will, no doubt, have from them a vindication, in strains of equally indignant eloquence, though, perhaps, less fluent in epithets, and less accomplished in vulgar abuse. —(Hear.) Mr. Rennie proceeded to say that the vin dication of the Noble Marquis amounted to no more than a simple denial, that he brought forward no evidence to disprove that which was notorious to all the world, and which had been proved over and over again, that com bination existed amongst the shipowners, amongst the factors, and amongst the dealers, and that the public had been paying, for many years, at least one-third more kr coals than was just or reasonable. It was beneath tee Noble Marquis to enter into particulars, otherwise he ,might inform the public why they benefited so little by the reduction of duty which took place under Lord Goderich. He would refer the Noble Marquis to the authority of the Duke of Wellington for information on the abuses of the Coal Trade. It was in evidence, from the monopolists themselves, that by mutual agreement they restricted the supply of fuel from the collieries, and if that, from other causes, was insufficient to raise Ole price to meet their demands, the ships were de tained in the river and the crews kept in idleness, with all its attendant demoralization, until their object was accomplished. The patience with which the people submitted to the unjust combination was construed by the monopolists into an approval of the system, and it had been reserved for the Lord Mayor to come forward ar dently in defence of the rights of the public. The spec tacle of thousands in the humbler classes of industry during the long rigorous seasons through which they were passing, with their energies paralyzed, and their very life-blood frozen, created no remorse, awakened no sympathy in the breasts of that unhallowed corpora tion, who were led only by a sense of sordid profit. There was no exaggeration in the statement, nor were these the only evils produced. If the motiveq of men prompted to crime were investigated, how many would be found who had violated the laws to procure the means of preserving themselves and their families front perishing by cold, a destroyer more rapid and fatal than famine Itself.—(Hear, hear.) A permanent monument had been raised by the Lord Mayor in the hearts of his countrymen by the overthrow of a system which had so long deceived and oppressed them.—(Cheers.) wi t h so noble an example before those who waited upon the Lord Mayor, it became their duty to rally round his Lordship, and to . show their appreciation of his exertions by taking vigorous means to secure and mai r osin the advantages which had been already obtaine.i. For that purpose an Association had been for med, which, disclaiming every inducement to speculation by the temptation of large profits, sought no object but the benefit of the community, by providin g a plentiful supply of fuel at a just and reason able price. When the Lord Mayor retired from the high office which he held, it must ever be a source of inbAsitivo tq him to reflect that he had used the power a xanan4teillto his hands in promoting the comfort, the b eLi w,-,•arta the happiness of every inhabitant of the i .. :")? -4 1f i 1 4. j__-."---:1'.,'1'.7,,.5,,/:,.1,./i4r• 1 ----. ' A KIS ‘4!, ~ ~r i- ~,` " `~~ .' ~'~~:<. - - metropolis. The sword of justice in his Lordship's hands had already defeated the machinations of the northern league, and under its powerful protection, and fostered by public approbation and support, the infant Association would soon acquire strength sufficient to baffle and destroy every attempt at unjust combination or monopoly.—(Cheers.) Mr. EWART, M.P., said that it gave the deputation peculiar pleasure to see the Chief Officer of the City sig nalise the commencement of his Mayoralty by uncom mon exertions for the public good, and by the warmest sympathies for the mass of poverty with which the me tropolis abounded.—(Cheers.) He was intimately con nected with parts of England which owed much to the cheapness of coals. The town of Liverpool owed much of its splendour, indeed he might say, the very existence of its population, to the low price of the article which bis Lordship was using his praiseworthy endeavours to cheapen in London. Subsequent cir cumstances made him (Mr. Uwart) acquainted with the borough of Wigan, where he sincerely believed the inhabitants were enabled, through the cheapness of that commodity, to bear poverty better during the periods of the high price of corn.—( Hear, hear.) The coal owners told the public, with a sophistry peculiar to them, with what might be called the logic of monopoly, that they stood between the consumer and, the supplier, in order to regulate the prices for the benefit of the public. He admitted that they interfered with, but he denied that they regulated the prices ; the only thing they did was to increase them. When he first entered Parliament he bad been placed on the Committee on the East India Company's Charter. The members of that monopoly then, as the members of the coal monopoly now, declared themselves to be the best friends of the consumer by regulating the prices. Oh, that regulation ! what a convenient word it was to shield and shelter monopoly and high prices with 1 He never heard the word used as between producer and consumer but he immediately suspected imposition and extortion.—(Hear. hear.) Then, as now, disinterested dealers, like the Noble Marquis, were sworn friends to the public, guardians against adulteration, protectors against ruinous alterations in prices, preventers of sud den or extreme 'oscillations between high charges and low charges. Only believe them, and really monopolies become public blessings instead of public curses, in which every consumer found bis private interest instead of his private injury —(A laugh, and cries of " Hear.") Teas, they said, would become worse and deerer—their system alone kept them good and cheap. But the Committee did not believe them. The Committee, like the Lord Mayor, took evidence. The Committee, like the Lord Mayor, prepared to open the trade, and what was the result? Why, teas from the first day of the free trade fell in price—(Hear, hear) —and so, from the exertions of his Lordship, and that great public Asso ciation to which he was proud to belong, would coals fall in price, and become accessible to all without impo sition, extortion, or admixture.—( Hear.) Mr. GAY said, that as Surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital and the Refuge for the Houseless, he perhaps might be permitted to add a few words to the eloquent addresses which had been delivered. His Lordship had laid the axe at the root of a system most iniquitous and cruel—a system of bold and daring effrontery against the benevolent purposes of heaven itself, and one that interfered, not only with the comforts, but with the very lives of our fellow-creatures. Having the honour to be connected with two institutions in London, whose de signs were to relieve the wants and distresses of the destitute poor, he had ample opportunities of witnessing their miseries and diseases. It was the poor, the op pressed and suffering poor, on whom the systenii bore most heavily.—(Hear, hear.) The influence of re striction upon the sale of coal affected the very mor tality of our country. Every one was aware that cold was notorious for causing pthisical complaints, and that these complaints had an intimate connexion with the undue performance of the functions of the skin, especially through the want of proper means of maintaining its proper temperature. (Hear, hear, hear.) He could not, therefore, but regard his Lord ship's efforts as tending materially to lessen the effects of a climate so changeable, and at times so rioorousupon the population, and diminish the high rate of mortality from colds and consumptions which unfortunately pre vailed. On the part of the poor he thanked his Lord ship, and he hoped that for years unnumbered, around happier hearths, would more gladsome hearts beat high with gratitude and warm with blessings for his Lordship's exertions, and the Anti-Coal Monopoly association which had sprung up from them.—(Hear, hear.) The LORD MAYOR said that he felt much obliged to the respectable deputation he saw around him for the trouble they had taken in waiting upon him with the vote of thanks. It was highly gratifying to him to find that any humble exertions of his met with the approba tion of so numerous a body of his fellow-countrymen. Soon after he took the chair in the justice-room, upon first coming into office, his attention was drawn to cer tain abuses in the coal trade by a gentleman whom he had never before seen, but who, he observed, was well acquainted with the trade, and therefore re ceived a most ready attention from him. A. day or two afterwards a brother Magistrate called, to caution him against lending bis ear to a person %via° would, if en couraged, be very troublesome, a fact to which many preceding Chief Magistrates could bear testimony. Soon afterwards a coal-factor also called, to put him on his guard against so persevering a public visitor. The latter happened to be present at the moment, and a conversation took place between both, in which the denouncer of the system had so much the best of it, and the coal-factor so totally lost his temper, and with it the power of showing his accuser's errors by informa tion and judgment, that the inevitable conclusion was that there was something behind which ought, for the public good, to be inquired into.—(Cheers.) The scene he described had scarcely taken place, when he was as sailed by the captains of colliers, for his sanction to the violation of the bye-laws. The necessity of inquiry was thus more and more deeply impressed upon him. He daily received additional proofs of the exist ence of a great evil, which net only affected the public, but particularly the poor and labouring classes ; and he determined to make a thorough investigation, with the view to attempt as complete a remedy as he was capa ble of administering. As he proceeded, anonymous letters, published and unpublished, poured their ven geance upon him, but instead of deterring him from the course he had commenced, they had the effect of add ing, if possible, to the energy with which he attacked the system, and its confederated supporters. They con vinced bins that he had already done some good, and he had the gratification to receive constant assurances of the gratitude of those who were aware of the nature of the evil, and of its bitter and extensive consequences.— (Cheers.) Indeed, whenever a contrary opinion was expressed, he invariably found upon inquiry, that those who condemned his labours were in some way or other either related to or connected with a coal-owner, a ship owner, or a coal-factor.—(Laughter.) A friend of his, just arrived from Paris,who dined with him the other day, told him that the daughter of a Member of Parlia ment, a large coal-owner, said in the course of conversa tion in the French capital, " Now as you are going to London, you will probably see the Lord Mayor. Tell him that I spend the whole of my spare time in abusing him. We have sunk a new shaft at an expense of many thousands, and the Lord Mayor is doing all he can to render it useless."—(Laughter.) Attacks from ladies are quite excusable, but he was a little surprised when he saw a Nobleman of Lord Londonderry's standing in society, a Member of the Lipper House of Parliament, giving vent to his rage in low, scurrilous language, which would do no credit even to his footman. As Lord Londonderry had kindly taken leave of him for ever, he would not occupy his time in answering the last letter which appeared from the Noble Marquis's pen in the columns of the Morning Post. He hoped he could spend his time more profitably in pursuing measures which appeared to be duly appreciated by those in whose welfare he felt deep interest, and in the further prosecution of which he should, he had no doubt, teach his Lordship a practical lesson which no theoretical observation would be likely to produce upon such a mind. What did his Lordship's letter amount to ? A mere tirade of abuse from a tradesman anxious to puff off his own ar ticle, and to &cry the commodity of everybody else.— (Laughter.) The Noble Marquis spoke of preferring the evidence of the housemaids of the Mansion-house to that of the principal occupant, " I wish," said the Lord Mayor, "he would take that evidence—how can I let him have it ? They would tell him that they found the furniture nearly as clean at night as they left it in the morning—certainly not more dust, if so much, as when Lord Londonderry's coals burned in the grates." —(Laughter and cheers.) The Noble Marquis then raised a hue and cry about the injury done to the furni ture, and exclaimed that the upholsterer must be called into requisition to remedy the vices of the cheap coal, by substituting new decorations, &c. Need be deny tho correctness of the statement. Let the furniture be ex amined. If people were so weak as to swallow the No ble Marquis's account of the affair lot them. If they preferred the charge of 30s. or 40s. a ton to 225. let them purchase accordingly. He did not wish to dissuade them. Those who were so much afraid of the bugbear of dust and white ashes, constituted a very small portion of the consumers. Let the Noble Mar quis visit the abodes of the poor miserable helpless widow, and her nine children without a blanket to cover them, perishing with cold ; let him hear the piercing wind whistling through every crack and cranny of their wretched abode, and look in upon them on the bare fluor, huddled together, to prevent the current of the blood from ceasing to flow. What would the Noble writer say to the damage likely to be sustained in the furniture of such a habitation as this ? (Great cheering.) And yet a little of this article in which the Noble Marquis dealt, would go a great way in alleviating misery so great. It was the next blessing to a loaf of bread. Let Lord London derry, look to the little shopkeper, to the humble trades man, who struggled day and night to make both ends meet. Was los. a ton no object there ? Would the 225. coals spoil the silk curtains.—(Cheers.) These were the coal consumers —these were the parties injured, not the wealthy man who rolled in his riches regardless of the cost of his coals or of any other household commo dity. But he would say it to the credit and honour of THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, i the Nobles of the land, that Judges and Members of both Houses of Parliament had written to him, most zealously offering their assistance to destroy so disgrace ful a monopoly.—(Cheers.) On the evening on which her Majesty's Ministers dined in the Mansion House the coals burned in the rooms were'the subject of con versation, and were most highly approved of. A Noble man, high in her Majesty's councils, expressed his desire to try them, but said his butler had so completely set his face against them, that he knew it would be quite useless to order any, for out of 225. no per tentage eJuld be given either to butler or steward.—(Laughter, and cries of " Hear.") Lord Londonderry next attacked him upon the subject of what was called slack coal, and said in observing upon his statement, " This is a most scandalous aspersion, and I defy your proof." How could he (the Lord Mayor) have the opportunity of proving it ? He would produce a coal merchant who did as much business perhaps as any merchant, in London, and who had in his wharf at this moment, a mountain of slack coal, which he had been obliged to screen from the best coals that he was send ing to his customers at 32 shillings, and that slack he would be glad to sell for 12 shillings a ton, although he had paid best price for it, as large eoal.—(Hear, hear.) It was notorious, that when they sold by measure, the largest coal was obtained, in order that as few as possi ble, might be got into the bushel, while now that they were sold by weight, they were screened as badly as pos sible, in order that the worthless trash of slack might be poured in upon the unfortunate consumer.—(Laughter and cheers.) If Lord Londonderry chose to make these statements, which few persons would believe, he must submit to the inconvenience of being exposed. What credit could be attached to his Lordship's Coal Committee evidence, when he boldly asserts on the 25th of March, 1839, " I shall take leave to state, no such monopoly has existed or can exist." The Lord Mayor alluded to and answered several other parts of the letter of Lord Londonderry, and concluded a speech full of spirit and point, of which the above is an imperfect sketch, by stating to the deputation that his advice was to establish Companies. It was of no manner of use to go to Parliament—they would in all probability not obtain an Act, and if they did it would be evaded. The only plan that promised success was the establish ment of new Companies, the opening of new coal fields, which could be worked at half the price which the ancient and almost unfathomable pits of Lord London derry were worked. If they could bring the coals from free pits, not of the combination, he would find them buyers.—(Loud cheers.) He had not the least doubt that within three years there would be as great a revolution in the coal trade as was now taking place in turnpike-roads and railroads. Of the success of the Companies he recommended he was perfectly con vinced. One Company had been established some years, and their present orders extended to as much as they could raise for two years to come. Nothing could give him greater gratification than the testimony which was that day borne to the intentions with which he had commenced the fight against the odious monopoly which was now fast expiring, and which the public were, he was convinced, determined upon crushing for ever. — (Loud cheers.) The Deputation then retired. CORONER'S INQUEST IN THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION. Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, an inquiry was instituted before Mr. Wakley and a respectable Jury, in the House of Correction, Cold Bath-fields, relative to the death of John Boileau, aged 55, a prisoner, who is supposed to have died of a broken heart. George Hare, chief turnkey, said that the decease 3 was brought into tbe gaol on the 15th of February. He was sentenced to a twelve months' imprisonment, having been convicted of a misdeamour at the Central Criminal Court. His arm was in a sling, and he was at once admitted into the infirmary. He died about five o'clock on the 4th instant. The CORONER observed that the collar-bone of the deceased had been broken, and that it was not united. Mr. Chesterton, the Governor, said that the de ceased was immediately attended to by Mr. Wakefield, the surgeon to the prison, when he was brought in. Hare, in answer to the Coroner, said that he under stood the collar-bone of the deceased was accidentally broken at Newgate previous to his trial, in consequence of his boot having caught in something. CORONER—When a prisoner is sent under circum stances of having received some injury, is any record made of it in the sentence ? Mr. Chesterton replied that it was left entirely to them. A prisoner is examined by the surgeon, and it is at his discretion that he is put to the labour he can perform. In this case the deceased was put to some light work, and that merely to keep his arm in motion. Stephen Allen, iufirmary turnkey, said that the de ceased was admitted into the infirmary on the 15th of February. He appeared to have a fractured collar, and which had the bandage to it in the figure of 8. Mr. Wakefield put the bandage right four times while he was there. He went out on the 6th of March. On the 18th he was admitted into the convalescent ward, and on the 30th again into the infirmary. He was then suffering from cold and fever. From that time he gra dually got worse, and died on the 4th. After some further evidence of little importance the Jury returned a verdict of " Natural death." ST. MARY'S, ISLINGTON.—The Elections in this parish have all terminated in favour of the Oldershaw faction. strong proofs of continual negect and fraud were not sufficient to rouse the parishioners to interfere and change the present system. The parish is, we be lieve' peopled with pious Tories, a race, which ti me ou t o f mind, have loved and fostered corruption and abuse. In Islington they remain true to their character. THE WEATHER.—Ever since Friday last it has continued to blow, with scarcely as intermission, a se• vere gale from the eastward, varying occasionally to south east. It is bitter and biting in the extreme, and has checked all progress of vegetation, which, towards the latter part of the week, was apparent.—Dublin Mail. The Journal dc Rouen says, that it has been proved by recent surveys that the coasts of Upper Nor mandy lose on an average a foot every year by the action of the sea on their entire development, and that it is under the truth to estimate at 400,000 cubic metres the soil washed annually by the sea into the little roadstead of Havre, at tha entrance to the port, and on the banks of the Seine, close to that town. LORD BROUGHAM AND THE CHURSH 07 SCOTLAND.—We have received a different, and we believe a true version of the anecdote which we lately published under this title. The fact, we believe, was this—During Sir Frederick Pollock's address in favour of the Church, the Attorney-General was observed to smile at some re mark which the Learned Counsel was making : who, on this, replied that it ill became the Attorney-General to sneer at the Church of Scotland, as he and his father were members of it ; and as he owed all that he had risen to to the edu cation which he received under that system ; on which Lord Brougham said—" Oh, Sir Frederick, don't go so fast. I see it stated in your case, that you say the Church of Scot land is founded on a rock, and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against her. If that be so, you need not be afraid of the sneers of att Attorney- General."—Edinburgh Even ing Courant. Cheshire Assizes commence this day (Thursday) before Mr. Justice Coleridge, and Mr. Justice Williams. Tho calendar is truly appalling, whether as to the number of prisoners, or the character of crime. It contains sixty prisoners; amongst whom aro two for murder; five for rape; nine for manslaughter; six for stabbing; one fur sheep stealing; two for highway robbery ; one fcr bigamy; one for forgery; five for housebre:diing ; eight for stealing from the person ; ten for poaching ; three for uttering base coin, &c., &c. Their Lordships attended divine service at the Cathedral yesterday afternoon.—Stockport Advertiser. The following are the results of some meteorolo gical observations made at Algiers during the last year as compared with 1837. In 1837, the mean temperature of the whole year was 172-12ths above zero of Reaumur, or rather above 70i of Fahrenheit • in 1838 it was 18 1-12th R., or 721 F. The number of days of rain during each of the two years does not present any very sensible difference, but the season at which the rains l i fall produces an important effect on the vegetation of the country. In March and April, 1837, there were twenty days of rain, and in that year the fertility was remarkable. In March and April, 1838, there were only 12 days of rain, and the crops were considerably below the average. Observations made by the celebrated traveller Dr. Shaw, rather more than a century ago, in 1731 and 1733, gave precisely similar results. In, March and April, 1731, he noted only seven days of rain, while theorleemw a e n r . e 15 such days in the same months of 1733 : and it w as at that time reckoned that if the rains of the after-seaso n f e ll towards the middle of April, as they generally did, t h e crops might then be counted on for a certainty....... Fren ch Paper. CORONICR'S INQUEST. — Yesterday evenin g , at seven o'clock, an i nves ti g ation, which lasted until a late hour, took pla ce at t h e White Swan Tavern, c street, City, before Mr. Payne, the City Coroner, and a highly respectable jury, on view of the body of Ell en Berrick, aged 24, whose death was alleged to have been caused by the unnatural and brutal treatmerrt of J ames Eubecon Berrick, her own brother, and Martha, his wif e, under circumstances of a very dreadful nature. After the examination of several witnesses, the Jury returned a verdict—That the deceased came by her death by the twist ing of the intestine and inflammation, produced by a series of ill usage of James Eubecon Berrick, and Martha, hi s wife ; but the evidence was not sufficient to satisfy their minds that such ill usage accelerated her death. The Co roner committed Berrick and his wife to the Compter, in order to be examined this day ( Saturday) at Guildhall. CONVICTION FORWRITING IN NEWSPAPERS. —The 23dult., at - Petty Sessions in Portaferry, Mr. John M‘Kee was convicted under the Ist Queen Victoria, cap. 36, for sending two newspapers intended for Ame rica, with private communications in the covers. The Surveyor of the Post-office attended to have the case brought forward. Miss Gowan, Post- Mistress of Porta ferry, proved that the two papers produced were banded to her by 'he son of Mr. M'Kae, and that the writing now on the covers was on them at the time she received them : she also stated the sum marked on them of IL 155. BJ. was the postage to which they were liable, as containing any such writing. A gentleman was examined as to bis knowledge of the defendant's writing, and having stated that he bad seen him write, and believed the notes on the covers were written by Mr. M'Kee, the sum demanded was paid with costs into Court. —Dow n Recorder. ANTI-POOR-LAW ASSOCIATION List evening a meeting of Parochial Deieirat,s from the Metropolitan districts was held at the Gvorge and Blue Boar, Holborn, to adopt measures and make ar rangements for the formation of an Association with the object of obtaining a repeal of the Poor-law Amendment Act. The meeting was called for three o'clock, but the i number of persons present were so few at that hour that it was thought advisable to postpone it, however, about half-past four o'clock, some twenty delegates being in the room. Upon the motion of Mr. %%TALKER, Mr. HOPWOOD was appointed to take the chair. He apologised for his incompetency to fill the situation which their kindness had imposed on him. He felt that their indulgence—together with the interest he took in the question for which they had assembled, would enable him to discharge the duties which he had undertaken he hoped to their satisfaction. He then explained the objects of the meeting, and made some observations on the thinness of the attendance (which was, he said, to be attributed to a great many causes, among which, was the want of due notice being given to the different Vestries—to the weather, and to the absence of many gentlemen who had promised to attend, but who were compelled to remain in their own parishes, from many Vestries not having yet finished the business of the week. Mr. WALKER, from St. Paul's Covent Garden, pro posed the first resolution, which was to the effect, That the Meeting adopted the ten resolutions which had been passed at the Meeting of the Inhabitants of St. George and St. Andrew's, before alluded to, which resolutions went to bind that Meeting to " use every constitutional means, in order to effect a repeal of the new Poor law act." Mr. DANILL seconded the resolution. It passed unanimously. Mr. WILSON, of St. Martin's, proposed the next re solution, which purported to be a call on all the metro politan parishes for their co-operation to form the in tended Association, and for which purpose they were solicited to bold meetings to elect delegates to assemble in general Committee. Mr. CARROLL seconded the resolution, which passed without a dissentient. RAINFORTH proposed the next resolution, which pledged those assembled to use every exertion to get up meetings to agitate against the New Poor-law. This resolution, together with another proposed by Mr. HUMPHREYS, of St. Andrew, Holborn, to the effect that a general meeting of all the delegates should be held on the 26th instant, was passed unanimously. A “3.te of thanks was given to the Chairman, upon which the meeting broke up. ISLE OF WIGHT. CHARTIST MEETING. NEWPORT, APRIL 4.—Large bills have been circu lated through the Island announcing that the Chartists of the Isle of Wight would hold a grand meeting at the Green Dragon Hotel, on Wednesday evening, and that James Bronterre O'Brien, Delegate and Missionary from the Convention, would be present to explain the objects of the Charter, and to detail the progress of the present national movement, &c., which meeting v as post poned till this evening, in consequence of the Delegate's being engaged at a similar meeting at Southampton. On Wednesday a large attendance is expected, though we fear he will find money rather a scarce article in Newport. The Committee appointed to inquire into the practi cability and probable expense of converting Newport into a seaport and yacht station, are to make their final report to-morrow. The promoters of this wild scheme, who have no money, are very angry with those of their opponents who have any, that they will not agree to sink it in the bed of the Medina. Married at West Cowes Church, on Wednesday, the 3d instant, by the Rev. J. B. Atkinson, Mr. W. H. Barnby to Miss Jane Oak Nutkins, second daughter of Captain Daniel Nutkins, of this port ; and on the 4th, Captain H. E. Bochner, of the American ship Leda, to Miss Louisa H. Moir, second daughter of Mr. Moir, jeweller, of this town. INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS ON BLASTING AT CRAIGLEITII QLTARRY. (From the Scotsman.) On Tuesday, the 26th ult., a large party of gentle men assembled in Craigleith Quarry, at two o'clock, to witness some experiments on blasting by means of gal vanism, which were made, at the request of the Direc tors of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scot land, by Martin Roberts, Esq. Among the company we observed Sir Robert Abercromby, Bart., Sir James Foulis, Bart., Sir George M'Pherson Grant, Bart., Sir Charles Gordon, Secretary of the Society, Mr. L'Amy, Sheriff of Forfarshire, Mr. Cunningham, of Thornton, Captain Blackwood, R.N., Mr. Campbell, of Jura, Mr. Grieve, Count Moligny, Mr. Graham, of Redgorton, Captain Grant, of Carnoustie, Mr. Gregory, Advocate, Captain Chrystie, H.E.I.C.S. Mr. Inverarity, of the Madras Engineers, Mr. Learmonth of Leuchars, Major Allan, Mr. Jameson Torrie, Dr. David Boswell Reid, Mr. Adie, optician, and Mr. James Jardine and Mr. Alan Stevenson, civil engineers. Mr. George Johnson, the lessee of the Quarry, was also present. It has long been known that the ignition of gunpowder can be very effectually produced by the application of the electric fluid ; but Mr. Roberts has succeeded in producing an apparatus for this purpose, whici. is simple it its structure, very portable, and which, above all, is easily managed. He has also, in the application of this apparatus to blasting rocks, introduced various modifi cations of its arrangements, and effected great improve ments in the mode of charging. The apparatus consists of a small trough about a foot in length, and four inches square on the end, and a battery containing ten pairs of plates. Along the battery runs a bar upon which a tin disc slides freely. This disc, when drawn to the end of the bar, touches another disc, and thus completes the connection be tween the opposite poles of the battery. To prevent accidents, the sliding disc is kept in the middle of the bar by means of a spring of coiled wire ; and it is impos sible to put the battery in action although slink in the trough, without shifting the plate along the bar to the opposite end of the trough. The copper wires which con vey the electric fluid to the gunpowder, are kept separate during their whole course by a sheath of cotton thread, which is wrapped closely round them, in the same man ner as in the strings of the guitar, or as in the wire which stiffens the rim of a lady's bonnet. At their termination these wires are bent outwards, and their extremities are connected by means of a fine steel wire half an inch long, so as to form a small triangle like the Greek capital delta. This triangular end is inserted into a small tin cartridge, and ignition of the powder contained in the cartridge is produced by the deflagration of the steel wire which connects the ends of the two copper wires. So rapid is the pro gress of the electric fluid, that it is impossible to mea sure the interval of time which elapses between the action at the trough, and the explosion of the call ridge. The cost of this apparatus is only about fifteen, shillings ; and the price of the materials required for the solution is such, that a shilling will cover the ex pense of keeping the trough in a working state for months. The copper wire, which, if properly shielded may last for years, costs about one farthing for each yard. In applying this apparatus to blasting, Mr. Roberts makes the following arrangements :—ln regard to the mode of charging, which is perhaps the most important peculiarity of his method, he leaves a space of about one foot containing atmospheric air above and below the gunpowder, and thus obtains, over and above the effect of the gunpowder, all the power which the sudden increase of its volume pro duces ; and thus the same effect is obtained from a smaller charge. He also inserts the tin cartridge into the heart of the charge of powder, and as the cart ridge explodes at both ends, the gunpowder is much more instantaneously ignited. Lastly, in tamp ing no vent-hole is left as in the common system, by the withdrawing of the needle ; but the tamping is pressed closely round the wire which conveys the electric fluid from the trough to the cartridge. When the tamping is completed, the battery is plunged into the trough, which is at the distance of 40 feet from the bore-hole, and may of course be removed as far as may seem desirable, by giving a small increase to the power of the battery if required, which is easily effect by adding a pair of plates; The spring of coiled wire still keeping the tin disc in the middle of the bar, there is no risk of an unexpected explosion, a danger which occasionally happens by the too rapid ignition of a train or fuse in the common method of blasting, Every one having retired, a person stationed at any safe distance pulls a string, which makes the tin disc pass along the bar, and the instant the connection of the opposite poles of the battery is established, the explosion takes place. We shall briefly detail the chief advantage of this new system of blasting, which we conceive to be as follows :- 1. Freedom from the dangers which always attend blasting is obtained from various causes. In the com mon system, the fuse or train must be fixed at, or very near, the bore-hole, long trains being expensive and un certain in their action ; and accidents, from the too rapid burning of the fuse, are unfortunately very com mon. But in Mr. Roberts' system, the person who pulls the string which puts the battery in action, may be stationed at any convenient distance. In the present system, perhaps the most common source of accident is the withdrawing of the needle ; and this is completely avoided in Mr. Roberts' plan. Lastly, there is less chance of failure, and when failure does occur, the bore hole may be at once approached without risk of accident, as the moment the string is slackened, the action of the battery ceases. 2. The next advantage is, the great facility which this mode gives for blasting under water. This is one of the most inconvenient, expensive, and uncertain of all engineering operations. 3. The great advantage of a much more rapid igni tion of the gunpowder, which in c lo s e s th e car t r id ge on all sides, and receives the action of the flame over the greater part of its surface at the same instant, gives the new system a great superiority. 4. There is absolutely no vent-hole in the mode of tamping pursued by Mr. Roberts, which mode cannot be applied to the present system of blasting. 5. The advantage of inclosing a column of atmos pheric air, as practised by Mr. Roberts, is obvious, for the force exerted during its expansion is added to that of the gunpowder itself. What that expansion may be it is difficult to tell, as we have no good means of ascer taining the increase of temperature which accompanies the explosion of gunpowder ; but as the volume of at mospheric air is doubled for every increase of temper ature of 4.50 deg. of Fahrenheit, the force produced by the expansion of the inclosed column of atmospheric air, must form an important addition to the effect of the gunpowder. . 6. It follows necessarily from what has been said . above, that th e com bi ne d e ff ects of the instantaneous ig nition of the gunpowder, the absence of all vent-hcles, and the expansio n o f th e enc l osed column of atmos pheric air, must cause a much greater effect than the explosion of the powder alone in the common system can produce, and consequently that a great economy in the article of gunpowder must result. This is a far more important item in the expense of quar rying and rock excavation, than is generally imagined by those who are unacqu a i n t e d w i t h suc h works. In the excavation for the Philadelphia Water-works, for example, nearly 3,000/ . were expended in gunpowder, and at the r oc k- cutt i ng for the new approach to Edinburgh, by the Calton Hill, 1,0001. was spent in this item alone. In granite quarries the powder for a single shot often costs 3/. If the method of Mr. Roberts produced a saving of about two-thirds of the quantity of gunpowder required for blasting, as would appear from the experiments which were made on Tuesday, some idea may be formed of the great eco nomy which would follow on the adoption of the new system. 7. The system of Mr. Roberts makes the simulta neous firing of several blasts easily practised ; and in many situations, where the removal of the men to a place of safety is difficult, this is an important advan tage. AMERICAN METHOD OF FILLING ICE-HOUSES. Passing the Church, a itself, which had just been shot from some carts ; se veral men were employed preparing it for the ice-house. Captain Raymond, eyeing them with a look;of astonish ment, exclaimed, " I guess I don't know what those fellows are smashing that ice for." We explained to him it was a necessary process prior to its being put in the ice-house for next summer's supply. The proceedings appeared too strange to be true, he knew the story of the American sea-serpent to be true, in fact, he had seen one himself three miles long, but he could'not swallow this ice story, therefore went into the ice-house to convince himself that such things were done in England. He not only saw it broken outside, but pounded in. On his return, Eliza very naturally said, " this is something new to you, you care not for what we call luxuries in England." He replied, " Oh, yes we do, only we get them much easier, and in more perfection in the States," " In deed, pray tell us how you manage matters there ?" " Why, our ice wells are ten times the size of that, and we have not a tenth the trouble to fill them ; nature does the work for us : all the effects of climate. We fill them half full of water one day, and it is frozen into one mass the next ; we then pump it full, and in four and twenty hours it becomes one solid ball of ice, and would remain so to eternity, if we did not use it before that time I ! I" CA UTION.—TIIE MORNING PAPERS AT A CHEAP RATE.-_A friend of ours, seeing an advertisement in the Times, that a newspaper agent in Aldersgate-street, London, would send persons in the country the Morning Papers on the evening of their publication, for ten shillings a quarter, to be paid in advance, sent that sum to that gen tleman early in March, from whom ho in a most irregular manner received about half a dozen papers, but then they were finally stopt, and numerous others have been duped in a similar way. POLITICAL CHARACTERS Itl PARIS.--.Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Brougham, Mr. Edward Ellice, Mr. Hume, Mr. Leader, Dr. Bowring, &c., are now in the French capital. LAW INTELLIGENCE INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Araa 5. The sittings of the Court were resumed to-day. Mr. Commissioner LAW presided. RELIGIOUS SCRUPLES.—Isaac Illedec, a Jew, applied to be liberated on bail. In this case a somewhat singular objection was raised on a former day. One of the pro posed sureties, who was possessed of property, had com pounded and had been a bankrupt. The objection was that the party could hold no property until he had paid 15s. in the pound under his estate. The objection was allowed, and the bail rejected. Other persons now ap peared ; they were both Jews, and after an opposition were accepted, and required to sign a recognizance. Mr. Leir, one of the bail, said he could not, from his religious scruples, sign his name until after seven o'clock to morrow evening. lie would allow an officer of the Court to si g n his name, and he would acknowled g e It. Mr. Commissioner LAW held that the discharge could not issue until after the recognizance had been signed. Mr. WOODROFFE hoped the scruples would be removed ; it was an act of charity, and works of that nature on the Sabbath-day were allowed.. Mr. Leir declared that he would not sign his name for 50/. It was much against his will he attended to-day. Mr. Commissioner LAW said the bail must come on Monday, and sign the document. He could not discharge the insolvent until that was done. The insolvent was remanded to prison where he will re. main three days from the conscientious scruples of the bail. The objection was taken, the present period being the " feast of the Passover." John Fowler, Jun., was opposed on the part of Messrs. Addington, drapers, and Mr. Butcher,la tailor. He was a landing waiter in the Customs, at a salary of 1541. a-year. He was a married man. He was discharged, and 80/. a-year set aside for the creditors. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. Yesterday Frederick Helm, a herald chaser, of Long acre, preferred a complai n t aga i ns t M r . Casely, a Soli citor of Guildford-street, Russell-square, for passing him a receipt without being duly stampted. Mr. CLARKSON appeared for the defendant, and Mr. TILSIT of the Stamp-office attended to watch the pro ceedings. The complainant stated that he waited on the defendant at his house, on the 4th of March, to pay the balance of an account, amounting to 291. los. 6d. as law expenses, and being at dinner he called in an hour after, when he got the receipt produced, which the defendant wrote and signed in his presence. Witness never lost possession of the receipt, until he brought it to the Stamp-office, and there was no stamp upon it when he got it out of the de fendant's hands. In answer to Mr. CLARKSON the witness said he did not mention the circumstance to the defendant, although he expected to have got a stamped receipt on paying the money, and the defendant had been suing him for money. He had been told by his solicitor that the defendant wanted to get him into his clutches, by putting him to 41. additional expense if the money were due another day. Witness had been concerned in a law suit, and judgment had been signed as in case of a nonsuit, and the person to whom he was opposed subsequently be come insolvent. The defendant was witness's solicitor in the case, for which he was furnished with a bill of costs in February last, amounting to 33/., but as credit was given for a part, there remained a balance of 291. 17s. 6d. ; but as he was informed by Mr. Grain, whom he afterwards employed, the defendant promised to take 251. if paid immediately, which he could not swear to. Witness could not say how often he had been applied to for the payment ; and it was about seven o'clock in the evening, when he got the receipt, which he showed to no person, until he went next morning to the Stamp office. He could positively swear that the paper produced had not the stamp on it when he received it. Mr. CLARKSON said he was prepared with the evidence of several creditable witnesses to show that a more deliberate attempt to injure the character of a respectable professional gentleman, by the grossest and most barefaced perjury, never came before the Bench. The Learned Counsel then went into the details of the circumstances connected with the action, between a man named Isilder and the com plainant, which had been conducted by Mr. Casely on the part of the latter, upon payment of the costs, of which the receipt in question was given, and having concluded, he cal_d tl-Ae following witnesses. David Wilkinson, clerk to the defendant, proved that on the 11th of February he purchased a stamp from Mrs. Pitt, of Lamb's Conduit-street, which on bringtng to the office he placed in the inkstand drawer. He subsequently saw the stamp on the same day on which it was used, and it was in every respect the same as that produced with the exception of the stamp. By Sir F. ROE—He brought no more than one stamp on that day, nor was there any other stamp of the same kind in the drawer. By Mr. CLArixsoN—lt was a custom with the defendaut not to write on the stamp on giving receipts. Mrs. Hannah Pitt identified her private mark on the paper produced which, had a stamp upon it when pur chased from her, but she could not say when that was. She always procured her paper from the stationers of the Stamp-office, and it was the size of a stamped paper. Mr. Henry Berry, 4, Trafalgar-square, proved that hay met with with an accident, he requested the defendant to write some receipts for him, which he did without touching the stamps. Other witnesses gave testimony to the same effect. Mr. TILSEY said he was obliged to receive the informa tion on such subjects from any person, but hearing that the defendant had some explanation to give, he thought it bet ter to lay the case before the Magistrates, than take it into the Court of Exchequer, as it would be a saving of expense. Sir F. ROE said that the weight of evidence was in fa. your of the defendant, who had satisfactorily accounted for the stamp, and as it was his conviction that the stamp was on the paper when he gave the receipt, the case should be dismissed. The receipt was then ordered to be impounded for the purpose of producing it on another occasion and the parties left the office. Countess Batthyany, accompanied by her family, arrived at Mivart's Hotel last evening from Brighton, where she has been passing the winter months. Count Batthyany is shortly expected in Leicestershire from town. VESTMINSTER SF:SS Thomas Mosey was -indicted for obtaining newApap, rs under false orders from Jan Hutton. The prosecutor is a pub lication vender, arid the prisoner, who was in the employ of Mr. Hicks, a customer, who was a newsvender, brought an order in the usual manner for ccrtain papers, which were given to him. The prisoner asked for the order, which was returned to him, went away, and returned, and pro duced another order, which was for a less number of papers than the former one; the original order was frr twenty-nine _Dispatches, and the returnee k.,rdcr for nine teen Dispatches. Prosecutor chaized him with having cheated him, and the prisoner altered the list to twenty nine, and told him what he had done with the other order, which the prosecutor procured. Prisoner said that was all the alteration he had made. On comparing the two lists he found that be had put down six Satirists instead of eight, which he had bad. He took away the ten Dis patches from the prisoner. R. Hicks--The prisoner is in his employ, and he had sent him with an order for nineteen Dispatches to the prosecutor. The hand-writing of the orders produced he does not think is the hand-writing of the order h e sent ; thinks they are in the hand-writing of pris,m‘r ; he had nineteen Dispatch customers and six Satirist customers. The prisoner made no defence. J. Rowland, Rho stated the prisoner had married his daughter the 9 h May, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, gave the prisoner a good character. The pe culiar manner in which this witness chanted, rather than said, his evidence, produced some mirth in the Court. Mr. Hicks, in whose service the prisoner had lived, said he had suspected him of dishonesty for some time. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and hard labour. The CHAIRMAN said, should a similar case come before the Court, it would meet with severe punishment. Benjamin Gent was charged with obtaining certain quan tities of of pork, the property of William Bell, from Ro bert Bell, under false pretences. Robert Bell is in the employ of his brother, a pork butcher. The prisoner had lived with a Mr. Giblet, a customer, and had come to the shop since he had left Mr. Giblet's service, and obtained pork in his name. Mr. Giblet's servant proved that the prisoner had no authority. The prisoner, in his defence, said he had been driven to to do as he had done by distress. The Jury found him Guilty, but recommended him to mercy, and he was sentenced to three months' imprison. ment with hard labour. Susan Downs and Ann Ellen Brown were indicted for stealing a bed and other articles, the property of Stephen Cooper. The prisoners lodged with the prosecutor, and on their leaving their lodgings, the prosecutor's wife missed from their room the articles in question. The policeman, who took them into custody, deposed to Brown having conf,:ssed the theft, after having been cautioned by him. The pawnbroker produced certain of the articles which had been pledged by both prisoners together, and which were sworn to by the prosecutrix. The prisoners made no defence. The prisoner, Brown, called one witness to character, but the witness had lost sight of her for some years. The CHAIRMAN in summoning up, animadverted on the conduct of one of the jury, who was reading the Calendar, instead of attending to the summing up. Th• Jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Sarah Collins was indicted for stealing a table cloth, the property of Louis Coquerel. The prosecutor keeps an hotel, and his waiter found the prisoner concealed behind the door of the hotel with the table-cloth in her possession. The prisoner made no defence, and the Jury found her Guilty ; and having been before the Court previously she was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and hard la bour. Elizabeth Pelett was indicted for stealing a knife and fork, the property of William Hodson. The prosecutor is an eating-house keeper, and the pri soner stole the knife and fork from his shop ; they were found on her. She made no deferce. The Jury found her Guilty, but thought the case so frivolous that it ought not to have been brought forward. The prosecutor said he had wisLed to have the case dealt with summarily. She war( sentenced to one month's imprisonment and hard labour. Patrick Murray was indicted for having assaulted Mary Hogan, on the 25th March last. The parties in this case were all Irish, and the assault complained of was the consequence of a regular Irish row. The Jury stopped the case, and acquitted the defendant, as they could not believe the testimony of the prosecutrix. This being the last case, 64 prisoners were discharged by proclamation, and the Court adjourned. AS:SIGE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT—LirREPooL, APRIL 3. CROWN COURT. Mary Ann Ryan, a good-looking young woman of the age of nineteen years, was indicted for adminis tering and causing to be taken, by one Martin Power, a quantity of arsenic with intent to murder him. _ . After hearing evidence at length, the Jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recommended her +.O mercy on account of her youth, and no life being lost. The sentence was deferred. Mr. Baron ALDIZRSON disposed of several causes to-day, not one of which possessed the least public interest. OXFORD CIRCUIT-GLOVCRSTER, APRIL 3. L'EAUGIER V. WILKINSON. This was an action to recover the value of an I. 0. U. for 2,000 f., value 801., given by the defendant to the plaintiff in Paris. The defendant pleaded, first, that the money was lent to enable the defendant to game at an un lawful game ; and secondly, that he had paid it. Mr. Sergeant Talfourd conducted the plaintiff's case ; Mr. Ri chards the defence. The jury without hesitation found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 801. CROWN COURT. THE QUEEN V. WILLIAM DAVIS. The prisoner was indicted for the wilful murder of John Butt, at the parish of Westbury-upon-Trym, within the city and county of Bristol. John White.—l am a police-officer at Bristol. I know the prisoner, and had known him for three weeks before the 9th of February. In consequence of something I heard, I went on the 10th of February to the Old Passage, which is twelve miles from Bristol. I saw the prisoner come to the Passage. I was in plain clothes, and was leaning on a wall waiting at the Passage-house, hen the prisoner came up, and I directly took him into the Passage-house and searched him. I found a purse in his pocket. There was a fourponny piece in the purse. I asked him whether the fourpenny piece was his own, or whether it had belonged to a watch ? Flo said that it belonged to the watch. In the purse was a half-sovereign, a half-crown, a shilling, and two farthings. In the other pocket I found a knife and tobacco-box. It was a large clasp-knife with a rivet spring. I took the prisoner to the police-station in Bristol, and about six o'clock the same day he was taken to the infirmary. I was present when the fourpenny piece was shown to the deceased there. It was done in the presence of the prisoner and two Magistrates. Thomas Phillips, a sergeant of police of the Clifton di vision—l was at the station-house on the first day the pri soner was in custody, and went into the place where the prisoner was. When I saw the prisoner in the cell, I said to him, " William, is it you ?" The prisoner immediately answered, "It is, and it is a sad job." He further said, " They all say that I struck him with a hammer. It was no such thing, I did it with a stick." The statement of John Butt, the deceased, was then put in and read. It was to the effect, that being at the cowhouse of Mr. Warre, his master, in a field adjoining Coldharbour-lane, the prisoner came and spoke to him; that on leaving the cowhouse shortly after, and going down the lane, the prisoner had struck him with a heavy stick on the head, end beat him very severely; that after he was on the ground the prisoner had taken his watch from him, to which was fastened by the chain a fourpenny piece, which was the same fourpeany piece which had been found upon the prisoner and had been shown to him at the infirmary ; that he, the deceased, had then endeavoured to crawl along the lane for assistance. The statement made by the priso ner, was to the effect that he struck the deceased with a stick, and not with a hammer. _ _ Mr. Justice ERSKINE summed up the evidence to the Jury, who found the prisoner Guilty; and the Learned Judge sentenced him to death. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY EDINBURGH, APRIL 3. This day Alexander Humphrey, or Alexander, who claims to be Earl Stirling, appeared at the bar, and at the request of his Counsel, Patrick Robertson, Esq. (with whom was Adam Anderson, Esq.), the trial was postponed to the 29th inst. Ths reason for the postponment is, that the prisoner has sent a Counsel and agent to London and Paris to prepare to meet the allegation brought against him. This is one of the most extraordinary cases ever brought before the public. If Mr. Humphrey is really the repre sentative of the Earls of Stirling,and succeeds in establish ing his claim, his story will be one of the most romantic on record. If, on the other hand, it shall turn out that his claim is merely an impudent attempt at fraud, a system of villany will be laidibare almost unparalleled. We believe that the accused was long resident in France, having gone thither, when a youth, with his father, and was detained from 1803 to the restoration of the Bourbons. Without intending to indicate any opinion upon the case, we shall endeavour as briefly as possible to detail the circumstances or allegations against Mr. Humphrey, in so far as these have come to our knowledge. The first document be founds on is an extract from a charter or pretended charterf by Charles the First in favour of William, the first Earl o a Stirling, conveying to that Nobleman the whole of Nov Scotia, with power to create Baronets, and a large portion of Canada. Mr. Humphrey, as representing the said Earl of Stirling, raised two actions against private parties, which actions were dismissed. He then was served heir to the said William, Earl of Stirling, in right of his mother, and sought infeftment of certain lands claimed. Upon this the Alleers of State in Scotland took measures to reduce this service and infeftment; and the evidence Mr. Humphrey produced in support of his pedigree not being deemed satisfactory, he was called on to produce further proof. This he sought to supply by an old map of Canada, on the back of which was written what purported to be extracts from the Charter of King Charles ; this writing having been made, it was alleged, in 1707, by a gentleman who had seen the original in Canada. The person who makes this extract, we understand, is an unknown person ; but there are several dockets or remarks attached to it, to which are appended the names of the celebrated Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray ; the Bishop of Nismes ; and Louis XV. This document the claimant states was given him by a f a _ maie bookseller, or fortune-teller, in Paris, to whom it had j been sent by some one unknown. But n o t t h e least re searkable part of the romance is, that app en d e d to this old I ma p, is the copy of an inscription said to have been on a I I tombstone, which once was in the church yard at Temple- EVENING patricic, county of Antrim, but destroyed during the rebel lion, said to have been erected to the memory of the grand son of the first Earl of Stirling; and this inscription is made to aid in supplying an important link in the chain of evidence. There is also a letter from this person giving a detailed account of the family about 1707, thanking his friends in France for the extracts of the charter already noticed, and stating that the public record in which that do cument was registered in Scotland had been removed dur ing the cornniotions of Oliver Cromwell's time, and lost at A luoj , -r of p.:., - wrs are said to have gram tLo Humphrey (who claims ;:ha mot;ler) d restored through the twopenny post in London, in 1837. There are are other particulars connected with the case, but 'he above are the leading outlines. storm THE SKELETON FOUND AT WANDSWORTH• —Thursday morning an adjourned Coroner's inquest was held at the 01,1 Sergeant, Garrett-lane, Wandsworth, on view of the skeleton of a female which was found on the premises of Mr. Creswick, paper. maker, on Monday, the 25th ult. Mr. John Day, one of the firm, who occupied the premises fog nrmny years, stated that in 1816 a young , voman, named Mure 1' tikes, left their service. She was tall, and between t w , .. , rity-four and twenty. five years of age• He understood she had returned to her family at Denbigh ; but he had never seen her since. She had an uncle, who then lived at the Knightsbridge barracks. Never knew of the turf of the plat having been removed, nor of any per son being buried in that spot, nor of any person having brought a body to his house for the purpose of dissecting it. Never knew any of the domestics to be missing under mysterious circumstances. Verdict, " That the skeleton found on the premises of Mr. Creswick, in Garrett-lane , in this parish, late the premises of Messrs. Day, is, by the evidence adduced, a female; but by what means she case to her death, and by whom buried where found, there ifai no evidence to prove." CAPTAIN MARRYATT'S NEW NovElo, ..THE PHANTOM SHIP."—The extraer'!: inary interest and curiosity which will greet this new p redict, roduction of our will. 7. e venture to great naval novelist, be mor e p than satisfied, with . his treatment of, perhaps, the most impressi"'; and picturesque sup.e.stition that Ills ever ari , :ei out of the public taste for the wild and wonliiee ful. The t ra diti ona l b e li e f i n t h e sea lege'?d i of " The Flying Dutchman" prevails to this day to all countries whose inhabitants are addicted to naval adventure ; and the various and extensive scope which this belief affords to the unrivalled powers of Captain Marryat. has, in this instance, been applied with a force and felicity that have never been surpassed. But .. The Phantce r. Ship" is but on e among many sources of interest in this production, w hi c h w ill pro b a bl y b e l oo k e d upon as W e master-piece of Captain Marryatt's Fen. THE UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL for April is enriched by a most interesting paper on .. The La° Moments of Prince Talleyr and," by an Eye-witness. ill which, besides a more particular detail of Louis Philippe! celebrated last visit to his old friend and minister, Ina p J curious traits, hitherto unpublished, of the veteran states man, are given by one caidently well acquainted with 10 and his household. The description, especially of t he " troops of friends " assembled in the Prince's drawing.; room, awaiting the i n t e lli gence o f hi s d eat h , an d of the precipitate flight to spread ihe actual dissolution amon g their particular set s or co t er i es , i s written w i t h gr ea t unction, and will becom e as ce l e b rate d as t h ose of the ic death-bed scenes of Nl a x ar i n an d Ri c h e li eu . Captai n Basil Hall, in a p a p er on " N ava l H y d rograp h y ," drag s attention to the peculiar merits and labours of Naval oe.; veyors, and giv e s a s k e t c h o f a ll t h at h as b een hithe rt done, and is now d o in g , i n th a t i mportant b ranc h of tie e public service. Among th e li g ht er ar ti c l es i s an admir rim a", one, entitled " Tecumseh, the Indian Warrior." " Canadas and Lord Durham's Report," is a particularly Is t ; teresting paper at this momen t. B ug l e h as " Hints Officers embarking for Canada, relative to Outfits. itc" and the regular depa r t men t s o f t h e j ourna l em b race a gre at variety of useful and important subjects. THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN THE Ej r WAR[—Moneay an i nques t was h e ld b e f o re o' c i Wakley, at the Vi c to r y, N ewn h am - s t reet , Ed gwar e.res on view of the body of John Sullivan, aged six years. "'P h i , several witnesses had been examined, the Coroner sal„." b i o thought the evidence was perfectly satisfactory. by case showed most str ong ly h ow necessary i t was to j udge to the evidence and evidence alone. At the time the chol!t was raging this de..th would have been a tt r ibuted tt i ' s or if the child had taken quack medicines, it might " t e e been supposed they caused its d ea th, w hil e, i n f a ct, it h a d peered to have been a n a t ura l d eat h. If t hi s case ; 0 happened among the hi g h er c l asses t h ey m i g h t n ot h i t° heard o(it ; but, for th e f u t ure , t h ey i nten d e d no t onri eo hold inquests on gentlemen, but they intended g entle? ~,, should also serve on j ur i es . Th e l aw t oo wante d a lter WA for if by an error of judgment a man's arm was badli, ° / is damages to the a moun t o f 2,000/. cou ld b e ' reco veren i a oo one case 1,000/, had been recovered); but if a 1 1 ' 1 1 no t his life by error of jud gmen t i n t h e surgeon h e ecedu be punished for it. Th e b ea dl e sa id w h en a g entle died he always summoned gen tl emen on t h e jury" laugh.) Verdict—" Accidental death." e dai A CHASE AND A CAPTURE.—On Weu en , s last a post chaise drove to Sweet's Hotel, and a youth h i s gentlemanly demeanour and dress alighted and ordered 0 . dinner. He had scarcely so done before another poor chaise followed at full speed, and introduced some co n ft. bles, who forthwith arrested the youth o n a charge of t"nog It appears that, during the S ess i ons a t W e ll s , the yo u gentleman gentleman was, as is often the c ase w h en i nns a re crow d sent to sleep in a room with t wo ot h er gen tlemen,Y do , whom he took their wat c h es an d seven sovere i g ns, an ° il camped early in the morn i ng , wa lki ng to Glastonbury, o to there taking a chaise. Four pounds and the watch lee t found upon him. H e re f use d to g i ve hi s name, say ing tli it would kill his friends to hear of his situation; and is deed it was evident fr om hi s manner t h at h e i s of resPeZes able family. From bills found upon him it a pp e ared he had been visiting Brighton, Tiverton, and other Ph i " — but no clue could be f oun d as t o hi s real name or oar , tions. He was taken back to Wells, and tried at the °` l . sions, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisoero c h n n He afterwards ack now l e d ge d t h at hi s name was VVegeern that he was the son .of. a respectable tradesman at D e l ; o t o ford. He h a d b een i n the Spanish Legion, returned he m wounded, was refitted with money by his friends W ee d, purpose of g o i ng aga i n to S pa i n, b ut preferre d spenuri g it in England. H e h a d trave ll ed a b out the countr y trill of was spent, and then supplied himself from the peeh e t ts o d , other people. H e wa lk e d to Gl aston b ury, b ut t he aid lady, thinkin g it s t range t h at a gent l eman o f f oo t she o e order a chaise, requested the waiter to keep a n eye be him. While the waiter's back was turned, however' is contrived to take from the traveller's room a Macintosh, which he travelled to Taunton.—Somerset Gazette. METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL, Cl it t be STREET, LINCOLN'S INN.—The annual meeting ° I 0 0 Governors of thi s Ch ar i ty was h e ld at tha Hospits t he Thursday last. It a pp ears b y t h e report t h at, durint te e three years past this institution has relieved ser ail• thousand six hundred and fifty-seven patients. T" e it ete tinguishing featur e o f thi s c h ar i ty i s, t h at every des` r person who requires sur g i ca l or me di ca l re li e f i s , on ef i r J is. cation, immediately r e c e i ve d, w i t h out l etter or other or , troduction. The services o f t h ree p h ys i c i ans , three h ey geons, and the S ecretary , are h onorary. N ear l y o ne 0 . dred patients are daily relieved, and the whole su el bi pended on each suff erer , on an average, as ascer t a ine d ro sl the Committe e , d oes not excee d 2s. 3d. A n u nive, thevices was e x p resse d b y t h e meet i ng o f the gr eat t be vices rendered to the poor of the metropolis throug h sh e agency of th e h os pit a l, an d i t was reso l ve d that ner t ee should be spared to recommend it to the attention of e n. public, with a view to increase its funds, and thereby large the sphere of its utility. SALMON.—We are sorry to remark how th is produceve the salm on fi s h er i es o f t h e N ort h h ave beep season, and from the great scarcity of grilse last yea dose apprehend the severity of the preceding winter ha s ... r ter serious injury to th e b ree d o f t h e sa l mon. In this 9 1 ' . 0 1 the fishing is so b a d th at f or t h e l ast ten days there bas 0 fiv et been a salmon kill e d i n t h e Deveron, although th e ere has been part of the time flooded. The sea fishings, they have been tried, have been equally unsuccess". Edinburgh Courant MA RR lED. n On the Ist inst., at St. Peter's L' p 01, Arthur , Y - h li t er °- son of G. L. Jackson, Esq., to 11 , 1a i rg e a r ie o t, oldest 03° 4 — Christopher E nst., at'Wain.dmonds Esq 11 0 t On the 3d ifleet, Lincolnshire, Ja m " OM to Esq., of the Inner Temple and Lincoln's Inn, daughter of the Rev. Robert Cholmeley, rector of Wa ln lidtil." On the 4th inst., at St. Luke's Church, Alexander 0. „. to ton, Esq., third son of the late Rear-Admiral 11id•Ttbo Elizabeth, younger daughter of Richard Neave, v Royal Hospital, Chelsea. IE D. iet e- On the 21 s t ult at Athlone Caroline, the rife of ~' nant- Colon e l S m ith, Assistant Adj u t a nt-General of the District. On the 3d in s t., a t. C osgro ve, Northamptonshire, JohnrChris— G topper M ansP l, E sq. , l ate M a j or in the 3d Dragoon Guards, On the 3d in s t., a t King's-square, Mr. Dancombe Co aged 69. A rn e ' On the 4th inst.. at River-stre et, Myddelto n-s q uares wife of Mr. Fit z William Rosier vattstaonati.At.. -- „,,trt 0, °E Lenden : -Printed and Publish ity MURDO I% o d, if No. 112, Strand, at The Sun ed Office, No. lit Strait the county of Iliddlosex.—Saturday, April 6,163 L SECOND HAND PLATE PURCHASED*;O O , COX SAVORY, Gold sm i t h, & c., 47, Cornhill (We n sou from Gracechur c h- s t ree t) , L on d on, i nforms Execua°r-, rat others, wishing to dispose of Second-hand Plate, that , the , having a ready sale, he can offer more advantageous prices o vta can generally be afforded by the trade. Strangers offeriacks a or to o f for sale are req u i re d e ith er to g i ve a reference, cheque crossed with their banker's name, which ever the y prefer. SUPERIOR SILVER WATCH LONDON MADE. o Corr A. B. SAVORY a n d SONS, W atc h makers, Nn. •' ode" hill, London (opp os it e th e B an k o f E ngland), su b m it % tion a very large STOCK o f SILVE R WATCHrt ;per whole of whisk are made and finished under the careful a esclt tion of experienced workmen on their own premises, an warranted for correct performance. 0 Fine Vertical Watches, jewelled, with double-backed 44 4 engine -turned case s , warran t e d ........ Fine Vertical Watch es , j ewe ll e d , w i t h secends' hand, ° and double-backed cases, warranted ...... Patent detached Lever Watches, capped, jewelled in 0 four holes, with seconds' hand, and double- 0 backed cases, w a rr an t e d 6 Either of the abov e i n s il ver h unt i ng cases, 10s. 6d. at t lisi s A large variety of secon d-h an d Silv e r Watches, whic r ia. 9 fr been carefully examined, and can be warranted at each. N.B. Second-hand Watches purchased in ex hat___S;oo i B !RES. On the sth in t., at Giltspur- T street, the lady of Fre(lerc) Barmy!, Esq., of a son. e 10" On the sth inst ., at B eau f oy -t errace. M a ida-Y— ' Ifrederiek Caldwe,l, of a (lter. the lg df 0A On the 3d inst., at Springfield, Upper Clapton, Mr. J. B. Moens, of a daughter. gr °. On the 3d in s t., i n M elbury-terrace, Dorset-411s rio Alfred Howard, of a daughter. w oe, On the 3d in s t., i n U pper Seymour -street, Portman the wife of Nathaniel Goldsmid, Esq., of a sott