The Sun. — London, England, 1839-02-01 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. The criminal law of libel is in itself an offence against mo rality, and a disgrace to a civilised people. Repeatedly have patriot declaimers, when ingratiating themselves with the Press, pledged themselves to bring this law for the protection of crime aid the proscription of truth under the reformatory' revision of the Legislature. The law, as it stands, reproaches the broken vows of Lord Brougham, and reminds us of one of O'Connell's many-violated engagements. B o th p rom i se d years ago the reform of the libel law, and neither kept his word. As to the Noble and Learned ex-Lord Coancelior, he lived to become an admirer and panegyrist of one of the very worst branches of the administrative process of that law—tteit by criminal information. We say the process by criminal in formation was one of the most objectionable branches of the j u d, c i a t p ro cedure under the libel law, because it allows a party charged with any wrong or crime to purge himself upon his oath, which is contrary to ail other criminal practice, and which, if right in this case, ought to be adopted in every case where a man is charged with an offence. But not only does it allow the deposition of the:pirty so charged to be evidence in his own case, it takes that evidence as conclusive if the party accused boldly and explicitly denies whatever is charged against him. It is true that, in arguing against the rule for a criminal information, the party who has made the accusation may, if he pleases, file his own affidavit, and those of others, in support of the allega tions of the alleged libel. But the Court, in determining upon the question whether the rule is to be made absolute or not, will not try the conflicting matter of the affidavits on both sides. It is enough to induce the Court to send the case before a Jury that the party on whose behalf the criminal information is prayed should fully and explicitly deny on oath the general or specific chargesmade against him. It was, indeed, formerly laid down that suspicion attaching to the party from the facts of the case, or ex evidentia rei, was a ground for refusing to make the rule absolute, and referring the complainant to his ordinary remedy at law, notwithstanding the fullest denial of the truth of the inculpatory matter on oath. But that seems to have become obsolete law. The consequence is that crimi nal informations, which were formerly very rare, are now more frequent than any other proceedings for libel. They are said to be resorted to for the vindication of character against de famatory statements. They are in reality only vindictive proceedings, which make no distinction between virtue and vice—baseness and honour—truth and falsehood. Conse quently, though effective enough, in penal consequences, to gratify revenge, or to silence the public exposure of shame ful actions, the process by criminal information can no more repair a damaged reputation than rebuild a shattered bridge, or restore a broken character than set a broken leg. How, indeed, can the punishment of one man, by a species of legal process which allows no inquiry into the truth or falsehood of an accusation, salve the wounded honour of another ? What magic is there in the verdict of a jury to bring out the virtues of a character obscured, or said to be obscured, by defamation, which verdict is founded on the exclusion, not on the investigation of the truth ? The judgment of the Court in the case of the " Queen v. Lawson," which has subjected the defendant to fine and imprisonment, forces this subject once more on our attention. We formerly expressed our opinion upon the proceeding when the result of the trial, if trial it could be called, was known; a trial which left nothing to the jury to determine, but what the Court had 'previously determined—viz., that the publication was libellous; for that point did the Court impliedly, if not expressly, decide, when they granted the criminal information. As to the fact of the publication, that was not, we believe, disputed by the defendant, so that the Jury had no fact to pronounce an opinion upon, and the Court had already decided upon the law. It is true Mr. Ere line's Act makes the Jury, in cases of criminal proceedings for libel, judges both of the law and the fact ; but, when a Jury hears that a full Court sitting in Banco has already de cided the question of law, and that the present proceedings would not have come before theta if that had not been so, it is hardly to be expected that they will dispute by their verdict the only thing left to them to discuss, the correctness with which the law has beeu judicially interpreted. We ques tion not the correctness with which that law was interpreted. On that part of the subject we thus expressed ourselves when commenting upon the case immediately after the trial : —" Nothing could be more correct, according to previous decisions, than the law as laid down by Lord Chief Justice Denman. Nothing could more clearly prove the necessity which exists for the reform of that law than the mere state ment of it. Criminal information for libel, with a strict ad herence to the established rule of law, which excludes the in vestigation of the truth of the charges as immaterial to the issue, is truly one of the cases in which summum jus est summa injuria." In considering the hardships imposed upon the defendant by this mode of proceeding it must not be for gotten that if the person who, with the best and most patriotic motive, charges another in the public press with misconduct which it greatly concerns the interests of the public should not be unnoticed, and if the person making such charge has his information from others, and those others when applied to re fuse to make affidavits in support of the charge, he has no means whatever of compelling them to do so ; and as to his own knowledge of the matter, it being only hearsay, it is not receivable in evidence even upon oath. We are not putting an imaginary case. Such cases occur in practice, and when they do there is not even an inquiry by affidavits, which is at best a very unsatisfactory mode of investigation. The de fendant iu such a case has not the shadow of a trial, either before making the rule absolute or afterwards, and yet a verdict in such a case is called a vindication of cha racter! When the proceeding is by indictment, the de fendant can have process to compel witnesses to attend, but of what practical use is that? The inquiry into the truth or falsehood of the charges is there excluded, as well as on criminal ;information. The grand jury find the bill on er parte evidence, and the petty jury try it without any evidence at all. Such is our famous criminal law of libel. So protective is it of the " characters" of the basest and vilest of mankind, that if a thief, a forger, or a murderer, tried and convicted of any of those heinous crimes in another country, and sentenced to condign punishment, were to escape to this country, and be placed in a high situation, even in the coun cils of the Sovereign, and a newspaper, actuated solely by a regard for time public interests, were to state the fact, the full and positive denial, upon oath, by that person of his crime would enable him, as the law now stands, to obtain a criminal information ; and tin-n, if the form of a trial followed, the truth could not be inquired into. Whether the trial were by indict ment or information, the jury sitting in the box would not be allowed to receive evidence of the fact, although a witness should be present with the judgment under the seal of the fo reign Court in his hands, and holding it up before their eyes. In such cases it may he well said Justice is blind. It is true in a criminal proceeding for libel, whether by indictment or information, the prosecutor may waive his privilege, and pre sent himself in tne witness-box for a cross-examination. On the trial of the case of the " Queen v. Lawson," the Lord Chief Justice being reminded of two instances in which the prosecutors took that direct and manly course, seemed to commend the proceeding in the case of the one, and to treat it with something like derision in the case of the other. Let us state this in the words which we used on a former oc casion, observing that the first of the cases thus remarked on was that of AI: Hartshorn, the other that of the Duke of Cumberland :—" In allusion to oi,e of the two cases cited by the Attorney-General, the Lord Chief Justice is reported to have said • that a person labouring under such a charge (ass he did) would feel a strong wish to present himself in the box; that young gentleman did so present himself; there was no • imputation on his character in other respects, nor, indeed, did any rest upon it ; but I eel sure it must be felt that when he came foreard no vindication could be superabundant as to the n (lure of such a charge ' In reference to the Duke of Corn berland's ca-e, his Lordship says, It was a case intrusted to my [lore and Learned Friend Sir Charles Wetherell, who wis not suite so much in the habit of condueting cases of this nature as the Learned Counsel at the bar who have had the c niduct of the present casee Ile cilled the Duke of Cum berland. but I cotild not consider that an inquiry. It was a mock issue; the parties giving testimony on it, if they gave that testimony falsely, could not he indicted for it.' " It is true the same rule that excludes the evidence of the truth or felsehood of a libel in a criminal proceeding, prevents an indictment for pet jury on account of any evi dence given as to truth or falsehood in such cases, because an indictment for perjury does not lie for giving false evidence, unless it be inoterial to tLe issue ; and we have seen tbs. , . there is no issue juiced on the truth or falsehood of the charges, except where a justVication is pleaded in a civil case of libel. But though that is so, it is still not immaterial to the moral, though it is to the technical, issue in the case, that the prose cutor should present himself, and defy time searching ordeal of a cross-examination, as both the Duke of Cumberland and Mr. Hartshorn did, the former having also put in the box the foreman of the jury on the Coroner's inquest which sat on the body of Sellis. Either both these prosecutors did right or they both did wrong in presenting themselves for cross exami nation. Our opinion is. both acted right, and showed on that occasion the moral courage of conscious innocence, Although an indictment for pc/jury would not lie. yet :1 guilty conscience prvaricating or shuffling in the witness-box, might induce a jury to return a different verdict from that which the jury pronounced it. both those cases under circumstances which :silenced the malicious voice of calumny for ever. But those were verdicts which carried a moral conviction with them to the public mind, not because the regular practice of the law had been adhered to, but bedause it had been departed from. On the merits of Sir John Conroy's case we express no opi nion. It is matter of legal histo r y that he obtained a criminal information against our contemporary the Times, for the ex press purpose of vindicating his character against charges which he declared to be prejudicial to his honour. It is also matter of l e gal history, that, although in the neighbourhood of the Guildhall, when the information was tried, he did not pre sent himself in the witness-box to undergo a cross-examina tion. It will, we think, be matter of legal history hereafter, that this case greatly contributed to prove to the public the ne cessity of a thorough revision and reform of the criminal law of libel.—Morning Herald. Onr paper of yesterday contained a report of the.judgment in the Court of Queen's Bench upon the publisher of the Timer newspaper for a libel on Sir John Conroy. It was not our intention to have done anything more in this matter than merely report what took place in Court, but a leading article in the Times of yesterday occasions an alteration of our previous intention. In the article' to which we refer, the offence which the Court thought worthy of punishment is renewed with aggravated bitterness, and there is a flourish in troduced at the end, as though the liberty of the press were held to be properly supported and vindicated, by this insult to the tribunals, and this perseverance in doing injury. We desire to relieve ourselves from the opprobrium, which by our Ysl k • e ceewsi e s silence might attach to us, of c9Mciding in this view. W e t ,ese'ra',. s s" _think the lib er ty of the British Press is disgraced and jeopar rf • disc& not vindicated' and secured, by that perseverance in an. ascertained and decreed offence, of which the Times has bean guilty. No members of the Press can be more ready ,~ ,~ 'f than we are, to plead for the exercise of a bold inde pendence, and for great allowance, when statements are ne cessarily made in the hurry which must belong to the pre paration during the night, of so great a name of materials as go to the making-up of a London Morning Paper. We shall ne ever ready to maintain also, that the details of the Law of Libel, and the expences which it occasions even to the most innocent, are points that loudly call for Reform—but we do not think that to insult the law ought to be one our privi leges. We do not think that when we, have done anything which the tribunals of the country deem, and decree, to be an offence, it is withie either the actual or desirable limits of our rights, that we should persevere in the offence. This is not manliness, but mean and miserable virulence. Even if we thought the law harsh, we should yet consider it to be our duty to treat its decrees with respectful acquiescence. We should not seek to console ourselves under any visitation of legal penalties, by a waspish reiteration of the offence for which we were smarting. So much for the vindi cntion of the charater of the Press. We have now to deal with some matters of misrepresentation. It is asserted that the libel for which the publisher of the Times has been punished, was 'merely an assertion that " Sir J. Conroy had bought an estate in Wales, and who was so capable of answer ing as he, whence came the means of paying for it ?" It is monstrous that it should go forth to any portion of the credulous public that our Courts of Law visited with severe punishment, a publication answering to the above description. The records of the Court of Queen's Bench give a very different account of the libel. They say that Sir J. Conroy was charged in the libel complained of with having managed the concerns of the illustrious Lady whom lie served, in such a way, that the nation owed to him the obligation of paying off a debt of 80,0001.—that he had " chalked on this 80,0001." that an estate had been purchased and paid for not long ago, and if any public inquiry should take place whence the money for the payment came. who so competent to answer the question as the Baronet? Whether all this should be construed to be a libel, we need not inquire. The Court of Queen's Bench, which is the competent authority, did so construe it. But it does concern the public to know that what was construed to he a libel, was not that which the Times of yesterday stated to have been the whole amount of the libel committed. It is stated that on the strength of Sir John Conroy's solitary denial of the charge, he instituted a prosecution in the Court of Queen's Bench—that he did so without a shadow of inquiry whether the Times had published a downright falsehood, or a strict and unquestionable truth, and that no investigation into the truth of the statement was had during the proceedings. Now, putting individuals out of the question, this is a most gross and unfounded aspersion upon the course of justice in our Courts. No such thing did happen—no such thing could happen as that described by the Times. It was not on the strength of Sir John Conroy's solitary denial of the charge that it came before a Jury. That denial gave him no more than a rule nisi, that is, a power of calling upon the defendant to show cause why he should not be tried by a Jury for pub lishing a statement, the truth of which Sir J. Conroy denied on oath. If he had in that stage of the proeedings shown that the statement was true, he never could have been brought before a Jury for the offence. Whose fault was it that the truth was not investigated? There were two stages in the proceedings. In one of these the truth of the statement was the sole matter in controversy--on the other, the publication of the statement, and its libellous character, were the sole matters in controversy. Why did not the defendant avail him self of the first stage? Why is it to be continually com plained of that he was debarred from investigating the truth in the subsequent stage, in which stage he well knew from the beginning, that not the truth of his state ment, but the fact of his having made the statement, and its libellous character, were to be determined ? The Times continues to assert, notwithstanding that its publisher is under punishment upon sentence of the Queen's Judges for libelling Sir J. Conroy, that that gentleman has not cleared his character by the prosecu tion. If he has not, then the tribunals of England afford no opportunity to any man for clearing his character when at tempted to be run down by the Press. He has done all which an innocent man could legally do, to prove his inno cence, and punish his calumniator. Is it not something too much that after this, the calumniator shall still be allowed to affirm that his victim has not cleared his character? Is it honourable—is it just, that any countenance should be shown to such a continuation of malicious invective ? Still is the cir cumstance harped upon, that Sir J. Conroy did not put himself in the witness box to be examined touching his pecuniary affairs, by the party who had injured him. No one would listen to the imputations grounded upon this fact, if they kept in view the distinction between an inquiry into a man's pecuniary affairs and an inquiry into his moral con duct. Had Sir J. Conroy been distinctly charged with an overt act, constituting a criminal offence, his Counsel would no doubt have advised him to volunteer the opportunity for a rigid cross-examination ; but in his case the matter to be inquired into was his pecuniary concerns—how he happened to be rich enough to buy an estate? To a public cross-exa mination, in such a matter as this, no Counsel would advise any man to submit himself. It is the last extreme of folly and injustice to confound a criminal inquiry with a pecuniary in quiry. If the Times should have the courage to charge Sir J. Conroy with any distinct offence of taking money which did not belong to him, and if he should refuse to be examined touching the commission of that offence, then we should not not say a word for him. But to pretend that because the Times has charred Sir J. Conroy with buying an estate cut of money that he did not properly come by, he shall be bound to come forward and tell the whole world not only what he did not do, but what he did do to obtain the money, and thus open the whole course of his private and pecuniary affairs to the public —to pretend this is to plead in favour of a monstrous and horrible tyranny, which we trust neither the Press, nor any other description of power, will ever be suffered to exercise in England. —.Morning Post. The late meeting of the London Mechanics' Irstitute, the numerous annual meetings of the branch institutes in the country, assisted as they are with the late happy recovery of their founder (Dr. Birkbeck), are circumstances which must have awakened recollections of deep interest in the bosom of every friend to social improvement. Considering our journal as the natural organ of the institutions established for the benefit of the industrious classes, we are happy to congratulate the public at large on the diffusion of these societies, and their prosperous progress in the metropolis and all the provincial towns of the empire. The growth of these institutions for the promotion of scientific and practical knowledge among the people is among the most gratifying signs of the times. Increased facilities of instruction in every branch of human knowledge has been afforded by them to stu dents of all ages. There is one class of students which they are more especially calculated to benefit ; we mean the medical students in the distant provinces, few of whom have been educated in the colleges, or have resided in the recog nised schools of medical instruction. Again, a new class of lecturers have been called forth by their ministration, who, by teaching others, like the Greek philosophers of old, lay the foundation of more various and solid information for them selves. Another vast advantage of these institutions consists in their efficacy for promoting science by defraying the ex penses of puleication. Many valuable and important la bours of gratuitous contributors have by these means been rescued from the oblivion into which they would otherwise have fallen, It should be added, that the libraries and museums collected in so many different parts of the country, act as schools of design for native artists and students, and diffuse a taste for liberal studies through the meldlinglas well es the lover classes of society; while the frequent meetings thus effected, and the active interchange of ideas thus pro moted, supply a constant stimulus to the energies of the com mon mind. IT, has been a hackneyed objection against these institutions, that men in a subordinate and laborious class have not time to tarn Oeir itiforination to p: aetical account, without deducting from their daily avocations. It is, there fore, alleged that they waste tin.o and cause expense. But the greet object of these institutioni is to save, not to waste, tile time, and money of the mechanic, by drawing him away to useful and refi ,ecl occupations from the debasing and expen sive pleasures of the beer-shop ; and by inducing him to fre quent meetings, not only unexpensive, but tending to the fore thought of economy, nay, even to the improvement and greater profit of his art, by uniting the researches and experiments of others to his own practical experience. —Morning Advertiser. If, after a more careful perusal than we could afford to be stow the night before last upon what took place in the Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday in the case of " The Queen v. Lawson," we had thought it necessary to add anything to the observations we published yesterday, we should have found ourselves, as on the 'eat occasion, forestalled by our excellent Contemporary the Standard, whose short but able erticle on the case we have great pleasure in traefertring to our columns. The low-minded end foolish trash which Mr. Thesiger was instruetcd to deliver, and the arousing twaddle which that reepeetable old gentleman, Mr. Justice Littladale, doubtless spoke " all out of his own head," have, indeed, tempted us with great temptation, but we have successfully resisted it. In truth, we have no right to find fault with Mr. Thesiger, becau.;e we cannot be sure that he transgressed that part of Hamlet's directions to the players, which says—" Let those who play your fools speak no more than is set down fur them." We apprehend that no one will expect us to bestow a single word on the contributions of Sir John Conroy's house maids to the Morning Po, nor many on the advertisements which must be communicated and paid for, though they are, published as leading articles, in the Palmerston print. The flippant folly and the thick-and-thin falsehood of the latter but too well mark the quarter from which they proceed. For instance, in the advertisement which Cupid inserted last night, it is pretended that Sir John Conroy, being a soldier, and therefore having peculiar feelings of honour, could not have brought an action for damages !I Now, if the dullest ass that ever was given away in Smithfield had communicated this ad vertisement to Cupid. it could hardly have contained anything more stupid. '1 he fact is, that if Sir John Conroy had pro ceeded by action, we might have called and forced the ap pearance of witnesses, which be effectually prevented us from doing by the form of proceeding under which he took shelter ; and as to the money view of the matter, which is al most too absurd for notice, he might have saved his honour by giving the damages (when he got them) to some public cha rity. The same advertisement states, that Sir John Conroy " dared us to the proof," and that we" refused his challenge." Now is not this not only not the truth, but the very reverse of the truth ? Did we not, by cur Attorney and our Counsel, challenge Sir John Conroy to such a form of proceeding as would have enabled us to put witnesses into the box—to have offered proof—and did not he refuse our challenge? Why, every man, woman, and child in the kingdom knows that this is the real state of the case. But we feel lhat we are disgrac ing ourselves in condescending to bestow even these kicks in passing upon such assailants. Our object in again adverting to the case of The Queen v. Lawson" to-day, is to call the attention of our readers to the following high-princi pled and high-spirited observations of the Standard ; TrIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, REDIVITART 1, .1P39. " The proceedings in the case of ' The Queen against Lawson,' in the Queen's Bench yesterday, must not pass without remark. Sir John Conroy was, our readers have seen, ill-advised enough to call for judgment upon Mr. Lawson, for the publication in the Times of an article the truth or false hood of which lie (Sir John) did not dare to put in issue, at the very time wh a he %las confessing that, if true, it reflected iuvouly upon his character. Wny call for judgment, if Sir John does not wish to deter others from making state ments the truth of which he will not allow to be proved ! As fa; as his own contradiction of the Times could go in setting up his character, he had succeeded when he obtained his first object—when he got his criminal information ; all thatfollowed was an idle parade of the operation of an odious law—if it was not vindictive or minatory. We presume that Sir John or his friends will not justify his later proceedings as vindictive —for this were to say that he is neither a good citizen, gentleman, nor Christian : it must then be minatory ; but minatory as regards what ! The exposure of the conduct of men placed in situations affecting the public in terests—to say nothing of the inconsistency of such a design with the least respect for public liberty and the public good, its folly is egregious. A greater man than Sir John Conroy could not effect this while any spirit of liberty should linger in the British nation. The menace, if not the most extrava gantly stupid in the world, must have an especial respect to Sir John Conroy's own proceedings. It is a proclamation noli me tanyere—l am of that constitution of character that I cannot bear handling. The Times, in its allusion to the case, hints a doubt that the article which was the subject of the prosecution was a libel. We must differ on this point from our respected Contemporary. Anything true or false which displeases any individual named, or even hinted at in it, may, in the present state of the I.w, be successfully prosecuted as a libel. Ex. cremes try principles,' as Lord Brougham says. It was a libel punishable by law to call Greenacre a murderer the night before he was hanged, and had any accident spared Greenacre's life, he might have indulged that animosity to the officiousness of the Press which he entertained in common with his class, by successfully prosecuting every one of us for the publication of his trial. So much for the honour that is won by success in libel prosecutions—so much, too, for the degree of dis grace that can attach to a conviction for libel. Mr. Lawson's punishment is light (this marks the Court's sense of the af fair); but were it aggravated twenty-fold—if he has anything of our feelings—and we are sure that his feelings are those of a gentleman and an honest man—he would not change places with Sir John Conroy for those Welch estates, that, for all that has been permitted to appear, have been bought with, fairy money, or sums raised by the wand of an enchanter."— Times. sum of 1:20/ paid into Court by the defendant in this cause, should not be taken out, on the ground twat the cause had ceased in consequence of the death of the plaintiff. A Learned Counsel now appeared on behalf of the executor of the deceased, and submitted that, acting upon its equitable jurisdiction, the Court would allow the money to remain in Court, to abide the event of another action intended to be commenced by the widow for its recovery. Lord ABINGER—There is no action in Court. It ceased upon the death of the plaintiff'. Mr. Baron PARKE—We can do nothing. The money was paid into Court to abide the event of an action then in Court. That action has ceased, and the defendant claims his money as a matter of right, and we cannot refuse him—Rule absolute. ADMIRALTY CO URT.-Ji.v. 31. TALE PANTHER-COLLISION. This vessel, on a voyage from Gallipoli to St. Petersburgh, with oil came in collision with a Russian ship, the Alie , from Revel to Oporto, off Bcechy Head, on the 22d of September last. Both vessels received considerable damage. The former was obliged to put into New. haven, and the latter having gone to Cowes, was there arrested, and there she still remains in custody for want of bail. 'The night was dark. The tempestuous state of the weather is a point of dispute between the parties. The QUEEN'S A DVOCkT6 and Dr. JENNER, for the owners of the P an- Mer , contended that there was no look-out on board the Alie, and that the accident arose from the unseamanlike conduct of the crew of that ves sel. Their parties ought to be dismissed with costs. Dr. llaggart and Dr. Robinson were on the other side. The crew of the = Panther had seen the Alie for half a mile, and would not, even to prevent a collision, deviate from their original course. The blame was attributable to them. The COURT, which was assisted by Trinity Masters,'having stated the facts, put it to those nautical gentlemen to say which party was in fault. The Trinity Masters expressed their opinion that the Alie acted wrongly. She put her helm down, and the circumstances required that she should have put it up. The COURT—The Ellie being declared to be the wrong-doer, respon. sibility for the damage sustained in the collision necessarily attaches to her. As to her liability for consequential damage:4 the Panther having been unable to continue her voyage, that question must be referred to the Registrar and merchants. MONEY AND CITY NEWS. (FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OP THIS DAY.) TIME S.—Some accounts received this morning from Manchester, respecting the transactions between the cotton houses which have lately failed and the Liverpool and Man chester District Bank, will serve further to elucidate the mode of doing businesa by those establishments, and in some measure, perhaps, to exculpate the firms in question from a part of the disastrous consequences which have followed the connexion. With respect to Messrs. Brown and Powell, it is stated that their embarrassments, so far back as October, 1836, induced the Bank to insist on better security for their advances, which at that time amounted to about 58,000/. only. This was accordingly given to an extent valued by the parties at 52,000/., but by the Bank at 40,000/. only, according to the estimate of the persons employed by themselves, who were presumed to be competent, and the loss, consequently, to which the Bank could at that time be exposed was not more than 18,000/. In order to lessen this risk, the Bank came to the deter mination of carrying on the business themselves, thus making Messrs. Brown and Powell, according to the statement in circulation, passive instruments in their hands, and an allow ance was made to each partner of 2501. per annum for ma nagement. Three Directors were appointed as a sub. Com mittee to manage the concern ; and so completely were the partners divested of all influence, that they were not even per mitted to sign a check upon the bank. Under this arrange ment, the debt to the Bank had increased to 248,0001., and the assets of the concern at the last taking of stock amounted cnly to 153,000/., leaving therefore a balance or supposed loss of 95,0001. Less is known of the arrangements of the Bank with Messrs. Taylor, Son, and Gibson, the other house which has stopped payment, but it is supposed that they have been placed under similar superintendence. The balance due to the Bank by this house is 260,0001., which was put down at the late meeting of the Directors as a bad debt, making the whole es timated loss 375,0001. POST.—.We have no novel feature to report in the state of the Share Market. There are still but very few transactions in that branch of the Stock Exchange. Great Western Rail way were done at 114 to 12 prem., London and Brighton at 4to 34 dis., London and Blackwall at 2 to 14 die., Kyan's Anti-Dry- Rot Company Registered at 10i discount, and ditto ( Scrip), at 134 discount per share. A meeting of the proprie tors of these shares was held to-day for the purpose of re ceiving the report of the Committee appointed to investigate the circumstances relating to the case of defalcation of which the public were informed some weeks ago. The report seems to have been of a more favourable character than was generally looked for, although a number of important facts bearing upon the matter, have yet to be inquired into. The Company have evidently not suffered by the misconduct of their late mana ging director to the extent originally stated ; and it is equally evident, from what transpired to-day, that, under prudent ma nagement, the concern would be an extremely good one. Some further examination into the Company's affairs by com petent parties will forthwith take place. HERALD.—In the Nfoney Market there has not been any alteration of importance beyond the fact that, for commercial purposes, it is not so readily obtained at the late rates of interest. In the British Funds there has not been much business, yet the quotations have not materially altered. Consols have closed at 921 a for money and account. The Three-and-a- Half per Cent. Reduced Annuities are 100} a and the New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. 997 a 100. Bank Stock is 2021 ; and India ditto 2551 for money. The premium upon Exchequer Bills has ranged from 64 a 67 ; but at the close there were bu3ers at 66. On India Bonds the quotation is 63. This has been — settling-day in the Foreign Market, and though the account has been of a positive Bull character, and a heavy one to boot, it has, we understand, been arranged without much difficulty. This portion of the Money Maret has, however, been regulated in rather an unusual manner. The jobbers seem to have had a large supply of Peninsular Bonds upon their hands, and the public have also delivered a large amount of these precious securities, which has very much interferred with their operations, and no sales to any extent could have been made to-day under the growing impresiim that money will be scarce early next month. The settlement of the Dutch and Belgian question, accord ing to private letters, is said to be far from ratification ; there fore it is probable that much of the respective securities of those two countries will he thrown upon this market. Spanish Bonds, with the May Coupons, are now 19i a 20; Passive are 5 ; and Deferred 8.1- a 9. Portuguese New Five per Cents. have receded to 35. a ; and the Three per Cent. ditto 221 a Brazilian Bonds are 79- a ; Colombian 281 ; and Mexican Six per Cents. 24. Belgian Bonds are 99f. Dutch Two-and-a- Halt per Cents. are 54i a 55 ; the Old Five per Cents. are 1021, and the New Loan 1001. The Share Market continues very dull. Great Western Railway arc 11i prem. ; 13:-iehton are 4 dig., and 131ackv, all 1 3 1 dis. Birmingham are 76 prem. ; Greenwich 3 dis. ; Croydon are 4/. 81. dis. ; and the New Scrip l premium. National Bank of Ireland are dis. to par. Provincial Bark of Ireland arc 18 prem. ; tire New ditto are 6i premium; and the Worthing Tunti!ie 15s. prem. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, J4 N . 31. DELL V. WHITLIIZAD. A motion to dissolve an injunction granted by the Master of the Rolls to restrain th e d e f endant . , M es srs. Whitehead and Evats, the pro. prietors of the Railway Times, from continuing to pri n t an d pu bli sh any Portion of an ar ti c l e on Railways contained in th e J anuary number of the Monthly Chronicle, the property of the plaintiffs, Robert B e ll and Dionysius Lordlier, Tbe LORD CHANC%LLOR without hearing a reply, said he was satis fied that if the Master of the Rolls had heels properly made acquainted with the nature of the case by tbe arguments of Cr unsel, the injunction d would not in the first instance hare been granted. His L or d s hip dis. misse the inju nc ti on, adding, that he saw no reason to impute fraud of any ki::(1“) the d e f endants. VIC- E- CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Jepr. 31. PHILLIPS V. Jdzig 9. Mr. KNiunT I3sucs showed cause in support of an injunction re. straining an action at law. His HoNoust• dis missed the injunction. COURT OF Q UEEN',s BEN Cl - I.—JAN. 31. THE QUEEN V. ottEwaY. The ArroaNitY.Gcacasa. got a rule absolute in this ease, for a criminal information to issue against the defendant, for publishing a libel on Sir Charles Anderson. No cause Was shown. EXPARTE WOOD IN RE CHAPMAN, EIQ. In this case a rule had been obtained, ca ling on the defendant, the Marshal of the Queen's Bench Prison, to sisow cause why he should not answer the matters of an atßdavit, charging that the complatnant in this case had been improperly prevented from arresting Pemberton, while that person was in the custody of the Marshal ; and that in thus pre venting the arrest the M arshal had, by his officers, disobeyed the order of Lord 'Chief Justice Tyndal. The Arroastev-GetsznaL and Mr. KNowLza appeared to show cause against the rule. Sir W. FOLLETT and Mr. Maxey. were beard in support of the rule. The COURT thought that there was something like connivance on the part of the turnkeys and other officers if the prison, who were bound, both by the undertaking of the Marshal and the obedience due to the order of a Judge, to see that that order was properly allowed to be exe cuted. The rule must be made absolute. The matter might be re. ferred to the Master, who woeld reportto the Court on the circumstances of the case, and make any suggestion he might think St as to what ought to be done. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Jr.l 31. THORNHILL V. OASTLER. This was an action on a promissory note and of definite for deeds. A rule had been obtained calling on the plaintiff to show cause why the venue should not be changed from London to York, on the ground that all the defendant's witnesses resided at York. The COURT, after hearing Mr. Sergeant Wilds against, and Mr. Sergeant Atcherley in support of the rule, considered that no suffi. cient ground had been shown for changing the venue, and accord ingly discharged the rule. WILSON V. WMBOl'l. This case stood for argument to-clay; but it was arranged that the facts in this and several other actions arising out of the same cir. cumstances, should be turned into a special case. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, J.or. 31. SKRAYINGTON V. WHITMORE. Mr. EARLE on a former day obtained a rule to show cause why the THE BLAKE.-WAGES, This is a suit for substraction of wages promoted by a mariner, Ken dal, against the owners of the above ship. The man was engaged, in 1837, on a voyage to Bombay, China, and back. On the homeward voyage the ship stopped at the Cape, and took passengers for St. Helena. Here the master and the chief and second mates were tried for the mur der of one of the crew ; and being convicted of manslaughter, the two former were sentenced to transportation for fourteen years, and the latter to two years' imprisonment. A new master was appointed, who, on the 3d of November last, ordered the men to weigh anchor, intending to start for England. This order some of the mariners (Kendal among the number), who were drunk, refused to obey, and some, after being again commanded, again refused. The vessel arrived home in the present month, and in consequence of these acts of " drunkenness and insubor. dination," the payment of the wages had been resisted. An act on pe tition pleading the above facts, was offered for admission. The QUEEN'S ADVOCATE and Dr. NICHOLLS, for the owners of the Blake, contended that under the general maritime law the drunken and mutinous conduct of the mariner worked a forfeiture of wages. The man was not entitled to their payment if the facts set up were capable of proof, and the libel ought, therefore, at once to be rejected. Dr. ADDAMS, for the mariner, said that this was a case of intoxication, and not of disobedience. Dr. LUSHINGTON, having gone through the circumstances of the case, said that disobedience of orders was a mare grievous offence than drunkenness, insubordination went a little further, but mutiny was not only both of these, but it was, in the opinion of the Court, a disposition to wrest the whole government and direction of the ship from the hands of those in whom the authority was placed. Now it was difficult to decide what was meant by such general terms as mutinous conduct, but it could not be supposed to mean actual mutiny; and it was also difficult to decide the quantum of drunkenness and of in. subordination which would work a forfeiture of wages. The Learned Judge could not attempt to define it, for each ease must stand on its own particular facts, but he had no disposition to carry the relaxation beyond the limits which Lord Stowell had laid down. The Court then proceeded to read the various articles of the allegation, which it consi dered generally admissible.—The libel was admitted. THE MON&RCW. This was originally a suit for collision, in which the late Learned Judge (Sir J. Nichols) decided, with the assistance of Trinity Masters, that both parties were to blame, and that the damage must be appor tioned between them. A question as to the decree of the Court with regard to costs now arose. The Registrar had entered the decree that one of the parties was directed to pay half of the other's costs. A mo tion was made this day that that entry be altered, the decree of the Court, it was contended, being that one party should pay half the costs, or, in other words, that the whole of the costs should be divided be. tween them. The Learned JUDGE, under the circumstances, directed an alteration of the entry. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, .14N. 31. FUNERAL OF THE DUCHESS OF WURTE MBERG. The funeral of her late Royal Highness the Duchess Alex ander, of Wurtemberg took place at Dreux on Saturday morn ing. The King and the four Princes had errived there by half-past seven in the morning, and Duke Alexander of \Vur_ temberg at eight o'clock. By an early hour all the inhabitants were in movement, and the windows were crowded with fe males dressed in black. Flags with crape knots hung from several houses, and great numbers of the neighbouring pea santry flecked into Dreux to witness the mournful ceremony. The Church was hung with black—the initials of the Duke and Duchess were embroidered on the folds of the drape ries—and the Bishop of Chartres, attended by his Chap lains, and the parochial Clergy, remained by the side of a cenotaph erected in the central aisle, awaiting the arrival of the body. The procession, with the remains of the Duchess, reached Dreux at ten, having rested ti.e preceding evening at Chartres; and immediately on its arrival being announced, the four Princes and Duke Alexander went to receive it at the door of the church, the King remaining at the chateau. As soon as the coffin was placed in the aisle, the Duke Alexander, who was quite overcome by grief, threw himself on his knees at its foot, and burst into a flood of tears. The coffin was then laid on the cenotaph before the altar, and praers were re cited ; after which the funeral cortege left the church to proceed to the chapel of the chateau. A guard of cavalry opened the lino, and the National Guard of Dreux, with arms reversed, escorted the procession on each side. The King's servants, in deep mourning, were also placed at in tervals on the sides of the procession. The hearse was drawn by six horses, and the princely crown of the Duchess, enveloped in crape, was placed on her coffin. Behind came the Princes on foot and bare-headed, wearing long mourning cloaks over their uniform. Their Royal lli;,hiresses were followed by their Aides-de-Camp and several Officers of the Staff attached to his Majesty, by the Civil and Military Au thorities of the Department, the Deputies of the Department, and all the notable personages of the town, in deep mourning. Near the Princes walked the Marquis de Rumigny, Ambassa dor at Turin ; General de Rumigny, his brother; and Capt. de Laselle, who escorted the body from Toulon. A com pany of National Guards and a detachment of cavalry closed ' the procession. As the cortege moved up the long ascent leading to the chapel the crowds of peasantry that lined the road stood bareheaded, and observed a deep silence. In fact, the behaviour of the people of Dreux, as well as of the country people, was exceedingly respectful through. out the whole of this mournful ceremony, and but one feel ing of sympathy and regret pervaded the whole of the indabitants. The passage to the chapel occupied an hour. When the funeral car reached the inclosure of the chateau it was met by the King dressed all in black, and whose countenance gave but too melancholy a proof of the grief with which his heart was oppressed. His Ma jesty, who shed tears abundantly the whole time, took his place as chief mourner, and followed by the Princes, moved on with the coffin to the chapel, which was hung in black, but was brilliantly lighted with tapers. The solemn service for the dead was then performed with most impressive effect by the Bishop of Chartres, assisted by the Bishops of Meaux and Morocco. The King sat by the catafalque near the altar, with the Dukes of Orleans and Nemours on his right, and the Dukes of Wurtemberg, Aumale, and Montpensier on his left. The personages forming the cortege were ranged behind, and at the four corners of the catafalque stood sapeurs of the line with axes on their shoulders. During the service his Majesty having perceived the Marquis de Rumigny standing near him, turned round and pressed his hand with evident feelings of great emotion. When tke De Profundis had been sung the coffin was taken up, and was slowly carried down into the vault, the clergy accompanying it and singing the Absolution. The Bishop of Chartres then turned and informed his Majesty that nothing more remained to be done except to take a last and solemn farewell of the remains of the Princess, and to sprinkle her coffin with the sacred water. The King rose, and attended by the Princes and only two officers, no other persons accompanying them, descended into the vault. We understand that the scene which ensued here was quite heart-rending, the royal mourn( rs giving themselves up to all the intensity of their grief. The King evinced all the mournful resignation of a mind capable of overcoming its despair. One of the young Princes, on leaving, cried out, " Adieu pour moi ! Adieu pour Joinville I" The ceremony was entirely con cluded by two o'clock, and his Majesty with the Princes set out at three for Paris, where they arrived at eight.— Galignani. The towns of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhampstead, Tring, and the villages adjoining, have been thrown into an unusual state of excitement by the sudden disappearance of the Rev. David Jenks, Rector of Little Gaddesden, who has been lately appointed to the office of Rural Dean by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. It appears that the Rev. Gentleman had, during the last two or three weeks, laboured under an extra ordinary depression of spirits, arising from some slight embar rassments, into which he had been plunged by unforeseen cir cumstances. On Monday, the 21st instant, Mr. Jenks left Gaddesden, and proceeded to London by the London and ' Birmingham Railway, in order to come to some arrangement with regard to his affairs. On arriving in London he went to an hotel, ordered dinner to be prepared in the course of an hour, left his carpet-bag, and went out, promising to be back in time for dinner. From that time to this he has never been heard of, and not the slightest clue to his discovery has been found. We are informed that Mr. Jenks, in addition to the Rectory of Little Geddesden, bolds the Rectory of Ald bury, in Buckinghamshire, and 'is Chaplain to the Countess of Bridgewater. On Saturday the adjourned inquest touching the death of Maria Donald, the young woman whose death was al leged to have taken place from kicks inflicted by another pros titute, named Martin, during the progress of an affray between them, was resumed in Cromer-street. The medical evidence showed that death had resulted from blows or kicks on the abdomen, causing internal inflammation. A variety of evi dence having been adduced, the inquiry was again adjourned to Tuesday, when the jury r tuned a verdict of " Man slaughter" against Martin. 0,1 Wednesday she was finally examined at Hatton-garden, charged on the Coroner's warrant, arid fully committed for trial. Deceased and accused had for a long time been inseparable companions, but in consequence of a male " friend" of the one having paid, or having been supposed to have paid, particular attention to the other, an estrangement had taken place, which ultimately re sulted in the fatal affray referred to. Deceased was only eighteen years of age, and was a young person of very prepos sessing appearance. It is said that she was the daughter of respectable parents residing at Brighton, from which place sloe was seduced about ightern months ago by a gentleman of the legal profession, who shot tly afterwards abandoned her, when she sunk into the disreputable mode of life which she lately pursued. BEER SHOPS.—The following general order has been issued by the Board of Excise :---'• For the purpose of obviating doubts which appear to be entertained in some cast I, whether the licenses of beer retailers under Acts of the Ist of William IV., chap. 64, and the 4th and sth of William IV., chap. 85, are forfeited on the first conviction of any offence against the conditions of such license—ordered, that the officers take notice that licensees of this description arc not required to be adjudged void on the second or third conviction, but that they are rendered void by a first conviction of any offence con trary to the regulations and conditions therein contained." DEATH OF A PA TR IA itcH.—A venerable old Highlander died a few days since, near Kingussie, in Bade noch, aged one hundred and three years. The name of this patriarch of the hills was Jchn Macpherson. He was a poor man, but honest and industrious. Latterly some of his neigh bours assisted John with small sums of money and provisions, but he received them with evident reluctance ; and no con sideration could induce him to solicit public charity. The only luxury in which the old man indulged was tobacco, and it is well known that he sometimes had recourse to roots and other substitutes, when his money and his tobacco failed, ra ther than ask a penny to purchase another supply of the fa vourite narcotic. This independent, proud-spirited old clans man had witnessed many changes among his native mountains, from the time that the feudal system was in full vigour, till the introduction of agricultural improvement and commercial enrerprize. He had seen the gascrome, or crooked spade of the Highlanders, superseded by the plough—sheep farming introduced—roads and bridges constructed in place of the old fords and bridle tract—the mail-coach drive daily through scenes that in his youth only echoed to the hunter and the wild deer—and even steam-boats sailing where grew broom and heather, in the Great Glen of Albyn, now the line of the Ca ledonian Canal.—lnverness Courier. TUE SIMPL ON .—The road over the Simplon is stated, by a correspondent in Switzerland, to be at present co vered with snow six feet deep. The posts, p arapets, an d walls have all disappeared, and nothing more can be perceived than a few stakes planted with an interval of about thirty feet between each, to point out where the road passes. On the 10th and 11th inst. the plateau of the Simplon was visited with a tremendous storm, greater than had ever been remem bered by the religious brethren of the Hospice. The walls of the building rocked and cracked in the hurricane, whiCh pro. duced shocks similar to those of an earthquake. The sledge of the last diligence which passed was accompanied by seven or eight men armed with large shovels to clear away the snow which had accumulated to a prodigious height on it passage. In the event of a continuance of unfavourable weather, it was feared that all communications would be intercepted, oa ac count of the imminent danger of avalanches. Between nine and ten o'clock on Saturday night, Mrs. Mary Dunn, a widow in respectable circumstances, who resided at No. 10, Munster -street, Regent's-park, returned home in a state of extreme intoxication and laid herself down on a sofa-to sleep. About an :lour afterwards her sister, on entering the apartment, discovered her to be a corpse. She was quite black in the face, and her features were much dis torted. She had been suffocated by the large quantity of gin she had taken. The deceased was only twenty-five years of age, and had become addicted to the baneful vice of excessive drinking, through grief at the loss of her husband, who died between six and seven months ago. An inquest will be held on the body. On Tuesday morning, a respectable vvaterman and lighterman, named Thomas Brockelbank, the nephew of the managing director of the General Steam Navigation Com pany, of the same name, was superintending the lo iding of a barge with corn from a vessel in Mill- hole Tier, when, in pitching a sack of corn off his shoulder, be got upon the gun wale of the barge for the purpose of putting the sack of corn further over. Owing to its being on a slope, and coming off easier than he expected, he lost his balance and fell backwards into the water, sack and all. The tide, which was running up at the time, soon carried him under the vessels in the tier, and although prompt measures were adopted to save him, he was drowned, and more than an hour elapsed before his body was recovered. IN RR JOHN LOVE. Mr. W. H. CooKe appled yesterday in this case, for a re-hearing un.. der singular circumstances. The insolvent was on the last circuit at Monmouth remanded from his petition for a period of eight calendar months, for fraudulently making away with his property. The judg ment would expire on the 6th of February. The present application was made on the part of the assignee, on the ground that the insolvent had concealed in his room in Monmouth prison a large sum of money. It appeared from an affidavit of a fellow prisoner, that a short time since, when Love was ill, he gave him the key of his box. lie there found a large quantity of silver, and a bag which, from the weight and sound, he believed to contain a considerable quantity of sovereigns, concealed from the creditors. Mr. Commissioner Bower( said under the new law, assignees were officers of the Court, and could seize property. Mr. COOKE remarked that he had suggested that course to his client. The COURT granted a rule nisi for a re-hearing, COMMISSIONERS' NOTES. An application was made by Mr, COOKE, on the part of some creditors, that the Court would allow their notes of a case to be copied as it would greatly benefit an estate. The application was refused, the Court saying that they would be called upon to prove them, and it would be a mon strous inconvenience. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Yesterday a young man, about 20 years of age, named Abraham Davis, was charged with having, in the middle of the day, let himself into the house of Mr. Scaley, in Colchester-strect, Savage gardens, made his way quietly to the attics, and collected about 101. worth of property, which he was carrying of when he was detected. After hearing the evidence, Mr. Alderman LAINSON said the prisoner had shown that he was an expert thief, for it was by chance, and no fault of his, that he had been detected. He committed him to New. gate for trial. Q UEEN.SQUARE. Seow BALLlNG.—Frederick Braggy, and Henry Clark, two ill-con.. ducted young iren, were yesterday charged with amusing themselves by pelting respectable persons, male and female, with snow balls. Defendants were convicted in the penalty of 20s. each, or 14 days' im. prisonment in default. The fines not being paid they were locked up. UNION-HALL. Yesterday Edward Richardson, John ley, Ann Ramsey, and Ellen Brown, pertormers at a penny theatre in the Mint, Southwark, were bruught up in custody charged with playing the regular drama in an unlicensed theatre. The defendants appeared at the bar in their theatrical dresses, to conceal which from the vulgar gaze, as they passed from the station.house to the office, they enveloped themselves in their great coats and cloaks. Inspector Yates of the 111 division, stated the case against the " va. gabonds." The defendant Richardson said that he was a mechanic out of em. ploy, and that having nothing to do, he was endeavouring to earn an " honest penny," not knowing that he was doing wrong in taking a part in Hothello the Moor of 'Venus. Wibley said that now he was made acquainted that he was doing wrong he should " throw up his engagement," and try if he could not get one at some of the licensed houses. This defendant's father attended, and said that 'he was regularly stage-struck, and, but for his infatuation for theatricals, he would be of great assistance to his family, as he was a good workman. Ann Ramsey and Ellen Brown, the two heroines of the " Mint Theatre," enticated the forgiveness of their Worships, and said that if they were let oil this time, they would never play again at a penny theatre. They added that it was the first time they ever were in cus. tody for any offence, and they hoped it would be the last. The MAGISTUATES told the defendants that they had all subjected themselves to be committed as rogues and vagabonds. As, however, they had made a promise that they should not repeat the offence, he would, therefore, this time discharge them. Within the last month three of these nuisances called penny theatres have been put down by the police of the district of the metropolis, and es one or two more are known still to exist, no time will be lost in checking their career. LAMBETH-STREET. Yesterday two flaihily-dressed young woman, who gave their names as Elizabeth and Eliza Edwards, and who represented themselves as silkwiiiders, were fully committed for trial for shop -lifting. THAMES OFFICE. Yesterday Geo. Webster, a young man of gentlemanly appearance and manners, was brought before Mr. Baonaere for final examination, on a charge of stealing two pounds and a quarter of raw Coffee, the property of the St. Katherine Dock Company, from their premises. The prisoner held the situation of weigher in the Customs up to the time of his committing the offence with which he stands charged. The prisoner observed, when the coffee was taken from him, that he did not consider there was any harm in taking a little coffee, The depnsitions having been read over, Mr. BROM:RIP said it was his duty to commit the prisoner to New gate for trial. He was sorry to say the prisoner was the third person who held offices of trust in her Majesty's Customs whom the Magis trates of that office had lately committed for serious felonies. Mr. Horry applied to the Magistrates to take bail for the prisoner, and said this was precisely one of those cases where the Justice might with propriety do so. Sureties to any amount could be given. Mr. BRODERIP was of opinion the Legislature never intended that bail should be taken in a case of this kind. It was not a case where any doubt had arisen. Bail would not be taken for an inferior person, or for a man whom wretchedness or want might drive to the commission of an offence made out as this was ; and he would not make a distinction in favour of a person of apparent respectability. Mr. Horry said the reason he made the application was the pri soner's bad state of health. Confinement in a prison would, he feared, be fatal to him. The father of the prisoner, a respectable Northamptonshire gentle tleman, said his son's health was very delicate, and implored of the Magistrate to accept of bail. Mr. BRODERIP--.YOU are the father of this unhappy young man ? The father (bursting into tears, and whose grief affected all present)— I am, Sir ; he is the eldest of fourteen children, and until this moment not one of them has been stained with crime. Mr. BRODERIP—PainfuI as it is to you, Sir, and to myself, I must commit your son for trial. I must do my duty. You shall have access to your son. Officer, see that this gentleman has access to him before the arrival of the van. The father left the office ; his head bowed down, and crying bitterly. Lord Clarence Paget has returned from foreign ser vice, in the Pearl sloop of war. THE WRECKS.—The property which was rescued from the wrecks of the St. Andrew and the Pennsylvania was brought to the hammer on Wednesday and Thursday, and the proceeds were much greater than had been anticipated. Mr. Huson, the broker, we are informed, on the two days of the sale sold upwards of 50,0001. worth of the cargo belonging to the ill-fated vessels. On \%edocsday about 500 lots were sold by him, between twelve and four o'clock, which, as far as expedition goes, is unequalled, we believe, by any pre ceding sale of a similar nature. Many of the lots produced a price nearly equal to that of the manufacturer.—Liverpool Courier. SPORTIN ti INTELLIGENCE TATTERSALL' S—YESTERDAY. THE DERBY. The attendance this afternoon was thin, and the betting WI flatter than on Monday ; nor was the little business done posseve7 of much importance, The Lo r d M a y or , one o f th e f ew back ed ' having alone made any advance on therice quoted in our last re .: port. Erin-go-Bragh, Bulw ar k, S co tt s lot, and one or two otheil were also backed, but without leading to any change. Seve: offers were made to take 40 to 1 ab ou t K rem li n, more by e! ) points than were obtainable. 10 t o 1 was o ff ere d ( no t cu rrent 11 agst Brother to Bay Middleton, but no mention was mada of OW beau. The following were the closing prices ;- 700 to 200 agst John Scott's lot—taken _ _ 10 to 1 asst Lord Jersey's Bro. to Bay Middleton—taken 16 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Erin-go-Bragh—taken 18 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Dey of Algiers—taken and alt er. ward's offered 26 to 1 agst Lord Westminster's The Lord Mayor—taken 30 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Bulwark—taken 30 to I agst Lord Albemarle's Tros—taken 33 to I agst Duke of Cleveland's Kremlin 40 to I agst Duke of Grafton's /Ether (Pastille colt}s—ta kal and afterwards offered 36 to 1 agst Mr. Batson's Brother to Plenipo 1250 to 50 agst Meunier and Delos—taken 1000 to 25 agst Bravura, Mercy, and Maria—taken 250 to 200 on The Lord Mayor agst Bulwark—taken 12 to 1 agst Zimmerman and The Lord Mayor—taken 500 to 15 agst Chimborazo and Oronooko—taken LATEST BETTING AD MANCHESTER• DERBY BETTIN G. 9 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Brother to Bay Middleton 14 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Erin-go-Bragh—taken 18 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Dey of Algiers 25 to 1 agst Col. Anson's Zimmerman 28 to 1 agst Lord Westminster's The Lord Mayor CHESTER TRADES' CUP. 9 to 1 agst Mr. Copeland's King Cole—offered 11 to 1 agst Captain Healey's Van B uren 20 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's lon—taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. Heseltine's Slashing Harry—take 23 20 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Modesty—offered 20 to 1 agst Sir. 13arr.,w's Eaglet—taken 20 to 1 agst Sir T. Stanley's Cowboy 100 to:4 agst Lord Normanby's Gipsy—taken 100 to 4 agst Mr. Topham's The Drone 100 to 4 agst Sir. Allan's Percy—offered 100 to 5 agst Sir. Ferguson's l{arkaway 100 to 6 agst Mr. Fowler's Gilbert Gurney—taken 100 to 6 agst Mr. Fowler's Heron —taken 100 to 6 agst Lugwardine and Gipsy—taken THE MARKETS COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING THE WEEj Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beaks. F P " . Per Quarter. s. to s. a. s. a. to s. a. to s s• "%,; Blandford 72 76 31 41 24 ?5 40 42 6 74 24 28 124 a' 42 4, 7 :34 4f ' 4 ,.! Chars! . 68 84 28 38 18 2:2 38 42 3. J Huntingdon...,,,..,. 56 70 34 38 24 29 38 42 -- Long Sutton 58 78 1(1 20 30 34 Louth 58 78 26 32 20 24 35 42 -- yl ynn 56 77 22 31 16 20 30 32 32 0 Newark 62 82 24 31 19 28 31 43 Nottingham 64 79 28 31 19 28 35 42 -- Peterboroligh 59 82 35 42 22 29 38 48 Plymouth 58 80 30 34 20 23 Pontefract..... 77 43 27 43 -- Sleaford 65 80 38 38 22 28 41 43 -- Uppingham 63 84 24 30 18 28 32 44 •• Wisbech 163 82 20 30 32 DEVIZES CORN MA RKET.—Jan. 31 Per Sack. s el. I. d. Per Quarter. a. d. s 0 First Wheat 17 0 to 38 0 Barley 32 0 to ay.. 0 Second 44 0 36 0 Oats 90 0 Third 737 Sacks of Wheat sold/ 3 4 11 Flour (per 1bag).....n 0 at the average of Bread (per ga11.)... 6 LEEDS CORN MARKET.-- Jan, 29 Wheat, Norfolk and Suffolk, 60Ib. York. aid Lincoln. 601 b. Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk --- Yorkshire and Lincolnshire - Grinding Beans Oats, Potatoe 255. to 278 _ . . e --m eating, For. —I. to —_ d Eng. 14d. to 16d. per st o ne Shelling 365. to 38s. per 1 ,7,,. Rapeseed, English, 301. to 321 .. FAreign, 30. to 221- Per ' LIVERPOOL CORN MARKET. —Jan, 29 WHEAT, English, White, per 70Ib. —"--- Red Scotch, Welch, and Manx Irish, White -- Red 1 11 1 100 s; 6.i to to llo ri 8 9 10 9 ~ For e i gn 8 6 .' g OATS, English, Welsh, and Sc o t c h, per 451 b 4 0 4 a Foreign 9 4 Irish .........". 000000000000 " 3 0 0 0 0 A / BARLEY, English, Malting, per Imp. quar t er 43 0 ' 6 0 —. Scotch and Irish, per 601b 8 - Feeding 00000 .." 000000000000000000000000 0 •••••••••••••••• 5 , 0 54 BEANS, English, per Imperi a l quar t er 5O 0 • 0 4 Irish, &c. Foreign 49 0 52 58 0 52 0 PEASE, English, per Imp er i a l quarter 0 -- For eign FLOUR, English, per 280Ib. 66 0 71 0 Irish 52 0 ~,, 0 OATMEAL, English an d I r i s h , per 2,401b5. 0000 ' 3 2 6 0 Irs - ntasr CORM, per 4401 b. ...... 44 0 4 8 0 RYE, per imperial quarter . .40 0 45 MALT, per Imperial quarte r IMPORT OF GRAIN ter the Week endin g J a d . 2 8 Wheat. Oats. Barley, Flour. Oat Qrs. Qrs. Q rs. F ore i gn, Brls.lo Irish,&c. Sall " s 4 9,924 10,916 1,939 - 4,424 1 7,017 • 11, !IP THE FRENCH MINISTRY AND THE STO-- JonnEns.—Durine• the late protracted debate upon the . .„. jA y dress in the French Chamber of Deputies, a curious tele.r o , phic system was established by some speculators in the the About fifty men were st a ti one d a t equa l distances betvreello,o Palace of the Deputies and the Bourse, a person in the e nv lery of the Palais B our b on watc h e d t h e proceed i ngs, en d° municated the result of every division or ballot to the individeS. stationed nearest to th e b ui ldi ng. Wh en Ministers obtaine ,be majority this man rais e d hi s arm , an d a ll the others did ~y same, so that in a few seconds it was known at the Bourse t ell Ministers had had a maj or ity. I n t h e contrary case the 1110 were to lift up their hats or caps. This system of signal: ti said to have been wh o lly success f u l , so fir as rapidity wied, but not to have p revente d i ts contr i vers from losing conetei ably, for whatever the Ministerial majority might be, " 3 ,0 speculated on a r i se ; b ut next d ay, when that majority' ".i known to have be en tr ifli ng , t h e f un d s f e l l i nstead of fo ll o lo ,, ; the ascending movement w hi c h t h e speculators had str i ve n give them. RECENT ERUPTION AT VESUVIUS.—The Gi° 1 : 1 ; nale della D ue Si c ili a , o f t h e 9t h i nst., among other detaulo of the recent eruption at Vesuvius, states that the damage t has been inconsid era bl e , notw i t h stan di ng the immense tlty of scoriae with which the environs of Boscoreale, trecase, Castellamare, and Torre del Annunciate have 1 / e ; 0 covered. In the last-na me d di strict i n part i cu l ar, great Isb 0 and ex( rtiun have been required to char the high-road, s° 0 to admit the passage of carriages, and also to release the de° of many of the h ouses w hi c h h ave b een bl oc k ed up b y t he $O , Cumulation of enders. DESSERT FRUIT KNIVES AND FORK • er , Plated on Steel. SO 6 12 knives and forks, plain ivory handles .X3 3 0 12 ditto carved ivory handles 316 0 ... ..... 9 9 0 12 ditto finest plain pearl handles 4 17 0 1 : ditto carved pearl handles 5 8 U 12 ditto king'spatternsilverhandles 6 16 6 , They may he had at the above price, in sets of 12, 18, or 0. pairs, with or without a neatly fitted mahogany ease. il' i SAVORY and SONS, G o ld sm i ths, No. 14, Cornhill, Lai°o, opposite the Bank of England, -. PATENT LEVER WATC H Ei With silver deuble-bottom cases (; 6 With silver hunting cases 6 JO This celebrated construction (the most accurate on which watch can be made) is offered, with the latest improyerneil e j, e. the detached esca p ement , j ewe ll e d i n four holes, cap? eg hand to mark the seconds, hard enamel dial, and maintaining Pl' IS to continue going while winding up, at the above price, by T. COX SAVORY, Watchmaker, Silver and Goldsmith, 47, Cornhill, London, (Seven doors from Gracechurch-street). N. B. —Second-hand Watches purchased in exchangei...", BIRTHS. On the 28th ult., at the R ec t ory , H artwe ll , B ucks, .the fo the Rev. Howell J. Phillips, M.A., of a son. .01 On the 2bth ult., at M er t on , S urrey, t h e l a d y of James .. tb- Alandeville, Esq., of a daughter. On the 28th ult., in Lower Berkeley-street, Mrs. 0 64 Young, of a daughter. At Cardington, on the 29th ult., Mrs. S. Whitbread, of a soli. On the 29th ult., in Heathcote-street, Alecklenburgh-squO df Airs. Richard Henry instanley, of a soli, still burn. On the 29th ult., Mrs. J. D. Best, of Grosvenor-Street We lt ' of a son. _ On the 30th ult., in Hereford-street, Grosvenor-square, t lid lady of John Ellis, Esq., M.P., of a still-born son. At Shawell, on the 25th ult., the lady of the Rev. W. Biencowe, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 29th ult., at St. Andrew's Scotch Church, - Mr. Geoff ° H. Heaton ; to Margaret, eldest daughter of A. Campbell, EA"' Principal Officer of the Fishery. On the 29th ult., at Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire, Hugh JackS° ll o ; Esq.. of Wisbech, Cambrid ges hi re, to Eliza b eth Susanna, young e daughter of the late John Patrick Moore, Esq., of Aspley. DIED. On the 29th ult., Mrs. Westwood, the wife of Mr. I'. 'We t ' wood, of High Wycombe, Bucks. At North Waltham, Hants, Isabella May, eldest daughter of t he Rev. William Fraser, aged 15. Aged 9, Augusta Frances, daughter of the Rev. H. Milroal l ' Prebendary of Westminster. On the 26th ult., at Bracknell, Berks, Elizabeth, relict of die late Cavin Delane, Esq., aced 83. • of On the 23d ult,, at Westburton, aged 73, M rs . U pper tooy Grand Parade, Brighton. At Clapham Old-town, on the 24th ult., Mr. Richard Kiar shott Haynes., plumber, aged 32. On the 13th of December, at Bath, Mrs. Harriette Fry, wid o ' On the 2'th ult., r: Titley Court, Herefordshire, aged 68, Tit, Coffin Greenly, only c hild o f t h e late Wm. Greenly, Esq., of 11 ley Court, and wife of Admiral Sir Inaac Coffin, Bart. On the 27th u lt., a t K empton Vicarage, Herts, Arabella fa v ,e the wife of the Rev. Frederick Sullivan, aged 42. On the 28th u lt., a t Sh ooter ' s Hill, John Baines, Esq., ° f the - Chancery Office. On the 29th ult., age d 73 , M r. J oseph Water, of High-str e etr Southwark. On the 29th ult., at Somers-town, Mr. Robert Black, aged °' upwards of eleven years clerk in the employ of J. Baker and 0 " Lawrence •lane. On the 29th tilt., Mary Anne, the wife of Samuel Hardin all ' Esq., of Sutton-place Hackney, and of B roa d- s t ree t, Ci ty . On the 29th ult., Thomas Card, aged 34, th e on ly son o f To" ff Card, late of Store-street, Bedford-square. • On the '29th ult., Rebecca Burridge, the wife of F r ederi c t Cooley Chappell, of Addingto n -pl ace , C am b erwe l l, Surrey, an d tb Stock Exchange, London. London Printed and Published by IVIURDO YOUNG, °f n tf 112, Strand, at The S un Offi ce , N o 112 , Strand, in the coun t) of Middlesex.—Friday, February 1, 1839. Th e tibl e '"' t it h l t IvoN w j : • r ; ; 40 1 7 , e by th I. t - tLsed b ) ratifiepd t 2 1 1r1r1 to t 1 : 4 1, a 141 14r ried out °ll A pri • l 21 Tottght in °ngue," , "We ac an C "!Ind for ar 'hould thin Bible, and 1, 4 comp' icttarna n t 745 ' T 1 quir t into tortoni n ;,, f o r ti t utße; bYtli "4.1.14 ~y OI