The Sun. — London, England, 1844-07-30 00:00:00

........,... objection , and substituted the word " priest." The two were very s:milar in their character, and yet her Wrong by Majesty's Government were accused of doing grievous introducing this Bill, and offering an insult to Ireland. He could only say, that if Honourable Gen tlemen would indulge in such imputations as t he , c against the Government, the sooner they abandoned all hopes of redressing any griev- Itcce the better, for it would be better for the Go vernment to lease the law as it stood, than subject themselves to imputations of this kind. The Act of 1834 imposed a limitation with respect to the amount of Property to he granted. It provided that no sum ex ceeding 2001., and no land greater in extent than forty acres, should be voluntarily granted for the purpose of endowment. But it was said that they now imposed new restrictions, and it was contended that every person ought to be allowed to make, upon his death-bed, be quests for Roman Catholic purposes. That was the state of the law as it at prevent stood. In England any grant, to be legal, must be made one year before the tes tator's death. He would be sorry to see that law altered. T„hey now proposed that in Ireland grants for religious trb,olle iriey poses should be made three months prior to death o f t h e t es t a t or . If they doubted the iof that, they could alter it in Committee. 1.; was entirely a question of public policy. 44e believed that the Bill, which was seen by Dr. Mur ray, contained the same provisions, and no objection was urged t o i t t h en, no o bj ect i on w as urged to the rule that three months must elapse before the death of the P a rty beque a thi ng land, in order to make the bequest valid. But it was said that some rule of the Roman Ca tholic Church made it impossible to commit the consi derationof matters affecting the spiritualities of the Church to any lay tribunal, that it was absolutely neces sary to reserve the consideration of spiritual matters to tribunals exclusively ecclesiastical. But this Bill did not relate to spiritual matters requiring the cognisance of an ex clusively ec c l es i as ti ca l tribunal. The matters, in re spect of which the tribunal was to meet and adjudge, might be decided without the violation of any principle ) . I the C at h olic faith. But h i s fi rst answer t o th e objec tion was, that there was nothing in the Bill which im rasseivel l a y do l n . the Crown any obligation to constitute an ex portunity tribunal. The Crown would have an op of appointing Churchmen to it. His other an swer was, th a t thi s Bill w as in contemplation in 1 834 , tha t it then underwent consideration by the Ro lean Catholic Prelates, whose assent was given o it, though it did devolve on a tribunal co lu ,„„ (They scd exclusively of laymen, the considera tion of the very same questions involved in this Bill. Right Hon. Baronet read an extract from the Bill, regulating the Visiting Board of the College of May tooth.) He trusted he had now given an explanation miacient to sati s fy th e House at least of the intention of her Majesty's Government with respect to this measure, which, as his Right Hon. Friend had said, and truly said , ac s brought by in not for the purpose of conciliating public f avour any undue or unwise ccncession, but for the purpose of doing that which was just, and doing it in a conciliator and and friendly spirit. The object of the Bill r° ts to do justice ; and the motive of the Bill was to be w }ln d in a friendly and conciliatory spirit. It rested th ith the Hon. Gentlemen opposite to determine how far h ‘ e Y would, acting from the impulse of their own feel („1:, and foll ow i ng t h e di c t a tes of their own judgment, stole e PPosition to the passing of this Rill. It was pos that such au opposition, strenuously directed p i t • n !, t the measure. might at that period of the session ter " a ". At any rate, whether that opposition prevailed dissucceeded, he hoped, during the recess, the popular h ei %n c tent in Ireland would not be inflamed by charging 1(1)1 real complaints, with unwillingness to listen and with a want of a desire to do t which it cons id ere d to be justice.—(Hear, hear.) did hope at any rate that, in the course • t he next sess i on the Government would not t auntedbe with the imputation that it had permitted at htion to the business of England and Scotland to oc tl:PY it exclusi ve ly, an d t h a t it had neglected Ireland ; i „ at neglect being used as an additional argument for a ot the union. —(Hear, hear He did trust that sh e _ Ron. Gentlemen opposite who asked them what they st utild do to prevent their being influenced by this cla mour fur repeal, would, in their explanations to their constituents have the goodness to explain fairly that the wlltaure the Government had produced was a measure c,, l eh permitted voluntary endowments to the Roman t.4tholic Church—which permitted voluntary subscrip ;ns to be applied to the building of Roman Catholic after to interfere with such bequests, and which proposed F to constitute a commission of regulation, composed of r oman Catholics and Protestants in equal numbers, ;,, v log that the principle of the measure was one of 4 1 111414 Y. And his belief was, that if they would permit e measure to pass it would be hailed by the uninflu enced and reasonable part of the people of Ireland as a measure of very great advantage, and indicative of the s pirit i n which her Majesty's Government was disposed to legislate with regard to that country.—(Hear.) baMr SHEIL hoped that, as the Right Hon. Gentleman d not h a d t h e opportun i tyo f consu l t i ng t h ose w h o were e best able to give him advice on this important mea sure, he would permit them to make such comments upon "es thei r duty required them to offer. He had waited with anxiety for the conclusion of the Right Hon. Ba ronet's speech, to h ear what reason he would suggest ?r not having consulted a single Roman Catholic eccle siastic upon this measure.—(Hear, hear.) But he had li stened in vain. To this point the Right Hon. Gentle- I n u ati had not thought it judicious or necessary to refer. - l e h ad heard with much surprise the autho risi of the Honourable Member for Waterford `—r H. Winston Barron) quoted by the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Ireland, as the ground for ap rlinting the J u d ge o f t h e P rerogat i ve C our t as one o f e Com m i ss i on . He (Mr. Shell) did not wish to throw ay reflection on the Hon. Member for Waterford—he had a right to give an opinion, and hegave it. He had paid great attention to the subject, lawyer. He did not bear in mind, thatt buth the j e ud was go notof the a Prerogative Court must edceessarily be a Protestant. The Bill tll w e t framed ants that, nt h vas Protestants facto, for many years to It was quite true,s thaatveth board. t e he offi tri c a e j s ori o ty f on this Baron and that of th filled by Roman Catholics. , Master of the Rolls might be it was true that it cs. They had been so held, and likely to occur might so occur again—whether it was Hon. during the administration of the Right Gentleman, he could not see far enough into the future to fo re t e l . B ut they asked this—how would the Bill aoperatemajority on the b oar d to P rotestants for a considerable number (21 . years. Why was it so ? I t was a d m i tte d t the Right H on B aronet, the Secretary of State, that three :fourths of the property t o b e manage d b y t hi s , board, that t h ree -f ourt h s of the property held under tzliaritable bequests in Ireland, was Catholic p r op er ty. Now that fact, as stated by the Government itself, bein beyond g disp u t e , was it no t na t ura l t h at t h ey should of them, why they so gratuitously and unnecessarily placed a majority of Protestants fpon that b oar d ? What reason h a d t h ey c• _ it, except that principle wh i ch seemed to pervade very institution in Ireland—the spirit of Protestaat Rendancy. H e did no t sa y that' it was s o, b u t t h e LTi ght Hon. Gentleman must feel that the objection was one that would be naturally entertained. Why should efe,majority of the board be Protestants when the bulk Cotholic? the property to be administered by the board was ti 4 to t Let them not suppose that he had any objec h: he Judge of the Prerogative Court. He knew l e Tetest i _, , En well, and he was a man of the highest talent and ntegrity. He would tell them an instance et it, In 1828, when he acted as assessor of the county Clare, it was by his decision that Mr. O'Connell bdeclared returned. He did not object to the man, wh _ he did object t o p u tti ng men u p on the board from tts :itn the profession of Protestantism was required as IT' co ndition of their holding th e i r offices. The night Zu•in B aronet had not given a reason for not consulting Th is gle Roman. Catholic Prelate with regard to the Bill. to h e w " an ecclesiastical measure, relating to property trin applied to ecclesiastical uses. It touched the doc- Hiseil)nd constitution of the Roman Catholic Church. th e e i ght Hon. Friend was mistaken in his view as to uee . e xtent to which questions would arise under it con grl with the views of that Church. In the face of the th at 4 1 20 Government had stamped its own conviction of , °se questions would arise; then why, in the name ze,,c_°ll3nion consistency, did they not consult a single Ro th'en Catholic Prelate ? He was willing to believe that ne , ) : a cted from the purest motives, and he did not im ;,0"240 them any sinister intent in that omission, but it tau Place them in a great embarassment. He would e ould 'era frankly that he did not think any Protestant such ~e h tcr into the feelings of a Roman Catholic on k eti :i question as this. He could not appreciate their ti te , Y es - --he could not understand their feelings, or, if at 4would, their prejudices and jealousies. He would to l e tell them that he would not trust a Protestant eiphViate on a matter in which the doctrine and dis . t 2 of the Roman Catholic Church was concerned; b eettu " se at .‘ he had any suspicion of their integrity, but ak in; .laey could not enter into the feelings and pas- Im ed _which must be borne in mind by those who le is had e _u u pon such a topic. If the Right Hon. Baronet havon,sulted any Roman Catholic Prelate he would oppeos.noided all this. Let them not suppose that ho was tt _g them in the spirit of faction. He had received tin,_'; from a )learn Catholic Archbishop, dis whir h ad never for his learning and his moderation, and fightnever been an impediment in the way of the Honour a bl e Gentleman, and he felt it his duty ch e r 3 press hi s conviction that the Roman Catholic ov er e s l could not acqu i esce in a Bill by wh i c h aut h or i ty th e G T: church was given to laymen. Why could not 18 00 eminent take the same course as was adopted in th e c ,"Y, Mr. Pitt, with respect to the visiting board of • relate Coy o f it r osaynooth, by which all matters which th oie d ,t.o . the doctrine and discipline of the Roman Ca. th e blo ntlrcp were to be regulated by such members of vacan,,__l,,ty death Ronsa.n Catholics In the case of th e i r the survivors had the power of electing at on_ successors. By adopting this course they would flee rid themselves of the difficulty which would arise vi ding to the election of the board. The same W ard g rke as seen by a greater man than Mr. Pitt,—Ed /ttt° publi w e l%ittholic who appeared thoroughly to understand the __ro w , an feeling, and the difficulty of giving the Y power over the doctrine and discipline of the the, Code passage (The Hon. and Learned Gentleman P eilal `;.,a o l , e a passage from Mr. Burke's pamphlet on the we re ? as directed against Roman Catholics, in twi. not about to appoint pastors, perhaps, but they eltrich h i e lo stat o e i cl ie tha . t the members of one religious sect would of another sect to appoint their pastors.) trohrYther_ His were about to appoint those who would con qn.e‘ti,7_4l• 0,. doctrines Hon. Friend did not see how the a th 111 ' 1 7 of the he could the Church could arise under I e could show him that question could f r o ille o „ de p i e statethe case of the Roman Catholic College Cashel by Dr. Everha rd , the Roman Catholic 4 rehbi• f„ bhop of the district. Supposing one of the pro iiottloftlethsti.s college embraced Jansenist doctrine, would T uil i z ' a l i_ci eno l t en w b i e sh twe tu e n h th av e a col t l h e a ge e a d n u d ea t t h i e on vis n i f ti t u h g e b p o e a o r p d le ? at swum' of tilt) laity. But it was said the be f o he cov 0 0 0 O the question of whether the doctrine was Catholic, or whe ther it was even Christian, did not arise here. It was said that they were over-sensitive. Well, then, let three , or four dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church be ap pointed ; let some Roman Catholic laymen of high rank be appointed, and there would be an end of all objection. —(Hear, hear.) There was another part of the subject, namely, the disposition of a person's property three months before his death. That was confined to land, for a person in ariiculo mortis might leave personal property. He did not think there would be any objection to the Bill on this ground. He might be much mistaken in the views he had taken on this question. He gave the Right Hon. Gentleman credit for the most honourable motives in introducing this Bill—(Hear, hear)—he said it was conceived in a spirit of peace, and that it would be so received. A great tnan had said, that he hated little wars. He would say the same of little boons, when there was a necessity for a general amnesty and complete oblivion. — (Hear, hear.) The Government acted on such feelings with regard to the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. On such feelings they acted when the Right Hon. Gentleman said that Maynooth required revision. There was a boldness and a courage that was almost superior to virtue. Let the same course be taken with regard to this measure. Let it be made a comprehensive and perma nent measure, and it would be satisfactory.—(Hear.) There was one portion of the Right Hon. Baronet's speech for which he most sincerely thanked him—that portion in which he intimated that the Sovereign would visit her throne in the west. If she did so, he trusted she would find there a devoted, a gallant, a loyal—still, still a loyal—people, and that she would bear with her there that "mercy which seasons justice."—(Cheers.) Lord STANLEY said that the Right Hon. Gentle man had done justice as to the views and intentions with which the Government were actuated in proposing this remeilial measure, for such it was, as compared with the existing law, The objections made to the measure were such as it would be competent for the Right Hon. Gentleman to introduce in the Committee on the Bill, and it would be quite consistent with the principle of it if the Government assented to the amendments he sug gested. But the Right Hon. Gentleman was mistaken with regard to the views which he attributed to the Go vernment in introducing the measure.---(Hear, hear.) Her Majesty's Government were actuated by no political or religious views, hut they saw that the present law required amendment, and they resolved to introduce a Bill which would place charitable bequests of all denominations, Protestant and Roman Catholic, on the same footing, under the superintendence of a board, which would have the confidence of all, and which would do justice to all. The question should be viewed as a question of property, and not as one of religion, ' , Mich he was sorry to see introduced into the discussion at all. Would it be denied that lawyers should not be on such a board ? An objection was taken that the highest legal authority, who must necessarily be a Pro teetant, was to be a member of the board. That was a thing from which they could not escape, for such was the law, and he did not think that any person could doubt of the justness of the decisions of the present Lord Chan cellor. With regard to the other two judges who were to be on the board, they selected two of the judges not for their religion or creed—viz., the Master of the Rolls and Chief Baron, both of whom had lately been Roman Catholics. They also selected the Judge of the Prero gative Court, whom the Hon. Baronet the Member for Waterford had himself pointed out as a suitable person. He must also be a Protestant, and the judge who now presided in the Prerogative Court was a' person on whose decision the utmost confidence could be placed, and who on one occasion had given, as counsel, an opinion against his political friends and his co-religionists. Ho did not see how they could appoint Roman Catholic judges ex vi termini. The Right Hon. Gentleman complained that they had not consulted any of the Roman Catholic Prelates. Why, they had not consulted any of the Protestant Prelates, and for this reason, that they did not consider this ques tion a religious question, but a question of property. They merely looked to the existing law, and they found that it gave just suspicions to the Roman Catholics, but they had some grounds for knowing what were the opi nions of some of the most honourable and most amiable of those Prelates, and they had rea son to suppose that a board would not ex cite the suspicions of the Roman Catholics; which did not contain Roman Catholic ecclesiastics. The present board was composed not only of one denomination, but it was partly an ecclesiastical board of one denomination. It was composed of the Lord Chancellor, the Judge of the Prerogative Court, the Judges, the Provost of Trinity College, the Dean of St. Patrick, and the Vicar- General of Dublin. Five of those constituted a quorum, but of those five an Archbishop or Bishop should be one, and power was given to them to ap ply charitable donations or bequests, according to the intentions of the donor; and in case it was expe dient or unlawful to apply the same according to the in tentions of the donor then to apply them to such pur poses as they considered nearest to the wishes of the donor.—(Hear, hear.) The present Act was a great grievance and it was felt as such ; and now when they came for the first time with a remedy, complaints were made as to the measure which they brought forward. What was the opinion of Mr. O'Connell, given before the Com mittee which sat in 1829, on this subject? He stated, in answer to a question which had been put to him, that the Roman Catholics had no confidence in the board, and that they entertained apprehensions as to what the ultimate application of the charitable bequests made by Roman Catholics would be, and as long as the Commission remained in its present state that apprehension would continue. He was then asked what would be the object of a Commission com posed partly of Catholics and partly of Protestants ? He answered that that would mitigate a great deal ; and he would go further and say this, that if the Commissioners were composed of two or three Roman Catholics out of nine or ten, one great objection would be removed. — Such is the opinion of Mr. O'Connell in 1829; and in the present Bill, five out of the ten Commissioners would of necessity be Roman Catholics, and five would be Protest ants. There was no jealousy between the Protestants and Presbyterians, or between the Protestants or Wes leyans, but the Church of Rome singly and alone re ceived five out of ten of the Commissioners from her own Church ; and he thought it most indecent, unwise, to suggest that a legal authority of whatever denomination would not perform his functions justly and fairly, without re ference to the religion of the parties who came before him. If they threw out a suspicion that Roman Catholic iudges would not administer justice fairly, because they might be of the same religion with one of the claimants before them, it would be said that they insulted the Roman Catholics. He lamented the necessity of stipu lating that a certain proportion of the board should be of one religion ; but he thought it most unwise to dis pute whether there should be five against six, or six against seven.—(Hear, hear.) But, if there were any pretence for this, it was provided for by the Bill ; for, where bequests I/ ere made for Roman Catholic purposes they were to be placed exclusively in the hands of the Roman Catholic members of the board. Yet they were told that this Bill was an insult to the Roman Catholics. The Government was desirous of holding the balance equally, and of doing justice to all, but it was not EDINBURGH JURY COURT. very encouraging, when they wished to put all on the BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. same footing, to be told that they were insulting and An action for breach of promise .of marriage was tried injuring the party from w hom th e y s o ug ht to remove on Wednesday before the Lord Justice-General and a the unequal pressure of the e xisting l aw . It was next jury, in which Miss Margaret Croall was pursuer, and objected that they placed in the hands of Roman Ca- Mr. Joseph Hutchinson was defender. The following was tholic laymen questions affecting the doctrine and the issue in the case : discipline of the Roman Catholic Church, and that was e Issue in the cause in which Miss Margaret Croall, contrary to the usage of that Church. The Right Hon. daughter of Mr. John Croall, coach proprietor in Edin- Gentleman quoted the opinion of Edmund Burke, who b u r g h, is pursuer ; and Joseph Hutchinson, Esq., re said he did not think the members of one religious sect siding at Woodside, near Dalserf, in the County of ',a ware fit to appoint the pastors of another. How dAd the nark, is defender. Right Hon. Gentleman apply that to the present Bill? " Whether the defender, in the month of April, 1843, The Right Hon. Gentleman said that Dr. Everhard had promised and agreed to marry the pursuer ; and whether founded a co ll ege , an d he h a d d we lt upon the circum- the defender has wrongfully failed to perform the said stances of that case. The question was, should they promise and agreement, to the loss, injury, and damage have au exclusively ecclesiastical authority to decide of the pursuer ?"—eDamages laid at 3,000/. legal questions ? Suppose the Roman Catholics were Mr. INGLIS, with whom was Mr. Rutherfurd, opened recognised, protected, and en d owe d i n I re land, and a the case for the pursuer. He stated that the pursuer ease arose where one person see d ano th er for a charit- was the daughter of Mr. Croall, the eminent coach con able or religious foundation as a Roman Catholic foun- tractor in Edinburgh, and that the defender, Mr. Hut dation. To whom did the Right Hon. Gentleman say chison, who was the only son of a gentleman possessed they must refer a question involving not spiritual juris- 'of landed property, at Woodside, parish of Dalserf, diction, but temporal payments, the payment of money, Lanarkshire, paid his addresses to her about the begin the receipt of a salary, the right to receive as a proles- ning of last year, and was accepted by the young . lady. sor, in a particular body, a certain amount of It was difficult to say whether he had ever been sincere stipend ? Did he say e they should refer to the in his addresses; if he were, it was impossible to ascer - Church of Rome ? Why, that at once claimed taro from what cause he had been induced to break off for the Church of Rome the recognition, the the match. The Learned Cousel then proceeded to protection, and the authority of the l a w, p r ovided it were read various letters addressed by the defendant to the always upon its side, while for the maintenance of these pursuer, all breathing the warmest affection and attach • rights it refused to bide by its decision.—(Hear, hear.) ment, but most of them adverting to the fact that That was a very large and important question. He would his sisters were opposed to the match, and that they like to know whether there was any religious persuasion were endeavouring to stir up his father against in this or any other country which claimed that excite- it, in which he was apprehensive they would succeed. sive right?—(Hear, hear.) He was speaking of tem- At the same time, he declared emphatically, and in re pored stipends and salaries, received qua professor of a peated letters, that no opposition on their part, or on particular university, and not of the appointment of a that of his father, would have the slightest effect in professor, if that professor should have been appointed , causing him to change his purpose. His letters also Mr. SHEIL—By the Protestant majority. bore testimony to the fact that he kept a race-hore— Lord STANLEY said there was no appointment by that he was in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry—and that the Commission. It was intended to see that property he indulged in other amusements altogether incon was applied to the purposes, be they Protestant or be sistent with the defence which was now set up by the they Roman Catholic, for which the founder intended defender, that he was so utterly poor, and dependent for subsistence upon his friends. In June last year, it.—(Hear, hear.) If the Roman Catholic professorship of theology in Maynooth were recognised by the law, he paid a visit to Edinburgh, and spent ten days or a the ultimate resort, in case of any dispute, must be to fortnight in Mr. Croall's house, where he was received the Lord Chancellor. But if the Hon. Gentleman said by the family with the utmost cordiality. At that time it was a matter of discipline in the Roman Catholic he went with Miss Croall and another lady to the shop Church not to entrust these matters to laymen, he of a jeweller in town, with the intention of purchasing begged to say there was nothing to prevent the appoint- for her a diamond ring, but when there, was induced to ment of a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, or of any number change his purpose; and buy a gold watch, with which of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics. There was nothing to he presented her. After his return home, on the 29th declare by law that these legal questions should be de- June, he wrote to the pursuer, intimating that he had cided by an ecclesiastical tribunal, and he confessed he had a conversation with his father on the subject of his should think it most unwise in the British Par- marriage, in which his father, while fully admitting the liament to give that power to any Church, be it respectability of the pursuer's family, and the unble mished nature of her character, thought that his son Protestant or be it Roman Catholic. In confining exclusively Protestant charities to exclusively Protestant might have made a more advantageous match, and ob- Commissioners, and exclusively Catholic charities to ex- jetted that the pursuer was beneath him in rank. This elusively Catholic Commissioners, they were doing all in the defender denied. The conversation dropped, the their power to place the different religious denominations writer added, by the father declaring that he was un on a footing of perfect and entire equality. They had alterably opposed to the match, while the son declared sought to do away with the religious jealousies of either' firmly, on the other hand, that nothing but death should party by confining to the care of each the religious cha- prevent him from carrying his intentions into effect. rities which belonged to that particular denomination. A day or two afterwards he wrote again, in which he repeated the substance of this conversation, and added, Further than this by law he thought it would be unwise to go. • They were ready in Co mmi t t e e to consider the - that he had had a conversation with one of his sisters, in which she stated that she would offer no further (Hear, hear.) They had anx iousl y considere d the ob objections to the details wh ich an y p art y mi g ht make. — opposition to his marriage ; and he congratulates the jeetions which were raised in 1829 by Mr. ' pursuer on this first indication of a bright change in till the 20th of A u g u st, wh e n a c h ange i n th e s tyl e of their circumst a nc es . Matters remained in this state O'Connell, the great l a y leader of the Ca- ; tholics ; they had anxiously considered the pro- ' find in them what he (Mr. Inglis) must call a cunning the defender's letter began to appear. The jury would positions which in 1834 were assented to by Dr. and gradually executed device to shake himself free from his promises; and his object was to disgust Miss Croall with Murray, one of the most estimable of the Roman Ca her to propects of matrimonial life, and thus to induce tholic prelates ; they had sought to shape their mese I herlle wrote give v that u p he the engagement.a dunpleasant O n e n w t s h eto2ottehliohf her, that sure so as, without giving ascendancy to either party, to do justice to both, and to unite both in the common his father was unalterably opposed to the marriage. He work of charity; and he should deeply regret if the mea sure should be rejected on its second reading on the had known this some weeks before, but he Was unwilling principle introduced •, and if, even on the discussion of wh i ch w " to te her. Why, said the Learned Counsel, he did tell the details, it should be met either by Protestants or Roman Catholics with a sectarian feeling, the farthest of all from the motives by which her Ma jesty's Government had been actuated. Mr. BELLEW explained. Mr. WYSE said that no person who had considered with any attention the principles on which the existing board was founded, could fail to admit that it was to tally unfit to carry out this object. It was of the highest importance that in the present position of Ireland they should have the amplest security for the proper carrying out of charitable intentions.—(Hear, hear.) The board was intended to undermine the Ca tholic religion, and the question before the House was, whethr the measure before the House provided a sufficient remedy? He admitted, fully, that the ques tion of temporalities was a question of property, but they often became mixed up with spiritual matters. The State should not go beyond its legitimate sphere and interfere with what was spiritual.—(Hear, hear.) Bequests and donations to hospitals and institutions of a similar nature, fairly came under the influence of a mixed Commission, but there were other charities which, being strictly of a spiritual character, should not be sub mitted to the same influence. There was no jealousy on the part of the people of Ireland against a board for the administration of general charities, but they were tealous of interference with spiritual matters, and the question was, whether this Bill provided for the removal of jealousies of that nature. He wished to see one ecclesiastic at least on the board.—(Hear.) The question which the board would have to decide would be the proper application of a fund left for re ligious purposes, and that question must be decided by a reference to doctrines. The Noble Lord said that in the case of a professorship there would be an appeal to the Lord Chancellor. But the Lord Chancellor must refer to the Commission for their opinion. Would it not be much better to nominate a bishop on the board who, in limine, could decide whether certain doctrines were or were not in accordance with those of the Church ? His principal objection to the Bill was, that its object being to conciliate the people of Ireland, the Government did not take the precaution to ascertain the opinion of the Catholic prelates, and that the Government had not shown sufficient regard for their poSition or character ; and he thought it would be a wiser course to make the Bill acceptable at once, than to leave it to be amended at a future time. t Mr. HUME believed the Bill had been brought for ward in the spirit of peace, and all that he wished was that every measure connected with Ireland should be brought forward in the same spirit. He gave the Go vernment the greatest credit for what they had done, and he did not think that the objections that had been taken to the measure would do any good for Ireland. Colonel RAWDON thought there was great necessity for the measure, and he should therefore give it his sup port. He believed it had been brought forward in a good and kind spirit. Mr. D. BROWNE deprecated a measure of such im portance being brought forward at so late a period of the session. He believed the measure would not be satisfactory to the people of Ireland ; and he thought the Government ought to postpone the further consi deration of the measure to another session. If the Go vernment attempted to force the measure through the House during the present session, they would greatly outrage the feelings of the people of Ireland. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there appeared — For the second reading 7l Against it Majority . . _ -66 .. - On entering the gallery we found, Mr. MORGAN O'CONNELL protesting against the provisions of the Bill. Why should not the clergy of a higher order be termed bishops and archbishops ? the question had been repeatedly asked, and had been yet unanswered. Neither had there been any satisfactory reason given why the Catholic hierarchy of Ireland had not been consulted. He had moved an amendment that instead of the words " clergy of the higher order," it should be, " bishops and archbishops." On the Dissenters' Chapels Bill the Government acknowledged that they had consulted the Dissenting clergy, but they disdained to treat the Catholic clergy in the same manner. The Govern ment gave notice of their intention to bring in this Bill in February, and brought it forward in the month of June, and introduced a clause by which a lay Commis sion would have power over the doctrines and discipline of the Church of Rome. To this he in the strongest manner objected. The only consolation Roman Catho lics would have was, that the Bill was not compulsory. The Bill was then ordered to be committed on Thurs day next. Sir J. GRAHAM moved the order of the day for the House going into Committee on the Marriages (Ireland) Bill. The Bill then went through Committee pro forma. The Report on the Savings' Bank Bill was then brought up. The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill passed through Commit tee, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow PRIVY COUNCIL BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up. Mr. ELPHINSTONE proposed that the following clause should be added to the Bill :—" And be it en acted, that in all causes of appeal to her Majesty in Council from Ecclesiastical Courts, and from Admiralty or Vice-Admiralty Courts, which now are or may here after be depending, in which any person duly monished or cited or requested to comply with any lawful order or decree of her Majesty in Council, or of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council or their surrogates, made before or after the passing of this Act, shall have neglected or refused, or shall neglect or refuse, to pay obedience to such lawful order or decree, or shall have committed or shall commit any contempt of the process under the seal of her Majesty in ecclesiastical and mari . _ time causes, it shall be lawful for the said Jndicial Com mittee or their surrogates to pronounce such person to be contumacious and in contempt, and after he or she shall have been so pronounced contumacious and in con tempt, to cause process of sequestration to issue under the said seal of her Majesty against the real and personal es tate, goods, chattels, and effects, wheresoever lying, within the dominions of her Majesty, of the person against or upon whom such order or decree shall have been made, in order to enforce obedience to the same, and payment of the expenses attending such sequestration, and all proceedings consequent thereon, and to make such fur ther order in respect of, or consequent on, such seques tration, and in respect to such real and personal estate, goods, chattels, and effects sequestrated thereby, as may be necessary, or for payment of moneys arising from the same, to the person to whom the same may be due, or into the registry of the High Court of Admiralty and Appeals, for the benefit of those who may be ultimately entitled thereto."—The clause was passed, and the report agreed to. Mr. HUTT moved the Lords' Amendments to the Aliens Bill, which were agreed to. AGRICULTURAL PRODUOE. Mr. ST AFFORD O'BRIEN moved for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the sale of agricultural pro duce in Ireland.—Leave was given to bring in the Bill. The House then adjourned at Half-past Ten o'clock. TD. SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 1644. her so far back as the 29th June. He went on to say in the letter that he had no prospect now of altering his father's opposition. He could force an income from the property that was vested in him by his mother, but not to enable them to live in the style he could wish. Under these circumstances, he had been revolving many schemes in his mind, but he had now positively resolved to cross the Atlantic ocean, and become a cultivator of the soil. He hoped she would not consider him cruel in asking her to accompany him. He knew the sacrifice she would have to make in leaving fond parents, loving brothers and sisters, and admiring friends, in order to share his fortune, which did not pro mise very brightly ; but he was determined to go, as he saw no prospect of any change in his circumstances, and he trusted he did not ask too much in asking her to go with him. This letter the Learned Counsel charac terised as a trick. He presented all the dark colours of an emigrant's life, none of the bright ones, evi dently to induce her to refuse her consent. In reply to this letter, Miss Croall wrote that she was much dis tressed by his letter. That to go to America was out of the question ; that she could not make up her mind to leave her native country ; and that she was sure her father and mother would not give their consent. She entreated him not to make up his mind rashly, and re minded him of some of their acquaintances, who had emigrated to their ruin. In his reply to this letter, the Learned Counsel said, 'the defender artfully turned the poor girl's own fears against herself ; he admitted all she had said of the dangers of emigration ' • and it was too true that many o f hi s acqu i n t ances had suffered from emigration ; but nevertheless he was determined to, go ; and therefore the only question was, whether she would or would not go along with him. He could not—he dared not—anticipate that she would ; but he left the matter in her (awn hands, and advised her to consult her father and mother. The pursuer, on re ceiving this letter, did consu l t h er f a th er , and he wrote to the defender. Penetrating his disguise, he took no notice of his resolution to go to America, but put the question simply, did he or did he not mean to fulfil his promise of marrying his daughter ? The defender, finding that his artifice was discovered, talked no more of going to America. He wrote in answer, af ter referring to the two last letters he had written Miss Croall, that as matters stood with him, it would be per fect madness to think of marrying his daughter, with any prospect of happiness either to her or to him. This closed the correspondence, and with it, he might close his statement. He confidently asked from the hands of the jury such a verdict as would give such reparation as the law allowed to the injured feelings of this young lady. Witnesses were then called, who proved that the fa ther possessed landed property to the extent of about 500/. per annum, 4001. of which was entailed on the de fender in right of his mother at his father's death, but burdened with the sum of 2,000/. to his sisters. Mrs. Buchanan, of the Clydesdale Arms, Lanark, stated that she was iequainted with both parties, and had seen them together frequently. Knew that Miss Croall had been on several occasions visiting at Wood. side for ten !lays or a fortnight at a time ; and on one occasion, at least, when old Mr. Hutchison was at home. About the spring of last year, she had a conversation with Mr. Hutchison about his intended marriage with Miss Croall. She advised him to let his father know of his intentions, and he appeared disposed to d 8 so. In June last year witness paid a visit to Mr. Croall's family in Edinburgh, and found Mr. Hutchison there also on a visit. She then detailed the circumstances of the pur chase of a gold watch, and its presentation to Miss Croall, as given in Mr. Inglis'speech. Witness stayed a week in Edinburgh, and when she went away she left Mr. Hutchison still staying there. She did not see more of them till after the marriage was broken off. After that she saw Mr. Hutchison in Lanark, and asked him his reason for breaking of the match. He said it was owing to his father and sisters objections, and that he had not a sufficient income of his own. He had expected that Mr. Croall would make some allowance till he came into possession of his property, but that he had not done so. Witness asked if he had mentioned the matter to Mr. Croall, and she understood from him he had not ; for she remembered saying to him, she was sure if Mr. Croall thought he needed it, he would at once come for ward. The correspotidence between the parties was then put into Court. The LORD ADVOCATE then addressed the jury on the part of the defender. The JUDGE summed up, and the jury, after consulting for an hour and a half, returned a verdict for the plaintiff —Damages 350/. SMITE' V. GENTLE.--DEFA.MATION FROM THE PULPIT. This case, which was an action of damages at the in stance of James Smith, tenant of the farm of Wester Alves, parish of Alves, and county of Elgin, against the Rev. Alexander Gentle, minister of the church and parish of Alves, and was tried before a jury on the 24th July last year, came on for trial on Wednesday, before Lord Ivory and a jury—the verdict of the former jury having been set aside as contrary to evidence. The fol lowing was the issue in the cause : ft being admitted that the pursuer was, during the year 1841, and that he had been for several years prior to that time, tenant of the farm of Wester Alves, in the parish of Alves, and county of Elgin, and a member of the congregation, and a communicant of the Established Church in said parish, of which the defender is now, and has been for fourteen years, minister— Whether, on Sunday, the 14th of March 1841, or about that time, and during divine service in the parish church of Alves, the defender did, while preaching to or addressing the congregation then and there assembled, and in their hearing, falsely and calumniously say, of or concerning the pursuer, that he had been guilty of cheat ing, deceiving, and over-reaching others in the course of business ; that he had kept up false and ficti• tious appearances, and had, on false or fictitious credit, engaged in speculations and improve ments, and indulged in sumptuous living ; that in the course of his speculations and improvements, he had cheated or deceived his more ignorant neighbours, by inducing them to sign documents to their prejudice or ruin, and had thereby converted the house of mirth and joy into a house of wailing and mourning, so that if its walls could speak, th e y even wo uld testify against the vile intruder—meani ng thereby that the pursuer had been guilty of obt a i n i ng mone y u nder false pretences, had kept up false appearances , an d had cheated and deceived his neighbours and others, with whom he had transactions, to their injury or ruin ; or did use or utter expressions, in allusion and with application to the pur suer, to the above or the like effect, to his loss, injury, and damage.—Damages laid at 1,0001. Mr. WniGua.st opened the case for the pursuer, and called nine witnesses. Mr. RUTHERFURD addressed the jury for Mr. Gentle, the defender, and also called nine witnesses. The evi dence was in some respects of a conflicting character. Lord Ivony, having summed up, the jury retired, and after an absence of a quarter of an hour, returned with a verdict for the pursuer —Damages 100/. The case, which excited much interest, lasted for twelve hours. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, JULY 27.—The nomination of incumbent to the new church at Bardsley, in the parish of Ashton under-Lyme, Lancashire, will take place on the 22d of next month. It is understood an exhibtiioner of Brase nose College on the Hulnae Foundation will be appointed. The Rev. W. F. Picken, Rev. J. L Hoskyns, Rev. J. T. B. Landon, Messrs. Harris Smith, H. C. Adams, and R. Cholmeley, Probationary Fellows of Magdalen College, have been admitted Actual Fellows ; and Mr. H. G. J. Parsons, a Demy, h as b een a d m itted a Probationary Fellow on the Chi c h ester Foun d at i on . The Rev. M. A rg l es, of Merton C o ll ege , h as b een ap pointed to an Honorary Canonry in the Cathedral Church of Peterborough. The Rev. J Sandford, of Balliol College, has been ap pointed to the second Honorary Canonry in the Cathedral Church of Worcester. MURDER .AT LIVERPOOL. (From the Liverpool Albion, of Monday.) At an early hour, yesterday morning, an appalling murder is alleged to have been perpetrated in Peter street, in this town, by a tailor, of the name of Owen Leonard, upon his wife. The parties occupied the house No. 35, Peter -street, which is a narrow bat densely-populated place, to the rear of St. Thomas's buildings, leading, by a circuitous route, from White chapel into the lower part of Dale-street. They kept a sort of lodging-house, __cupying themselves the ground and upper floors,and letting off the second floor to some poor men, who gained a precarious livelihood by working about the town. Leonard himself occasionally followed his employment of a journeyman tailor ; but, from his dissipated and vicious habits, 'he appears to have been seldom successful in getting any work. Their principal means o£ support were derived from the rents paid by the lodgers, and also from the wages of their two daughters, grown-up young women, who were in ser vice at respectable gentlemen's houses, one in Rodney street, and the other, we believe, in Everton. It was about half past one o'clock yesterday morning when tne dreadful occurrence took place. The lodgers their apartment at the rushed into their room, e man, with h av i n g been weretaoi and d terms r sc rn wienuh s gsele o nnd f g moresolanldeidd of utcllaityarhnoeLumoser: a d onn i g n al aarirdi lame intimacy with his wife. The lame man indignantly denied the charge, and Mrs. Leonard offered to restore him a small balance of between l o d g i ng money, which was to hi s credit, provided he an the parties ensued, and thus thus terminated the which for a time e nded b y Leonard striking his wife and the lame m an strikin g Leonard in return. Leo nard subsequently fastened the street door, and, in left the dispute. house A n a ltercation th e presence of his son , a lad of thirteen years of age, mentio ned before, deliberately took out his immediately, razor and commenced to sharpen the edge, mut tering some threats, at the same time, as to what he in tended to do to his wife. In a short time Mrs. Leonard came down stairs, and almost immediately upon her en tering the apartment where he was, he struck her a blow on the head with his clenched fist, which felled her to the ground. He then caught bold of her by the hair, and, with the razor, partially cut her throat, first on one side and then on the other. After he had mangled her in this brutal manner, he suddenly raised the razor and cut off a part of her nose. She, being a powerful muscu lar woman, made a desperate effort to release herself from his grasp, and, in the struggle, he gave her another deep cut with the razor upon the fleshy part of her left leg, and also two other gashes upon her arms. The f ema l e screa med terrifically ; so also did the lad, who, as we have before stated, was present during the tran saction ; and in a short time the house was surrounded by the people of the neighbourhood. The door was speedily opened, but, before an entrance could be effected, the crowd was horrified at seeing the unfortunate woman, from whose neck, kg, and arms blood was flowing profusely, either kicked or . pushed by her brutal husband down the steps and into the street. Here she lay upon the pavement for a short time in the greatest agony ; but at length a stretcher was brought, 'and she was removed to the Infirmary, where death speedily terminated her sufferings. Officer 48 ar rested Leonard almost upon the instant. He found him in the act of washing the blood from his hands, and he discovered the razor under the table. The wretched man was immediately conveyed to Bridewell, but, during the whole of yesterday, we understand that he betrayed but few symptoms of concern at the awful situation in which he has placed himself. He is sixty years of age, of rather diminutive stature, and an Irishman by birth. His wife, also a native of the sister country, was about the same age, and extremely corpulent. It is said that Leonard has before made several attempts to cut her throat. An inquest will be held before the Borough Coroner to-day. AMERICAN NEWS. DEATII OF SJSIT3, THE LEADER OF THE MOH, MONITES. (From the .New York Herald.) We have just received by the western mail the follow ing particulars of the death of Joe Smith, the prophet, and his brother Hiram. They were both shot. There was a tremendous excitement at the west in consequence of their deaths. A dreadful civil war was expected. We learn from an extra of the St. Louis Gazette, that War saw was all excitement. The women and children were all removed, and an immediate attack was expected from the Mormons. We met the Boreas just above Quincy, with three hundred men armed and equipped for War saw, eager for fight. Three o'clock.—Everything we learn at the scene of action is now comparatively quiet. An express was started to Harrisburgh for the Governor about five o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of getting his Excellency to attend. It seems that the circumstances attending the killing of the Mormon Prophet and his brother Hiram are as follows :—Yesterday Governor Ford left Carthage with about one hundred and twenty soldiers, for the purpose of taking possession of the Nauvoo Legion and their arms. They arrived at Nauvoo about noon, and called for the assembling of the Legion. About 2,000 men with arms immediately responded to its call. These troops were put under command of Colonel Singleton, of Brown county, who accompanied Governor Ford to Nauvoo. The Governor finding all quiet left Nauvoo about five, p.m., with a company of 60 men, for the purpose of encamping about seven miles from the city. At about the same time that Governor Ford left Nauvoo, the Prophet and his brother were killed at Carthage, under the following circumstances, as near as we can ascertain them : Joe and Hiram were both confined in the Debtors' room of the Carthage gaol, awaiting their trial on a charge of treason. The gaol was strongly guarded by soldiers and anti .Mormons, who had been placed there by the Governor. A Mormon attempted to rush by the guard for the purpose of forcing his way into the gaol. He was op posed by the guard, and fired a pistol at one of the guard, giving him a slight wound. A general confusion ensued in the crowd around the gaol. Joe and his Mormon fellow prisoners, it seems, had provided them selves with pistols, and commenced firing upon the guard within. He then attempted to escape from the window, when a hundred balls entered his body, and he fell a lifeless corpse. His brother Hiram shared the same fate. Richards, a leading Mormon, was badly wounded. There our in telligence ends—what took place after this, God only knows. Mormons immediately left for Nauvoo to carry the news of the death of the Prophet. It is feared that the Mormons at Nauvoo will be so exasperated as to exterminate the Governor and his small force. Boreas brought down most of the women and children from Warsaw. It is feared their town is in ashes before this. Our citizens were aroused this morning by the ring ing of bells and a call to arms. Our three independent companies are already in marching order. Major Flood has ordered out the militia of this regiment, and the •steamer Boreas is waiting to convey them to the scene of action. There is no knowing where this dreadful affair will end. Many express fears that our city is in danger, be cause most of the Warsaw families have taken refuge here—but we believe there is no danger, we are too far from the scene of action. HAMBURGH MAIL. STOCKIIOLM, JULY 19.—Official notice is given that the opening of the Diet will take place to-mor row with the usual ceremonies. The department of justice has made its report on the fanatic proceedings of a new sect, which, under the pretext of piety, hos tilely attacks the Church and the clerical office in the present form ; the King, conformably to the proposal of that department, has resolved not to order any special measures against it, only that if such proceed ings are repeated the principals and authors of such unlawful acts, and the persons who have afforded them a locality, shall be examined before the proper tribunal, and the case then decided according to cir cumstances. BOREMIA ; FRONTIERS, JULY 21.—Tranquillity is now restored in Prague, but the troops collected there, to the number of 20,000 men, have not yet been sent back to their garrisons. Perhaps a greater number of troops than our garrison consists of maybe required for the patrols of the city, which are still continued. About a week ago the windows of the Jewish Syna gogue at Brandis were destroyed, but no further ex cesses committed. The regiment of Cuirassiers in garrison in that town had been ordered to Prague. COPENHAGEN, JULY 23.—The Russian war steamer Kamschatka, of 300 horse-power, with fourteen howitzers, two mortars (ninety pounders), and a crew of 250 men came into the road yesterday afternoon to take in coals. Information that may be depended on (says the Berlin Gazette) states that the steamer is in tended to take on board the Grand Duke Constantine, who has been at Archangel where he joins the fleet with the ship New Ingermanlow, which has been built there (it has already arrived here), and has ac companied it to the English Channel. The steamer will take his Imperial Majesty to St. Petersburgh, but the fleet will proceed into the Channel. It is said that it has sealed orders which are not to be opened till it reaches a certain latitude. These orders are supposed to relate to the further destination either of the steamer or the fleet. The Constantine frigate, of forty-four guns, bound to Cronstadt, is also arrived ; and also the Virginia corvette of thirty-guns belonging to the fleet at Elsi neur, which is still detained in the roads by contrary winds. ANDSHUT IN SILESIA, JULY 20.—This morning, at ten o'clock, a fire broke out in the inner town, con sisting of narrow streets, with lofty wooden houses, and though there was no wind, spread with such ra pidity, that in three hours, fifty , houses, besides the out-buildings, and two large inns, were reduced to ashes. Nearly 200 families are houseless, and have partly lost not only their propeity, but the means of gaining their livelihood.—Hamburgh Papers ,July 26 SIGHT AND HEARING.-39, Albemarle-street, Picca dilly. Newly-invented spectacles, telescopes, opera glasses, microscopes, &c. Patronised by Generals Sir Edward Paget, Sir Evan Lloyd, Frederick Maister, Clayton, Galway, Grosvenor, Morrison, Dyott, Robert son, and Mackenzie ; Major-Generals Sir H. Elphin stone, P. Fyers, D. Macleod, Hamilton, and Wemyss ; Lieut.-Generals Sir Henry Bouverie, Sir J. Macdonald, Sir R. Barton, Sir T. Dallas, Lord John Hay ; Admirals Sir George Cockburn, Sir George Munday, Sir G. Martin, Sir James H. Whitshed, Sir D. Gold, and Ross. By the use of these newly-invented spectacles, imperfect vision becomes preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occupation, and can see with those lenses of a much less magnifying power, nor will they require the frequent changes to further helps ; also newly-invented achromatic waistcoat-pocket telescopes and opera glasses. Every kind of telescope of larger size with increasing powers, for shooting, sea purposes, and, upon stands, for astronomical purposes, with the same celebrated lenses, the powers are so great, and the lenses so bright and brilliant, that minute objects at an extraordinary distance are brought completely under the eye. Sportsmen, tourists, and sea-side visitors will have a great treat. Their invisible voice conductor gives immediate relief to old standing extreme eases of deaf ness. Caution—Messrs. S. and.B. Solomons, opticians and aurists, are not in any way connected with a person of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood, nor in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes be cautious and observe, only to be had at 39, Albemarle treet, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS FOR MIDDLgSEX.—It is understood that in consequence of the disfranchisement of the borough of Sudbury, attempts are being made by a large number of the influential electors of the county of Middlesex to obtain the consent of her Majesty s Government to Middlesex having two additional Mem bers. The metropolitan county at present only returns two Members, while the counties of Surrey, Kent, &c., re turn each four. The city of London. and boroughs of Marylebone, Finsbury, and Tower Hamlets, with the city of Westminster, certainly each return two Members, but so also do the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Greenwich, &c., while a large and influential portion of West Middlesex is nearly unrepresented. It is, there fore, proposed that the parishes of Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, and Chiswick, which contain a population of upwards of 140,000 inhabitants, shall be formed into a borough, to return two Members to Par liament. Another suggestion is, that Middlesex shall-, like Surrey, be divided into two divisions—East Middle sex and West Middlesex, each to return two Members; but the latter suggestion does not appear to meet with the support of a large body of the inhabitants of the parishes above-named, who will in that case, by the right of voting being still confined to freeholders only, be disfranchised. Meetings are, we understand, about to be called at Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Ful ham, and Chiswick, to adopt measures to obtain a char ter as a borough without delay.—Observer. THE KING OF SAXONY.—On the evening of Tuesday last his Majesty arrived at the Argyle Hotel, Inverary, where he dined. Next morning, after breakfast, his Majesty was waited upon by Mr. Robertson, chamberlain to his Grace the Duke of Argyle, who accompanied his Majesty and suite through the beautiful and picturesque pleasure-grounds of his Grace. After the party had visited Inverary Castle, they proceeded to the top of the neighbouring hill of Dunquaich, where there is a beau tiful view of the surrounding magnificent scenery, with which his Majesty expressed himself highly gratified. Having returned to the hotel, his Majesty and suite soon afterwards entered their carriages, and proceeded by Dalmally to Oban, where a steamer was to be in waiting to take the Royal party to the Islands of Staffs and lona. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert walked in the pleasure-grounds of the Castle this morn ing. The Prince, attended by Colonel Bouverie, Equerry in Waiting, afterwards went to inspect the battalion of his regiment (the Scots Fusilier Guards) stationed here. His Royal Highness returned to the Castle soon after eleven o'clock. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of \Vales and the Princess Alice were taken a drive in an open carriage in the forenoon. The Earl of Aberdeen and the Earl of Jersey arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent took an airing in an open carriage. In the afternoon the Queen and Prince Albert left the Castle in a pony phaeton and pair, the Prince driving. The Equerries in Waiting on her Majesty and his Royal Highness, Colonels Buckley and Bouverie, attending on horseback ; and the Countess of Mount-Edgecumbe, Hon. Miss Liddell, and Hon. Miss Paget following in an open pony carriage and four. The royal party returned to the Castle at a quarter before seven o'clock. The Royal Family were taken airings this afternoon. His Grace the Duke of Wellington arrived at the Castle soon after seven o'clock this evening, on a visit to her Majesty. The royal dinner party at the Castle, this evening, included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Charlotte Dundas, and the Countess of Wratislaw. Yesterday afternoon, about four o'clock, her Majesty the Queen Dowager, attended by Lady Gore, the Misses Gore, and the Rev. Mr. Hudson, left Marlborough House, in two open carriages and four, for Bushy Park. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Here ditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, visited the Queen Dowager yesterday, at Marl borough House. The Queen Dowager, accompanied by Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and attended by Earl Howe, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, Lady Georgina Curzon, Sir Andrew Barnard, and the Rev. G. F. Hudson, honoured the exhibition of the Royal Academy with a visit, yesterday morning. Her Majesty was received by Sir Martin Archer Shee, P.R.A., and the officers of the institution. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, and the Princess Mary of Cambridge also visited the exhibi tion of the Royal Academy. The Duke of Cambridge, attended by Baron Knese beck, left Cambridge House about half-past nine o'clock for the Review at Wimbledon, and returned about one o'clock. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Here ditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry with their company to dinner yesterday, at Holderness House. The Marchioness had a very numerous assembly in the evening. The Earl of Ripon had an interview with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Lord Stanley arrived in town yesterday morning from Tunbridge Wells. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office from the Governors of Canada and the Mauritius, yesterday. Earl Howe and Lady Georgina Curzon left town yes terday, for Gopsal. STRAND THEATRE A pleasant little interlude, entitled La Polka, was produced at this theatre last evening, with complete success. The fun of the piece, of course, turns upon the Polkamania which is so prevalent at the present moment, and the heroine is a fascinating French opera dancer, Mademoiselle Aventurine, a professor of the true Polka. This character was admirably sustained by Mrs. Montgomerie, whose broken English sounded very pretty, and who threw into the part that mixture of naivete and espieglerie, which makes the French female character so interesting. Around the heroine circulate various satellites, such as an ancient dancing master, who teaches the Gavotte, and calls it the Polka. A young aspirant, who, having been vic timised by the old dancing master, comes to Aven turine's to learn the true Polka, and there, meeting th Polly Lightfoot (excellently acted by Mrs. C. Melville), who has come in search of her husband, an amorous old coxcomb, who makes love to Aven turine, mistakes Polly for Aventurine, and the old dance of Sir Roger de Coverley, which she teaches him, for the Polka. All their mistakes are, however, cleared up, and the piece concludes with the real Polka, elegantly danced by Mrs. Montgomerie and Mr. Roberts in appropriate costumes„ and which was loudly and deservedly encored. This is one of the best acted and most amusing trifles to which the Polka has as yet given birth, and it is no doubt destined to a long run. It was preceded by Martin Chuzzlewit, in which the acting of Hall, in the double character of Pecksniff and of Sairey Gamp, is beyond all praise. His Pecksniff is the best on the stage. The house, we were glad to see, was crowded from the commencement of the evening. ADELAIDE GALLERY. One of the most curious philosophical toys of the day is now exhibiting at the Adelaide Gallery, and is drawing crowded audiences every morning and evening. We allude to the Automaton Draftsman and Writer, recently exhibited at the exposition in Paris, where it attracted the marked attention of his Majesty the King of the French, and which is now on a short visit to the Adelaide Gallery. The automation is about eight or ten inches high, and is attired in the cos tume of the Court of Louis XIV., he is seated cross-legged in a fauteuil his arms, resting on a table—in his right hand he holds a pencil. He nods his head to signify that he is ready to com mence operations. A piece of paper is placed before him—he steadies it with his left hand, and with his right commences writing or drawing upon it. When he has finished his work, he indicates its completion by elevating his head and raising his hand from the paper. He executed several drawings with great ac curacy while we were present, and wrote a variety , of words. This automaton is certainly a very won derful fellow, and his performances appeared to afford the greatest satisfaction to one of the most crowded audiences we have ever seen in the Adelaide Gallery. CAPT. WARNER'S EXPERIMENT. (From the Brighton Herald.) Certain reports having come to our ears calculated to throw a suspicion upon the genuine character of the ex periment, we resolved, in justice to Captain Warner, whose character these reports affect, to trace them to their source, and having done so, we now place the result without comment before the public:— " Soon after the arrival of the John o'Gaunt in the Shoreham roads, four pilots of that port, named Aus tin, Page, Merricks, and Parish, accompanied by a well known and respectable inhabitant of Shoreham, Mr. Young, went off to her. Mr. Young proceeded on board, and being asked by a person, apparently in com mand, what they wanted, replied that the men in the boat were pilots who had come out to offer their ser vices, should they be required. Having stated this, he soon afterwards returned on board the pilot-boat. At this time they remarked, as a very unusual circum stance, some ratlin lines between the fore and main mast, down the ship's starboard side (her head then ly ing to the westward), and passing through an eye-bolt, which was about three inches in circumference. Mr. Young also remarked on board the ship a quantity of new warp (a rope about three inches round) lying on the deck, and wondered what the rope could be for. On the arboard side he had an opportunity of seeing also a rat in down the ship's side. " The day that the vessel was destroyed, Parish and other pilots went off towards the ship again, and he states that he then saw three ropes of the size of the warp passing from one point under the bulwark down the ship's side, but separated, as they descended, by two of them passing through the eye-bolts, leaving the centre one in a perpendicular line between them. The eye bolts were below the water mark, but could be clearly discerned through the water. The ropes could be traced under the bottom of the, vessel ; and there were similar ropes fixed in the same way on the larboard side. The steps were thrown over on the larboard side. Beside the ropes already described, there was a guy rope passing from the stem down the ship's side, dipping beneath the eye-bolts, and ascending afterwards to the stern." Such are the statements made by Mr. Parish and Mr. Young. It is for Captain Warner to deny . or admit the allegations, and, if it is admitted, to explain the use or intention of the above apparatus, which, to say the least, will appear to all nautical men unusual and ex traordinary. ANOTHER FATAL CASE IN THE SERPENTINE. On Saturday evening Mr. Higgs, Deputy Coroner, held an inquest at the Life Guardsman, High-row, Knightsbridge, on the body of Mr. W. Jackson, aged seventeen years, a medical pupil of Mr. York, of Maida-hill, St. John's-wood, who was drowned in the Serpentine, Hyde-park. Several witnesses declared that if proper activity had been used by the boatmen of the Humane Society, the life of the deceased might have been saved. A Juror. —May I ask whether any of the men of the Royal Humane Society are entitled to any pecuniary reward for saving the life of a fellow-crea ture ? Mr. Williams, the su perintendent—Nothing whatever. The Juror—Then are they allowed anything for picking up a dead person ? Mr. Williams—Only what the Coroner allows. The Juror—What may that be ? The Coroner—l generally allow 3s. for picking up the body, and another shilling for giving evidence. After a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of " Ac cidental Death." ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN THE THAMES.—On Saturday an inquest was held on a body, greatly decom posed, of a young man, about eighteen years of age, at the York Hotel, Waterloo-road, Lambeth, which was taken out of the river Thames on Thursday evening. The body was discovered in the mud, opposite the wharf of Messrs. Edwards and Bennett, Commercial road, Lambeth. The Coroner, during the investigation, remarked that it was distressing to mention the number of cases of a like nature to the present ; and, notwithstanding Anderson, the beadle of Lambeth, had made every inquiry, the friends or relatives of the de ceased could not be traced. At the same time the jury could d 3 no other than return a verdict of " Found drowned." The deceased was dressed in a black waist coat and trousers, Oxonian shoes, blue pocket-handker chief with white flowers, blue worsted purse with Ger man silver watch-guard, and containing two sixpences and a fourpenny-piece. On his third left finger wo gilt or brass ring, with the word " Love" inlaid. SUMMER ASSIZES. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Worcester, July 27. CROWN COURT.—(Before Chief Justice;TninAL.) Robert Bonlton, 17, and Richard Stanley, 17, were indicted for breaking open the dwelling-house of Henry Day, at Feckenhara, on the 9th of March, and stealing a razor. _ _ _ Mr. Huddleston prosecuted, and Messrs. Cooke and Barrett defended the prisoners. The facts of the case possessed no feature of interest. The defence set up was that the prosecutor had mis taken the prisoners for the men who had committed the offence. After a long trial, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners. A previous conviction was proved against Boulton, who was sentenced to ten years' transportation, and Stanley to twelve months' imprisonment. Stephen Dovey, 30, who was acquitted yesterday of the burglary at the late Major Williams's, was now in dicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Mary Lovett, at St. John's, on the 14th of March, and stealing nineteen sovereigns, four silver tablespoons, seven teaspoons, a watch, and various other articles, the property of the said Mary Lovett and of one Lucy Lock. Mr. Keating and Mr. Yardley prosecuted ; and Mr. Huddleston de — fended the prisoner. - The following are the facts:—Mrs. Lovett is a widow lady, residing by herself, with a female servant named Lucy Lock, and on the day in question went out to a friend's, leaving directions to her servant to fetch her home. About half•past six, the girl locked up the house, and proceeded for her mistress. On their return, at eight o'clock, they found the back door open, the house in confusion, and the articles named in the indictment stolen. On looking into the adjoining garden, footsteps from there to the road were discovered, which were afterwards found to correspond with the prisoner's shoes. The prisoner had been observed walking up and down before the house when the servant went out, and it seemed that a girl named Mary Jones, who was sent with the invitation from her mistress to the prosectitrix, was an acquaint ance of the prisoner's wife, and after carrying the invi tation to Mrs. Lovett, called at his house, when in the course of conversation the prisoner learnt that the old lady and her servant would be absent for some hours on the succeeding evening. He was very inquisitive as to whether Mrs. Lovett lived alone, what sort of a house she kept, if she had plenty to live on, and similar in quiries. On the 16th, two days after the robbery, the prisoner's house was searched by the police, and a bag of copper coin to the amount of 35., 2s. 9d. of it being in penny pieces, found. Although none of the coin could be identified, a bag containing exactly that amount in the same description of coin was stolen from the chest of drawers at Mrs. Lovett's house. A screw- driver was also found in his house which corresponded with the marks made upon the drawers and chests, which had been forced open. The prisoner was asked for his shoes, and gave them op, saying, " They will not fit any marks." The police-officers observed him whispering to his wife, and hang an apron up, which induced them to inspect it, and on removing the apron they found a key, which, being taken to Mrs. Lovett's, was found to: lock and unlock the back door, by which the entry had been effected. The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to ten years' transportation. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Durham, July 26. CROWN COURT.. Robert Ridley and John Ridley were indicted for setting fire to a large quantity of gorse, in the parish of Stan hope, in this county. Mr. INGHAM, who appeared for the prosecution, stated that in the parish of Stanhope were large commons covered with gorse, which was both useful and valuable to the lord of the manor, who is the Bishop of Durham. The prisoners turn their cattle on the common, as do many others ; and in many cases the gorse has been set fire to and destroyed by the commoners, with a view to improve the herbage. This practice had gone on to so great an extent that it became necessary to put a stop to it ; and he believed that when it should be known that it was unlawful, the offence would not be repeated. The prisoners were, therefore, allowed to go, on en tering into recognizances to appear and receive judg ment when called upon. William Kinsop and George Twaddle were indicted for setting fire to three stacks of wheat, four stacks of oats, and one stack of meslin, the property of Ann Lockey. Mr. Ingham and Mr. Otter appeared for the prosecu tion and Mr. Mathews for the defence. Two other persons, named Oxley and Toulson, were in custody on the same charge, but were allowed to go, be fore the grand jury to give evidence against the other two. Cuthbert Lockey deposed that the prosecutor is his mother, who is the lessee of two farms, upon one of which the stacks which had been burned stood. She is up wards of 70 years of age, and he manages the farms for her. On the evening of the 29th January last, between seven and eight o'clock, the stacks were discovered to be on fire, and the whole were destroyed. The wind was high, and all efforts to stay the progress of the flames were fruitless. Other witnesses were called, who spoke to the time of the commencement of the fire and its destructive cha racter. Robert Oxley, one of the approvers, was then trans ferred from the dock to the witness-box, to be examined, but after some time spent in his examination his evidence was given in so unsatisfactory a manner, that the Learned Judge ordered him to be taken back to prison. Isaac Toulson, the other approver, was then called. He stated that he and Oxley were walking together on the evening of the fire, when Oxley said this is a fine night for a blaze, and passing in the direction of the stacks, about half a mile distant, said he wished they were all on fire, it would light them home nicely, and proposed to the prisoner to go and burn them. He asked if they had any matches and paper. They said no, and he gave them some. The prisoners went away and he and Oxley took a turn, and came back again. They looked and saw the blaze. The prisoners came back and rejoined them, and said they had set the stacks on fire, but they were a long time before they could get it to go well. They afterwards went back to the fire, and the witness and Oxley went away. On cross-examination the witness stated that when they were apprehended they were taken to the house or premises of Mr. Hall, the superintendent of police, where they were kept nine or ten days before they were taken before a magistrate, each handcuffed to a police man. That during their stay there fiddling, fluting, and dancing, were going on. On one occasion they had a mock trial. One of the police, named Harrison, sat in a chair as judge, with a nightcap on for a wig. Another policeman was counseL There were two others as the jury, and the prisoners were put on their trial. There were also witnesses, who were examined and gave evi dence, after which the prisoners were called upon to say what they had to state in their defence ; and were told that they must say all, and then they would be sure to be acquitted, and if they were acquitted there they would be sure to be acquitted by the jury at Durham, and that by this means a confession was obtained from the prisoners. James Harrison, who, it was stated, played the fiddle to the judge, was put into the box, and appeared to be considerably embarrassed. He denied the whole of the statement, and swore that it was false, and that the pri soners confessed of their own free-will. He admitted, however, that each prisoner was kept handcuffed to a policeman till the time they were taken to the magistrates and committed to prison. Mr. Hall, the superintendent of police, said the pri soners were confined in his house, each handcuffed to an officer. He had no prison in his district, and it was nine days as to one, and ten days as to the other, before they were taken before the magistrates. The magistrates knew of the apprehension of the prisoners. He had been in daity communication with them. On cross-examination, he admitted that a report had got abroad that there had been irregularities such as had been described by Toulson, and he had inquired into the fact, but could not find any foundation for it. No other inquiry had been instituted upon the subject beside that which he had made of the officers. He said the confession of Twaddle was made voluntarily, and that which he (Hall) had taken down from the pri soners' lips they had afterwards signed before the magis trates. The confessions were then tendered in evidence. Mr. MATHEWS objected to their being received, osi the ground that they were tainted by the transactions which had been spoken to, and which it was probable were not entirely without foundation, or how could the report have got abroad which led to the inquiry by Hall 2 Ile submitted, too, that the keeping men in handcuffs nine and ten days was placing them under restraint, calcu lated to depress the mind, and not leave it in that free and voluntary state necessary to make a confession ad missible. The statements made by the prisoners were put in and read. Mr. MATHEWS then addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoners, and commented upon the conduct of the police. Whatever might be the truth as to the mock trial, it had been placed beyond doubt that the pri soners had been kept handcuffed nine and ten days with out a hearing, and if the jury thought that circumstance and the other circumstances sufficient to cast suspicion on the confessions, there was no other evidence against the prisoners upon which they could be convicted. The case being summed up, the jury returned a verd!ct of Guilty against both, but strongly recommended them to mercy, and expressed a wish that proceedings might be instituted against Oxley. The Learned JuDen said he would take their recom mendation into consideration, he thought it a very pro.. per one ; and he would also direct a bill to be preferred against Oxley, as an accessory before the fact. July 27. George Bewick was indicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of the Right Hon. Lord Stourton, at Hartlepool. Mr. Ingham and Mr. Otter conducted the proseeution. It appeared that in the early part of July the house of the prosecutor was broken into and robbed of some jewellery and plate. Shortly after this event the pri soner offered some of the stolen articles to a silversmith in Sunderland, who observed that one of the rings had a stone in it with a coronet and a motto, and objected to buy it on that account. The prisoner said he would crush the stone out and sell it for old gold. This led to inquiry, and the prisoner was taken into custody. In his statement to the Jury he said that one night he had been out late, and on returning to his lodgings found himself locked out. He then went to the Mow, and as he was wandering about he saw a man sitting down, and was going up to him, when the - man ran away, and when he came to the place he found the articles in question. The jury found the prisoner Guilty. No fewer than 1,300 men have been hired -for the lighting of the lamps in the Champs-Elysees, for the illumi nation of the 29th. They will commence at a given signal, so that the lighting up i 6 expected to be almost simultapeous. .-Parr Print. . -",-, s• he t • s w hic- RoP3a°