The Sun. — London, England, 1844-08-09 00:00:00

to excite suspicions that there was some object in view, I which the Government a•as afraid should come to the knowledge of the seamen. Meetings had been held on the subject of the tw,2rchant seamen at Newcastle, at Liverpool, and at Bristol, and he protested against the Bill being pressed forward in this manner. On the question that the Lords' amendments be agreed to being put, Captain PECHELL said—No, I cannot agree to the eightpence ; but, the Hon. and Gallant Officer standing alone in his opposition, the amendments were agreed to. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL. Mr. R. YORKE wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government if it was the in tention of the Government to bring in any measure for the reform of the ecclesiastical courts during the next session ? Sir R. PEEL said that considering the little encourage ment that had been given to any Government during the last ten years to legislate upon the subject, he must decline answering the question.—(A laugh.) NEWSPAPER STAMPS. Mr. WYSE, seeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, wished to ask him if it was his intention to consent to a return being made of the number of stamps issued to different newspapers, in continuation of former returns? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had re ceived different complaints from parties connected with newspapers on the subject, and they strongly represented to him that the publication of the returns of the number of stamps issued to each newspaper was most unjust to news pipers not completely established. It was not his intention, therefore, to consent to the return of the number of stamps issued to each individual newspaper. The total number of stamps issued would of course be returned as usual. Dr. BOWRING agreed that the question was worthy of serious consideration, and said he would bring for ward the whole subject early nest session. Mr. WAKLEY thought that if any order existed on the subject it ought to be rescinded. These returns opened a door to the perpetration of gross frauds. He had himself taken two stamped publications to the S'amp office, stamped with the same stamp, issued in London on the same day, but the publications differed in siz. and the matter contained in them was different. He had asked the Solicitor of the Stamp-office if those two publications were to be considered as •ne, and the Solicitor had told him that, in the eye of the law they were considered as one publication. Now the stamps for those two publications had been put forth to the world as one, and thus a gross fraud had been committed on the public, and on the advertisers. He hoped the re turn would never again be made. Mr. WYSE brought up the report of the Committee appointed to draw up the reasons for the Commons dis agreeing to the Lords' amendments in the Arts-Unions Bill. FISHERIES. Its answer to a question from Capt. PECHELL, -Sir R. PEEL said that, acting upon a convention which had been entered into between this country and France, a law had been passed securing the exclusive right of fishing to each country within three miles of their coasts, and by that law it was rendered penal for any fisherman to infringe its provisions. PRIVILEGE On the motion for the order of the day being read, Mr. T. DUNCOMBE rose to bring under the notice of the House a question of pdvilege. He alluded to a debate which had taken place in that House on the affairs of Guernsey, and after complaining of the brevity of the report of that debate which appeared in the newspapers, he stated that he had re ceived a letter from the Rev. Mr. Dobree, whose name had been mentioned in that House by him (Mr. Dun combe) and also by the Right Hon. Baronet opposite. Two days before be received this hater a communication from , Mr. Dobree appeared in the Times newspaper, denying the accuracy of his (Mr. Duncombe's) state ments. The letter which he had received was dated " Forest Rectory, 28th of July, 1844," that day being' Sunday, and it was not for him (Mr. Duncombe) to say whether it was the sort of correspondence which (minister of the Gospel .ought to indite on such a day. (The Hon. Gentleman then read the latter, which stated that he (Mr. Duncombe) had charged Mr. Dobree with " perjury," and with being " insane," and it called up , n the Hon. Member to explain his meaning, and to give his authority, at the same time threatening conse quences if such an explanation were refused.) llad an explanation been called for from him (Mr. Duncombe), excepting under a threat, he would have been the last person to have refused it. His answer to the Rev. Gentleman's letter was to the following effect : " On my return to town this evening I received your letter with inclosures of the 28th inst. I regret the in temperate character of your communication, which pre eludes the possibility of my giving that explanation which under other circumstances I should have felt in • dined to afford." The inclosures were certificates from the Crown Solicitor and the Lieutenant- Governor. Last night he received another letter from Mr. Dobree, which was dated August 6, 1844, in which he said, "I am in receipt of your letter of the 2 , 1 inst., and if you conceive any previous lettt r to you at all intemperate, I beg leave to refer you to Lieut. Ross, who will give you every explanation or satisfaction you may think fit to require on my behalf. I only regret that the situation which I hold in the diocese of Winchester prevents me from speaking more plainly, anl. in a tone which you deserve. Your most obedient to command."—(Laughter.) Simultaneously with that letter another appeared in the columns of the Times newspaper. " Sir,—Mr. Tholuas Slingsby Duncombe, M.P. for Finsbury, having declined to give in any personal ex planation of the epithets of Linatic' and perjurer,' applied to me in the House of Commons on the 23d of July last, although called upon to do so, I beg leave to publish the following proofs of the utter falsehood of his Vatements, derived from the highest medical, legal, and military authorities ; and I leave to the discernment of the British public to qualify Mr. Duncombe for the future with the titles lie may best deserve. -" 1. Mr. Duncombe said (or is reported to have sail), that I am only fit for a lunatic asylum.' Here is my reply : " We, the undersigned, hereby declare that we have known the Rev. Daniel Dobree since his childhood, and that be neither is, nor ever has been, either of unsound mind or weak in intellect. " S. E. HOSKINS, M.D. and F.R.S. "' J. O'BRIEN, Surgeon." " 2, Mr. Duncornbe said (or is reported to have said), that lam a perjurer.' Here is my reply, in the letter e'the Crown solicitor himself, who was sent over here to investigate the business in question : " 'Twyford-hoUse, Winchester, July 26. " I cannot conceive any man, of ordinary intellect, unob mewed by party prejudice, accusing or thinking a gentleman in holy orders, of good education and habits, guilty of perjury, merely because a decision has. been given inconsistent with the tendency of his evidence. W,e here every day find con flicting evidence, given by most unexceptionable witnesses; and if perjury were to be imputed to those of the unsw,c , ssful side, half our countrymen would be thought guilty of a crime which is not, I trust, our prevailing vice. ." But leaving these general observations, you ask me whether I think you guilty of perjury? I reply that Ido not. Ido not believe that your statement made to me, and by me repeated to the Lieutenant-Governor, was false. Ido nut believe that such statement having since been made by ybu in court on oath was perjured. " ' T. L. DAMPIER. " But Mr. Duncombe thinks fit to assert that lam unworthy of credit,' &c. Here is my reply, addressed to me by General Napier himself:— " Haviland Hall, July 23. "'Sir,—As I see that your enemies, as unscrupulous as they are locally powerful, have determined to destroy your cha racter and prospects, I give this testimony in all sincerity of belief in its truth, and in accordanee with what I have more than once written to the Secretary of State for the Home office. From personal observation, from the assurance of Bri tish officers, natives of Guernsey, and others not natives of Guernsey, from your general character, and from the straight forward, frank, earnest, and unvarying testimony you have given to me in private, to Mr. Dampier, and in my presence at the so-called secret inquest of the Royal Court, I have the most implicit confidence in the truth of your depositions. I feel sure that you arc totally incapable of falsehood, and that perjury is as incompatible with your notions of honour, as it is incompatible with your sacred character of a minister of the Gospel. All persons of honourable minds who know von, must start with indignation and horror at the infamous attempts now made to charge von with such a crime. " IV. N.APIER, Lieutenant-Governor. ' 4 ' To the Rev. Daniel Dobree.' " And now, Sir, pray tell me what is Mr. Thomas Slingsby buncombe?--I am, Sir, your obliged and grate ful servant, " DANIEL BOBBER, M.A., " Rector of the Forest and Torteval, Guernsey. " Forest Rectory, Aug. 6." Now by (Mr. Duncombe) thought he was justified in • asking the Government whether they sanctioned the Crown Solicitor taking any part in this personal squabble between the Rev. Mr. Dobree and himself. It would be recollected that he appeared there in the discharge of his public duty. Ile knew nothing of any of these parties—he was merely the channel of communica tion between that House and the great body of the people of Guernsey. Mr. Dobree had charged those people with disaffection and disloyalty ; a charge which he ( Mr. I )uuicombe) knew to be quite unfounded. It had been proved in a court of justice that Mr. Dobree was unworthy of credit. What he (Mr. T. Duncombe) complained of was, that when he moved for the correspondence m hick had taken place between the authorities of Guernsey and the Right Hon. Baronet, he should be told that the production of that correspondence would be injurious to the public service, and yet the Crown-Solicitor and the Lieutenant - Governor of Guernsey should be allowed from time to time to re;'er to it in the newspapers. Ile thought it but just that the correspondence should be produced, or that it should not be referred to by a subordinate of the Governmea, such us he apprehended Mr. Dampier was. As to the charges which he (Mr. . Duncombe) had made, he could only sa y th at h e was borne out by the local press of Guernsey, which teemrd every week with charges **pins: Mr. Dobrce, and w high defied that gentleman to indict them for libel. He (Mr. Duncombe) wished to know whether the Govern ment sanctioned its officers mixing themselves up with such matters as these ? Sir J. GRAHAM said that it was evidently late in the session, or the Hon. Gentleman would nei er have ' taken up half an hour of• their time to discuss such a question as this. It the Hon. Gentleman had asked him whether the letter which had been addreaed to him was a letter a clergyman ought to have written, he should have said at once that it was not. But if the Hon. Gen tleman really thought it was worth while to enter into a discussion on this matter, he, was bound to say that he ' entertained a very different opinion. He thought it s waAwayprthy of prolonged discussion in that House. .Ni EU S The iHti . a.!Gentleman stated that Mr. Dampier was in ' - lo tikent of the -Goternment. Now, the Hon. (-' o 'IP"' informed before he ' 7.. -4 - - t' .. einem ht to be better, 17,`;-:-.4 . ,,, '..rkiet:tiatiodia Mr. Dampier held no situation . under .4 . ..;, - ;:f4 ~;f. t -,, • —.ea/ e was sent to, Guernsey to inquire into oraha t „ „\ ,,, ..4;e0.1 4i ' . d'Air o s there ) iu r ts e e d qu u ef i e w o hi f c t h he h informs- leto-.0 N. • THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 9, 1844. the trial to which the Hon. Gentleman referred. Having finished that inquiry, he was as independent of any relation with the Government as was the Hon. Gentleman him self. With regard to the conduct of the Government, he had never read the letter to which the Hon. Gentle man referred. He had never seen or heard of it till the present occasion. His time was too much occupied to read the Guernsey Press, from which the Hon. Gentle man quoted so largely. The Government had known Mr. Dobree, but the Honourable Gentleman had not ; he had formed his opinions on grounds which the Honourable Gentleman had not, and he stated that he thought Mr. Dobree was a sane and a true man, and, being of that opinion, he could not say it was at all in consistent with his duty to certify to that effect. He thought the Hon. Gentleman should be therefore more certain of his information. The lion. Gentleman had also a few days ago stated that Sir J. Walsham had interfered as a polr law Commissioner in Durham and Northumber ' land, and had introduced Welsh labourers to defeat the colliers, who stool out for higher wages. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he did not say that. He had read a paragraph from the local paper which he held in his hand at the time, and he wished to know from the Hon. Gentleman whether it was true. It was be cause he did not know that it was true that he made the inquiry. With regard to another point, the Right Hon. Gentleman had made another misstatement. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that Sir J. Walsham had interfered as a poor• law-commissioner to put down the strike for wages in a town with which he had no ! connexion. He (Sir J. Graham) stated that Sir J. Wats ham had been an assistant poor-law commissioner, and had resided in - Northumbekand—that he was a pro prietor both in Lancashire and South Wales, and that he might. as an individual, have induced persons to go to those places and obtain wages. He did not mean to say that it was in the least dishonourable for an indivi dual. He had not then seen Sir J. Walsham, but he had since an opportunity of referring to hill, and he was authorised by Sir J. Walsham to say that he had never directly or indirectly interfered in his individual capa city in the manner alleged. Nothing, therefore, could be more unqualified than his contradiction of the statement. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he had never stated that he had received positive information. He had founded his question on a paragraph in the newspapers, and he had asked him whether it was true or not. The Right Hon. Baronet had also fallen into an error in supposing that it was he who stated that Mr. Dampier was the Crown solicitor, it was Mr. Daniel Dobree who had stated this in his letter to the Times. CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS. Mr. BROTHERTON wished to ask the Right lion. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, whether it was in the contemplation of her Majesty's Government to introduce any Bill in the next session of Parliament, either to- tally to abolish capital punishments, or to extend the number of cases of exemption from that punishment? He was . quite convinced that these public exhibitions had a very injurious effect on public morals, and the melancholy occurrence which had taken place at Nottingham was a full proof of that. If the House would permit him, he would just read an extract from a letter which he had received.—(Cries of " No, no.") He really thought it was more worthy of the attention of the House than some subjects which were intro duced in that House. (The Hon. Member then read an extract from a letter relating to the accident which had just occurred on the occasion of an execution, in which thirteen persons lost their lives) ; and said he wished to know whether it was the intention of her Ma jesty's Government to introduce any measure to put an end to these disgraceful exhibitions, which,in his opinion, did not tend to prevent crime, but only to harden the minds of the people ? Sir J. GRAHAM said he had no hesitation whatever in telling the Hon. Gentleman that her Majesty's Go vernment had no intention to introduce any measure on that subject. His opinion was entirely the reverse of that expressed by the Hon. Gentleman, as regarded the moral effect of executions in cases of murder. At the same time, he must express his deep regret at the fatal occur rence which had taken place at Nottingham ; though he must say he had never heard an inference which appeared to him to have so little foundation, as that this fatal catastrophe was at all to be ascribed to the bad moral effect of a public execution.—(Hear, hear.) The event might have occurred at a horse race, or even, through sudden panic, in a chapel. He repeated that he had no intention of proposing either the abAition or the re mission in certain cases of capital punishments. Mr. BROTHERTON said he had made no inference like that which the Hon. Gentleman had mentioned. The Roman Catholic Penal Acts Relief Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir R. PEEL laid on the table papers relating to the slave-trade ; also papers relating to Captain Warner's experiment. CAPTAIN WARNER'S EXPERIMENT AT BRIGHTON. . _ Captain PECHELL observing that a portion of the peepers which the Right Hon. Baronet had laid on the table consisted of the correspondence with Captain Warner, would ask him a question on the subject. lie did not mean to say that Captain Warner was a fit sub ject for a lunatic asylum, but he would state to the House certain facts which had come to his knowledge. He had received a model of a vessel from Shoreham, the port from which the ship destroyed by Capt. Warner had sailed ; and from that it appeared the ship had ropes fitted on board her, fastened from stem to stern, and that after the process it appeared that from 150 to 200 fathoms of line had been thrown overboard from thn steam-vessel, show ing that a direct communication had been established be tween the steam•-vessel and the ship. He wished to know if the Government had received from the naval officers any communication calculated to explain or to affirm the suspicions which most people entertained with regard to that experiment. The fact was, it was generally looked upon as a complete humbug. Sir R. PEEL had seen the reports which had been made to the Admiralty upon the subject by naval officers ; but those officers had not been admitted into any very close communication with the vessels. He could not either confirm, or deny the report to which the Hon. and Gallant Member had referred. The ex periment, he took it for granted, had been performed in the manner in which Captain Warner represented ; but with respect to the ropes he had had no opportunity of satisfying himself on the subject in such a manner as to enable him to answer the question, not that he meant to imply that the vessel had been blown up in any other way than the one which had been represented. If the Hon. Gentleman had read the correspondence, he would see that it was not likely that he (Sir R. Peel) would enter into any incautious engagement.—(Laughter.) He would not give 400,0001., or even 100,000 L, for the blowing up of a vessel, with out having that vessel pretty closely examined before hand—(Laughter)—but he again repeated, that he did not mean to insinuate that there had been any unfair proceeding on the part of Captain Warner. CASE OF THE CONVICT SIMPSON. Mr. WAKLEY said he had had papers to present from Mr. Humphries, the solicitor, on the subject of a convict named Simpson, which he had submitted to the Right lion. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home De partment; that Right Hon. Gentleman had stated that he saw no reason for interfering, and then be had determined him to bring the subject before the House ; but; since he had entered the House, the Bight Hon. Gentleman had stated that he thought there were points in the case deserving of consideration, and, therefore, he would not trouble the House on the subject. Sir J. GRAHAM thought there was one important fact in the case which had not received the attention it ought. He considered the Hon. Gentleman had exer cised a sound discretion in acting as he had done. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Sir J. GRAHAM rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the alteration of the law of settlement. They had had many important disCussions on the poor-law, but this was a subject of the utmost importance. Within the last year 12,000 orders of removal had been made for English paupers, and 5,000 for Scotch and Irish ; and in the whole 19,000 Orders of removal had been issued, under which 45,000 persons had been removed. The House would do well to consider the immense quantity of human suffering which was inflicted by these orders of removal. It had been observed by Adam Smith that there was no poor man in England, who had at tained forty years of age, who had not reason to complain of the law of settlement. It was an important and diffi cult subject, and the course which he proposed to take was, to repeal all the statutes at present in existence on that subject, and to legislate de novo. He should propose to the House, therefore, an Act, re gulating the law of settlement, and the appeal on the order of removal. The subject was naturally divided into three branches—the settlement itself, the power of removal, and the law respecting the appeal upon the order. First, with respect to existing settlements, he proposed wherever there had been an order of removal, and a fixed settlement, that that settlement should not be disturbed. He then proposed to repeal the existing Acts of Settlement, which, he believed, were no less than nine in number. Settlements were now gained by marriage, by apprenticeship, by rent ing a tenement, by paying rates, by serving an office, and, last of all, by birth. Hiring at ser vice was another mode of gaining a settlement, which was, however, still somewhat in dispute. His proposi tion was, that henceforth birth, and birth only, should give a settlement, and that the place of birth should be held to be the place of settlement. Failing proof of the place of birth, he proposed to admit proof of a derivative settlement in the second degree. First, he proposed to admit the Sather's settlement, and fail ing that, the settlement of the mother. He would not carry the derivative settlement any farther, and he proposed that the settlement of the grand father and the grandmother should no longer be received. He proposed that the register of births and deaths, and the register of baptisms, should be ad mitted as proofs of birth ; and that a married woman should not be removed from her husband's settlement during her husband's life. He had now exhausted the first branch of the subject. He had thought that settlement by birth was the most simple ; and that the derivative settlement, in the first degree from the father and mother, was also the most simple. the most sure, and the most advisable. lie now came to the second branch of his subject. Two conferences then took place on the C,iunty Coro ner.' Bill and the Art-Unions Bill, in which the House of Lords disagreed with the House of Commons. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Sir J. GRAHAM then resumed his arguments with respect to this Bill. He proposed that parties should be irremovable under the following circumstances : First, he proposed that men who resided in or near a parish for five years, and whohad not be= guilty of felony ormls demeanour, should be - irremovable ; this applied to Irish and Scotch paupers. Secondly, no woman who resided with her husband at the - time of his death, in a parish in which he had been settled, should be removable after the death of her husband to her own parish. Thirdly, ne widow, whether living in her husband's parish or elsewhere, should be removable until twelve months after his death. Fourthly, no legitimate child should belemoved after its father's death under 16 years of age, and no illegitimate child shall be removedunder 16 from its mother. Fifthly, no person who became chargeable through sickness or , accident should be removable till they received re lief for forty days consecutively. All persons were to be relieved where they were resi dent, irrespective of settlement. With regard to the order for removal, he proposed that the overseer of the removing parish should send a copy of the order and a statement of the grounds on which it was made within seven days. This statement was to contain not a copy of the examinations—(Hear, hear)—but a statement of the grounds of removal. Then the parties receiving this statement of the grounds of removal are to have 21 days after the receipt of the notice to determine whether they would resist the removal or not, and then if they determined after the expiration of twenty-one days not to object to the removal, but to the order, they were compelled to send a statement of the reasons of objec tion. They would then have statement of the reasons on which the removal had taken place, and a counter statement of the reasons upon which the removal was objected to. And having obtained those statements both parties should be concluded by them, and upon the hearing of the appeal, they would not be at liberty to adduce other grounds. The overseers of the removing parish, if they had no notice of appeal given, might remove at the end of forty days after notice of removal had been given. The House would observe that there was great difficulty with respect to the removal of Scotch and Irish paupers, because they were removed, not to a parish or district, but to a country. He proposed that rules should be framed by justices in their respective districts, which shoul I provide, as far as possible, for the removal of Scotch and Irish paupers to the parts or places of their birth and residence. It would be then their duty to remove them, as far as as circuin stances would admit, to the nearest place to that of their birth. He was anxious to introduce a power of appeal with respect to the removal of Scotch and Irish paupers, and he proposed to do this by in serting the following words : " When any removal shall have taken place on illegal grounds. either to Scotland or Ireland, on the representation of local bodies or of parties having an interest in the matter of removal, On representation to the Poor-law Commissioners, they shall have the power to cause an appeal to be made at the sessions against the order of removal, and if the order is quashed, the parish ob taining the order shall pay all the costs of removal, and shall also pay the costs of bringing back the party re moved to the parish from whence he or she was so re moved." He had now stated the leading provisions of the BilL It was one which would require the utmost attention. He was not so vain as to think that it would not meet with many objections ; but, between country and country, he was endeavoured to hold the balance , fairly, and he as quite satisfied that the provisions of this Bill, as regarded the Scotch and Irish, were most salutary and humane. He must now repeat what he had stated at the commencement, that if this arrangement should be adopted, the effect would be to place the whole law in a much simpler and clearer form than it was at present ; and though there might be many objections to the details, he believed that to the principle of the mea sure there could be no solid objection. Mr. HAWE' expressed his satisfaction with the measure of the Right Honourable Gentleman ; and read a letter detailing the sufferings of the Scotch and Irish paupers while being removed to their parishes and homes, that showed that no attention was paid to the condition of these unfortunate paupers when they were removed. He thought the provisions of the proposed Bill would gieatly lessen the number of paupers to be removed, and he hoped power would be given to the Poor-law Commissioners to see that a proper person should be appointed to super intend the embarkation of these paupers, so that they might not be left utterly destitut -. He hoped every Hon. Member would well consider the Bill during the recess, and he, for one, should come to the discussion of it, rather with a view to assist the Right Hon. Baronet in his attempts to amend the existing law, than in a spirit of opposition to tlul Government. Mr. BROTHERTON thought that if the money that was expended in law was laid out on the poor, it would be much better. _ _ _ Mr. WAKLEY thought the Government had shown an honest intention in introducing the Bill. Mr. WYSE said that the Bill was calculated to re move many of the grievances that now existed with re spect to the law as it at present stood. He thought the course pursued, by the Government with respect to this Bill was worthy of following. After some further observations, • Sir J. GRAHAM thanked the House for the attention iLhad given to the measure, and he agreed with the Hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley) that the Hon. Member for Salford was mistaken in thinking the burden of supporting the pour would rest on the manufacturing districts. The Bill would have an en tirely different Effect ; for if the Honour: ble Member would closely examine its workings, he would find that each district and parish, would be obliged to support the poor persons who could prove that they had been born within its limits, or within its jurisdiction. The measure would also attend to the evil the Member who had spoken last had referred to, as a clause would be found in the Bill compelling every parish and county to remove Irish paupers. Captain PECIIELL thought that the Government were entitled to the gratitude of the country for intro• ducing the measure, and he could not see that any faul could be found with its details. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. QUARTER SESSIONS. Sir J. GRAHAM moved for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the appointment and payment of clerks and other of f icers of the courts of petty and quarter sessions of the peace, oyer and terminer, and gaol delivery. After some discussion, leave was given to bring in the Bill ; and it was then read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time that day three months. POOR-LAW BILL. The Lords' amendments to this Bill were brought up, and agreed to after some discussion. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. A message from the Lords brought up several Bills. ART-UNIONS. On the motion of Sir J. GRAHAM, the Lords' amendments to the Art-Unions Bill was ordered to be taken into consideration to-morrow. Conferences took place on several Bills with the Lords, and among theni was the Insolvent Debtors' Bill, in which the Lords agreed to the amendments of the Commons. The House adjourned at Nine o'clock till to-morrow at Half-past Three o'clock. LAW INTELLIGENCE COURT . OF CHANCERY, Aug. 7. The Lord Chancellor sat to-day in Lincoln's Inn Hall, for the purpose of bearing any matters that might press, and also to give juagment in the case of Mr. l)yce Sombre. The Court, before eleven o'clock, the time at which it was stated his Lordship would take his seat, was extremely crowded. Among those present, we no ticed the Earl St. Vincent, Mr. Quintin Dick, Mr. Bailie Cochrane, and several other persons of distinction. IN TIIE MATTER OF MR. DYCE SOMBRE. The LORD CHANCELLOR, on taking his seat, pro ceeded to give judgment in this case. It had been ar gued at great length, and he had given it that attention which the importance of the subject demanded. It was a question with respect to which he had felt much anxiety, not only on account of its in-* terest to the individual concerned, but as his de cision affected the proceedings of the Court below. Two • questions had been mainly raised on the present occasion, and very properly argued. The first question was, whether Mr. D. Sombre was ever of un sound mind, and whether the finding of the jury could be supported by the evidence ; and the second was, whether, supposing . him to be of unsound mind at that period, he had since recovered, and was at that moment able to manage his own affairs. These were the two main questions. - With respect to the first question, it was material to advert to it, in consequence of some observations made by counsel. For this purpose, it would be necessary to review the previous history of this gentleman. Ile was of Asiatic origin, with a mixture of European blood in his veins, his father being a German, and connected by marriage with the Begum Somroo. He was brought up in her zennana, and becanie her favourite. His education was conducted a few miles from the residence of the Begum, under the superintendence of a Mr. Fisher, a chaplain to the East India Company. He lived there four years, and was during that time intimately con versant with European manners, customs, and literature. He (the Lord Chancellor) had conversed with Mr. Dyce Sombre, and found that, although he had hesitation in his manner, he had profited by the instruction he had received from Mr. -Fisher. Such was the history of Mr. Dyce Sombre till he became of mature age, when he was entrusted by the Begum with the management of her affairs, and on her death he removed to Calcutta, she having left him I the whole of her property. Mr. Dyce Sombre came to Europe in 1838; and after having passed some time in England he went to the Continent. He returned to England in 1840, and in that year he married Mrs. Dyce Sombre and became acquainted with European society. He must, however, say on the other side, that it was quite elear that none of the prejudices existing among Asiatics could give rise to such feel ings of jealousy as had been evinced by Mr. Dyce Sombre. It was not for the Court to say any thing with respect to the prudence of the connce tion. That was .no question before it ; but soon after his marriage Mr. Dyce Sombre expressed himself dissatisfied with Mrs. Dyce Sombre's going out to parties even attended by her father, if unattended by himself. He left London alone, and went to Vienna ; she expected him to return soon, but he did not do so. She wrote him a letter of the most affectionate character and that brought him back, and she again accepted him as her husband. After some time disputes took place with regard to the education of their children. It had been agreed that the boys should be educated as Catholics, and that the girls should receive a Protestant education. Mr. Dyce Sombre insisted on another form, which was, that should there be no male descendants, the girls should be educated in the Cathol , e religion. This broke off the connection. Mr. Dyce Sombre ex pressed himself in the stronge , t terms, and sent a chal lenge to Earl St. Vincent, his father-in-law. Tao lays afterwards he sent a letter expressing his contrition in the most poignant terms. Shortly after this they w« nt abroad. They went first to Brussels, and Mrs. Dyce Sombre became there extremely ill, and continued to be so for eight weeks, and all that time Mr. Dyes Sombre behaved with the utmost kindness. He seemed most devotedly attached to his home. They returned to London, and went to the Clarendon Hotel. Up to the month of April Mrs. Dyce Sombre discovered nothing leading her to suppose that there was any infirmity of mind in her husband. In the month of April they . left, to visit Geneva. His Lord ship then went, at considerable length, into the domestic history of the petitioner, and instanced many circumstances which we have already given during the arguments, to &low the state of Mr. Dyce Sombre's mind. His Lord ship also read voluminous extracts from the affidavit of Mrs. Dyce Sombre, and the reports of the medical men, the latter of whom unanimously expressed their belief that the petitioner was of unsound mind. After a careful analysis of the arguments that had taken place, his Lordship concluded by . stating that he felt it impossible to supersede the commission. After some abort discussion the petition was ordered to stand over, in order that the parties might consider what should be done with respect to the future treat ment of the unfortunate gentleman. The remaining proceedings of the Court were totally devoid of interest. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) MANSION-HOUSE. Augustus Halifax, the young man who was, on Sa turday last, examined upon the charge of baying uttered a forged cheque for 65/., purporting to be drawn by Wm. Edward Western, of Great James-street, Bedford row, upon the house of Sir R. C. Glyn, Halifax, and Co., was brought up in the custody of John Forrester, for final eitamination. Mr. Bush attended for the pro secution, and Mr. Humphreys appeared for the prisoner. Mr. Edward Western added the following to his former evidence :—The cheque stated to be forged was marked and numbered B X 1199, and th,: note produced for 101., No. 56,322, had the words upon it " James Mar tineau, 9, William-street, Islington.' These words were, he believed, in the handwriting of the prison.tr ; at least they bare a resemblance to his handwriting. Mr. Charles Francis Western, brother and partner to the last witness, stated that he knew the prisoner's hind writing. He had examined the cheque for 61. and the 101. Bank of England note, and he believed the writing in the body of the cheque, with the exception of the signa ture, and the indorsement of the bank note to be the writing of the prisoner. The signature to the cheque was excessively like his brother's, but upon close exami nation he thought it was not his brother's. The prisoner had been in his office about a year, but he had left it about two years ago. He had since he left their em ployment occasionly been engaged in writing for the firm. He had a Chancery suit in which he was in terested. The last time witness saw the prisoner at the office was on the 22d of July, when he brought home some writing. In answer to questions from Alderman T. Woon, the witness said he thought his brother was in town on Sunday, and that the cheque-book was generally kept in his brother's office. . Alderman T. WOOD—Would the prisoner, if he brought home any writing on that day, have had access to your brother's office ? Witness—He might have gone in, but he ought not to go in at all. The cheque produced had been torn out of the end of the cheque-book, and was not a consecutive cheque. Mr. Mead stated that he had been clerk to Messrs. Western eighteen years. He had known the prisoner several years. The prisoner had been a clerk in the house, had left the employment between two and three years, but had occasionally since that time done some writing for the house. Witness was well acquainted with the prisoner's handwriting, and believed the writing in the middle of the cheque to be his writing disguised, as well as the date. The signature very much resembled Mr. Western's. He'could not state in whose handwriting the signature was. It --sembled Mr. Edward Western's very much, but he did not believe it to be his. Witness believed the name and address on the Bank note to be also in the prisoner's handwriting disguised. He had frequently seen the cheque-book in the offices of the partners. Witness had seen the prisoner at the house on the 24th of July, and from one to four days previously. Mr. Humphreys did not consider it necessary to ask the witnesses any questions, but asked the Alderman whether he thought the evidence sufficient to justify him in sending the case to the jury ? Alderman I'. Woo]) said, in his opinion, there was enough to take before a jury, and committed the pri soner for trial at the Central Criminal Own. MARLBOROUGH -STREET. Wednesday Mr. Frederich Pa rh y n, the p ro p rietor of a shawl warehouse, No. 84, Quadrant , appeared before Mr. Maltby, to a summons, for having assaulted Miss Eliza beth Steer, of 88, Dean street, Soho, on Saturday last. Mr. Bryan, barrister, attended on the part of the de fendant. The complainant, a very respectable young woman, stated that she was in the employment of Mrs. Nichols bonnet-maker and milliner, 72, Quadrant. On Saturday last, while she was out on business, she saw exposed at defendant's shop-door a shawl, ticketed at 14s. 9d. Thinking it a very good one for the price, she resolved upon having it, and went home to get the money to buy it with. she returned to the shop about three o'clock in the afternoon, and saw the shawl still exposed. At that time the defendant was standing at the door, when she addressed him, saying she would purchase the shawl and at the same time lifted it from where it was hanging and tendered the money. The defendant took hold of the end of the shawl, and requested her to step into the shop while the article was being put in paper. Complainant replied that she did not want paper, but defendant held fast to the shawl, and complainant went a few steps into the shop. A second person, named Atkins, a shopman, was there, and he snatched the ticket from her while defendant endeavoured to get the shawl out of her hands. Defendant then seized her by her arm , and twisted it so much that she was obliged to get medical advice. The two men'at the same time used the most gross language, and Parkyn told her that if she did not leave the shop instantly he would kick her out, and added that if she had got money enough to pur chase, the shawl, she most likely had obtained it by walking up and down Regent-street. The language used by the defendant, and his shopman, was of the most indecent description. She then walked out of the shop. In answer to Mr. Bryan, complainant stated that she was in the etnploy. of Mrs. Nichols, and not of Mr. Nichols. Mr. Nichols keeps a shawl shop in the Quad rant, not far from defendant's. The money with which she intended to purchase the shaWl she obtained from home, and not from Mrs. Nichols. She was not aware of any disputes between defendant and Mr. Nichols. She had mentioned the fact of the shawl being ticketed at so low a figure, and expressed a wish to have it to Mrs. Nichols, who said that if she (complainant) could get a better shawl at a cheaper rate else where than she could be supplied with at their own esiablishment, there would be no objection on her part and she should not feel offended. Complainant examined the shawl in the presence of the defendant, and while he was standing at the door, on saying to him that she would purchase the shawl, he replied " very well," and went on with it to put it in paper, while complainant held one end. Upon her oath she went there for no other purpose than to purchase a shawl. Mts. Nichols had nothing to do with it, and had never seen it. Complain ant did not serve in the shawl trade at Mr. Nichols's. She did not understand the trade. Defendant asked complainant if she came from Mr. Nichols ; but she re plied no, the shawl was for herself. He did not tell her that if she were a stranger she should have the shawl. She could not remember every word that was said ; but the abusive language was too unprecedented to forget. The language of Atkins was as bad as that of defendant, and she had applied for summonses against them both, but only obtained the one for Parkyn. Complainant was not requested to leave the shop, except in abusive terms. by defendant, who said to her " If you don't go out, I'll kick you out, you d—d b—h." There was a struggle for the possession of the shawl, which defendant at lengtl gained. It was endeavoured to be shown, as an answer to this statement, that the complainant' had been sent by a rival shopkeeper to purchase a shawl which was, for the pur pose of trade, ticketed at a price much less than its value. Mr. MALTBY said, that as nothing had been shown to p r ove that complainant went to defendant's shop in fur therance of any instructions from Nichols, it must be considered as a bona fide purchase. He would not say that she had a right to claim the property. She took the shawl down and was told it should be put in paper, which induced:her to believe that she was to have it. Instead, however, the ticket was first snatched off, and the shawl was afterwards taken from her, and she ordered out of the shop with threats. It was his (Mr. Maltby's) opi nion, that the Assault arose from the fact of the shawl having been ticketed at a price at which it was not in tended to be sold. Upon the whole case he was satisfied an assault had been committed, accompanied by threa tening language, and he should therefore fine the de fendant 4L and costs.—The fine was instantly paid. UNION-HALL. Benjamin Rogers, Alfred Andrews, Charles Thorpe, John Edwards, and W. Fowler, were brought before Mr. Trail', charged 'with creating a great riot at the Chartist Hall, 1151, Blackfriars-road, and violently assaulting Mr. Knighton the owner of the premises. It appeared that Mr. Knighton had a lease of the premises, and had agreed to let the large room to the Chartistsfor 48. a week, for lectures to be delivered on the five points of the Charter ; but the society had greatly increased, and Mr. Knighton had demanded an advanced rent, and that there was now a law suit pending. Last night, the defendants had called a Chartist meeting to be held in the room ; but the complainant refused to admit them and closed the doors. • The doors were broken open by the defendants, who proceeded to destroy the furniture in the room, and beat and assaulted Mr. Knighton in a violent manner. Mr. TRAILL sail he understood this to be an old grievance, but they were all acting illegally, and two of the defendants had already been bound over. The Ma gistrate ordered Andrews and Edwards to find bail in 501. to keep the peace for six.months each ; Fowler was fined 10s., and the other four defendants were committed to the sessions for destroying the furniture and assault. THE ALLEGED POISONING CASE AT STEPNEY. James Cockburn Belaney was brought up on Wednesday for final examination at the Thames Police-court, charged on suspicion of having caused- the death of his wife, _Rachel Belaney, by having administered to her a quan tity of prussic acid on the Bth of June last. The ease, hicli has excited the deepest interest, was several times remanded, and in the interim a Coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner. The circurnstances have boen already so fully before the pub lic, that at present we need give no more than a brief summary of the leading facts. It appeared that the prisoner practisvd a few yrsrs ago as a ur,geon, but without a certificate, in the neighbourhood of the Com mercial-road, where he formed an acquaintance with Mr. Hobson, a bookseller in the road, and Capt. Clark, a. master mariner, in King-street, Stepney, who, how ever, lost sight of him for some time. About the 3d or 4th of June he returned to London with a young, beau tiful, and accomplished wife,_ and took lodgings near his friend Captain Clark. . During the three or four days which they were there; the, prisoner and his wife, according to the testimony of Captain Clark and Mr. Robson, who appeared - to be their sole sequaiut- ante, lived on the most endearing and affectionate : and extensive than those before mentioned, and stand- 1 MARKET NEWS.—(YESTERDA Y.) terms, and Mrs. Hippingstall, in whose house they ! ing full five hundred yards from that called the Queen's, aror 7YLLIRMETS. - lodged, gave testimony to the same effect. The de - had also bec o mo fired by the falling of the flaming s l .. t ria t in ELD ,—C o arse Meadow Ilay, 3/ lOs to 47 ; l i :',. ceased lady, though of a most cheerful disposition, ap- fragments. This property was one of the finest that ful ditto, 4! 4s to 4/ zi , , ; tine Upland ditto, 4/ 10z t , 4/ _ 1 ,:; peered at times a little indisposed; but this was attri - adorned the county of Kent. It possessed every C lover Ha y , 4/ 15s to 6/ 63; Oat Straw, 1/ 6s to 1/.5, buted partly to the fatigue of a journey from Newcastle- : building necessary for agricultural pur,uits. The barns Wheat Straw , I? 8s to 1/ lOs ncr load. Supply moderate' upon-Tyne, and partly to her pregnancy. Before break- granaries, lofts, and stables, were substantial erections, good, and trade rather dull. fait, on Saturday, the Bth of June, being the fourth or with a large rick yard adjoining. At this stag , the . .Il:rsl,l3EUZl.ANl).—C l oarse M . Fa i doiv hay 31 15s too/ 4s t n6' ,. tculto,(l.eirtt( Hay,4 1 fifth day after their arrival in town, the prisoner was , Gravesend engines, arrived, and afterwards one from heard to call loudly for assistance, upon which the land- 'Chatham, but in searching for water a considerable time Straw, i 56; to 6! 6 4 1 , 12 0 s a ; t ti s n t A raw p , lt l tr i id BB o t i o t t,i, i 1 4 0 / 8 1 ; 4s 1 ; i4 0 1 1/ M Os to 1! lo . s p er load. A fair average supply, sa l " lady ran up stairs, and found him supporting his wife, . elapsed before they were of any assistance. The coast- a steady demand. who appeared to be in the agonies of death, and who guard from the stations at Shellhaven were in attendance, w urrEcturEL —c o a t ee Meadow Hay, 3/ 10s to 41; ;155e;,, died in about ten or fifteen minutes afterwards. Dr. and at about two o'clock a strong muster of sailors and ful ditto, 4! 4s to 41 Es; tine Upland ditto, 41 lOs to 41 '.; Garrett, a neighbouring surgeon, was called in, but his marines belonging to the Russian frigate Aurora, moored Clover Hay, 5 ! to 6 / los ; Oat Stra w, 1/ 6s to 11 f. 4 presence was of no avail, as life was quite extinct. A off Gravesend, came up under the charge of their several Wheat Straw, 1 / 8 s to 1 1 10 s per load. B oth Ray '''' ost mortem examination of the body was made, after officers. In conjunction with the firemen, coast-guard, Straw moved off steadily , at full prices. which Belaney made a statement to the effect, that, being and labourers, they made every possible effort in pre- The p rices of New Meadow Ha y ruled from 31 to 4/1 alid in the habit of taking prussic acid for an affection of the venting the adjacent crops of corn from Igniting. This of New Clover 4! to Si per load. stomach, he was about to have some in the bed-room on they eventually succeeded in, though not without .the c ,ouTit A LI, AL " C. 2r i Alr Altho it u I Z7h E e I ;u 3 p . nlifts of fat 80 1 the morning of his wife's death, when the neck of the greatest difficulty and danger , as the hedges and trees on sale to day were tolerably ettensive, the general d em rA phial broke, and the acid began to spill. He poured the •on both side , were in a blaze. It is need ess to observe, was, on the whole, steady, on the following terms :--W ; contents into a tumbler, and went to procare another that the King's Farm, with its buildings, like the previous f rom 2s 4;1 t o 3s lod ; M u tton, 9 , , 6(1 to 4s; Lamb, 35 6a s r phial. Whilst there his attention was attracted, by some- ones, was levelled to the ground. There was no fur her 4s 80; V. al. 3s 40 to 4s 2,1; and Pork, 2s 4d to 4 ed thing which delayed him a few minutes; but he was end- destruction of buildings feared, but alarm was entertained 81bs. to sink the Mild. Supply—ileasts, 48; Sheep denly alarmed by a scream from the bedroom, and on for the surrounding crops. Tents a ere in course of Lambs ; 3,4140; , ,Calves, 50; Pigs, 47. a 0 rushing in, he found his wife, whom he had left on the erection in the ,tiff.--rent meadows to she'ter the unf o rtn- IZomFono, AUG. 7.—Prime old Downs were in deiTl,o, bed, standing with a tumbler in her hand. She ex - nate c r ea t u r es burnt o u t du r i n g t he ni g h t. Thousands full prices. Otherwise the trade ruled heavy. Be .. er o to claimed, " Oh! I drank that hot drink: give me some- of persons from Gravesend had assembled. One insure 452. s 6d i !o ve n: l lo4 s t ; 6 11 1 1.n , t ) t0 4 n, 4 2 0 s 6d d to p 4 ur s i ; c 1 2 .a s m 4 b d il t, s ) 31 scl thing cold." He called at once for assistance; but, over- ante office, the Norwich Union, "as interested in the loss erB(Bl'bs.' veal, ( t 'alve ' s, 18s to 335; 14uarter-old S V, whelmed with grief, shocked, mortified. and ashamed, as to the extent of several thousands. The total amount of a medical man, to own his most culpable want of tau- the property destro: ed could not be ascertained, owing figs, 16s to '2os; ' and Milch Cows, with their Small C 16/ 191 5s each. sou ° tion, he never mentioned the prussic acid. He supposed to the confusio n . I HAILSHAM, AUG. 7.—Prime Beasts and Sheep wer e , ve ri that his wife, having taken salts that morning, must ! , and in demand at full prices. In other kinds of stocs__ 0 have got of bed for a drink, and, not perceiving the acid, little was do in g :—Peet, front 2s 8d to 3s 10d; Mutton, ,'Ol3, poured some water into the glass, and drank off the to 3s 8(.1; Lamb, 3s 80 to 4s 8d; Veal, 3s 2d to 4 s: an d contents. His withhholding this statement until after 2s 4d to 3s 80 per 81bs. trade bell the post mortem inquiry excited suspicions against the ARUNDEL, AUG. 6.—We had rather an inactive 104; to-day. on the following terms :—Beef, from 2s 6 d t o 3,,, 44 prisoner, who was taken into custody. On further in- 'Mutton, 2s 60 to 4s; Lamb, 3s 10d to 4s 10d; Veal, •' quiry it was found, that Belaney, with his friend, Capt. to 4- 4:1; and Pork, 2s 4d to 4s per 81bs. Clark, went two hours after Mrs. Belaney's death, and 111110 CHICHESTER, Ace:. 7.—Beef, from 2s 4d to 3s 10d; ~. 44; before the post mortem inquiry, to engage a brick grave 2s 60 to 4s; Lamb, 4s to 4s 10d; Veal, 3s 4d to 0 s o in the Tower Hamlets' Cemetery ; but finding the con. and Pork, 2s 4d to 3s 8d per Bibs. A moderate supply' struction of such a one would require a considerable a dull trade. time, they proceeded to arrange for a common one. After the case obtained publicity through the public press, several communications were made to the clerks of the Court and the police-officers, stating that Mrs. Be laney's mo:her, who lived at the time of • her death with the prisoner and her daughter, had also died suddenly, and was buried with an almost indecent haste under circumstances peculiarly suspicious. In consequence of these circumstances, it was deemed advisable to send an active and intelligent officer down to the north to insti tute inquiries, and Inspector Haynes, of the detective force, was dispatched on that mission. Amongst other documents which the Inspector produced, was one dated the Bth, the day of Mrs. Belaney's death, in which the prisoner, writing to a gentleman, stated that his wife re mained dangerously ill, symptons of premature labour having come on a few days previously. It was further proved, at the inquiries before the magistrate and the Coroner, that the prisoner had not resorted to any of the usual means which any medic ,1 man of the slightest knowledge would have adopted to counteract the effects of the poison, and which according to the evidence of Dr. Letheby, would, whilst a spark of life remained, or even for some time after every semblance of death had been assumed, have proved effective in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CLERICAL PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. Martin Amphlett, M.A., to the Rectory of Church Lench, near Evesham, on the presentation of the Lord Chancellor. Rev. J. A. Beaumont. M.A., Incumbent of St Mary's, Leeds, has been appointed secretary to the Leeds Branch Association of the Additional Curates Society. Rev. Geo. Dineley, B D., to the Rectory of Churchill, diocese of Worcester. Patron, Robert Berkeley, Esq., of Spetehley. Rev. John May, M.A.. of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, curate of the parish church, Lancaster, and formerly of Padiham, has been appointed Chaplain to the Lunatic Asylum at Hanivell, Middlesex. Rev. Francis Henry Murray, to the Curacy of North field. Worcestershire. Rev. Robert Powell, M.A., of Worcester College, Ox ford, to the Curacy of I'lynstock, Devonshire. Rev. John C. Role, M.A., of Christ Church, Oxford, to the Rectory of Helmingham, Staff Ik. Rev. Henry White, to the Vicarage of Birdhrook, Warwickshire, on his own petiti..n, as the patron thereof. Bev. Henry Woollcombe, of Christ Church, Oxford, Examining Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Exeter, to the Vicarage of Kingsteignton-cum- Highweek, vacant by the decease of the Rev. Dr. \Vhiphsm. CORN AVERAGES. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH COOl4l, For the Week ended Augu.t 3, 1144. made up from the , Ilet 'Lis" the Inspector. the ditlerent Cities and Towns in Ear s " Wales, per Imperial Quarter . u. IA Wheat 5;6. Od. i Oats Barley. l- ...., P 345. Od l Rye .. ...... 37- 6d 1 1 rease..••••••• AVERAGES OF THE LAST SIR WEEKS. 0 .01111' Weeks ending',WHEAT. BARLEY.' OATS. RYE. 1 SEANS , V,„.." ....,............ ...... .............- ........................* June 29 55 9 34 4 2 . 2 9 35 0 i 3B 96 July 6 55 8 34 5 22 11 :5 0, 33 * 3/ 5 13 54 10 31 10 22 .3 ,34 2, 3' 6 ol , 20... 231 Aug. 3 5l 0 34 0 20 3 j :11 6 3 4 ...01 IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGES OT TFIE ' III - g o, - 0, Wheat... ..... 54s Od. 1 Oats ..... .... 21s. 9-4.1 8 e auti...... 0 7,,, - jP Barley DUTIES On TOKEIGN CORN. 0 Wheat. Batt~ THE LATE COURT-MARTIAL ON LIEUT. GRAY, R.N. IfiVi RAILROAD TO FALMOUTH IN CONNECTION .40 THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—A meeting of the subsei . :,. st to this undertaking was held on the 6th instant, at Traieibf, , which the Earl of Falmouth presided, and was supPerfr 04/ Sir Charles Lemon, Bart.. M.P., E. W. W. Pendarves,Aor, M.P., Edmund Turner, Esq., M.P.. and many other isrool fiat gentlemen of the county. The report of the P roT oc eed; committee was read, which gave a summary of its p t , se ings since the time of its appointment in January lar d Of embraced Captain Moorsom's report of his survey, and 0! Bond's on the traffic to he expected, which was founds 0, actual observations during fourteen successive .del fol' nights, at twenty-three stations between Plymouth all tb e, mouth. In claculating the amount of traffic deduc° 10,4 from, he had the assistance of Mr. Fisher, who was egnotll: by the Great Western Company to ascertain the trafo_,e' 01 0 South Devon line. These investigations make it aPP7O tY the undertaking will yield a handsome per centage. WO capital required, and the meeting authorised the 0 0 0 1 t 1 to take the needful steps to insure the construction fail rated at the earliest possible period. The meeting oil rated under the persuasion that . the Bill will be appli ed the next session of Parliament. f fO, of IMPORTATION OF FRUlT.—Great quantities o 0,0 of all kinds, are being daily imported into this count: 1 1 , 00 0 the Continent. The Sphinx steamer, from Havre, boits: with her on her last trip no less than nearly 1,700 Pe e °oe 7 fruit, of various kindi, which have been landed el* V . „ Katherine's Steam Wharf, and cleared r immediatenot y very large importations of fruit into this country j r ° oo,' Continent this season, facilitated by the advantages n a pe:, i is the cause of the great profusion and consequent eus;;l‘, of cherries, pears, and all descriptions of fruits in the 040' • rw' tog MORE INCENDIARISM.—On Tues da y in f 0 ~ „ii. was received and circulated throughout the Metrors9o I and City Police divisions, that on the night ofd i ult., a barn, in the occupation of Mr. George 'oll l s I situate at Morton, in the parish of Thornbury , ne ar tr o 1 I ping Sodbury, was wilfully set on fire and &sloe', with a large quantity of wheat straw which it n0°, 40 0 7 Mr. Charles Cuilemore, the proprietor of the nn estate, 11 estate, has offered a reward of 201. to any pv..- - , e d will give such information as will lead to the dig ° the offender or offenders. ' Sl if4 0 A letter has been received from Mossul, ° f d el. 9, giving some details relative to the expedition by M. Bette, the French Consul of that place, and M. of an artist, to explore the ruins of ancient Nineveh . , gbh count says :—" The works are going on actively ID cst p bad (a modern village, built on the site of the o ld and the sculptures continue to present the same cherlict trait—everything warlike, and nothing appertain in gion. We cannot yet form any idea of the piano ofd buildings, although we have laid bare two halls , lisb; l S a , length, and a number of smaller rooms. Khorsa bs ft 01 over one corner of an immense quadrangular inclositr e ' t oe t y of walls built of bricks, bearing inscriptions, with t ° o f regular distances. The whole military and civil s:„ r ipu2 Assyrians could be made from the buildings and in :an " c erl; , which remain here., We have hitherto not eXPe rj— liy : thel opposition from the authorities ; though they . 11 ,,; e d, i f ranee imagine that to find treasure must be our e`u no I . 7 1 have a quantity of objects to send home, as soon a s - d r bassador at Constantinople furnishes us with wean s 90 ,1 port by the Tigris." ~ 0 I A CANDID CONFESSION.—An informe.,e ;e, w , John Shanahan, upon whose testimony two m e°,, ln cuted for murder at a former assizes in North 709 was again produced as a witness at the last assize!' t b.FO cute a man, named Wade, as being concerned 11 . i ,siosie crime. In the course of this wretch's cross-exann a pt e iii candidly stated that " he was a perjurer, a robber , e rl o terj derer ;"and, moreover, that the murdered Mal l _ t be anything to him ; that he went to his wake, sev'.lo!_d lying dead, and " smoked over the body of his vi e ti ft6 THE FIRE AT MANCHESTER.— I esterday a l an inquest was held before Mr. Chapman, on t ti AY John Irving, the unfortunate man who was ~ ..k:10.,.0 1 calamitous fire at the Irwell-buildings, Blacia'SoK I deceased was a joiner, and lived in Grove-street , ' He was sixty-one years of age. The only witnees, oc si;of was Thomas Jones,•a fireman, from whose evi u b e o t 40 i peared that about ten minutes past six o'clock L i e r e e y t , ing, as he was directing the water from the Th i ti I upon the ruins of that part of Messrs. Charlton'o ti 0 / 1 , adjoining the parsonage, the deceased and st If o%fl'i . , Thomas Jackson came up, and the deceased seiu' il sr,tr, George ?" They were both in liquor, but Jack sti I to be the most intoxicated of the two. Shorti deceased and Jackson had spoken to witness, he 0 04 1 deceased looking through a door, and Jacksoo6oll window behind Messrs. Charlton's premises, when io O A 0 1 , "cat-head," which was fixed above the window , , ; st , ,t'of story, and a large portion of the outer wall fel l, ' 1 1 ;:oi cat-head and portions of the wall fell upon thelr;,o9,l l , and John Higginbottom, another fireman, ran l'" plod to the spot, when they found the deceased Vile '''ll l ' face, with his skull severely fractured, and ot "004 and bruises about his head and face. He os! to r 1 1 .1 1 less. The deceased's hat was quite crushe d soeyr j i and there was blood beneath his head. l‘f t ' o f O A Ir given notice to the firemen, before the portion s 104,1 fell, that it was in an unsafe state ; and partl. e o t of I frequently warned to keep from under. A ve i l A$ ' i dental death" was returned. The deceased has e #l l i —Manchester Guardian. _A tO j/ • eteu lvi , Ladies travelling, or temporarily sub $° deviation of equable temperature, will find 111 .,„,, u or Kalydor a renovating and refreshing auxill i pe p iii , ling the cloud of langour from the cornV saf e immediately affording the pleasing sensatiea_ssitlo restored elasticity of the skin. The dirt; orf/411,: unsightly varieties of cutaneous eruption:o,e; If promptly eradicated by the Kalydor. SP . ,i e ld of,, freckles, di-colourations, and sallowness , - 7 0 , 0 0 0 ,0 4 specific qualities, and are succeeded by . _ s er o e and transparency of the skin, giving rise tu tip ite o 1 : 0 0 of the utmost pleasure and surprise. Being oil e P e i preferred, its consequent great demand w i e f e v ary cupidity of unprincipled shopkeepers, wh° bf tbv eir ti t •f "Genuine" Kalydor to some compounds ° 0 01er; 0 : t 4 manufacture, of the most deleterious eh i s o os o sl , 4 i r u n Mining mineral a tringents utterly e d we t r oomplexion, and by their repellant actlo or e 0 health. It is, therefore, imperative 0 0 1 3 ate !!I see that the words " Rowland's Kaly d°r e ffel t :: wrapper. All others are fraudulent count_ The following dispatch, addressed by the 10firl of Aberdeen to Count Si. Aulaire, will explain the circum stances under which the late court-martial was ordered by her Majesty's Government : " THE EARL OF ABERDEEN TO COUNT ST. AULAIRE. Long before the prisoner was placed in the dock the Court was crowded, and among those present were se veral well-dressed women. Foreign Office, June 23, 1843.. " The undersigned, &c., has had the honour to. receive the note addressed to him on the 2d instant by his Excellency Count St. Aulaire, respecting the proceedings of her Majesty's ships Bonetta and Spy, towards the French mer chant vessel the Luiz de Albuquerque, Capt. Bellet. " In that note his Excellency, referring to the statements contained in the inclosures to his Excellency's communica tion, informs the undersigned that be is directed by his Go vernment to require—first, that her Majesty's Government will disavow the conduct of her Majesty's officers in searching the Luiz de Alhuquerque without warrants; and secondly, that they will institute an inquiry into the Irre gular proceedings with which her Majesty's officers and men are charged, in order to ensure their punishment, if punish ment should be due, and to prevent a recurrence of the irre gularity complained of. " With respect to the first point, the undersigned at once assures Count St. Aulaire that her Majesty's Government have no intention to uphold or defend the conduct of any officer in her Majesty's service who shall search .a French vessel without a warrant from the French Government au- At one o'clock Belaney was placed at the bar, looking much better than on any previous occasion. Mr. Reynolds, one of the, oint solicitors to the Trea sury, was present on the part of the Crown, and Mr. Humphreys app-ared for the prisoner. Mr. Humphreys requested a short delay on the part of the Court, as he momentarily expected Ifr. Clarkson, who had an pplication to make on the part of the pri soner. _ _ _ Mr Reynold.: did not see the nece:sity of further delay, as he considered there was already sufficient evidence for the prisoner's committal to Newgate. Mr. Broderip—Am I to understand, then, that you propose to call no further evidence, and now apply for the prisoner's committal ? Mr. Clarkson, who just then entered, had some pri vate conversation with the Bench,which was joined in by Mr. Reynold:, and Mr. Symonds, the chief clerk. The Learned Gentleman then, speaking aloud, said, I have no objection that the public should - know the nature of my application. I think, when the Crown has con sented, there can be no obiectioa to the course, and I never knew such an application to be refused. What I ask on the part of the prisoner is, that he be recommitted to Clerkenwell gaol until the day before his trial, which, from what has already taken place, all his friends must have anticipated he has to undergo. Ido not expect for my client more than would be granted to any other per- son ; hut I never knew such an application to be refused. Mr. Broderip (addressing Mr. Reynolds) asked if the Crown consented to the application ? Mr. Reynolds said, if the course was not unusual, the Crown would have no objection, but he would leave it to his Worship, who must be best acquainted with the practice. Mr. Broderip (again addressing Mr. Reynolds) said, is it your wish that the prisoner be sent back to Clerken well ; or, having no further evidence, do you pray he should be committed to Newgate ? Mr. Clarkson—The prisoner has many friends coming from the country who are anxious to see him, and with whom, at this critical juncture, it is important he should confer. Clerkenwell affords greater facilities for this purpose than Newgate prison, where the regulations are more restrictive. Mr. Broderip (again addressing Mr. Reynolds)—lt has been put to me whether it is the wish of the Crown that the prisoner be allowed to say where he has greater facility of seeing his friends, or that he should be finally committed to Newgate. Mr. Reynolds—l see nothing in the case which should induce a relaxation of the usual rules. The Crown would not oppose the application, if it were according to the usual practice ; but there is nothing in the present case to take it out o customary course. Mr. Broderip--The u:ual course, when a case has been closed, and the magistrate has made up his mind to com mit, is to send the prisoner to Newgate. Mr. Clarkson—There are private papers in the hands of the officer which belong to the prisoner. If they re late to the case let him state so ; if not, they ought to be given up. This is an application with which I hope no one will interfere. Mr. Broderip—l do not know that I have the power to make an order ; but the general rule is, that all pro perty found on a prisoner, and not relating to the case, should be restored to him. Inspector Haynes—l have no papers. Mr. Clarkson —I have said, on a former occasion, that I was glad the case of my client was in the hands of In spector Haynes, as from him I shall expect nothing but strict justice. It having been ascertained that the papers alluded to were in the hands of the Treasury, Mr. Reynolds pro mised they should be given up. Mr. Broderip, then addressing the prisoner, who wit nessed the proceedings with the same grave composure which he evinced all through, said, that it had been prayed that he should be committed to Newgate in pre ference to another prison, and it was now his duty to commit him for the wilful murder of Rachel Belaney. The prisoner was then removed. The mere formal proceedings of Wednesday have nearly renewed all the interest which originally attached to the case ; and the excitement created in the neighbourhood was almost equal to that which was felt whilst the inquest h _ I was being held. thorising that step , inasmuch as her . Majesty's Govern ment consider such a proceeding is not only not sanctioned by the treaties which exist between the two countries, but that it is in direct contravention of their spirit. • " With respect to the second request contained in the note of Count St Aulaire, the undersigned begs to inform his Ex cellency that orders have been given to institute, without delay, a strict investigation into the conduct of the persons charged with committing irregularities on board the Luiz de Albuquerque ; and that if misconduct should be proved on the part of any person in • her Majesty's service, it will be visited with proper punishment ; and that measures will be taken to prevent its recurrence. " The undersigned, &c., (Signed) " ABERDEEN. " His Excellency Count St. Aulaire, &c., &c." DESTRUCTIVE FIRE NEAR GRAVESEND. On Wednesday afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, the town of Gravesend was again alarmed by the outbreak of a terrific fire at Lower Shorn e , near Ch a lk, a few miles distant, which, we regret to add, terminated in the all but complete destruction of that secluded village. The news of the fire was brought to Gravesend by a man on horseback, and on his arrival at the Town-hall, where the engines are kept, the police, under the direc tion of Mr. North, the superintendent, lost not' a moment in getting them out and attaching four post-horses to each. Before, however, they had left the town the ap pearance of the atmosphere in the direction of Lower Shorne too truly confirmed the information brought by the messenger, for though the day was bril:iant in the ex treme, the fire was of so intense and fearful a character as to be seen from eveyy part of the surrounding country, whilst the huge masses of smoke that arose from the flaming property completely darkened the horizon. On the engines gaining the village, Lower Shorne, comprising three extensive homesteads and a row of houses, was found to be enveloped in flames. Oa inquiries being made of the inhabitants, it appeared that the fire origi nated in' the house of a labouring family named White. This with six others formed a row on the left-hand aide of the lower road, and immediately behind them stood a farm, the whole being the property of Mr. Thomas So lomons. It was caused by a foul chimney taking fire, and the sparks falling upcn the thatched roof instantly set it in a blaze. Most of the occupants at the time were engaged in harvesting, but they hastened to the spot and endeavoured to check the fire. A vast number of persons came to their assistance, and every effort was resorted to in order to prevent the flames extending. Unhappily at the time the wind was blowing a strong gale from the south-west, which wuf; ed the fire to the other houses, and ere half an hour had elapsed, the whole row, was burning from top to bottom. Previously, however, whilst all were trying to preserve what pro perty they could, a sad accident occurred by the falling in of part of the roof of two houses. Three poor fellows were extricated sadly burnt, and it was much feared that one or more had fallen a sacrifice, but the state of the ruins prevented all search being made. It being apparent that none. of the houses could be saved, attempts were made to save the farm immediately at the tear. The south wing was partly in flames, the fire ye as mining along the roof, aid the inhabitants held got on to it and were about to eat off the communication, when they were astouruled by perceiving a body of smoke arising from another of Solomon's homesteads, called the Queen's Farm, si tuate about 200 yards 'further down the lane on the op ' po!;ite side. These premiss were of greater extent, the term composing a square of at least an acre, and the buildings consi , ting of two spacious hal-le,, grasiar'ei, stables, lofts, sheds, cart-houses, and rick-yards, and the farm-house adjoining. The alarm natdrally increased, and on those assembled rushing to the spot, it was a , - certaine,l that the burning einb, , rs scattered from the former fire had reached the homestead. The greater part of the two barns was soon in a blaze, and, how ever incredible it may appear, so terrific was the work of devastation, that scarce'y was there sufficient time to see whether the cattle were all out from the stables, before the whole had been destro)ed, the farm-house alone escaping, although not without very serious da mage. Great as the consternation was then, it can be e tally conceived to what an extent it reached when it was seen that another homestead, 'the property of the same — gentleman; called - King's Farm ; more valuable _or BIRTHS. oP 4lll4rii 0 16 1' On the 6th inst., the wife of Mr. H. ToY e i , Regents-park, surveyor, of a daughter. tile ri l tort On the 29th ult., Mrs. Susanna Savage, Olt , Ay Savage, Esq., late of Rue Rivoli, Paris, of 4 fae . born. 311 1 ' pW On the 2d inst., at Wateringbury, Ken' , lo ft/ - Betts, of a son. rbe bter' On the 3d inst., at Upper Deal Rector'' , dog:001V Edward Warde, Royal Horse Artillery , of u p, of 06 On the 4th inst., at Norwood, Mrs. n r° . t bert , On the 4th inst., the wife of Mr. Mer r r re ' the , fire-engine-maker, of a daughter. Is',;„ "a toti , 0 , On the 4th inst., at Bedford-row, f 0 ,00 6 Joseph Brown, Esq., of the Middle Temple:n-004" On the 4th inst., at Montagu. place, M`Lter, lady of Alexander Trotter, Esq., of a da On the 3d inst., at Hampstead,fAitlilElt- Ma i° •ri : 1141/t1.1111:17;111: Mary bdteaauvitghrhetiei Lawrence tit e l i a c : ~.. ww ..itt iv it, G Estn 4: oB d ith, . n 1: of eti :r o e o c n t : r sl f i A l l . 1 11. 3 c d . s i . n , s t t o ., i\ a la t ra . e A co lp n h d a d g a e u , g. G ht r e e r erl o / i f• G eoriillll :bo rti : et, e ei3 3 ,:di d :i i . i n :: ssrstyt• 101 gilt William Henry Turner, Esq., i n , to Auruh,4lll'°olidrill'ol Esk, Cumberland, to Adelaide Elizabeth ip • pep 0, daughter of the late James Dillon ully, Iv. '' e, pil ~,l speetor-General ( ' • At s _ .)f Ho at Jamaica 2 i_o,,i,sirto pi e . : c l a, l , a nt o t ( l si d t t e l : s n e opnan parish c,f Turner, r u a i : c c r E i Is q u itu r oi . c c , 1 ;y e r °t ,few'.. 1:6: fit' . :01$1,11:;4 A St. I aneras New Church..inseph l'eP''', f t he. 0 Tot ' tenitam-court-road. to MisiPliehe Olis. ' , t gtO, of o rotahhnneattil hihal .• of •''' of i t° o lo l ‘' iln the 4th inst., of brortchitic.. 310. jar„ tiara Nash, Esq.. of •'.4 John's-woo,lroad, ,4. ..6 0.1 , ' `lP"t.' (ialig''er of t 1, , late :'..initiel ViS.ll, -,,, CO' ip On. thost h just., Mrs Law ..,1 Horsted-Phw coil en, cow list ,t' E, - :;;! Ta W, ES(I aged SO. 1.)!Illo' :",h itlst .at LT K qininzton-gre . vot ' _,,. _ , . , Upper ~. _ of 3111 ft' ' , •',,-,",: 1 ie....1,., :,,,..:e.t 61. MiSS Hannah Searrat:• It 9 0 4 '''''i"i ice. ',.. ,- 11 44. Mr. L i g ' ' S4' On the 6th inst., Harriet, the w ife ` )I eg ( Jsi ° 11 . 1 1 , 12.1 - 11 56. Alter o On the 6th inst.. Entine Mary, dato. li 6 , me , ton, of Brooksbv's• walk. llomertoii, b.17___.....-roc stoll, 141)f,.. , .i. t ri'l.:l ::.*.d Published hv i,,, 41 tplic iit p I rr ibllaVif:'.`,l3°lll;,l4' ::;:f 02. !'!•tr v.:, printrr, al. I , e " jo tile, rl , l in 'hP PreciAct ~ f the Sav, ~... .. 134 4 Middlesex, Friday, A u g ust 9, . • EXTRAORDINARY HOUSES. The greatest excitement continues to prevail in the neighbourhood of West -street, Smithfield, and the ap plications to Mr. Wakelmg, the Vestry-clerk of St. James's, Clerkenwell, are becoming more numerous daily for admission to view the two strangely con structed houses at the northern end of New Farrmg don-street. Up to the last Middlesex Sessions the houses were inhabited by persons of dishonest and aban doned habits, but by the active measures of Mr. :Wake ling and the Commissioners appointed to carry out the intended improvements in this neighbourhood, pos session was obtained of the property, on compensating the freeholders. Since then some strange discoveries have been made. the publication of which has alike excited the atten tion of royalty and parties moving in the higher walks of literature. On Saturday, at three o'clock, Lord Lonsdale, accompanied by two friends, arrived from his residence, No. 15, Carlton-terrace, and inspected the houses, one of which, No. 3, is stated to have been the residence of the notorious Jonathan Wild. His Lordship and friends were shown over the premises by one of the men in possession, and they expressed their astonishment that such a place could have so long existed in the heart of the ny tropolis. On the previous day his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge and a distinguished party inspected the various places of concealment and contrivances for carrying on an extensive system of plunder, and appeared to take a deep interest in everything that was pointed out to them. The rooms on that occasion were lighted up by means of illumination lamps, to facilitate the view of the royal party. A brief description of the premises may not be un interesting. The houses, Nos. 2 and 3, communicate with each other, and are at the west side of the Fleet ditch. The latter house was kept as a chandler's shop, by way of lu'ling suspicion, and immediately behind the counter were the trap-doors, one of which was used as a means of escape, and the other o; end into secret drawers or depository for stolen articles. Passing down the larger trap, the pursued could elude the vigilance of the police, by getting through a window and crossing the Fleet-ditch over a plank, which was kept at hand, and afterwards drawn into the opposite house. The pursued might then pass into Black Boy-alley, and thereby get into Cow-cross, and the numerous courts and alleys in that neighbourhood. Immediately under the basement there is a capacious dark cellar, evidently . constructed for the purposes of con cealment; and here it is where a skull and some human bones were found, and given over to the police. The top of a butcher's steel has also been discovered, which has studded in silver letters the following upon it — Benjamin Turtell, July 19, 1787." At the wes tern extremity of the cellars, and near to where Williams, the convicted sweep, was concealed, is a parting wall, which, on being searched, left no doubt that there is another secret chamber beyond this portion of the premises, but owing to some legal difficul ties, this part of the houses has not hitherto been explored. The cell of Williams is a wretched excavation in the rough earth, and, as one of the Sheriffs who visited the place remarked, was sufficient to induce him to give himself up, and prefer the horrors of transportation. Upon the first floor of the building are several hiding places ingeniously contrived. In one room a sharp an2le is formed at the corner, sufficiently large to conceal a per son, which is effectually done by replacing the screen cor responding with the other part of the wall. Numerous traps are made in the various floorings, and leave a direct communication with the cellar on the back of the Fleet-ditch, and a spout running the entire length of the house is so constructed that stolen property could be re moved with the greatest dispatch, and the offenders escape over the roofs of the houses, which are connected by means of a drawbridge. A private still had been fixed in the basement story, and there is no doubt that some curious discoveries will be made on a closer examination of these remarkable premises. Many of the visitors do not hesitate to deprecate the imperfect system of police, which, with its detective officers and all appliances, suf fered such an abomination so long to exist. Several artists, for some days past, have been en gaged in taking sketches of the premises. A disgrace ful system of extortion was being carried on by certain parties in possession of the houses, until it reached the ear of Mr. Wakeling, who promptly suppressed it. The Commissioners are desirous of making it publicly known that no parties have been sanctioned to receive gratuities. EVIL OF OVER-FEEDING CHILDREN.-011 Tuesday Mr. Wakley, M.P., concluded an adjourned inquest at the Elephant and Castle, King's-road. Saint Pancras, on the body of a female infant, a fortnight old, the off spring of Harriet Cobby, a single woman. The child died in the workhouse on Wednesday morning last. having been admitted with the mother on the Thurs day previous. On admission the child was in a filthy and emaciated condition, and there was prima facie evidence that it had been maltreated by its parent. Hence a searching inquiry on the part of the Co r,ner. The result, however, was that the mother had not bei4tved ill twards her effspring, but that from po verty and consequent debility, s he was not able to at tend to it prop , Tly. Mr Cooper, the workhouse surgeon, said deceased died of inanition, the cause of which he could not ascerL,in. The ,chil , t had not been stinted in foNI, a::d he knew that sa . eakly children were often killed 1, 7 ovt-r-fecalinf4. To , ) much food given to small, ehillren produced starvation in a medical sense. hitnett . had a child which, at a month old, only v..eigh, - i Vb. 50z.. and he hail :;aved it, by allowing it very little f G orl; ilideed, so little, that, in the opinion of tulers, it amowit.ed to starvation. The Coroner , 11.i41 he (lir! .2:rfatnd of complaint against, the za~,th,r 0;e, do:•ea...ed Povorty was her mis fartune, to.d want of tro.wy produced exhanstton of mind, and ins a; of maternal functions, as ivant of food produced exhaustion of the body, ending in a general prostration of the system and mental decrepi tude. It was a curious fact that the body of deceased, a full grown child, end a ti:rtnight old, weighed only 31b. whilst the body of a stil born cltil l that lay lie-4 in the wurkhou-e weighed 7ilbs. Verdict—'• Lied from exhaustion produced by natural causes." ~.,, \~ t ~