The Sun. — London, England, 1850-01-17 00:00:00

LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BASK. Th'3 usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the above bank was held yesterday on the bank premises, in Lothbury ; Joshua Walker, Esq., Chair man of the board of directors, in the chair. The advertisement, convening the meeting, having been read, the report (which appeared in our City article of yesterday), was submitted to the pro- prietors. The CHAIRMAN, in movin g the adoption of the report, observed that it would be in the recollection of the proprietors, that at the last meeting a pro prietor gave notice of his intention to move, that the directors be requested to take into consideration the propriety of adopting cash credits upon the Scotch principle, and perhaps it would save time if he stated that the directors had already cansidered the subject, and come to a decision upon it. Now, if the directors adopted that system, they would have to lock up and keep their capital idle, but a neighbouring bank was testing the principle under the most favourable circernstances, and if it suc ceeded it would then be time enough for them to adopt it. With regard to the report itself, the proprietors would perceive that it was as favourable as the state of commerce would admit of. No doubt many pro prietors had attended in the hope of hearing a dividend declared, in the shape of a bonus ; but although he was not in the pleasurable position of being able to gratify that expectation, he had this gratifying intelli gence for the proprietors,that the losses of the disastrous year had been wiped off. In that year there were no less than 480 failures, amounting in the whole to 3,400,0001., and this bank being large bill holders, came in for more than its fair share of the loss, amounting to 60,0001, which had operated as a mill stone round their necks ever since. Those losses, however, had now been cleared off, and in future the directors would have to deal with the entire profits as the proprietors thought fit. There was another inci dent which occurred in 1847, that he thought it right to mention. In the worst week of that period, which was now known as the reign of terror, the bank had to dispose of 300,000/. of Con sols. On the followiag day the Government letter came out, and the result was - they had ulti mately to buy in again at a loss of 20,0001. Still it was a source of pleasure for him to know that all these loises had been written off, and when he men tioned that within the last four years their accounts had increased by 11,000 in number, and 1,000,000 in amount, he thought the old proprietors would agree with the directors, that this bank was likely to prove one of the most flourishing in the metropolis. Mr. TITE 'lid not come there with the expectation suggested by the chairman, nor dil he wish to blame the directors for their system of management. Still there were rumours out of door,' thate he thought it right to mention. In the first pace, it was thought that the Bank did not do t amount of business 1 1 which it ought, and whiP. the magnitude of the establishment entitled it to. This arose from the cir cumstance of their not ;hawing interest on cash deposits, and he would therefore take the liberty to suggest that this principle should in fature be adopted. Another rumour out of doors was that the price of their shares nits not what it would be if the published accounts were moce extensive, more clear, and given with mare det li; ; and, while he doubted the propriety or acting neon the Saotch system, thinking it imitacticable in the metropolis, he would earnestly u rge Upon the directors the necessity of al lowing),Kerest upon deposits. 'l;3/CHAIRMAN wished to know if the Hon. Pro tor meant interest on deposits, or interest on cur eent balannea ? Mr. Turn said on both. ~. The CfIAIRMAN did not think it right to adopt the 1 suggestion; bat with regard to the accounts, in fu ture they should be given with more elaboration. Mr. Caouca now claimed the privilege of moving the motion of which he had given notice—namely, that the directors be requested to adopt the Scotch sv , tern of banking ; but in doing so, he wished it to be distinctly understood that he had full coefidence in the integrity and ability of the directors. This hank was started on the understandint , that it would be conducted on the principle he now hoped to see adopted. It was high time that the monopoly in banking, which the Condon houses enjoyed, was done away with; and since the system he recom mended had rei,ed Scotland from an insignificant po• sition to a nation of vast importance and unquestion able prosperity, he thought it would confer an advantage on the middle and industrious classes of the metropolis, and add materially to their own profits, if it were adopted by this bank. That they were in a position to adopt it no one could dispute. At present they had a large laid-up and accumulated capital lying idle in the funds, which might he lent out at an excellent per-cent age to tradesmen and manufacturers who were now crippled in their operations for the want of such accommodation. Let it not be said that the system was not based on a sound, sate, and solid foundation, because it was founded on truth, and served not only to increase the profits of the hank, but to enhance the comfort and wealth of the great mass of the people. To prove the stability and safety of the system, he need oely men tion the fact that in Scotland the losses of bankers during a period of 120 years had amounted to scarcely 40,0001., while in this country the losses by banking within the list 20 years had reached no less than 20,000,0001. It was preposterous then to tell him that the system was not applicable to this country ; the fact wes, under the existing system, the bankers of London were the origin of more than half the insolvency of the country, and as he saw nothing in the character and ability of the people of this country which was averse to the carrying out of the principle, he hoped the time was not far distant when it would be adopted by this bank. He should not, therefore, press his resolution. Mr. MAUDSLEY did not agree with Mr. Tite that any published accounts could have the effect of enhancing the value of their shares, but it certainly would he more satisfactory to him if the accounts were given more in detail. He had hut one complaint to make against the management. It was said out of doors that parties banking with this concern did not meet with the courtesy and accommodation that they had a right to expect. Now, at the London Joint- Stock Bank a committee of management sat daily, to whom all parties anxious to do business with the bank were introduced, and he thought it would do no harm if the same practice were adopted in this hank. The Craarawt reminded Mr. Crouch that the Scotch system was so far profitable, that the R )yal Bank of Scotland only paid 5 per cent., but as the - directors - proponad to take 'the . question into their further consideration; he woubl . not answer the argu ment of the lion. Proprietor. With regard to the suggestion of Mr. Maudesley, he begged to inform hint that a portion of the directors were constantly - in attendance at the bank. Mr. KEMBLETON had had some experience in the Scottish system, and he gave it as his decided opinion that it was not applicable to this country. In Scot land bankers were allowed to circulate notes without providing for them in specie, a privilege which did nat exist here, while, with regard to the profits of the system, the Hon. Gentleman, Mr. Crouch, was labouring under a ,delusion. One bank alone with which he was connected—the old Aber deen Bank—had merged with a loss of 200,0001., and he had no doubt there were many establishments in as bad a condition. The system, he allowed, had worked well in Scotland, but they did not know one another sufficiently in this huge metropolis to make it safe to adopt it in this country. Mr. MAUDSLEY wished to know if it was not a fact that the branches had made 22,0001. of the profits ? The CHAIRMAN said that was so. A PROPRIETOR inquired if the value of the banking houses and branches were included in the surplus profits. The Curium/ex—Oh, no, it is a clear cash balance. Mr. MATIIEW—Is the surplus fund a guarantee fund ? The CHAIRMAN-It certainly is. Mr. MAYHEW—I have been told that the surplus fund is a mixed fund, and strictly there is no gua rantee fund. The CHAIRMAN — Oh , y es, there is. We hav e a reserved fund to meet losses and contingencies, an d keep the dividend steady. Mr. MAynEw was of opinion that it was highly desirable that the accounts should be enlarged. The CHAIRMAN was not aware that the mode of stating the accounts had been complained of till to day, but if it was any satisfaction to the meeting be would renew his promise that in future the ac counts should be given more in detail. 'AI. SMITH wi s h e ,l t o h ave the opinion of the direc torsurpon the system of allowing interest in current balances. The CuAIRMAN replied that the London Joint- Stock Bank and the Union Bank had tested the plan, and found that it would not succeed. The directors, therefore, did not think it prudent to adopt the practice. The resolution for the adoption of the report was then put and carried, after which the dividend was declared and the retiring directors re -appointed. Captain PORTER then moved—" That the remune ration of the directors be reduced from 4,500/. to 3,0001, and that as vacancies occur at the board the number of directors be reduced from 15 t o 13 , w i th the same remunerati o n." The motion having been seconded, The CHAIRMAN said it was hopeless to expect first class men to join the direction if their remuneration were reduced. The directors had heavy duties to perform, and if the proprietors had their own interest at heart they would allow things to remain as they are. _ _ Thanks were then votel to the chairman and di rectors, and the Chairm ;n having acknowledged the compliment, the meeting was about to terminate, when A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Malcolm, the manager, and the clerks of the bank. A PROPRIETOR suggested that the income-tax, which was generally deducted from the salaries of their managers and clerks, should be refunded to them. The CHAIRMAN said the matter should be considered before the next meeting. Tne meeting then broke up. AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS. The adjourned meeting of the representatives of railway companies was held at the King's Arms Hotel, fridge-street, Westminster, at one o'clock yesterday. Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed the Earl of Lonsdale, Mr. E. B. Denison, M.P., Mr. Glyn, M.P., Mr. C. Russell, M.P., Mr. Laing, Mr. S•ewart, the Secretary of the London and North- Western Railway Company, and many other influen tial gentlemen connected with railways. Tne Earl of LoNSDALB was called to the chair, in taking which he said—At the end of last session of Parliament the opinion seemed to be very general against Government interference in the auditing of railway accounts. They had a meeting in the be ginning of November, which came to certain reso lutions as to the ground-work of a Bill to be introduced into Parliament on this question, and they were to meet again in December to take the opinions of the shareholders and directors of all the different companies. In December, how ever, they had received very few returns to the cir culars which had been sent to the shareholders with a view of eliciting their opinions as to the proposed Bill for the audit of railway accounts, and they thought it expedient to defer the meeting until this day. He was sorry to say that those returns had not very much increased at this time. The representa tives of railway companies, therefore, considered that they could only_ be justified in introducing a Bill into Parliament by having an overpowering majority of shareholders to support them. They had not got such a measure of support from the shareholders to warrant them in bringing forward such a Bill, and he considered that they had no business to introduce it into Parliament, supported as it was by compara tively few shareholders. Few of the share holders whose opinions had been taken had expressed themselves in favour of a Government audit ; but a great proportion had not expressed any opinion at all, and before the proposed Bill could be brought before Parliament, he and the gentlemen with whom he acted thought they should be backed by the zealous and cordial co-operation of a large number of shareholders. That not being the case, he feared they must, in a certain degree, withdraw, and leave the matter in the hands of the shareholders, who would meet next month, when, perhaps, a clearer and more decided opinion on the question might be given. Under ordinary cir cumstances he should not have thought it necessary to call a meeting on the present occasion ; but he considered it necessary, from the circumstance of his motives and views on this subject having been misrepresented. He had heard it said that he had changed his opinion on this question, and that he now thought a Government railway audit was necessary. He had now to say that the more he considered this subject the more was he convinced that it was unne cessary fir the Government to have the superintend ence and auditing of railway accounts.—(Hear.) He was glad to take this opportunity of stating that his opinion on this subject remained unchanged. The complaint against railroads two years ago was, that the shareholders were incapable of managing their own affairs. Recent investigation , of different companies, which it was unnecessary to mention, showed, he thought, that there was intelligence, vigour, and perseverance enough among shareholders to unravel and probe even the most intricate accounts to the bottom ; and therefore he considered the supervision of railway accounts ought to be more properly left to the shareholders than any other party. Tee Noble Earl concluded by submitting the fallowing resolu tions to the meeting : The Secretary having laid on the table the draft of a Bill proposed by him, in accordance with his view of the resolutions adopted at the last meeting - Resolved—That a'though there still apps ars t, be the strongest fr eling amongst railway propret)rs gene rally against the principle of any Government audi', yc t a, there has nr t been Lund to be the needful una nimity of opinion, even amongst the boards of directors, as to the provisions cf this Bill or the propriety of the ree , ,lations formerly adopted, it is not exped eat to in troduce the Bill into Parliament. " That it no longer appears to be the duty of, or to be becoming in, dire tors t ) take any prominent part upon the question of audit, since it would seem to be now viewed, though most errone usly, by a portion of the shareholders in some of the companies, rather as a question between the board and their c nstituents.than between the body of sharvho'ders and the GON ernmenr. " That it the-ef )re be let t shateholders them selves to take her( after such course with regard to the clue:Aim as they think fit, each board communicating to its constituent; this resolutior, prior to the ensuing ge neral meeting, in such Ray as may be deemed right." Mr. GLYN, in seconding the resolution, said, the result of the inquiry which had been made since the last meeting in November, bad brought him to the conviction, that the resolution passed at that meeting had not met with such a general assent from the main body of railway proprietore as to warrant their proceeding further with the Bill. So far as concerned the London and North Western Company, he could state that the returns made to the circulars submitted to the shareho!ders on this question, showed that,a large body of thelproprietors were against any Go vernmental interference in the audit of railway accounts. He might make the same remark with respect to the shareholders of other companies, with whom he had had communication, although the majority was not so decidedly overpowering. He hoped it would not go forth to the world that there had been the least alteration of feeling with respect to this question among those who had had the administration of the affairs of railways. He entirely acquiesced in the views ex pressed by Lord Lonsdale, because he thought the public in general had taken an erroneous view as to the proceedings of the directors on this ques tion. He had always said this was a pro prietors' and not a directors' question ; and he would leave the question in the shareholders' hands, confident that it would be much better dealt with by them in Parliament than by any further action on the part of directors. Mr. E. B. DENISON, M.P., thought it was now uni versally admitted that there ought to be an Audit of railway accounts of a 'perfectly honest and inFlepen dent character. Everybody was of thateoisinion, and his opinion was that it was not • the more necessary for directors than for the shareholders and proprietors themselves.—(Hear, hear.) Speaking for himself, he said advisedly that he would_ not remain a director of a railroad unless some means were adopted for investigating the accounts, which would at once settle the question. He was sorry to say that railway directors, generally, were rather more suspected than respected.--(A. laugh.) What system of railway audit was to be adopted he was not prepared to say, but he quite agreed with his friend and neighbour Mr. Glyn, that the audit ought not to be a Government appointment ; and he (Mr. Denison) was at liberty to say that the members of the Government did not wish to have the onus of the appointment put upon them. What the Govern ment said, he believed, was that it was a commercial affair, and the directors and shareholders were to manage it among themselves, but as it was a great public affair also, it must be managed fur the benefit of the public. Mr. LAING still approved of the Bill, although it had not' met with a sufficiently hearty approval by the share holders to justify its being proceeded with. He left the matter to be dealt with entirely by the share holders at the approaching general meeting. On the question of a Government audit, he thought it might be very well left in the hands of the shareholders. Mr. Enets thought this was entirely a shareholders' question, and that the course now proposed was the only sound and proper one. It was a mercantile business, and a mercantile business ought to be ma naged without the supervision of the Government. Mr. C. RUSSELL feared that in adopting these reso lutions it would be considered they were departing from the pledge given by them at the close of the last session of Parliament, when they pledged themselves to do all in their power to intro duce an efficient system of audit. Since that time they _had ascertained the opinions of their share holders, and what had been the result ? In the Great Western line, with which he was connected, they had 5,600 shareholders, and out of that number they had got only 600 answers to the circulars sent to them to elicit their feelings on this question ; and out of that 5,600 shareholders 267 had said that they objected to a Government audit. He admitted that this was entirely a shareholders question, and if it were possible to act with the shareholders and proprietors he should most heartily concur in that mode of action ; but he did not believe it was possible. They could not even come at the opinions of the shareholders urn this question. How then was it possible to persons so nuttier ous and so scattered as they h that t e could be brought to concur in any scheme on such a question as that of an audit of accounts ? He should heartily concur in it if it were possible. He would not oppose the resolutions which had been proposed, but he feared they would be a dereliction of the pledge given by them last year. The resolutions were then put, and carried unani mouely. anc i l i t r he G m ur e N et m in o g ve se d p a ar v a o te te d. of thanks to the Chairman, A NEW POLICE BARRACK.—The Commissioners of Pollee are now constructing an extensive reserve police barrack contiguous to the Old St. James's watch-house, Vine-street Piccadilly. THE SV N, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, IRELAND. DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING.—THE PROTECTION IST MOVEMENT.—Among not the least significant indications of the hollowness of the movement having for its ultimate object a return to the old scale of prices for all articles of human food, is the abandon ment, under " false pretences" of the Protectionist meeting of Clare. This county was one of the first to declare against free trade, and the requisition headed by Sir Lucius O'Brien bore the signatures of men of all creeds, whether in politics or religion ; the unusual circumstance of four Roman Catholic clergy men having affixed their names to the document being of itself regarded as proof positive of the universal desire for a return to the old system. Even with these unlooked-for auxiliaries, the Clare Protectionists had, to say the least, too much discretion to continue the warfare in the face of the recent disastrous de feat at Down, the Austerlitz, as it were, of the boot less campaign of 1850. REPRESENTATION or MAro.—The number of can didates for the seat about to be vacated by Mr. Dillon Browne has already swelled to five, each of whom seeks the suffrages of the electors on claims inde pendent of one another. For instance, Colonel Knox Gore starts as the champion of the anti-free-traders, and his canvass among the dwindled constituency is said to be progressing satisfactorily for his party. Mr. Higgins hoists the raggsd flag of repeal, and everything or anything else that may suit the palate of Dr. API-Tale, under whose patronage, it is said, this gentleman has been induced to take the field. Mr. John Browne, a relative of the Sligo family, and a Roman Catholic, though not any particular favourite with the clergy of that persuasion, also comes forward, badly sheltered under the faded banner of " Protec- tion," upon which question he grounds his pretensions for support. Sir William O'Malley rests his hopes of success on the fact of his being a general supporter of Whiggery ; and though last, most certainly not least, " big" Mr. Joseph Myles MlConnell, of Doo Castle, and who sat for the county in the former Par liament, means to try his luck in the forthcoming scramble, on the score probably of old acquaintance sake. VM THE WEATIIER.—DubIin is just now a Western Siberia. The cold, which for the last four days, has been almost intolerable, last night reached its climax, and after long threatening there was a fall, though a slight one, of hard dry snow between two and three o'clock this morning. From the state of the tem perature there is every prospect of a season of un usual sererity in there latitudes. Tne wind is at E.S.E., and is blowing a fierce and bitter gale. REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—The rent for the week ending yesterday amounted to 121. 4s. 6d. Mr. John O'Connell announced that he had no intention of resigning his seat until the electors of Limerick were prepared with a staunch Repealer to occupy his pl 2 ce. THE FUND3.—Three per Cent. Consols, 964 ; Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock, 97i, 98, 97k; City of Dublin Steam-packet shares, 73i ; Dublin and Drogheda Railway (thirds), 8i; Midland, 23i STATE OF TRADE. :(From the Manchester Guardian.) MANCHESTER, TIJESDAY.—Some kinds of water mule and mule yarns have again shown an upward terilency ; and in all the rest the utmost firmness has been maintained. Spinnings suitable for India are, in fact, so completely bought up, that their value can hardly be tested ; and the contracts in hand for home manufacture are so ample, as to render the producers exceedingly independent; so that, under these circumstances, the hesitation which many of the buyers feel about yielding to the present advance is little noticed. Doubled yarns are in fair request. Single yarns, for the continent, con tinue in a most unsatisfactory state, from the diffi culty of selling, and the disproportion betwixt the rise in them and cotton. Although the transactions in light and medium cloths are not of large abso lute amount, yet they are in full propor tion to the unengaged supply. The different widths ( f printing cloths, and also 46-inch shirtings, com mand ready sale at the quotations ; but 40-inch shirt ings are not equally buoyant. Some little business is doing in domestics : it i, however, most difficult to effect any improvement upon previous rates ; and the makers of these articles find themselves falling from week to week into an increasingly discouraging position. ROCHDALE, MONDAT.—We have had a rather quieter market to-day, as might be expected at this time of the year. In the wool market there is also little change, and prices may be quoted the same as those on the preceding Monday. MNCCLESFIELD, TUESDAY.—We have no change of importance to note since our last weekly report. We hear of fair business being transacted in manufac tured goods at advancing rates. There has been some inquiry for goods for the French markets, which is an unusual occurrence in this neighbourhood. Most houses being now fully occupied for the spring trade, there is a scarcity of weavers felt. In thrown silks the sales are to a moderate extent ; the stocks being reduced very low, higher prices are expected for what is coming round for the market. The position of the raw silk market remains unaltered. Public sales are announced to take place at Liverpool on the 17th instant; the quantity to be brought forward is hut small. _ . HUDDERSFIELD ' TUESDAY.—There has been a very brisk market to-day. Rvery description of woollens, either in superfines or low gouda adapted for the season, hive been bought up with the greatest avidity. Tnose who have visited us to-day in the expectation of buy ing remnants of stock at a low price have been dis appointed, for many sales have been effected at an advance upon the offers made a few weeks since. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—An average amount of business has be e n done in our Piece Hall to-day, chit fly with mixtures, and with no material variation in prices. The yarn market is rather stiller than it was, the weather having checked the purchases of the ship ping houses ; but there is a large demand for home consumption, and the quotations have undergone no change. The spinners being, in general, fully sup plied, there is not much activity in long wools, and prices have experienced no alteration. There is a brisker inquiry for short wools, at a slight im provement. LEEDS, TUESDAY. — Both on Saturday and to-day there has been more animation in the markets. A fair amount of business has been done. Stocks are low, and prices are a shade better. In the ware houses business is pretty good, both for the home and foreign trade. DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERIES. BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—The immediate vici nities of this town have during the present winter become unfortunately notorious as scenes of the most determined highway robberies. Yesterday evening, about half-past six o'clock, Mr. Scott, jun., son of Mr. Scott, accountant, on his return from business to his father's residence in the Moseley-road, was near the house of Mr. Colmore, Highgate (scarcely a mile from the Birmingham Market-hall) surrounded by four men, one of whom knocked him down, while the others held him on the ground, and rifled his pockets of a gold watch and chain and a purse containing a small sum of money. Mr. Scott, passing the toll gate about 150 yards nearer Birmingham, observed his future assailants standing in the road. They f)llowed him, and on arriving nearly opposite the Highgate fields, one of the party exclaimed " Now's the time," and Mr. Scott was immediately prostrate on ' the ground. He attempted to give an alarm, when one of the fellows called upon his companions to " throttle him." This they did so far as to stifle his outcry, and having succeeded in their object, the thieves escraped— one or two through the adjacent fields leading from Highgate to the Pershore-road, and the others along the public highway in the direction of Bordesley. Information having been communicated to the police, Chief-Superintendent Stephens in the course of the evening saw Mr. Scott, and the place where the rob bery was effected ; but the footpads are as yet un known. Similar outrages have lately been committed with impunity in other outskirts of the town. Last week Mr. Anster, a respectable manufacturer of Bir mingham, residing in Carpenter's-road, Edgbaston, was returning through Church-road, when he was stopped by a man in every way answering the de scription of a ruffian who is supposed to have com mitted several depredations of similar atrocity which have occurred within the last few weeks. The man put a pistol to Mr. Anster's head, and having ob tained a few shillings by his menacing conduct suc ceededin making his escape. Great blame is attributed to the corporation for not providing the borough with an adequate police force ; for, however active and in telligent the present constabulary may be, they are not sufficiently numerous to perform efficiently the duties imposed upon them. The suburbs are almost entirely unprotected at hours when the police are most required. PROPOSED RAILWAY AMALGAMATION. — The ne gotiations for a proposed amalgamation, which have been fir some time pending between the East Lanca shire and the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire Railway Companies, have been finally broken off by the latter company, and an agreement entered into with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company in• stead. The terms of this agreement will be submitted to a meeting of the shareholders cf the Bolton, Black burr, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire line, on Thursday, the 24th inst., fcr their approval or rejection.—Man el/ester Guardian. MONSTER IRON WARIIHOUSE.—A Most COMM diou3 iron warehouse, intended for exportation to Cali fornia' has recently been built et Liverpool. It is 60 feet in length by 40 in width, and its extreme height, by external measurement, is 36 feet at the gables, and about 26 feet 4 inches at the eaves, and is divided into thre3 stories; the first of which is 11 feet in height, the second 9 feet, and the third 8 feel. The whole is lighted with about 60 windows, all of which have iron mullions. Ihe weight of the whole will little exceed 30 tons. — Manchester E xaminer. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Jan. 16. THE QUEEN V. THE INHABITANTS OF CAMBERWELL.- THE NIINHEAD CEMETERY. This was an appeal against an order of the justices of Surrey, with respect to the assessment made upon the Nunhead Cemetery Company. It appeared that the justices had assessed the rates upon the whole receipts of the company. Mr. GURNEY now appeared in support of the appeal, and argued that the assessment was manifestly unjast and illegal, inasmuch as no deduction was made for the heavy expenses of carrying on the concern, such as the making of the vaults, the salaries of the directors, the chaplain, and the London offices expenses, which amounted to a considerable sum. He prayed the Court, on these grounds, to quash the order at sessions. Mr. BovILL appeared in support of the rating, and contended that the order was perfectly fair, and in ac cordance with the rules which governed , the rating of public companies. The Court took time to consider the points raised. COURT OP EXCHEQUER, Jan. 16. (Sittings in Banco.) GREENLAND V. CHAPLIN, M.P. This action was tried by the Lord Chief B iron, at the last sittings in Middlesex, when there was a ver dict for the plaintiff, with damages 2001. Mr. Sergeant SHER now moved for a rule, calling on the plaintiff to show cause why a new trial should not be had, on the ground that the verdict was against the evidence. The action was brought against the defendant as ono of the proprietors of the Thames steamer Bachelor, which plies between London and Vauxhall bridges, to recover compensation for injuries sustained by the plaintiff in consequence of a collision which occurred between that vessel and another Thames steam-boat, called the Sons of the Thames, on board of which the plaintiff was a passenger, the collision in question being charged in the declaration to have been occasioned by the negligence of one of the defendant's servants. The negligence attributed to the Bachelor, as on the part of the Sons of the Thames was, that another steam-boat being athwart the stream, the Bachelor attempted to get between the head of the Sons of the Thames and the other steamer, so as to pass round her, and then enable herself to continue her course down the river. This was the allegation against the defendant's vessel, which the defendant had to answer. The Learned Counsel contended that the evidence of several per sons connected with the Bachelorcompletely disproved it, and the verdict for the plaintiff had been returned accordingly. The LORD CHIEF BARON—I have no doubt as to the grounds on which the verdict proceeded. If this had been a simple question between A and B, the mode in which the case ought to have been deter mined is sufficiently obvious. The difficulty, however, of ever getting a verdict, where a man comes to com plain of a personal injury, is such as to make one al most wish there was some other way of determining every such case. Mr. Sergeant SHEE—I think I may collect from your Lordship's summing up, that your Lordship would have been far more satisfied with a verdict for the def-ndanf. The LORD eHIRT BARON—Oh, yes. I think you asked for a nonsuit. I could not properly nonsuit, but I think you would have exerci6ecl a proper discre tion if you had not called witnesses at ail. Mr. Sergeant SUER—AII I can say is, that if I had not called witnesses, I should have fund myself in a terrible scrape.—Rule granted. WILSON V. ASHLEY. • This was an action of covenant, to recover was run on the 22d or 23d of May, and the Tuesday following would be settling-day. The defendant is still porter at the Union, and I still manage his bet ting business. He keeps a betting list. lam not secretary to any one else. I have not any other busi ness except what Ido in the betting line myself. I am not a member of Tattersall's. My salary is a per-tentage. It is very hard for me to say what I do get. I have never reckoned it up. Any one who goes into our office may stake his money according to the list, and we undertake to pay if the horse wins. The defendant keeps lists in the Vauxhall-road, and at the Star and Garter, in Green-street. The odds upon Bolingbroke are just what you please to give. The person who keeps the list pays the money if the horse wins, without regard to any person who makes the bet. Re-examined—lf the 101. had been paid upan this bet it would have appeared in my ledger. Two notices from the plaintiff to the defendant were put in calling upon the defendant to produce an order for the payment of 1001., signed by Arbuthnct, and also the defendant's betting-book and betting lists. A letter from the plaintiff to the defendant was put in wherein the plaintiff said, " I am sorry to say I must have the money before four o'clock to-day, or apply to Mr. A. for it." Mr. WATSON then addressed the jury in reply, urging upon them that there was no evidence to sup port the defendant's plea, and calling upon them to give a verdict for the plaintiff. Mr. Justice ERLE having summed up, The jury retired, but at length gave a verdict for the defendant. LORD MAYOR'S COURT, Jan. 16. (Before the RECORDER and a Special Jury.) THE GOVERNOR, AND CORPORATION OF ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL V. THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON. This was an inquiry to assess the amount of corn• pensation to be paid to the claimants in respect o certain property situate in Queen-street and Maiden. lane, Cheapside, which the City Corporation required under the provisions of the City Improvements Act, to carry out certain improvements in the City. Sir Frederick Thesiger, Mr. Laurie, and M. Locke for the plaintiffs; the Attorney-General and Mr. Ryland for the City. Sir FREDERICK TnEsIGER, in opening the case, explained to the jury the nature of the inquiry, and the provisions of the Act of Parliament which gave the City authorities power to take possession of any property that stood in the way of any improvements they were carrying into effect in the City, and then proceeded to state the circumstances cif the case The property in question was a large warehouse, No. 60, Queen-street, Cheapside, having a frontage also in Maiden-lane. The ground on which the premises were erected was given to the Corpo ration of St. Thomas's hospital in the year 1665, and in 1828 there was an agreement entered into between the treasurer to the hospital and a Mr. Johnstone, to the effect that if Johnstone erected a warehouse thereon a lease for 61 years would be granted, binding the tenant to pay a ground rent of 40/ a year, and at the expiration of the term to deliver up the premises in a substantial state of re pair. Johnstone built the warehouse, and the claim ants granted a lease on the before-mentioned terms to a Mr. Rolt, and as at the present time that lease had rather more than 40 years to run, there would be but little difficulty as to the sum the claimants were en titled to recover. The difficult point to be decided by the jury arose from the wide difference of opinion that existed amongst the professional men who had been engaged in the matter, as to the value at the present time of the reversionary interest in the pro perty to the hospital, when the term would expire in 1890, and the jury would hear, from the witnesses he should call, that the property was of such a cha racter, so substantially built and so well situated for the purposes of trade and traffic, that there could be no doubt that the property in 1890 would command a rent of 210/. a year, after deducting the ground-rent and land-tax. The sum the claimants asked for was about 2,700/., and if the City Corporation had acted upon a right data in giving Rolt, the leaseholder, the sum of 3,700/. for his interest in the property, they could not resist the demand of the claimants, which had been estimated on the very principle which the C)r poration had adopted in Rolt's case. This was not the case of a willing dealer disposing of his property, for the governors of the hospital had no power whatever to dispose of the property under their con trol, but the property was compulsorily wrested from them by the provisions of the Act of Parliament ; and, therefore, juries in such cases did not estimate in golden measure the compensation to be awarded. The City Corporation had offered 2,000/., but it had been de clined, and not from any personal feeling, but in pur suance of what they considered their duty as guar dians of this valuable charity, which had 450 indoor and 30,000 out-patients in the year. They had de clined to refer the matter to arbitration, and came before a jury to obtain the full value of the property. By an Act of Parliament, the claimants were em powered to invest the money they would receive in land or any other valuable securities, as a Master in Chancery should approve of ; and he hoped the jury would give a verdict for such sums as would place hem in possession of as good a property as the one damages fur an alleged breach, in practising as a surgeon and apothecary, within seven miles of High town, near Bradford, Yorkshire. The defendant paid 50/. into court, and denied that the plaintiff was en titled to any further compensation by reason of the alleged breach of covenant. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, with Mr. H. Hill, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Atherton for the defendant. It appeared from the evidence that in the latter part of 1847 the defendant, who had practised for nearly thirty years as a surgeon at Ilightown, was inclined to retire from business, and agreed with the plaintiff to introduce him to his patients, and assist him in the conduct of his business for twelve months, for a consideration of 4001., and at the expiration of that period to retire from the business altogether, and cease to practice within seven miles of Hightown. These terms were embodied in a farmal deed, executed by both parties. The plaintiff now com plained that the defendant had not fulfilled any of the covenants contained in the agreement, and that he had violated it especially by continuing to attend some wealthy patients at Hightown, and prescribing f;r them after the expiration of the year. The pre scriptions given by the defendant to these patients were made up at a chemist's in the town, so that the plaintiff, it was represented, lost materially in both branches of his business. The fact that the defendant had visited and prescribed for patients residing at Hightown, after he had transferred the business to the plaintiff, was proved by admissions made by the defendant to two of the witnesses. It appeared that when the defendant entered into the agreement with the plaintiff, he was in such an indifferent state of health that he apprehended he should be unequal to attend to his profession, but that his health having been subsequently re-established, he thought himself justified in resuming his practice, as he had a wife and large family. It was now contended, on the part of the defen dant, that the sum paid into court was a sufficient compensation for any injury the plaintiff had really sustained. gv violated Mr. Baron RoLra said it was quite clear the de fendant had bound himself not to practice within chowseven Hightown, that covenant. It was for the jury to say, under these circumstances, whether 50/. was a sufficient compensation to the plaintiff; or t in ha il t es he of ha li d what further sum he was entitled to by reason of the breach of covenant. they were called upon to give up. Mr. Tite, the architect, was then called, and he stated that at the expiration of the term of the lease the freehold would be worth 5,6001., and the value of the reversion forty years hence to that sum was worth in present money 1,6381. The present value of the ground-rent he estimated at 940/, makin g in round numbers a total of 2,600/. If the hospital obtained this sum, he was of opinion that it would not be in SO advantageous a position, with reference to the ulti mate benefit, as it would be if the property was left undisturbed. _ _ Several other gentlemen of eminence in their pro fession were examined, who estimated the value of the property at sums varying from 2,4331. to 2,7451. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL having addressed the jury in mitigation of damages, called several sur veyors and others, who estimated the property at from 1,4501. to 1,6001. The RECORDER then summed up very shortly, when the jury gave a verdict for the claimants— Damages, 2,300/. ARCHER AND OTHERS V. THE SAME. This was a like claim on behalf of the parish of St. Martin, Vintry, for property situated in the same locality. A verdict was taken by consent for 2,1001. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff— Damages, 3001. BAIL COURT, Jan. 16. (Sittings at Nisi Pi ius.) HAY R. TIMING. Mr. Watson and Mr. E. the plaintiff, and Mr. M. Ch am b ers an d Mr. 11. T. Cole for the defendant. This was an action upon James were counsel for two bills of exchange for 501. each, accepted by the d e f en d ant i n f avour o f the plaintiff. The defendant pleaded that a person of the name of Arbuthnot had betted with the defendant that a horse named Surplice would win the Derby, that the horse Surplice did win, and that, by the 'desire of Arbuthnot, the defendant had given to the p bg l iil a vl i i n nh t ga i ff d t oaa afterwards wp f l o aar r i (ni l st O i ffo/.t beenh in e tr r s vee renewed e p To prove the plaintiff's case, the handwriting of l e bv c iel t dl s o f fboyr t h t. : ho t el b. defendant, the acceptance by the defendant was proved. The plaintiff was a tradesman in tilonduit-street. Mr. CHAMBERS, in addressing the jury for the de fendant, said the facts were; that Mr. Arbuthnot was a " levanter ;" he " levanted" shortly after the Derby. The defendant was but a porter iat the Union Club, and he had what was called a commission betting book. There was a rule upon the turf, that if a " levanter" would not pay he could not expect bets to be paid to him. If this had been referred to the Jockey Club, they w ou ld h ave s aid the defendant was right in refusing to pay. The real defence wa', that this was a betting transaction. Surplice was about to run for the Derby, and was backed by Demonte Arbuthnot, and he took the bet of 10 to 1 against that horse. Surplice ran, and won ; and, before the settling day arrived, this abominable eourse was taken :—Arbuthnot, perfectly conscious he could not appear on the settling day, proceeded, through the instrumentality of Hay, :the plaintiff, to threathen the defendant that unless he instantly paid the 1001. application would be made to the Union Club to discharge the plaintiff from his situation of porter at that club, and, under the pressure of that threat, the defendant bad given the bill for 1001. It was, therefore, clear that the original bill was given in payment for the bet. Fite plaintiff had been to the person who acted for the defendant, and told him he wanted 1001. for this bet which Arbuthnot had won from the defendant. The plaintiff had been aware of the nature of the debt for which the bill was given. It was well known that a jockey never betted, but he had generally a considerable stake in the race, and sometimes, by a sort of paralytic motion of the arm, he pulled in his horse when he ought to have let him go. The truth was he had betted by commission against the horse he rode, and the defen dant carried on that business of betting by commis sion. Proof would be given of these facts, and then the defendant would be entitled to a verdict. Charles Sanders—l know the defendant. He was waiter or porter at the Union Club. He was in the habit of betting. I am secretary to the defendant. He had a betting-book on the Derby of 1848. Ar buthnot was a member of the Union Club. I kept the defendant's betting-book. Surplice ra n for the Derb y , and won. I know the plaintiff. I have had the pleasure of seeing him. I saw him after the Derby day, and after settling-day. The plaintiff was at the ' Star and Garter, Green-street, Leicester-square. He asked for the defendant, who was not there. I asked him if his business was private, or for betting, and he said it was for a bet. I asked, upon what horse ; he said, Surplice. I then searched the defendant's , book, and said there was no such bet. The plaintiff said, Arbuthnot had taken the bet for him, and if he did not pay him, or give some satisfaction, Arbuthnot was a member of the club, and he would get him out 'of his situation. I said, "You must do y o u r best and your worst." H e t o ld me there was 100 to 10 to pay on Surplice. He then went away. I told the plain tiff that Arbuthnot was a defaulter, and that that was what gave him the " tip" to go away. I saw the plaintiff again in July ; we said nothing on the sub ject ; but he told me had got satisfaction, but he did . not say how. I have never seen these bills. Cross-examined—l am dill in office. The Derby COURT OF INLAND REVENUE, Jan. 16 (Before H. F. STEPHENSON, Ecq.; C. J. HERRIES, Esq.; and CHARLES PRESSLEY, Esq. THE QUEEN V. DUREL. Richard Durel, of West-street, Bethnal-green, was charged on an informatinn, with removing spirits, with intent to defraud her Majesty of the duty thereon. Mr. Benjamin John Elmy deposed that he was an officer of Excise, and on the 10th of August last he was in the company of Mr. Robert East, another officer, in the City-road, when he saw the defendant and his wife just before them, going towards Isling ton. He followed, and on coming up to them, ob served the defendant to turn his head, and heard him say something to his wife, who had a bundle on her arm, which was partly covered over by the ends of her shawl. Witness went up to her and said, " I believe, Madam, that you have got illicit spirits there." She replied, " Indeed I have not, sir." Witness, however, observed a working of her right arm, as if she was in the act of probing some thing, and immediately afterwards observed that a wetness appeared on the pavement, which smelled strongly of spirits. Upon this he attempted to pull the bundle away from her, when he was seized from behind by the defendant, who caught hold of witness's arms and endeavoured to pinion him. Failing in this, he attempted to crush the parcel between his hands. He also warded off blows aimed at him, and ran up to a shop with the bundle to secure it, and to prevent the spirits being entirely spilled. Mr. East secured the female, and showed him a knife that was taken open out of her hand. lie succeeded in saving one gallon and nearly one quart of the spirits contained in a bladder. They were illicit, or had been privately distilled. He could speak positively that they were illicit, having had great experience in such matters. The defendant and his wife both gave fictitious names. On searching the defendant two books were found on him, showing that within a short period he had disposed of upwards of 800 gallons of spirits, the amount of duty upon which, and of which the Crown had been defrauded, was 500/. After some further proceedings, The Court said they must give judgment against the defendant in the full penalty of 1001. Benjamin Meakin, of No. 31, Star-street, Com mercial-road East, was charged with having in his possession and with working an illicit still. The COURT convicted him in the penalty of 50/., with condemnation of the seizure. William Kynaston, of Winchester-stre e t, Bethnal green, was charged with retailing malt and spirituous liquors without licence. F From the evidence of two const a bl es o f th e K di vision it appeared that the defendant was detected selling beer and spirituous liquors at Fairlop Fair on the 18th of July last. The defendant altogether denied the charge, but The COURT convicted him in the penalty f 205., with a caution for his future conduct. SOUTH AMERICAN MAlLS.—Messrs. Broadman, Naylor, and Lockett, the latter chairman of the Ship owners' Association, are to have an interview to -l ay with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of the merchants of Liverpool, respecting certain much-t ceded alterations in the dispatch and arrival of let'ers in con nexion with the western coast of South America, Iva the general postal communications between PARAMP, Quito, Mail: ) , Callao, and Valparaiso. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. Mr. Miller—One end of a piece of sash line MANSION-HOUSE. was made fast to the door handle on the outside, and Langley - and Shofield, men who have been fre- the other end to an iron scraper, so that it was made quent►y convicted as begging impostors, were brought quite fast; and what appeared to me very extraor before Alderman Gibbs, charged with having re-com- dinary, that though I kept calling out, and that per menced their professional operations, by the officers sons were passing outside, not one attempted to secure of the Mendicity Society. the thief. Langley, who has in the begging "dodge" been Sergeant Quinnear, Pl, said, that on receiving in greatly assisted by the loss of a leg, had been watched formation of the robbery on the preceding night, and trom the printing-office of Mr. Spottiswoode, near a description of the person by whom it was corn- Fleet-street, where he had " tried it on," into the 'flitted, and that description corresponding in every neighbourhOod of the Mansion-house, and was seen respect with that of the prisoner, he went to all his presenting a paper drawn up with a view to excite old haunts in search of him, but did not succeed in public commiseration. The document recommended finding him. On that afternoon, however, he came him, in a quiet and apparently straight-forward style, to the station-house, in Lockhe-fields, and said he to the notice of the benevolent, as an industrious and called in conssquence of hearing that he (Sergeant honest man, who had been overtaken by mis- Quinnear) was looking for him. He (Quinnear) fortunes, and was endeavouring to weather told hen that he certainly was looking for him on 3 the storm out of the workhouse, and there change of breaking the window of a watchmaker, end appeared in the list of subscrioers, which was got stealing watch -, chains, and other property. Tee up with peculiar tact, being partly signed in black, prisoner declared his perfect innocence of the charge, partly in blue ink, and partly in pencil, several and said he was perfectly willing to accompany him respectable names opposite to moderate contributions to the shop of the person robbed. On his way there for his aid. Shofieht evidently belonged to the same the prisoner said, "I hope I'll get seven years of ite class of unassuming beggars, and carried about him and then I'il have an opportunity of seeing Fred, a skilfully signed letter of recommendation, as a I3eadell" (a notorious thief; a companion of the pri sober, hard-working individual, the sudden and un- setter's, who had been traneported a short, time ego)• foreseen death of whose horse had grievously inter- In reply to the questions of the unsgistree, the wit fered with his labours for the support of a sick wife ness said the prisoner was the associate of many of and several small children. The paper, which was the most desperate thieves in the district, and had an effusion of most remarkable humility, made no - been twice summarily convicted at this court. broken-hearted appeal to the prosperous community, The prisoner declared he knew nothing whatever but merely craved a little help towards the purchase of the robbery, and observed that what he said to the of another horse, by means of which society would be sergeant was in consequence of his having been twice saved the additional maintenance of another helpless before, es on the present occasion, taken up innocently• family in the workhouse. Mr. NORTON observed that the robbery was a very Uorsford and Daniels, officers of the Mendicity daring one, and remanded the prisoner to a future day. Society, to which the public are much indebted for scouring the streets of impostors, took the prisoners into custody while one of them was exhibiting his claims to charity and the other was on the look out for the police. Langley endeavoured to swallow one of his papers of recommendation, hut was compelled to-disgorge it. They were both known to the officers under a variety of names, and had been for many years not oily practising the art themselves, but making the rising generation adepts in it. The prisoners said it was unfortunately usual with officers of the Meedicity Society to calumniate those they apprehended for being poor, by stating that poor people were enemies to work, so that there was no use in resisting or contradicting them. The prisoners were committed to hard labour, as rogues and vagabonds, each for six weeks. Catherine Wilson was charged with having robbed her mistress of a gold ring and some articles of plate. The prisoner, the wife ;of an Irish tailor, who is employed by one of the great houses at the east-end, and works in a room in which many others in the same service are employed, had been confilentielly treated by her mistress, but as articles daily disap peared from the house, Davis, the officer, was sent for, and informed of the fact. His suspicions fell upon the prisoner, who had never been suspected by the family, but who endeavoured to fix the guilt upon a poor laundress, who, if it had not been for the officer, would have been formerly charged with the ofihnee. The ring and other property were subt quently found at the shop of a pawnbroker in which they had been pledged by her. The husband of the prisoner, upon being called by Alderman Humeneay, and questioned as to the gene ral conduct of his wife, said—" I married her a few weeks ago in Ireland, and God knows I thought she was honest, or sure enough I wouldn't have married her " THE COUNTRV MARKETE, DALKP.ITEI MEAL MARKET, JAN. 14. There were 180 bags of oatmeal, 12 of burhymeal, and 1 of pot at this day's market. Sales ready. Oatnieal .same on the top, but 3d dearer on the current price; barleymet►l with , :ut alteration; the pot• barley Was not sold. Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lb!. \ First Second Third imperial .. 23s 6d 22s 9d 22. i 3d Barleymeal, per ditto ... 17s Od IGs Sd Od Peaserneal —s Od —s Od —s Od Flour ... Pot barley —s Od —3 Od I—s Od —s I —s Od --5 Od COAL MARKET.— N ..71 , ,TERDAY. Chester Main l7s Od Stewart's; 2ls Oa Rol.. well ~ Ord's Fedheugh Townley Wykin .... Wall's End, &c. Richardson's Tees lB3 6d Hilda Riddell's l9s Odi Nixon's Merthyr and Braddyll Ships at mark. t. 31. RAILWAY ztihA e. It. a.A ETS, BRISTOL, JAN'. 16. STOCK ExenANGE.—The market was firm to-day. Tb° transaetionn were as follow :—Great Western, Quarter:4, dis.— Ditto, 171. Shares, 7 dis.—Midland, 6 per cent.; 123 ex in. Ditto, 50r., dis. ex in. Bristol an Exeter, Thirds, 10 , 4 4 dis.—York and North Midland 18%. _ _ Livti,;KeooL. JAN. 16. STOCK EXCHANGE.---The market has been very firm an d steady, at fair prices. The transactions were as follow:" E st Lancashire,. 12%—London and North-Western, 114 1 /e New Quarters. f;s. 3(l. p.-. Ditto, Fifths, 1% p.—Ditto, Qur tern, 1 1 / 2 p.—Midland, 44—Ditto, Halves, 234 dis.—Sou t ' . Eastern and Dover, 19 .3 4—Ditto, New (No. 2), 14 c. dis.—Ditto, (No. 4), 6/. I ls. 3d. —York, Newcastle, an d Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1850, 41. 1 14 ' 3d. dis. MANCHESTER, JAN. 16. , Syoun ExCHANC4B.—Business to-day was rather linu•teda and prices are somewhat lower. The transactions were $1 ; follow: ast Lancashire, Preference, Quarters (min. 6 P e ce 4.), 7 1 / B —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 58 , 7 2 —Ditto ( 3 18 ,r chester and Leeds 100/.), die.—Ditto, Halves, 2 1 01 1: —Ditto, Fifths, 7 1 / 8 dis. -Ditto, 32/. (late Extension), 9 / 4 dis. —Ditto, (West Riding Union), 6% dis. —London 11 , 1 .;, North-Western, Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters 1 7-16 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, Preference' 8 1 / 1 c.—North Staflordshire,, 9 15-16 dis.—South-Elas teril and Dover (No. 4), Scrip, 6 9-16. Alderman HUMPHERY—Why did you not live to gether, instead of living separate, in such a place as London ? The husband—l work with several other journeymen for a man who hires men at very low wages, to work for a large tailor. We all live in the hLuse of the man, and work there, and I did not like to have her come amongst a number of tailors, and in deed she wouldn't do it herself, if I was bad enough to wish her, so she got into a place until I could get into better employment. The prisoner was remanded for farther examina tion. The LORD MAYOR requested that the press would announce his receipt of 51. ss. from Mr. John Kay, High Bailiff of Backinghmishire ; and Si. from Mrs. Gawen, for the poor-box. GUILDHALL. A man named Thomas James, dressed like a groom, was charged before Mr. Alderman Wilson, with stealing from the prosecutor's house on the 11th of September last, a silver snuff-box, a flute, and silk handkerchief, value 21., besides 7s. worth of coppers ! _ _ _ BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 16. STOCK EXCHANGE.-Our share market was better to-' The transactions were—London and North-W e stern, i't, e 4 Quarters, 265. 3d. p.—Slire , A sbury and Birmingham (A) , dis. ex in.—South Staffordshire, 3 dis. YORK, J'AN: 15. STOCK EXCHANGH. —The transactions to-day wer e 21 . follow : North British, Halves, 5 Ditto. Quarter, 9d.—Great Northern, VA ex in. York and N ° " Midland, 18 WILFUL MURDER.—A sad affair has occurred 7:„ Puckland, which has created a great sensation in neighbo ',hood. About four months ago a farmer nsir g , B.ro neing in want of a servant, applied to the tr n „' ° „, and took therefrom the daughter of a man named Oil a ins, who was transported some , ears since from % ix place; she was well recommended by the governor. her Saturday the girl died, and an inquest was held en body, the result of which proves that her death wes,`,. result of ill. treatment. A verdict of " Wilful nsur",_" 4 was returned against the farmer and his wife, and he have been committed to the county gaol to await th" trial at the assizes. The tr. atmut of the deceased. ° deposed to by various witnesses, was brutal in the er, treme, and the description of her body, as given by IP' surgeon, Mr. Gunner, and others, horrified the sese 6r bly in the court. It is sufficient to say that her bog was a mass of wounds, bruises, abscesses, and cats, fr om whips, sticks, &c.; and the deceased was reduced to 0 1 frightful condition by the prisoners. Their conduct 1; cited the deepest indignation, and it was with difficul b ;, that the porno:rat ars of this horrid crime were kep t ,j) the , police officers from the hands of the infuriated .0?0, on their being conveyed from the court to the Pol. So much excitlmer t has not been witnessed in thi s P to r for some years. On the morning of their departur°,o4 Exeter, the bridge which they had to cross was thr° l3 :ol by hundreds of people; but the authorities judi c % ° o ol or ered a car at the gaol door, in which the pro- 0 1- w, re conveyed twa miles out of town, to await tho val f the Exeter mail.—Exeter Gazette. the THE CITY DISP EN S ARY . —Y ester d ay aftern— li vi ag half-yearly meeting of the governors of this char/0' A v. held at the Dispensary, Queen-street, Chearit ; joes Roberts in the chair. From the minutes of the ta r pr o t charity,committee meetings amounting i t app anniversary dinner, and th t a o t appeared that a balance In - 1 1 0 , a sermon preached on behalf of the institution 11 ,,tioS 2531., resulted a r d es b u e l e t:l co fr l o le ta cte tn d e s f t i b e e t Bishop cf Hereford. In consequence of the rslignk the of Dr..lintley, Dr. Manly was appointed one ° ,.„0 0 physici.ens of the charity. The medical report s"", 1. the number of patients under treatment on Jantis t y' 1849, to have been 935, and that there bad "Sell muted during the ensuing twelve months, 8,73 1 . ri d i e d, were discharged, cured and relieved, 8,673; 35 11 , 1 1- 13 25 had been dismissed for irregular conduct, ...,"fie" o bel A ' mined under treatment en the 31st lo ce tpo de" Several hundred cases of the late epidemic were 4t o rei' to with,,ut letters of recommendation also rna,, r . E 3 ,,, r e ' dents arid diseases requiring immediate aid. ".`",,,d tb e ceipts for the past year amounted to 6241.; i t "„ th e expend Lure to 580/. In answer to a govali ° ;? r es't secretary stated that the charity was still 2 4 0/ 1° f' r t Ra e and tha - the sum in hand was but 116/. The reP ° ' then ad , re( 1. 0 ; ALUMNI> APPOINTMENT OF THE BIIEIOI , OF 9 CHESTER As TUTOR TO THE PRINCE OF WAS„, b oi good deal of anxi e ty and inquiry has been Cs e at some quarters, during the last few days, by the N s ter , ante of the following paragraph in the Courier 01. tle day last :—" Th e L or d Bi s h o p o f M anc hester b li ;'f hje ~n derstand, been appointed director of the studies the Royal Highn ess the Prince of Waler." We 11611 0 pti i ° very best a u th or ity f or s t a ti ng th a t thi s War e al l wholly without foundation ; the fact being, 09 to b id informed, that the office o tutor or preceptoL c . Dr' Royal Highness has been conferred upon Vey P l dial l i Wilherforc, Bishop of Osford.—Manchester 6 , r t 00 0 1 FIRE IX A CORN MILL, NEAR Barosi.- - •t",,,tei l „ twelve o'cl. (A on the night of Thursday, the at Bish o p M or d t t on , near Rip on , th e p ro perty cl i i h ole s . Greenwood, Esq., and in the occupation of Mr . v a s O a ' Trees, was discovered to be on fire, and so rapi.d * : re-cendency of the flames that before the eng lo l "i t ht"; be procured from Ripon the whole of the mill , " 0 105 exception of the water-wheel, was destroyed. The P r „,.. o re were only left about ten o'clock, and all then ap p ` ; to be safe , . We regret to stat e , that the atock !i t in the mill and the books were consume d, and t part of the property was issuree.—Lodi Paper Mr. Henry Phillip Picot, landlord of the Red Lion public-house, Fleet-lane, said, that the prisoner had been in his service about six months, when on the morning of the 11th September, between the hours of two and three o'clock, he was awoke by a police man, who had found the front door open. At that time the prisoner was waiter, and on searching the house with the police, it was discovered that he had gone, after breaking open some drawers in a room behind the bar, and taking the property already named, since which he had not been seen. Robert Lilley, 344, deposed to receiving the pri soner in custody from the prosecutor, in Fleet-street, but found nothing relative to the missing property, either on his person, or at his lodgings in Black Horse-yard, Maize-pond. George Betson, 277, said that on the 11th of Sep tember, about three o'clock in the morning, he tound Mr. Picot's door open, and having made him aware of the fact, he (witness) went into the prisoner's bed room, but found no one there. Oa examining the bar and the room behind it, Mr. Picot declared he was robbed. At about half-past one o'clock the same morning he saw the prisoner standing in his shirt-sleeves at his master's door. He said that his master was not at home, and he and the housekeeper were waiting up for him. There was a light in the bar, and after the prisoner went in he proceeded en his beat, and saw no more of him. There was a chest of drawers in a room behind the bar, and one of the drawers had a mark upon it, as if it had been at tempted to be opened. William Price, of the Surrey-road, waterman, said that he knew the prisoner, and saw him on Saturday week, when he asked witness if he would deliver a message from him to Mr. Picot. He consented to do so, and the prisoner told him to go and say that, if prosecutor would give a f',.w lines under his hand that he would forgive him, and say nothing about the affair, the property should be restored. Witness went to Mr. Picot, who said he would do nothing of the sort. He told the prisoner the answer he had received, and the previous night Jameswent and looked in at the prosecutor's window, was recognised, and given into custody. Mr. Picot said he was not away from the house as the prisoner represented to the officer, but, on the contrary, he saw all perfectly safe by half-past twelve o'clock. G. Wardle, 221, produced a plumber's rough knife, he had received from the prosecutor on the 11th of September, and on comparing it with the marks on the drawers, they exactly corresponded. In consequence of information he received, he went to Mr. Harding's, a pawnbroker, in York-street, Westminster, and found that the missing property had been pledged there fdr eight shillings. David Nicholls, assistant to Mr. Harding, the pawnbroker, produced the flute, handkerchief, and silver mounted snuff-box, which were pledged in the name of Thomas Adams, on the 11th of September (the day of the robbery) but by whom he could not tell, for the young man who took them in had left Mr. Harding's service, and was not to be found. Mr. Picot identified the articles, and said he had been obliged to give twelve shillings as compensation to the owner of the flute. The property was all safe when he went to bed. Alderman WILSON remanded the prisoner until Monday next, for further evidence. LAMBETH. Alfred England was placed at the bar, before Mr. Norton, and charged on suspicion with the commis sion of the following daring robbery : Mr. Samuel Miller, a watch-maker and jeweller at 6, Robinson-place, Kennington-road, opposite one of the entrances to this court, deposed, that on the preceding evening, at about a quarter to seven o'clock while engaged in his shop, he observed a person standing outside, on the pavement, whose face was close to the window, and in a few seconds after a large square of plate-glass was smashed by that person. He (Mr. Miller) instantly rushed round his counter, and endeavoured to get out, but found that the door was fastened on the outside, so that a minute or two elapsed before he succeeded in opening it sufficiently wide to force himself out, and at that time the person had got some distance up Penton-place. Ile followed, and called out " Stop thief!" as loud as he could, but the party escaped. On an examination of the pro perty in the window he found that 1 gold Geneva watch, and 7 or 8 silver watches, 4 gold Albert chains, 3 gold curb chains, and other property to the amount of from 451. to 501. had been stolen. The prisoner he be believed to be the person who had broken the glass and stolen the property, but he should not like to swear positively to his identity. Mr. NORTON—Had you a good light in your shop at the time ? Mr. Miller—Yes, Sir, there were two glaring lights in the window, and I had a perfect opportu nity of seeing the man's face just before the glass was broken. I also had an oportunity of seeing him a second time, while he was engaged in securing the property, and while I was end eavour i ng t o f orce th e door open, and believe him to be the person. I have also had him placed, since his apprehension, in the same position in which I saw the person just before the robbery, and his countenance and height corre spond so exactly with him that I believe it to be the same. Mr. NORTON—You have stated that your shop door was so closed that you could not get out; how was that ? ___:----- Of BIRTHS , 00 On the 154/1i inst., in Upper Grosvenor-street, the Ol e John Walter, E sq ., M.P. , o f a son . , c• c On the 14th inst., th e w if e o f C ap t ain At w ell Le. e ' , Madras Engin eers , o f a d aug h ter , of tier , On the 14th inst., in Cavendish-square, the ladi l e man Stern, Esq , of a son. the° On the 1-ith inst., at Sussex-place, Regent's-par - ' be, of H. Huth, E,q., of a son. ° alb" On the 14th i ns t., a t th e R ec t or y, Boughton' the Kent, the wife of the Rev. E. Moore, of a son. get On the 14th inst., in Woburn-place, Russell-eV or, lady oi F. Powell, Esq., of a son. l4°' On the 14th inst., in Percy-pl ace , Cl a pham-roa-- , 13, F. Hodgson, of a son. e v ' i ., J. On the 15th inst., at High ga t e , th e w if e of the ll ' tar- Dyne, Head Master of Highgate School, of a date , i ,ctiu MARRIED. On the 19th of November, at Calcutta, 7 ,T a esPaor James 'l 3O 1", i 0 Esq , of the Bengal Civil Service, only son ef kh,.. n ` j° to .. '. v i t ie , ray Naesmyth, Bart., of Posso, Peeblesshire , .N. - "'' tb P Gordon Brodie Russell, daughter of Fraucis Wb itw°r toi ° sell, Esq , B.C.S. i CaPl o et On the 14th i ns t., a t St. Gil es ' s , Camberiv o eli g,ll 3 ::; of George Sackville C o tt er , M a d ras Artillery, youngest daughte r of th e lat e Abraham A lt 413° ' Clapham. ________.--------- for DIED. ~, Alai' ma. On the 14th inst , in Woburn sq . u i are, n bir_ ~_fe a n t -gB . .elV' merly of the Theatres Royal . ru - ry ane a (1 ., , r is .. i dger y On the 14th inst., at Y Somerset-house, I luw` i 0 , 5 John James, Esq., aged 78. At Brighton, on the 14th inst., T. Atkins on, ESq" ° d i ; place, and Kidside. Westmoreland, aged 83. ~ ,tho 6 - e i;) On the lhth inst., in Gloucester-gardens, vv:eisyt3" terrace. Mary Anne West, widow of the late Van' e i ,I. Gou , hurst. Kent, age! 65. wi f e 0. On the 13th inst., aged 72, Catherine DorotbY, • a J. o 'l n 'uf t n h e e ll , , , kiv i . u , , o t t , L a t an ß g a l t e h y , s, a E e s d sa s x 7 . Al f ~. r , th e Sophia ?9- ` a " : ;• c o l d of General John S. Wood, Lieutenant of the Towel,jac shire, O n the it,)s a l 0 Florence, 0 inst rene e , On the 10th inst., at S Anhampton-row, itus. James Ivyleafe, Esq., aged 80. , adtauLghoittetrli-oplarrrt,Cl.leoairabLa(milscitotet i OA London: Printed and Published by hiURD" or N o t 1 0 No 1 12, Strapri, Pr; T 1 tPr At of"e . „ 0 " , tFand, the Precino . o ' ! the tiaimv , n the Middlauez, Thuralay, January 17, 1850. JANUARY 17, 1850 I f ~"+ ,1 4 44 Ati 4,, ......„ e. 6; 1 tad Meh v, t -.r e it I. A •••., ai d Digo tow Will