The Sun. — London, England, 1845-05-13 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENTS The Third Report of the Commissioners appointed by warrant under your Majesty's sign manual, he date the 23.1 of November, 1842, " To inquire into atel con sider the most effectual means of improving the metro polis, and of providing increased facilities of communica tion with the same." Your Majesty's Commissioners have had under their consideration the means of improving a large and densely peopled district in the southern parts of Westminster, the condition of which, from defective drainage, and from other causes, has for a very considerable period been alike offensive to public morals, and to the public health. The expediency of improving the communications in Southern Westminster, as a means of ameliorating the social oondition of the district, has been at various pe riols under the consideration of Parliament. It formed the subject of inquiry before a Select Committee of the Ilettse of Commons in the session of 1832; it is adverted to in reports of Select Committees on Metropolitan Im provements subsequently appointed; and it was u!ti mately recognised by the Le.gislatur e in connexion with meesures affecting other p n-tions of the metropolis, by the assignment of a sum of 39,0001., in aid of a saacious and convenient communication between the neighbour hood of the Parliament Houses and that of Buckingham Palace. The appointment of the earliest of these Committees was moved by elr. Rigby Was then representing the town of Ipswieli in Pesliainent ; and feom the corres poadence inserted in the appendix, it will appear that proposals funded upon the recommendation contained in its report have, at variants subsequent periods, formed the subject of communications between Mr. Wason and the Government. Upon the appointment of these Commissions by your bi ajestv, these proposals were renewed. In conjunction with Mr. Thomas Ashton Yates, and Mr. Richard Rushton Preston, Mr. Wason addressed to the First Lord of your Majesty's Treasury a memorial reciting the various proceedings to which he had been a party, in connexion with the question of an improvement in improvement in Westminster, and expressing a desire that his offer should be referred to, and reconsiderei by this Board. In accordance with the prayer of this memorial, Mr. Wason and his coadjutors attended and submitted to this commission plans, partly original, and in part the suggestion of others, for lines of communication between the Broad Alinonry in Westminster and the immediate neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace. Of these lines, varying chiefly at their termini, and haring a common (or very nearly common) centre in Strutton-ground, the memorialists proposed to complete and open to the public a portion, extending from Strutton-ground to Pimlico, for a sum not exceeding 25,0001. On investigation, these proposals were found to apply to but a comparatively inexpensive division of the dis • tance between Pimlico and Westminster Abbey, and as they contemplated at the same time the absorption of nearly two thirds of the sum set apart by Parliament in aid of the entire cost of the improvement, your Majesty's Commissioners declined to entertain them. Further proposals were thereupon submitted for guaranteeing the completion of the whole distance, at a cost to the public not exceeding 50,0001. Your Majesty's Commissioners have endeavoured, by evidence and otherwise, to arrive at an opinion which should guide:them in dealing with this offer, and they feel bound to admit that, if the question submitted for their consideration were one involving the expediency of undertaking this improvement solely at the public charge, its solution might be sought in vain in the con flicting and unsatisfactory testimony before them, both as to the present value of property in Westminster, and its probable increase hereafter, supposing the projected line of street to be completed. But looking to the assistance sought for by the me morialists in the light in which it has evidently been viewed by the Legislature,—as in the first instance an incitement to private enterprise, and ultimately as a contribution only to the cost of a great public im provement, to be" paid for in great measure out of private resources,—your Majesty's Com missioners are of opinion that the evidence, though conflicting, and inconclusive for ulterior objects, is sufficient for the immediate purposes of this inquiry, and such as to justify them in recommending subject to the hereinafter-mentioned conditions, an addition of the sum f 11,0001. to the 39,0001. already granted by Parliament. Your Majesty's Commissioners may observe that they have had the less difficulty in arriving at this conclusion from the fact that the sum at present available under the authority of Parliament for the purposes of an im provement in Westminster, was set apart without reference to considerations in any way connected with its probable cost, but as the estimated residue of a fund to be created, under the same authority, for effecting improvements in other districts of the metropolis. The lines of communication submitted by the me morialists, and referred to in a previous portion of this report, have been slightly modified by this commission. The immediate object of this modification has been to avoid any interference with the workhouse of St. Mar garet's parish, and with the burial-ground attached to the chapel in the same locality ; but its effect has also been to divert the channel of communication between the Broad Alinonry and Strutton-ground, in a direction further south, into a more imperfectly drained, a more densely peopled, and, consequently, a more objectionable por tion of district. Your Mijesty's Commissioners are aware that, in all great measures of local improvement, modifica tions like these are seldom to be effected but at the expense of advantages of another character. But in de vising means to meet the complicate 3 exigencies of such a population as that of Westminster, within the limits defined by the Legislature, and restricted by the peculiar circumstances of the district, the course of their pro ceeedings has admitted of but little room far considera tions eevoted exclusively to subjects of taste, or of architectural development. - Your Majesty's Commissioners, however, are of opi nion that a line of street has been devised which, both in itself and as the parent of other improvements in the communications of Southern Westminster, may promote the health, the morals, and the social comforts of a large body of its inhabitants ; and with the conviction that, as far as the conditions imposed by Parliament and the cir cumstances of the district will permit, it will supply an important defect in the existing thoroughfares of the western portions of the metropolis, they have decided upon recommending to your Majesty its adoption upon the following basis, viz.:- 1. That the contracting parties shall obtain, in the present session of Parliament, an Act empowering them to make and complete a new and direct line of commu nication between Pimlico and Westminster Abbey, ac cording to the plan modified by this commission. 2. That the Act shall contain clauses requiring them to give or provide security to the extent of 10,0001., for the complete execution of the undertaking, according to such plan, within the space of five years from the passing of the Act ; such security to he approved by the Com missioners of your Majesty's Treasury, and to be given to such persons as they shall nominate, who shall be empowered to enforce the same. 3. That the Act shall empower the Commissioners of ' ; your Majesty's Woods, &c., to pay to the Commissioners :for executing the projected improvement the 39,0001. which, by an Act of the fourth of your Majesty's reign they are ernpo' , Tred, with the consent of the Trea sury, to advance in aid of a communication between the neighbourhood of the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace ; and that it shall also empower the payment to the said Commissioners, out of any moneys which may b.', raised for metropolitanimprovements hereafter, of the further sum of 11,0 . 10!. 4. And that neith2r the 30,000/. nor the 11,000/. shall be paid to the Corn:nission , o 3 for executing the Act until after the projected improve:n: l a shall hwe been ful!3- c ,, mpl 'tel to the satiifaution of the Treasury. Y . ) , lr :vlajesty's Commissioners think it their duty to certify, with exception, no other plans for the improvement of Westminster have been sub.nittFil for their consideration within the pzrioi comprised in this rep , irt. The Dean and Chlpter of Westminster were invited to produce plan 4, and declined, on grounds which will be found stated in the annexed correspondence. The Society for pr emoting Metropolitan Improve rs etts submitted a plan (of which a copy is appended), invulving a total re-arr ingement of the district. Your Majesty's Commissioners have declined, therefore, to in clude the plan of the seciety in their inquiries. Your Mejesty's commissioners, since their engagement to recommend the plan which forms the immediate sub ject of this report, have very recently received intim tiou of th'e exiitence of other plans fur the improvement of the same district, which, however, by the fact of such engagement, they do not feel themselves at liberty to call for with a view to their investigation. For the immediate purpose, however, of any inquiries connected with the amelioration of this portien.of the me tropolis, they have caused the whole district of southern Westminster to be surveyed and levelled, and the levels to be carefully laid down, on a plan which is inserted in their app !ndix ; but while there is evidence, they conceive, on the face of this document, of the eligi bility of the line of street which they have recommended, it forms, they feel assured, the best foundation that at present czu be devised for a course of future and more enlarged. improvement. All which i~ inJ3t humbly and dutifully submitted. t.Signe..l) LINCOLN (L.S) It. LEMON (L.S.) LYTTLETON (L.S.) ' 11. G. KNIGHT (L.S.) COLTS .IRNE (LSO A. \IILNE (L s.) J. C. HERRIES (L.S.) CHAS. GORE (L.S.) J. HUMPHERY (L.S.) R. SMIRKF: (L.S.) R. H. INGLIS (L.S.) CHAS. BARRY (L.S.) 1. Whitell%ll-pl ice, April 9, 1545. GREENWICH.—Up to seven o'clock last night up wards of 20,000 persons proceaded by the trains from the London-bridge station to Greenwich. ME - rnopor.is INIPP.OVE:IIENfS.-00 Saturday last the Com missioners of her Majesty's Woods and Forests received tenders, at their ofilees, Whitehall, for letting, on building leases, the ground on the east side of the new street between long-acre and Broad.street, St. Giles's, and which is to ba ;ailed Endell-street. The fronts of the houses are to be " architectural elevations," according to the terms of the contract, and no objection will be made to buildings of the style known as Elizabethan. The lessee is to forfeit all right to the lease, unless the carcase of each house be completee iey or before Christmas-day, 1845 ; and the houses are to be z ompletely finished and rendered fit for habitation by Mid summer-day, 1846, under penalty of forfeiture of the lease. Ihe several pieces of ground are to be let on lease for a terns of eighty years, from Midsummer- day, 1843, at a rent of one peppercorn for the first year, and at such rent, for the remainder of the term, as shall be agreed upon. The lessee is to reimburse the Commissioners for building the vault and paving the street at the rate of 700/. for 114 feet six inches or 331. a year ; and the ground excavated for the founda tions, if required by the Oommissioners, is to be deposited to fill up the low ground around the illillbank Prison. The street, in 'which the water and gas-pipes are laid down, will vary in width from fifty to sixty feet. The Marquis of Londonderry, during the last month, has given 20 keels of.coals to the poor of Sunderland, which have been distributed under the direction of the Com • mittee of the Indigent Sick Society. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Mau 12. (Before the Lord Chief BARON and a Special jury.) THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. WALTER HENRY AUSTIN. ➢ir. JARVIS said he was anxious to have the damages in this case assessed now. He would be willing to fix the amount at 2001. _ Mr. Humritmas said he had no objection to consent to a verdict for the Crown for that amount. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. Henry Hays, a person of respectable appearance, sur rendered to answer an indictment for misdemeanour in having unlawfully contravened the statute referring to the registration of births, &c. Mr. BODKIN, who appeared for the prosecution, briefly stated the circumstances under which the charge was made against the defendant, and said that the offence imputed to him was having wilfully given a wrong de scription of the infant to the registrar, but under the pe culiar circumstances of the case he did not intend, if such a course met with the sanction of the Court, to offer any evidence in support of the indictment. The defen• dant had been on intimate terms with a young female, and the result of that intercourse was the birth of the child in question, and it was in reference to the descrip tion given of that child by the defendant to the registrar that the present indictment was framed. The defendant had since made all the reparation in his power to the young woman, and as there was an entire absence of anything like fraud or fraudulent intention on the part of the amused, it was considered better, in order to spare the feelings of all the parties, that the circum stances should not be gone into publicly, and that no evidence should be offered in support of the charge. Mr. BALLANTINE, who was instructed fur the defen dant, said he should be perfectly satisfied with the adop tion of this course, but he at the same time remarked, that in his opinion it was very doubtful whether the charge could have been legally made out, and whether the defendant had in pint of fact committed any offence. He was charged with having given false information re specting the child to the registrar, but in reality he be lieved it would appear that he had given the true Chris tian and surname of the mother, and had not given any false statement whatever, although the real connexion between the parties might have been concealed. After some further conversation the Recorder Con sented to the course proposed by Mr. Bodkin, and a ver dict of Not Guilty being returned, the defendant was discharged. Pierce Wall O'Brien, Thomas Maunde, and Thomas Rawlings surrendered to answer to an indictment for misdemeanour in having unlawfully entered into the pos session of a house in Fetter-lane, the property of Thomas William Reeve. _ _ Mr. Clarkson prosecuted, and Mr. Allen appeared for the defendants. After a long and uninteresting legal argument, the Court ruled that the precise charge contained in the in dictment ceuld not be sustained, and the defendants were therefore acquitted without any evidence being gone into. William Joseph May, 37, clerk, pleaded guilty to two indictments charging him with stealing two cheques, one for 8L 175., and the other for 51. 3s. 4d., the property of his master, William Temple. The prosecutor, in answer to questions from the Court, said that the prisoner had behaved honestly while in his service, with the two exceptions referred to in the indictment. He had frequently sent hies with considerable sums of money to his bankers, and he had always found him convey them safe. He begged to re commend him to the mercy of the Court. The Recorder sentenced the prisoner to be kept to hard labour for six calendar months. John Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to a charge of steal ing_an apron from the person of William F. Inglis. The offence was committed at the execution of Hocker, on the 28th April. The prisoner was proved to have been before con victed of felony. The Recorder asked the prisoner whether he wished to say anything. It was proved that he had been be fore convicted of felony, and the second offence was committed at an execution. He made no reply, and the Court sentenced him to hard labour for one year. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) MANSION-HOUSE. A young man, named Robson Botterall, was brought before the Lor d for final examination, upon the charge of having robbed his employers, Messrs. Boyd and Co., of Friday-street, warehousemen. Mr. Hum phreys attended for the prosecution, and Mr. Pelham for the defence. The brother of the principal witness for the prosecution, it appeared, was the discoverer of a system of plunder carried on by another servant of the prosecutors, against the house of Cooke and Co., of St. Paul's Churchyard, as well as against the prosecutors themselves, and the individual so charged had been committed trial, at the present sessions, by the Lord Mayor. Mr. Walker, of the firm of Boyd and Co., stated that when the prisoner was taken he made a confession, upon being told that he should be confronted with the pawn broker to whom he had parted with the goods ; at the same time, no promise whatever had been made to him. The prisoner said he had taken altogether seventeen pieces of lawn, and two dozen of handkerchiefs, to New man, the pawnbroker, in Drury-lane ; and that he had also taken to the same place twenty-six or thirty yards of vesting satin, and a quantity of satin scarfs, but he had had the vesting satin and satin scarfs from a friend in Lancashire, who had sent them to him in payment of a debt of honour. The LORD MAYOR—Did he give you the name of that friend ? The witness replied that the pri soner refused to disclose the name because, as he stated, the friend was a junior partner in a a house in Manchester, and the disclosure would ruin him. Witness sent for an officer (Inspector Waller), and the prisoner told witness to take the keys from his coat pocket in the linen warehouse. The prisoner said to witness, as the latter was going to look for the keys, " I may as well tell you you will see there a dozen handkerchiefs in my pocket, which I have taken." Witness declined to go to search the coat-pocket with out being accompanied by the officer. Inspector Waller accompanied him and found the handkerchiefs, but not the keys. Inspector Waller corroborated the statement of Mr. Walker. Mr. Avant. who is in the house of Mrs. Newman o Drury-lane, stated that the prisoner had sold goods to the house on the 31st of March and on subsequent days. The Loup MAYOR—On what day did the prisoner go into the service of the house of the prosecutor Mr. Walker—On the 31st of March. Mr. Avant said, that on that very day the prisoner called at the house and sold two pieces of lawn. The LORD MAYOR—What, on the first day of his employment ? Mr. Walker—On that day he began. The witness stated that on the 2d of August the pri soner brought in 12 pieces of lawn, and sold them to the firm for 31. 15s. (five of the pieces were here produced and identified as part of the stolen property). Seven of the pieces had been since sold by the house. On the sth of Nay the prisoner brought in 12 handkerchiefs, and on the 6th witness, upon going into Messrs. Boyd and Co.'s warehouses to mike a purchase, saw the prisoner there, and was served by him. Witness said to him, " llallo , are you here ? Why, you told me last night you were not in a situation. The prisoner re plied, " it's all right." Witness said, " where had those lawns come from ?" The prisoner said nothing, and witness remarked that he had purchased up stairs some of the patterns which he had purchased of the prisoner last March. The prisoner said, `• I assure you it is quite right. They never came from here." Witness, after some further comment, asked the prisoner wheeter he did not know that his (witness's) brother had de tected a party who had been plundering them some time before ? to which the prisoner replied in the affirmative. Witness completed the purchase he was making with the prisoner, and made a communication to the house upon the subject. The Loan MAYOR—Does the prisoner wish to say anything on the subject of the charge? Mr. Pelham— Nothing. The Loon MAYOR—I commit him for trial. Mr. Walker expr,ssed an earnest wish that as a gen tleman of t`le name of Joseph Battrell, who had been in the house of Messrs. B )yd and Co. for several years, and was a person in whose integrity the greatest reli ance was placed, mi4ht be prejudiced by the report that a man of his name was charged, the press would make the distinction in-tho account of the transaction. The witnesses were „then bound over to appear to give evidence at the sessions of the Central Criminal Court. A young woman of engaging appearance was put to the bar. _ A policeman stated that a Captain P--, who had folio sed the prisoner from Norwich, and charged her in the City with being in possession of a trunk containing his property, hal thought proper not to appear to sup port the charge. It appeared from the reluctant statement made by the young woman that Captain P— had been paying marked attention to her in Norwich, and had promised to marry her, but that findin,g his intentions were not honoura'3le, she had sad !only left the town and c - me to London, to avoid importunities which were insulting and degrading to her; that the Captain followed her t) town, and, per ceiving that she was determined to shun him, charged her with:having robbed him of his trunk, just as she was getting into an omnibus. The Captain sent a eertificate to the Mansion House, atating that he had no intention to appear against the young woman, and the Lord Mayor discharged her. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENIN GI MAY 13,.1845. WORSHIP-STREET. Yesterday Mary Ann Wire was pla:ted at tha bar be fore Mr. Bingham, charged with hiving feloniously in • termarried with ona George Allender, her first husband, Robert Wire, being then and still living. It appeared that the prisoner was given into custody at the instigat;on of the first husband, a tailor, to whom she was married on the 13th of June, 1819, at the church of St. Botolph, Aldgate, but who said that be had lived separate from her for many years past, and who declared that he was entirely ignorant of the second marriage until about a twelvemonth ago, since when he had been using every effort to substantiate the fact, and bring the prisoner to justice. Richard Chidley, parish clerk of St. Botolph, pro duce,' the register of that parish, containie g an entry of the first marriage, solemnised on the day above stat-d, but had no recollection of the person of either of the parties to it. George Allender, the second husband, a master car penter, was then called, and stated that about twelve years ago he went to lodge in a house occupied by the Prisoner in Albany-street, Commercial-road East, shortly after which he paid her his addresses, and made her an offer of marriage. The prisoner rejected his offer, and stated that she was already married to a man named liobert Wire, who was at that very time lodging in the same house, ill an adjoining room to the wit use's, and Wing with another woman who passed under his name. The witness said, he was certainly aware that a man and woman of that name did reside in the house, as the prisoner had told him, but the state ment appeared to him to be so improbable, that he thought it was nothing but a ruse on her part to get rid of him, and he therefore pressed his suit with renewed earnestnels, and as an inducement, threatened to quit the house altogether, unless she consented to accept him. In consequence of this, the prisoner, with some reluc tance, ultimately acceded to his proposal, and they were married in the month of June, about eleven years ago, but he had not the slightest recollection as to what church it took place at, or in what parish the church was situated. The first husband continued for a long tima after the witness's marriage with the prisorer to reside in the same house, and was well acquainted with the circumstances of the second marriage, although he now professed himself to be wholly ignorant of them. The witness spoke in the highest terms of the prisoner, whom he described as a truly excellent woman, and with whom ha had lived in uninterrupted harmony and hap piness ever since tha fact took place which farmed the ground of the present charge. Police-constable Day, 74 K, produced a copy of an entry in the register of St. Leonard's, Shoraditch, of the marriage, in June, 1832, of George Allender to Mary- Anne Wire, which he had compared with the register, and found to be correct, but had no witnesses present to prove the identity of the parties, and the clergyman de clined to attend, upon the ground that he was entitled to a longer notice than had been given him. Mr. Heritage, on behalf of the prisoner, whose family he stated to be of great respectability, contended that the legal evidence of the second marriage was too incon clusive to justify his client being sent to take her trial up ni it ; but said, that if the Magistrate shout' be of a contrary opinion, he should b 3 in a condition to prove at the trial, that not only was the first husband entirely cognizant of the whole f Lets of the prisoner's marriage to Allender, but that the woman with whom Wire co habited was actually in the habit of waiting upon the newly married couple as an attendant, and that, too, with the first husband's knowledge and sanction. Mr. BINGHAM said, though the corroborative testimony was certainly weak, he felt bound to send the case to a jury ; but, under the extraordinary circumstances at tending the second marri age, be should accept bail for the prisoner's appearance at the Central Criminal Court. The bail, one of whom was an offi3er in her Majesty's service, was immediately put in, and the prisoner left the Court with her friends. THAMES POLICE. _ _ _ Michael Sulliva7;:;;;11-knOWn associate of thieves, who was up at this Court in March last, charged, together with his wife and others, with stealing a number of sove reigns from the person of an engineer, but discharged from failure of the e% idence, was yesterday charged with the following daring robbery : Mr. W. Wilcox, master of the schooner Velocity, lying in the St. Katherine Docks, stated that he was proceed ing about one o'clock on Sunday morning, after having been with a few friends to the hotel where he lodged, when, in passing through White Lion-street, White chapel, he was suddenly kn.icked down, and his watch, together with a sovereign and a half-sovereign, were forcibly taken from him. A woman, named Lodder, who witnessed the trans action, stated that she saw the prisoner and two others come up to the complainant in White Lion-street. The prisoner seized complainant's watch, which he passed to the others, who made off. He then knocked the com plainant down, and stooped over him in such an atti tude as led her to suppose he was rifling complainant's pockets. Police-constable 17 H, in consequence of information furnished by the last witness, apprehended the prisoner at two o'clock yesterday morning, at the City of Carlisle public-house, Rosemary-lane. Sullivan, when charged with the robbery, denied all knowledge of it. He had on him 6s. 61. in silver, and 9d. in copper. The prisoner, in his defence, again denied any partici pation in the transaction. Mr. BRODERIP committed the prisoner for trial. SOUTHWARK. Yesterday James Harrington, late box book-keeper of the Victoria Theatre, was charged with creating a dis turbance at the stage-entrance of the theatre and ob structing one of the door-keepers in the execution of his duty. Joseph Edgar stated that he was door-keeper at the stage-entrance of the Victoria Theatre, and that he re ceived directions from Mr. Osbaldiston not to admit the defendant under any pretence into that part of the house. That about 11 o'clock that morning the defendant pre sented himself at the stage-entrance, and wanted to enter the lobby, and insisted on his right, but witness refused to permit him, when he said that he would not go unless he was taken into custody. The defendant explained that he had been box book keeps of the theatre, for which situation he paid Mr. Osbaldistou at the rate of 101. per week, and gave him a sum of money as security, and that at the period of his engagement it was stipulated that he was to have a month's notice previous to quitting. He, however, had been discharged without the necessary notice; and as he had property in the theatre amounting to between 30/. and 401., he went there for the pur pose of obtaining possession of it, but he was refused admission, and although he created no disturbance, nor had he interrupted any person in the execution of his duty, Mr. Osbaldiston called a policeman, gave him into custody, and he was conveyed to the station-house and locked up in one of the cells. He considered that he had been most shamefully 'treated, his only offence, if that could be called one, was proceeding to the theatre to obtain the restoration of his property. Mr. COTTINGUAM told the defendant that by insist ing to enter the theatre was not the way to enforce his claim ; that if he had property there and was refused the possession of it, he ought to have adopted a different course—namely, that of applying for a summons against the party who detained it. The magistrate, addressing the complainant, said, that he was not justified by law in giving the defendant into custody on such a charge, if he attempted to force himself into the house; then the complainant might have removed him, and if he met with resistance in carrying that into effect then he might have called in the aid of the police ; but it was clear he had no right to give the man in charge, who had grounds for an action. The defendant was then discharged, and he was in formed he could have a summons against Mr. Osbal diston for detaining his property. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - _ James William:, a young man belonging to the superior class of thieves, was charged with having picked the pockets of several ladies and gentlem::u who attended a morning concert at the Hanover-square Rooms. Mr. 011ivier, of Bond-street, said he saw the prisoner attempt the pockets of a friend, and having watched his movements closely, he detected him making similar at tempts on the pekets of several ladies. Ai soon as the concert was over he seized him, and, with assistance, conveyed him to the Vine-street station.house. Police-sergeant Whall, C 16, said the prisoner was one of the most daring and successful thieves in London. When brought to the station-house two purses were found on him, which were afterwards found to have been stolen from ladies who had visited the concert. The prisoner had a confederate with him ; but he contrived co escape in the crowd. The police had succoeded in finding out the address of one lady who had been robbed, and it was expected that the address of the second lady would be also discovered. This witness said he had reason to believe the prisoner had been at the same rooms at another concert the previous morning, for the police had received intelligence of the loss of about twenty purses at the concerts on Friday and Saturday week. Mrs. Hunter, of Maddox-street, said she was at the Hanover-so:pare Rooms on Saturday week. The purse now produced was of her own making. and she had it in her possesion when she went to the Hanover-square Rooms. She missed it as she was about to leave the concert. A police-constable 13.31onging to the M division said, he wished to make a statement with reference to the pri soner's character. Some time ago theprisoner was appre hended for firing off a loaded pistol in the public streets. lie had jewellery worth about 201. about him and other property, and the. account he gave of himself to Mr. Cottingham, the Magistrate, was so unsatisfactory, that he was remanded for further inquiry. It was then as certained that he was a notorious thief ; that he had picked one lady's pocket of 750/., and another in an o-nnibus of 121. On these two charges he was sent for trial, but as neither of the prosecutors appeared he was discharged. Hs was again apprehended, charged with having stolen the gold chain found on his person from a jeweller's shop in the City, together with other property of the cam: sort. As there were others in c mip%ny with the prisoner at the time the robbery was committed, the jury could not be induced to believe the prisoner was guilty, and he was accordingly acquitted, and once more turned loose on the public. The next accoant the witness heard was that the three persons in the prisoner's company when the City robbery was effected, together with a per son of the same name, awl who he believed was the pri soner himself, were in custody at Manchester for rob bury. The constable added, that though the prisoner was known to have been in custody and tried several times, there was no proof that he had ever been con- Tilted. The prisoner, who was provided with a solicitor, de clined making any defence. He was fully committed on one case, and ordered to be brought up again in case a second charge should be made out. _ _ James Magnay, the poor labouring man who was knocked down by a blow with the butt-end of a riding whip by an officer, who gave his name Walter Murray, for placing his hand on the gentleman's horse to prevent himself and child from being ridden over, came, with his foreman, to this Court, to beg for a small portion of the 51. penalty inflicted by the magistrate on the perpe tratlr of the outrage. The foreman said the poor man had been enable to go to his work, owing to the injury lv.l had sustained from the blow on his head, and as the man had a large family wholly dependent on him for their bread, he hoped his Worship would assign him a part of the fine by way of compensation for his loss of time. Mr MALTBY said he had no power to award any part of the penalty to the poor man. He would, howuver, assist him as far as was in his power, and he would, th2refore, order him to be paid half-a-sovereign from the poor-box. The money was handed to the poor man, who received it most thankfully. COAL. MARKET. Prices per tnn at the close of the market :—Baddle's West Hartley, 16s 3d ; Chester Main, 15s 6d ; Hasting's Hartley, 17s ; Holywell Main, 16s ' • Nelson's West Hartley, 16s 3d ; New T an ti e ld , 14s ; North Tanfield, 13s ; Old Pontop, 14s ; Pott's Primrose, 13s ; Rayensworth's West Hartley, 16s 6d ; Taylor's W est Hartley, 16s ; Townley, 15s ; West Wylam, 15s 6d ; Wylam' 15s 3d ; Wall's-end Clennell, 15s 6d ; New march, 15s 6d ; Hetton, 19s ; Lanibton, 18s 6d ; Pemberton, lis ; Russell's Iletton, 19s ; Stewart's 19s ; Bawham, 16s 3d ; Maclean's Tees, Ns 3d ; Tees, 18s 3d ; The Dukes, 17s 9d ; Wilton Park, 1539 d ; Hartley, 16a 3d ; Llangennech, 21s; Sidney's Hartley, l7.—ships arrived since hat day, 30. THE AMERICAN NAVY. The recent message of President Polk, and his threat ened appropriation of the Oregon territory in oppo sition to the claims of this country, have naturally turned the attention of the public to the resources which Arne-. rica can comvaand in the event of a hostile collision with England. The following is the list of the American navy, including the vessels building and in ordinary, to gether with an analysis of the power of the various ves sels in ;heir respective classes.— LINE OP BATTLE MIPS. Pennsylvania . l2O Ohio • 80 North Carolina BO Delaware BO Alabama . BO Vermont . BO Virginia . BO New York . B3 Franklin. 74 Washington 74 Columbus ' 74 FRIG Independence: United States . 44 Constitution Potomac . 44 Brandywine 44 Java. 44 Hudson Santee . 44 Cumberland Columbia 44 St. Lawrence . 44 Sabine 44 Guerriere 44 Savannah 44 Baritan 44 Constellation . 36 Macedonian SLOOPS OF John Adams 2O 13 .stun Lexington . 20 Vincennes 2O Warren... . 2O Natchez 2O Falmouth Fairfield 2O Vandalia . SL Louis . 2O Concord 2O Levant. 2O Cyane 2O Erie. lB Ontario lB Peacock Decattir WAR, &C. Preble. Yorktown l6 Marion l6 Dale l6 Dolphin lO Porpoise . Consort lO Grampus lO Shark . Enterprise ... Boxer . lO Experiment 6 Flirt 6 Wave . 6 Otsego Seagull 6 Flying Fish 6 STEAM VESSELS. Princeton.... Mississippi Missouri Fulton Poinsett . The Missouri steamer, although included in the above list, was accidentally burnt and sunk at Gibraltar about twelve months ago. From the foregoing list it appears that the total num ber of vessels of every description, including steamers, comprising the American navy, amounts only to 67. Of these, 11 are line• of-battle ship; 17 frigates; 34 sloops, brigs, or schooners, and 5 steam-vessels. Among the line-of-battle ships which we have enumerated, there are fcur not yet built, viz., the Alabama, Vermont, Virginia, and New York; and of the frigates there are six that are in the course of construction, the Santee, Cumberland, Sabine, Savannah, Baritan, and St. Lawrence; conse quently the Ame scans at the present time have only 7 line-of-battle ships and 11 frigates, including those in or dinary, available for service in :he event of a war. Although the numerical strength of the American navy is not very formidable, the Americans imagine that the want of numbers is more than compensated by the power and efficiency of each individual ship, and that should one of their frigates encounter a British frigate she would eventually capture her. They say that such was the case in the war of 1812, and point to the Guer riere, the Java, and the Macedonian, as triumphant il lustrations of this fact. During that war their frigates were the largest class vessels they had in their service, but since that period they have built their line-of-battle ships, which, although nominally rated at 74 and 80 gun ships, carry considerably more guns than their rating indicates. They have one first class line-of-battle ship—the Pennsylvania. This ship, although stated to be of 120 guns, actually carries 140 guns, and instead of being a three-decker, is to all intents and purposes a four-decker. Our first-class vessels, such as the St. Vin cent, and others, only carry the number of guns at which they are rated, 120 ; but, notwithstanding the inferiority of their armament to that of the Pennsylvania, the dis parity is not so Tery great as to preclude the possibility of any of our first-rates successfully contending with her. With regard to the American 80-gun ships, such as the Delaware, they ought to have been rated at 102 guns, for that is the number of guns they actually carry. They have 34 long 42-pounders on their lower deck, 34 long 42-pounders on their main-deck ; 34 42- pounder caronnades on their upper deck, The total weight of metal they can discharge is 3,6161b5., and the weight of their broadside is I,BoBlb. Thus, although rated as 80 gun ships, they are of superior force to our 90 gun ships, and throw a heavier broadside by 1521 b. than they do, for the broadside of the Albion, Rodney, Nile, and London is 1,6561 b. This class of the American line of-battle ships may, therefore, be rated as a class be tween our 90 gun ships and our three-deckers, such as the Queen, for her broadside is 1,9721 b, being 1641 b. more than the broadside of the Delaware. The American, 74-gun ships actually mount 90 guns ; 30 long 32-pounders on the lower deck ; 30 medium 32. t 44 guns, but they moun t 60, 30 deck. Th e tota l we i ght of pounders on the main-deck, and 30 32-pounder car ronades on the upper deck, consequently the total weight of metal they can discharge is 2,8801 b., or a broadside of 1,4401 b. This class of vessels, although actually Ciar.l rying 90 guns, is inferior to our 80-gun ships, which only carry the number of guns at which they are rated ; for instance, the Vanguard, 80, can discharge a total weight of metal, equal to 2,9921 b., consequently the weight of her broadside would be 1,4961 b., being 501 b. heavier than that of the Franklin and other nominally 74, but in point of fact 90- gun ships. As to the American frigates there is no question that, in the event of a war with this country, these will be the vessels most likely to bear the b r u n t o f it. If, h owever , the Americans anticipate the same results in their frigate actions in any future war as they experienced in ISI2, they will find themselves pretty considerably mistaken. The class of British frigates which they would now have to contend with i s a far different one from that which they encount ere d at that period, and if they then had great difficulty , as in the case of the Java, in overcoming vessels whos e armament was so inferior that the whole weight of metal they could discharge was Y ere a d s w powerfuli m th e gu of guns the on Ame rican their eiractually much less tha n th e single broadside of their more powerful antagon ists, how utterly impossible will they find it now suc cessfull y to compete with our new larger class frigates. A lthou gh our 50-gunfrigates in theirdo a n r (i un t a e vmeenn frigatesnt wow mounthyet oi gangways, and far m ore efficient ; for when the Brandy wine and other Americ an f rigates carry carronades on t u tth e beingsyo a many re aema rpi hampered guns as so their upper decks , t he Verno n , Warspite, and other British frigates carry l on g g uns on theirs. The American 3 l m long en.tgpa frigatespounders 2tn h. .dapeeryoer usndischarge 0n32-pounders e ratedr their o o n a their main -deck, an d 30 carrona d e only y a is upper l,,2olbs• , and that of their broadside 9601b1. The discharge from our 50-gun frigates is 1,8161b5., and from the broadside 9081b5., consequently there is even now an advantage of 521bs. in favour of the broadside of the American frigates. This, however, is more than compensated by having long guns instead of carronades, and the absence of guns from the gangways. The Americans, however they might have been elated with their success in capturing our frigates during the last war, had in reality little or flotilla,: to boast of. The discharge from the Java's broadside was under 4001b5., while that of the American frigate was 9601b3., being 1601bs. more than double that of her opponent. The same excess in the number of guns actually mounted over the rated number exists in the American sloops of war. Their 20-gun sloops (corvettes) mount 26 guns, their 16-gun brigs mount 20 guns, and their 10-gun brigs mount 14 guns, and so on in proportion with their smaller craft. Here, however, their 26-gun ships have no advantage over our new class corvettes, the Amazon, and Daedalus (razees), which are rated at and carry 26 guns ; and they would not have the slightest chance with our other 26-gun ships, which, having main decks, would be enabled to fight their guns free from any entanglement from wreck of spars or rigging. With respect to the other sloops and small craft of the Ameri can navy, those who are acquainted with the improve ments that have been made within these few years in this class of vessels in the British service, are.fully aware that the Americans have little cause to congratulate themselves upon their superiority on this point. We now come to the most important branch of the question—the comparative strength of the steam navies of the two countries. From the foregoing statement it appears that the United States Government have at present only four effective steam vessels, whereas there are now in the British service somewhere about 100 steamers of various trades and power. In addition to this, some hundreds of effective sea-going steam vessels can be brought into operation from the mercantile ma rine. This fact has been ascertained from the result of an inquiry recently instituted by the Lords of the Admiralty. In the last war with the United States considerable injury was done to our commerce by American privateers. At that period, how ever, steam had not been applied to mari time purposes ; since then, this great additional power has come into operation, and its usefulness has been fully developed. By the applying of this f'orce to the blockading of the American ports it would be utterly impossible for their privateers again to injure our commerce. No doubt many privateers would be fitted out with this object, but with one or two steamers in the offing, it would be next to impossible for them to leave they respective ports. What have the Ame ricans got, in addition to the four war-steamers already mentioned, to compete with this powerful force ? They have no mercantile steam marine to resort to. It is so differently emstituted to ours, that is is only applicable t.) river traffic, and not one of the vessels of which it is cemprised could be rendered effective for sea or war purposes. It must be obvious from the preceding statement of the comparative naval power of the two nations, that, should any collision take place, the result cannot prove satisfactory to the Americans. They must inevitably suffer greatly in their commerce, while the injury they can effect with respect to our mercantile marine will be comparatively trifling. It is needless to add, that should any e-gagement take place between an American and An English frigate, the power of the two being now nearly on a par, the result will be widely different from the frigate actions already adverted to, and is more likely to be similar to that of the Shannon and the Chesapeake. COALS.—The Commissioners of the Castoms have issued directions to the Collectors and Comptrollers of the Customs at the several ports of the United Kingdom, to pre • pare and transmit to the Inspector General of Imports and Exports the following account, so far as the same relates to thsir respective ports, with the least possible delay, viz. : "An account of the number of tons of coals, culm, and cin ders, respectively, shipped at their severa l p orts to other potre of the United liangdon4 during the year 1644." RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. (From the Morning Chronicle.). ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—We understand it is the intention of Government, in conjunction with the Chester and Holyhead Rail way Company, to have the electric telegraph established on that line, reaching from London to Holyhead, a distance of be tween 200 and 300 miles, and embracing in its route the commercial capitals of Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham. The success of the apparatus in the South Western and the Adiscombe, between London and Portsmouth, 88 miles, is said to be the super-inducing7cause of its proposed establishment on the Chester and Holyhead line. The adoption of this invention on a scale of magnitude bids fair to effect a radical change in the entire correspondence of the country, by bringing as it were momentarily into close consolidation and communion, the ex changes of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, conveying with lightning like velocity every fluctuation of affairs, and tele graphing from mart to mart, with marvellous exactitude, and over areas of hundreds of miles, intelligence that may be received and reciprocated almost simultaneously by every mercantile community in the kingdom. Great ad vantages have already been developed to the Admi ralty and commercial world, by its adoption between London and Gosport. The old senaaphore system is now nearly superseded, and important Government orders and intelligence, that - formerly occupied hours in transmitting by the ordinary semaphores between London and Portsmouth, are now forwarded and fulfilled in little more than a few seconds, the com municating wires which will shortly be carried from Nine-elms to the Admiralty, at Whitehall, terminat ing in the very barracks of the garrison at Gosport. The establishment of telegraphic communication be tween Liverpool and Holyhead, Lloyd's and London, will give every facility for shipping purposes ; and in this respect the invention has worked most efficiently between London and Southampton, where, as at Gos port, there is a telegraphic station, telegraphic notices being daily dispatched, on the arrival of important mails and merchantmen. The advantages, moreover, that may accrue from a line of wires to Holyhead, in establishing a closer connexion between the metro polis and the sister isle, is of a nature not to be overlooked, either in a political or social point of view. Lines of telegraph, we understand, have been or are about being adopted on the following amongst other lines :—On the South Western, as a Government telegraph for the Admiralty to Ports mouth, 90 miles. On the same line, as a commercial telegraph, from Nine Elms to Southampton, 77 miles, with branch to Gosport, 21. On the South Devon atmospheric line, now in progress, 52 miles. On the Great Western,_ from Paddington to Slough, 18 miles. On the Yarmouth and Norwich, 20 miles. On the Dover line, from Tonbridge to Maidstone, 15 miles. On the Croydon, atmospheric. On the Blackwall ; on part of the Manchester and Leeds and its branch to Oldham; on part of the Edinburgh and Glasgow ; upon the Dalkey atmo spheric branch of the Dublin and Kingstown, appli cable alike to the conveyance of commercial intelli gence, and to the safe conduct avid working of the line. The above embraces an extent of nearly 250 miles, over which the telegraph principle is already in operation ; and its adoption between London, Liver pool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Holyhead, will add about 300 miles more. EXCURSION TRAINS.—London is likely to receive this week a large influx to its pleasure population, arrangements having been made for running cheap excursion trains from nearly all the great cities and towns, north, south, east, and west. The Birming ham, Great Western, South Western, Dover, and Brighton, we believe, dispatch pleasure trains, for one fare each way, and the northern lines run short ones to the various localities on the route. The Liverpool and Manchester provide cheap waggon trains from Man Chester to Liverpool and back, furnished with seats, and have entered into arrangements with the conductors of the various Sunday schools for con veyance of the scholars. The Manchester and Leeds propose to convey whole Sunday schools from Man chester to Wakefield, and other places on their line, in waggons at 6d. a head, both ways, and their teachers for 2s. 6d. each, in second-class carriages. The Manchester and Bolton run special trains at reduced fares, every quarter of an hour, to the Kersal Moor races, and make trips from Manchester to Preston and Fleetwood, at which latter place pleasure steamers are to ply in different sea excursions during the day, the journey from Manchester to Fleetwood to be per formed in little more than two hours, allowing visitors nine hours at Fleetwood. The Manchester and Bir mingham undertake to carry the members of clubs, charitable institutions, and schools, from Manchester to Aldersley and back, at 6d. each every day, and the parents and friends of the children at is. They also run trains to the Chester races, in each case by special train, so as to prevent a recurrence of the de lays of last season. The Hull and Selby and Midland lines are to send excursion trains, with free trade freights of visitors to London, from Leeds, York, Newcastle, and Durham. The Glasgow and Ayr Company invite visitors by special train to the races and chases at Eglington Park. The Newcastle and Carlisle convey visitors to Gilsland Spa, Naworth Castle, and Carlisle. The Chester and Birkenhead have made arrangements to secure accommodation to the influx of visitors from Liverpool to the Chester races. Most of the metropolitan Hues have made si milar arrangements for suburban trips, and the recre ation of the holiday folks. CROYDON AND EPSOM ATMOSPHERIC.—The works are progressing rapidly, and a qu entity of iron tubes have been conveyed from the New-cross station to several portions of the line. A commodious engine and boiler-house are being built near the Dartmouth Arms station. The boiler house is constructed to contain six gigantic boilers, nearly fourteen tons in weight each. Both of the buildings are covered with an elegant iron roof. The style of the building is pointed Gothic ; and the chimney, which is to be raised to an altitude of 120 feet, is a curious specimen of its class. A considerable number of labourers and others are employed in raising and levelling the road, and in laying the necessary rails, for some distance beyond the point at which the new way will diverge from the t_;roydon and Brighton lines. The ap paratus for telegraphic purposes is fixed for se veral miles, and, from the general activity dis played throughout the works, an early opening may be expected. Three of the boilers ma - le at the manufactory of Messrs. Maudesley and Co., in the \Vestminster-road, lie ready for fitting near the new building on the line nearest the Dartmouth Arms. At Annerley the works assume an elaborate cha racter, long rows of piles being already driven for the purpose of forming an inclined plane and viaduct over the South-Eastern line near that village. Dur ing the last few days the works have been inspected by several noblemen and gentlemen interested in the atmospheric principle. SUSPENSION TUNNEL.—Probably one of the boldest railway projects of the day, is that suggested by Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, of crossing the Menai Straits by means of a tunnel in the air. Mr. Stephenson proposes to throw an iron tube over the Straits, by means of suspension chains, using the:Britannia Rock as a buttress in the middle; the tube to be 25 feet in breadth, by 15 in depth, constructed in the same way as an iron ship, composed of large plates put together in the form of a great iron tunnel. He also proposes to have two tubes, one for each line of rails, and expresses himself satisfied upon the strength and safety of the tube, having tried experiments on an iron vessel 220 feet in length, suspended by the stem and stern, with a weight of 1,200 tons in her centre, without the slightest straining effect. 'lnc plan would be calcu lated effectually to prevent interference with the navi gation, the great difficulty to be encountered in car rying the Chester and Holyhead over the Menal Straits. General Pasley, we understand, coincides with Mr. Stephenson in the safety of the method, and Mr. Rendell, who has reported to the Admiralty on the practicability of effecting such a passage of the Straits, so as not to obstruct the navigation, appears to be of opinion that the proposed tube tunnel would be preferable to a bridge, since from its having no joints it would possess more rigidity than a common bridge, and be less liable to the oscillation of the trains. BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM LlNES.—rhe Midland Railway has entered into possession and taken the entire management of the Bristol and Gloucester and Birmingham and Gloucester lines ; besides assuming the entire responsibility, an arrangement has been concluded for commuting the dividend to be derived from the current half-year from the revenue of the line between Bristol and Birmingham, at the sum of 26,0001: The Midland Company are, pursuant to the agreement, to pay six per cent. per annum on the united share capital of the two lines, amoueting to 1,800,0001. The standing order► in the case of the Birmingham and Gloucester have been disp easel with by the Select Committee, provided no right is con ferred on the Midland to lease the line. CEiELTENTIAIL AND GREAT WESTERN.—To-day this line, which starts from the Swindon station, opens as far as Glou3ester fur passenger traffic only, with intermediate stations at Tetbury-road and Stroud. The remainder of the line will, we under stand, be completed without delay. The minor sta tions at Branscoinbe and Stonehouse will be opened by June. By this line two complete routes will be accessible—namely, via Birmingham and Swindon. SWIFT TRAINS.---It is proposed, we hear, to start another fast train on the Great Western, to accom plish the distance between Exeter and London in 4} hours. On Wednesday, one of the express trains on the London and Birmingham ran the 112 miles in 21 hours. It is expected that the distance between Liverpool and London, nearly '2OO inileA, will pre sently be accomplished in 4 hours. The Midland lines have joined in the general acceleration. TESTIMONIALS.—On Wednesday last a service of plate, value 200 guineas, was presented to Mr. Alder man Carr, a director, by a numberjof shareholders in the North Midland, in testimony of the sense they entertained of his services in effecting economical re forms in connexion with the Corn Tinny. On the pre %ions Friday a silver tea service was pre:“mted to Mr. P. Clarke, late superintende. t of the Midland Rail way, by the officers and heads of the establishment, as a testimony to his efficient services. A similar testi monial has - also been presented by the shareholders to Mr. J. B. Badharn, secretary to the Bristol and Exeter line, of the value of 100 guineas, accompanied by a purse of 1,150 guineas, subscribed for by nearly 400 shareholders. Mr. Linn, superintendent of the Glasgow and Coal-bridge, was last week presented with a watch and a purse of sovereigns by the officers associated with him. We trust it is by an oversight of the Committee of Selection that Mr. Gibson Craig has been placed at the head of the committee on the Portsmouth lines. In this committee is to be decided the question be tween the atmospheric and a locomotive line ; and to have placed at the head of it a former member of the atmospheric committee, one who has signed his name to Lord Howick's report, and who, we perceive, in a majority of Cases, voted with Lord Howick and against Mr. Hodgson Hinde in that committee, is to have overlooked all the ptinciples by which men are usually guided, who wish to provide for a disputed case an impartial tribunal.—Railway Chronicle. The Midland Company have purchased the Melton and Oakharn Canal, at 601. per share. THE GRAND JUNCTION AND THE BROAD GUAGE. —There has been, during the last few da) s, a rumour to the effect that the Grand Junction Company will, in the event of the Great Western Company proceed ing with their line from Oxford to Rugby and Bir ming, carry on the broad gunge from the latter town to Liverpool and Scotland, ifereby reducing the journey from the metropolis to this town to three hours and a half—Liverpool Times. As a specimen of the unscrupulous manner in which evidence is got up before Railway Commit tees of the House of Commons, it was asserted last week, before the Committee on the North Lin colnshire lines, that since the opening of the Rua and Selby Railway, there had been no coach running be tween Nottingham and Hull. The witness was from Barton-upon-Humber ; and yet there is a daily each from Nottingham to this self-sa:ne Barton waterside ; besides which, the Nottingham and Lincoln mail con nects with the Lincoln mail to Hull by way of New Holland.—Notts Journal. BRIG llTON.—Yesteniay morning the office of the London-bridge terminus of this line was besieged by persons anxious to avail themselves of the oppor tunity of visiting Brighton, and returning the same day for 55., the sum charged by the Directors yes terday, and which they have given notice will be continued during the present week, for the third class trains. Upwards of one thousand persons were conveyed by the first train, and nearly the same number by the second train, the other trains during the day to Croydon and other places on the line were also filled, nearly two thousand persons passing up and down. RAILWAY BATHS.—The Duh'in ani Kingstown Railway Company announce that they will receive proposals from persons wishing to become tenants for the present season for the Company's bathing places at Salt-hill, Monkstown, and Blackrock. All sub scribers to the line, holders of railway, bathing, and morning tickets, to have free cold bathing at any of the Company's baths, the tenant providing attend ance, towels, and all necessary accommodation, free of charge. Baths are in daily use at Crewe for the officers and servants of the Grand Junction Railway. DARTMOUTH LINE.—On Wednesday last a meeting was held at Dartmouth, with the view of promoting the interests of the proposed line. After some deli beration the meeting was adjourned to a future day, for the purpose of then forming a provisional com mittee, and for resolving on future measures. TES. THE LATE THOMAS HOOD. " Can Fulvia die ?" There are people in the world of literature as of social intercourse, who seem so in. dispensable to us that time must elapse ere we can believe that they are gone to return no more. It is thus we feel in recording the death of Thomas hood; after a wasting illness of many years' slow progress, terminated by months of extreme debility and suffer ing cheerfully borne. Often and familiarly as he was wont to talk of death and the things of the grave, there seemed a vitality in the man no less than in his genius, which makes the catastrophe startling as it is sad. Thomas Hood was the son of Mr. Hood, the book seller, of the firm of Vernor and Hood. He gave to the public an outline of his early life, in the " Literary Reminiscences," published in Hood's Own. He was, as he there states, early placed " upon lofty stool, at lofty desk," in a merchant's count ing-house ; but his commercial career was soon put an end to by his health which began to fail ; and, by the recommenda tion of the physicians, he was " shipped, as per advice, in a Scotch smack," to his father's rela tions in Dundee. There he made his first literary venture in the local journals; subsequently he sent a paper to the Dundee Magazine, the editor of which was kind enough, as Winifred Jenkins says, " to wrap my bit of nonsense under his honour's kiver, without charging for its insertion." Literature, how ever, was then only thought of as an amusement, for, on his return to London, he was, we believe, appren ticed to an uncle as an engraver, and subsequently transferred to one of the Le Keux. But though he always retained his early love for art, and had much facility in drawing, as the numberless quaii.t illus trations to his works testify, his tendencies were lite rary, and when, on the death of Mr. John Scott, the London Magazine passed into the hands of Messrs. Taylor and Hessey, Mr. Hood was installed in a sort of sub-editorship. From that time his career has been open and known to the public. The following is, we apprehend, something like a catalogue of Mr. Hood's works, dating from the pe riod when his " Odes and Addresses," written in con junction with his brother-in-law, Mr. J. H. Reynolds, brought him prominently before the public : " Whims and Oddities ;" " National Tales ;" "The Plea of the Midsummer Fairies" (a volume full of rich imaginative poetry); " The Comic Annuals," subsequently reproduced with the addition of new matter as " Hood's Own ;" " Tylney Hall ;" "Up the Rhine ;" and " ►Vhiinsicalities: a Periodical Ga thering." Nor must we forget one year's editorship of " The Gem," since that included " Eugene dram's Dream," a ballad which we imagine will live as long as the language. Of later days Mr. Hood was an occasional contributor to Punch's casket of mirth and benevolence ; and, perhaps, his last offering, " The Song of the Shirt," was his best—a poem of which the imitations have been countless, and the moral ef fect immeasurable. The secret of this effect, if analysed, would give the characteristics of one of the most original and powerful geniuses which ever was dropped by Faery into infant's cradle, and oddly nursed up by man into a treasure, quaint, special, cameleon-coleured in the changefulness of its tints, yet complete and self-con sistent. Of all the humourists Hood was the most poetical. When dealing with the most familiar sub jects, whether it might be a sweep bewailing the sup pression of his cry, or a mother searching through St. Giles's for her lost infant, or a Miss Kilmansegg s golden childhood—there was hardly a verse in which some touches of heart or some play of fancy did not beckon the laughing reader away into far other worlds than the Jester's. It is true that he was equally prone to vein and streak his noblest poems, on high and awful themes, with familiar allusions and grotesque similes; and this union of what is near and tangible with what soars high and sinks deep, wrought out in every capricious form which a gamesome invention could suggest, enabled him from time to time to strike home to the hearts of every one— the fastidious and the commonplace—the man of wit and the man of dreams—of all, we should say, except the bigot and the charlatan. To these Hood's genial sarcasms must have been gall and wormwood, directed, as they were, to the noblest purposes. His jokes pierced the deeper, too, inasmuch as they were poet's jokes—clear of grossness or vul garity. But what need is there once again, in this j ,urnal, to dissect or to display the gifts of one whose published works for years furnished out its richest mirth ?—nor is the present the time. Our lips may speak of the wit which Death could only exhau-t, and the humour which sickness could not daunt, nor hard fortunes depress into silence; but our thoughts are fixed on the pall which hides them from us for ever As little can we attempt any portraiture of the man; more original, we verily think, more gifted when met in a private social circle of those to who n he would open his stores, than when presenting himself to the world in private. The service is one comprehending too many mingled recollections to lie borne at the moment. The world will presently feel how much poorer it is for Hood's withdrawal, and then there will he no lack of rernembrancers and memorialists. Sufficient for the day is the regret !—Athenceum. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. (From the Hampshire Teley, aph ) By accounts from the west coast of Africa, dated 2d March, we learn that Commodore .Janes was then going to the southwar.i in the Penelupo steam-frigate. The Growler, stea o-sloop, Commander Buckle, which had been very sickly, was proceeding to Sierra Leone, whence she would proceed to the Cape de Verdes, to recruit the health of the crew, and return to Sierra Leone in six weeks. Lieutenant Lodwick, of this ship, had nearly recovered from the injuries he had received in his eu• counter with the slave Felucca, since captured by the Hydra. He had a narrow escape, a ball having passed through his knee, and another having lodged in the thigh. Two balls also went through his hat. Our readers are aware that he has since been promoted for his pliant conduct. The Albert steam-vessel, Lieute nant-Commander A. R. Dunlap, had been very success ful off Seabar, having captured three prizes in eight days, namely, the San ,Maostad, with 422 slaves on board ; the. Trituapho, a brigantine ; and the Venus, The ; tti. two last fully e q ui p ped Pile Albert was to be et Sierra LeOne in a fortnight. Th.. Albion, 90, and Vairuard, SO, are,to be docked in this yard, on their arrival from Plymouth. , The Ral-igh, 50 gun fritia , e tram the design of Mr. Fincharn, the mater s hipwright of this dock yard), and the Calypso, 20, were launched et Chatham, 00 Thursday. The tonnage of the Raleigh is 1,938 78 94 tons; that of the Calypso, which is a sister vessel to the Dido, is 734 42 94 tons. PROMOTIONS. Lieutenants. -F. Kembi. (late flag to Sir 1). Milne), t° the rank of Commander. Clerk-in- Charge—G. . Gould, of the Jackal!, an W. Thomas, late of Shearwater, to the rank of Purser. Assistant Surgeon—A. J. Little, to b e sur g eon etas ° Messrs. J. Gray (e), and J. Gordon (b) , t o be as surgeons. APPOINTMEN TS. Captain—W. J. H. Johnstone, to Agincourt; a n Owen Stanley (acting), to Blaz-r. Lieutenants—Joseph Nourse, to the -Battler, Yiche Blanckley, supeded t his own request ; G. V ice of William and rse ~lary,a to Sh earw ater, as assista nt sur veyor ; 11. E. Winthrop, to Rodney; Charles •Vansittali, to Winchester. Paymaster and Purser—T. E. Gould, to Queen. Mates—M. H. Percival, to Excellent ;n. i t Vern° to Rodney ; G. K. E. Wright, to Queen. Assistant Surgeons—John Acton, to Racehorse' ' l°h° Gray (c), to Pandora ; W. G. Goldin, to St. Vincent. r Chaplain and Naval Instructor—Rev. R. G. C ole to Queen. Clark-in-Charge—Rich. Simonds, to Jackal': ' ice Gould promoted. vi r 13. Naval Cadets—W. F. Turton, to Hibernia ; Grant, to the Sr. Vincen'. [ADVERTISEMENT.] MEDICAL DiPLOYIAS " Foul deeds will rise, (Though all Use earth o'erwhelnt them) , To men's eyes."—SIIALSPEARE. ,r,„ell SlR—The engin, of death in the 13ellani elludo'etori tragedies eels prussic acid—a poison held out hY _ 1 ,0,4:1i• to the world as a medicine. We deny that it is e li d i e joe. tine. We will stake our existence that itisnot.secby dee' Neitheir prussic acid nor the other poisolit_ie!ds thoug h tors can ever tend to cure any d - • • Or res'"" ; b* tsease of noel. administered " medicinally." Oh ! what r d 0 1 0 done to a confiding people under that / /l e d UP I °. nal .y." We are overwhelmed when w .. e s rt i ' ll te aring .i t o ll e e r We call Letoalud upon tom to join " bii 00 lee, t mask, an shield their possessors from responsibility s'ag•tlitl we contend that they are nothing more or tr uth. e n ' licences to kill. The publie are kept from the - , 4op pos. gro‘sly imposed upon. Let us put this eas e " - ciehas ° a medical man wilh his diploma in his pocket . ~e • fle poison some person, either fir gain Or Otherw_i;io 0 00 uses a slow poison, such as opium. Etc., or ah.ri et etetlf like prussic acid, who is de , ect him ? And is, at on how can he be convicted ? His diploma is , „„,isoll his shield. Ile would say that he ga ve the f1 13711c13' " medicinally." Now, if he had not the pie ce o t plac e ' went to shield him, he would not, in the 6 7 i n quid have been implicitly trusted, but if he had, a le Oil would be the necessary result: In short. people cruel nothing to fear as regards medicines proe e d ..i n es a ll persees not pos-eisitig diplomas. Z"ucti nle L' ,ide , to either inert or salutary; their proprietors are 0 ; is fool the _renter part totally ignorant of poisons. ii, ` diploma' those who are shielded from all responsibility wi l ais a ily Ifer: that fear need be apprehended. If people g ell ., W eald. . Hygeists (as they certainly ought to be) 1- 0 OW' the first place, he impossible to impose ul ) , e , 10 ,1' " poisons" as medicines, though administered. own.plott nally" ; and in the next, they would be th eir .. f e tPe lj i efficient physicians. We are aware that therealso por t good men in the medical profession, but w e i 00 0 , that there are many needy and evil -dispose" dipmas.s• is clear that the present Ministers will sup Per: 0 ue r°ll , :1 because they are a source of great einoluMenit' parties. We, however, tell you to beware 0 . t _t. ei r l o ; hie. ur : hereby caution you against the power which th e ll ' oe yer r possess. A man with one of them an d ° vi Ing liirei pleases, since he is responsible to no one. loos= think on the subject, and decide. - lO W • tr. Issued by the British College of Health9_,.//vgets London, for and on behalt of the bodY °" . 0001. May 12th, 1845. 1, or other , .1,4 1 / *lt costs every medical man, one waY , ; „b abs o •7 l , a i before he can get his diploma—a thing w"r s eties`T a r; proves nothing, except to shield him intoime.. the disOls;, rous of joining Hygeists in bringing arising under medical diplomas should read th .. e_ ve o; mott o % small pamphlet which appears on the first °I v tz ntS, tr ie lss, light ~,geieht. , and which may be had of all the Ilygeia n -d. Orueet. penny or twopence. if sent by post prep. „.....ed. Strand, where all communications are to be ad urv°- .—,......---...----.." 1111 1 ' ______-- it is [ally acknowledged the Ladiege,e that 11073: versally acknowledged by every one of to! , s ' u d.ficie . s . ever beautiful a woman may be, of he r g r 9 it either in quantity, quality, or colour , l i e v f o r 'all thiSod charms is wanting. A complete vu' e ' if her-11,51r ' WO nt sureese as, to be found by visiting the establiihmhatass e Sons and choosing either head-dreases ii t a ssist her' or tune ' herself, fronts, bands, or ringle ti t ~E 4 i i . give i, A splendid plaits that, encircling the thin u a The partia% the appearance of a luxuriant grOrnb• . ec tioo ' are so admirably contrived that the nearest inq ting t he confounded ; the transparency of the web, a dini :y beL ir skin of the head to be seen through, they 11. - 4 ,' PT,. scribed as being as light as a f ea sher.—Au"'„i o 93 o, l /„' and Sons, 119 and 120, Bi.hopsgate-street, I, ° ° „;iog w" have lately invented the Depinquitory for 0° 1 — skin, parting of fronts, &c. i i , Al .... . i ceia. To THE LADIES —The high and un- - ers to u,l brity which R4,wLAND's RALYDoR o:Mantles or or 0- , tain, as an active yet wild and soothing e xtirP t l e o le i ' impurities of the skin, is, during the pleasingly evinced. This preparation restorative, and invigorating, is equally eele g' re ao • P,•rmeistelennLtPli_ri),.atedisafilfri safety in application, as for unfailing effiea c Y, p ortie . . ei g • jug all impurities and discolorations ; lied• 1- Its L ': healthy freshness to the skits and con3plexi°ll'„f f oe • vernally great demand excites the cupiditf,‘"Gesaisf,e. cipled Shopkeepers, who give the title of so fs /j o ;i KALYDOR to some compounds of their own,r?,,,g mod, of the most deleterious character, conta' lll- 0 , atafere a-tringents utterly ruinous to the comPlel t je, as =stt here' their repellant action endangering health. , to er• fore, imperative on purchasers to see that' jol oth er' wra pper. . 0 " ROWLAND'S KALYDOR" are on the are FRAUDULENT COUNTERFEITS 1 I ;01 0° 0 0 • Var" .. efr A THE FOLKSTONE STEAM-BOATS. -, r e cd 1), „mile statements have been very ostentatiously put nd t he y t hs parties respecting the speed of the Magicicnne a tona 111 " -- ; Is- Dover steam.boats, as compared with the Foill ties hc` t t hst Princess Maude and the Queen of the Bellfian'‘'.., s gree ° 7o, oll " presented that the Ondine was built on asp W - o f ale d o ph. she ass to beat the Princess Maude, and that °ne wel , t ilt fa jee Lions was that unless the Ondine did beat stheri7 trial% e via, was to be left on the builders' hands. -ev e , s ii w biel ) to Oa° between the Princess Maude and the Ondine , . _ ..9 0 oft_ ch orf cess Maude was always successful, but excuses l'ff . i at ba r Is' it , wet; for the Ondine, either that she was not in t rinl,.t o P t t he c ° 2 o Vet .° was out of order, that something had broken, " 1 , 4 alio ' got lob r " t"' WO A 0 0 ' so bad she could not get sufficient steam, 0 - „one , a n- 4 the vein." At length, the machine •of the ''' o vid.'" or egi 11 wad ° bui ld to ' a perfect state, and a cargo of the best coals . I, be e roods told well prepared, she went over to Boulogne vtl • n eesa • sysi e , h ro go ttloo oth Mr. Richard Bushell, and challenged ~,-..e w o eSs,...ac r°e, F o lk. trial of speed. Captain Jenkins, of the `; d - g 0 ''-,, e s e are re ire by Mr. Bushell that the Ondine We - goldt e cola a j„: ' lO bows of the Princess Maude betrre e l on tTh Jesit' - ti - in s,one, and several wagers were offer — f caP t3 ~,1 - t io 04r-du merits of the two boats. The skill ° r rose to to he ,il, well known, and both captains declared re ..sing Vi ... „„diin IP g perfect order for the trial. '• The hour of st t a; dale; ha ll . lated by the arrival of the express in antic i P a t ales. li t cab s 0 1• both steamers being engaged to carry this in t ii r tsfatt i e lvr• eleven on the night of Monday last th'' -n e t o ulog ne - ~,.to t" - .,e1 The Princess Maude left the harbour of - - , - . 7 1 atirt,, t lest ri j a n flutes to twelve o'clock. The Ondine left of " co o toe - g bea - 0 prin ha w ur o The night was fine and the sea calm. ',, Onle e ',,, deci de Atr a in Folkstone harbour 14 minutes before t. , e ~,, fait. , tbo t_ .A . fi e the latter by 11i minutes. The pa :die maYMouden b el te d, 'Csr the merits of these rivals. The Princes filo y tee till o f elo another proof of her uniform speed, wbef,„oed the g ofer's died are quite sure that those who have ever w."" ja - i a Oslo well' s fo' tain Jenkins, of the Princess Maude, or tho e 03 0 e, o f Queen of the Belgians, will not rashly leav e rr i n cesi ' e - ec i to °vs boats to tempt their fate in any other. Th e selec t le d. the re the moment she was placed in the sheathestion, waser seen' 0 1 b at oa the expresses for the Times, and tes t t _ ....erior , to t" 0 . 00 0 . _ . 1 • 10 Queen of the Belgians has not yet beei ned':°ften;''t °l-"c. is no doubt that her speed is eq ual, if no au e v ro t he fr n e ent e 'i l , Princess Maude. Both are carryinghoataA? . a catell th a tilri eh cess of their voyages, when our .'' e . ir gen era' 4 , very bad weather, is a sufficient proof o f th $ l4W d f —Times. I 'l ll l2ll 6 1 SODA- tel l ; fe tg THUNDER STORM.—BE I ST OL, f the I ' l°l 4. i b e y t b. —We were yesterday visited by one 0- _ ears pP ro jc - jo ie, storms we have experienced fur many : w ere St o f r icli e ' trees in the villages adjacent to the city josePik v el 13 sy it electric fluid, and a vessel called t he tho see bete e st t oe which was lying on the Quay, nee r , , had hb t l3l l. atil waiting to discharge a cargo of potatoe;,,„ k a t 1 , ,.„d 0 , , da in two. Some seamen who were on narrowly eaped destruction we ~hade,..,e7bitiottiiaerirenotuisee yet loss of life g e lat there can be little ... _ . ,, e , bat ..- image has been done, of which the intellig" „---- . -- reached us. ___,--. --- --- °l en, 3 IRV'S • do, stir' .„ 0, Mr•Z. Li° P' On the 10th inst., the lady of . • bit e ' of Bishopsgate-street Without, of a sop. __ ram on, li e, On the 10th inst., at Wandswothuu .f Of t he ater % Davies, of a son. the v tle 6t. On the 10th mat., at the Personagetn,. e a of o(° °°l'' Thomas James Rowse'', M-Ae in" u Elate' Stepney, of a daughter. On the 11th inst., at Oxford-street., gra7 l3. , . le o, ; 00,611011 On the 7th inst., at the ilisfliti;cihj.u,rctleitcLitepTit;tl-4)olC.°l°l'el Robert M'Killop, Esq., eldest son daughter theiu of the l' „to les It N., to Anna 'lliria, youngest yf r • o 'd i teosh Vigourdeux. Roal Engineers. r. . eon i n gtot i .e, t On the 10th inst., at St. M a rk's,„."-,, 00 -5a".7,0 0, ~.0 , 0., L. Bell, of Upper George -street, r4",,",feenno'_;jegtv,., of daughter of Thomas Le Mercier, Esrk , "` . 41 Len,..., o pele On the 10th inst. at All Saint T. Dalrymple, third son of Si srli e Ci .- b' e r:rl; t il h ePlAelt"c4latLy Brighton, to Ellen, youngest daug hter Wif e Salmon Kent, M.D. m is, . vop l l 9 .ent• I 'I - - ' t E li za - 101: 9 01 .'r e ads On the 15th of March, at. Meeraa!„_s, 62d . o f f li of Lieutenant Frederick Thornton EielrEgertew a In his 80th year, the Rev. eller 14 01 4 0! Ap eer Lodge, Epping. airs De vlllllg ;d' U'ec t On the 3d inst., at Taunton, e i„tel, Ol fe 01 0 t - 1 On the 4th inst., at Fladong's o __ . Mi le . eldest daughter of Mr. W. Lovegr " ole - str eet ' the i - On the 4th inst., in Upper W le* fries, pto d o, Williams, Esq. ell Reu se ' Tie d s On the sth inst., at Kickconn b, phi' fe It o fant son of R. M. Witham, Esq. On the 6th inst., on the CI Esq., banker, one of her Majestiff-T'eS.,Pll,erPol;trY:ftliglirlr'ebtel37l79l3. • _ f justice of the peace for the North tot" ' ,41,1C4•,:. I t u ih' fri spo 50 , ht , if _____ Publishes g tiw Ofae ° ' COPY London : Printed and Pub e lull , t h e No. 11e, Strand, Printer. at _ _:__,_ . 1 0 • Strand, in the Precinct of theT7 . 1 , • . filiddlatoz Tumidity, flay 130. W