The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-19 00:00:00

AR. I cod tb i tile ce 0-i • I v usual ‘ca• Witike d °g'r B or d John minutes !nea of th e 4 0 4 qua rter -P s ' le Castle toji Cast le ' at the 3 ', oe ks as the „ C a stle or sili 0 , 1 4 d after 0. w .4 wed to to - of of Kce4. 203, wit j °lo ..t, _ . g p."4 fa Geardi aO , private rav „ I into c h li 4 . e” sin.' 0 0' DAY' C ...-Y fj11 ;( 0 TULL ,be ; [lda) . ' 0 01, h (Or l e lo IO W" baCk`•, is bOw nder Oilje G• op:, r r eeze yr a, noderriigr• ll l! obee St m o seit, arel 5 9 9 F at° lo9 cork ; fro° al,og r 4 , 3 , •t• 'rd, fl fr.° Cis • , t• l a ; t• 14 1 3, er po ° ' at So t , P L ll n d ooloif bec. rt ; chum, O a . ' 'fP'l,o` l "; n f ir d o; a id ton ;b;,„ i '. Abe N s , te 6tp , eft tta , , c r•t si 14 to o p woy tru c f tD e i a nt o d t el f • te ' .tt • c ient 0 tD e oUrS fore be e'.o . s II Iff 3scß, o rd, thit' eov g iro o re. b e nevi Nr 6th jo t de t viro s 4 ."; 120 0° ilant D eflf d the/ ,lerP I ~'` r .-,` ----Y BANK 4 )F ENGLAND. Qt.arterly General ii,lecting of the Proprietors of this Corporation, accordin , r to the terms of the charter ?f incorporation, was betcryesterday, at twelve o'clock, in the Bank parlour, but it was entirely of a routine cha meter. All that was done was the readi! , g of the Minutes of the previous tweeting, which being confirmed, thQ proprietors adjourned. A very iFtluentia.l meeting was held on Wednesday last. at the office of Messrs. Amory, Sewell, and Moores, 25, T hrogm ' , rton.street, by gentlemen interested in railway Prejeets, w i t h a v i ew to t h e equ i ta bl e arrangeme nt of juet demands, and the res i s t a n c e of claims obviously made uer the i m p ress i on th a t the dre a d of ruinous law c harges would induce com'phiance ; as also to ascertain the legal liabilities of committee-men, shareholders, and applicants for shares ; and further, to elicit the actual circumstan ces of various railway pie jects, and which are matters far too weighty and important for individual re eponsibility. It was unanimously resolved that, for the accomplish ment of such purposes, a society should be formed, to be called the " Railway Mutual Protection Society." William Collins, Rs M.P , was unanimously called to the ch a i r . (I" D. W. HARVEY, Esq., proceeded to explain in detail the objects of the proposed society. He stated that his attention had been drawn to the subject by friends who _had recei ve d, as mem b ers o f provisional committees, or as scrip -holders and allottees of shares, applications from aolicitors printers, engineers, and others, for the pay :lent of l arge sums o f mone y. Such applications excited ar al ; and, as they were now becomieg very general, „ " n ale plan must be devised by which equitable claims might be arranged, and unfair demands resisted. Nor v _as it l ess Bearable that the actual condition of very !any railway projects should be ascertained, as there . I ;as great reason t o a pprehend that many of the plans a poeited a t the Board of Trade, and with the Clerks of t v a t a Peace, were so imperfect, owing to the haste with n ich they had been got up, as to render it hil Probable that not one quarter of the seven hundrghedy plans deposited would stand the test of examination be fore a Parliamentary Committee. It must be manifest, institut e to em b ar k on a sea of litigation with effect, or to the necessary inquiries into the state of the inns project , would be to entail upon individuals great ; ,','Nr and serious expense, and that, too, in a cause a aleh involves the interests of thousands. Judging from ;7 0 numerous inquiries which had been made of the s Zeitors since the previous advertisement, it would ta that few persons of station or property were u nropt. An individual who might be bold enough to kuth d utler ta e such litigation would have to encounter so Acuity from the combined resources of bodies, cor porate in their nature, and possessed of large funds, To n t mortification and defeat mutt be the inevitable result. te . him and his friends, therefore, it was clear that such a e rte of things could only be successfully met by an asso ti4tion of persons interested in the objects he had men ti.o.ne.d- He then proceeded, at considerable length, to '.`all the plan of the society. The particulars were _re ceived with great interest, and met with the unanimous e nforced of the meeting. Mr. Harvey then strongly o rreed two considerations upon which the friends the proposed society insisted. First, that while t i t i e rY member of the -society would have access t o i epinions . of eminent counsel intended to be ta k e ao, as also to the best advice which the cone r:ttee and solicitors of the society could give, yet V ery subscriber would be at liberty to choose his OWR pro ialonal adviser. Secondly, that no proceedings, either ° J: attack or defence, would be adopted which were no t 4 u viously just, and preceded by strenuous efforts to en °Mmodate the matter upon equitable terms. M r . Garvey then mentioned, by way of illustration, a case b lotch had within a few days been placed in the hands of t he solicitors in whose house they were assembled. A vtlt had been served on a respectable pro fe s sional gen tleman in the country, who had allowed his name to be Pl c an ed Upon the provisional committee of a projected rail- Th a Y. The claim was for 1,6001. doe to a printer. The tha t consulted his own solicitor, who advised 0 at the opinion of an eminent counsel should be taken t n various points of law, as also that a barrister of high Nsv,arlding should be retained. It was just at the moment r , nen the unhappy defendant was ruminating upon this -f,"„ rel , i cainary outlay, that his attention was called to an ad ,,a`rt'sement headed " Railway litigation," and straight he 'oe to town. He was informed that in point of law there was or n . o defence, and that at all events he would ola'o • n the best opinions at the moderate outlay of two g u ineas, by j o ining the society to which the advertise ;eat referred. But his great advantage would consist e a in the determination of the society to shield h i m rum oppression, for upon reference to the list of the Pro visional committee, upwards of eighty in number , mo re than sixty were found to be men Of substance and b e itt wo, and who, if friendly interference failed, would compelled to contribute their proportion , and Mated at their own cost.—(Here several gentlemen that they were in the same predicament.) After . e ut r• Harvey had given his reasons for the liability, It , to be enforced, of the members of a commit ', as well by creditors as amongst the members them ' lees 7 11 , 4 he proceeded to a class of cases still more nu a.e.s, and, in point of law, still more difficult to deal f t ` o w .ai--that of the allotters of shares. While there was n„ulch reason to apprehend very many projects had eep,„. l.t origin in the professional activity of solicitors and sl e l . "'errs, with no other objects than their own exclu - Nadvantage, and as such, must be doelt with as u a d o4a 4 atent contrivances, yet there was no reason to 14 that there were many projects very desirable j„ be accomplished, and intended to be carried out ,"` a manner honourable to all parties. The recent Ptbie bad descended upon the good and vicious schemes .nth unsparing equality, and had thus exposed the one and frustrated the other. The proposed society would *toive allottees of such opposite sc hemes in a ver y -dif ferent spirit. To the allottee in a line never intended to r e formed, and having little e l s e for its ob j ect than pro ssionallunder, it would be said, "resist to the utmost;" bloile the p allottee in a useful line, honestly pursued, would he told that, unless the committee and solicitors were a uthorised to tender the payment of a liberal contribe ltp towards expenses inseparable from the under and of which a satisfactory account would • hatqud, such party would receive no countenance Whatever from that society; but where such an overture Contribution was declined, the party aggrieved would Q ccire the ready assistance of the society. It must be Well known to gentlemen present that many railway pro 'lents were winding themselves up, but upon terms most unfair. He instanced a case of his own, in which he had Paid 2/, 12s. 6d. per share upon 100 shares, and he had beenJuet informed by a copious circular that the cora ,;aittee had resolved to return 405., and to retain the resi !lie for divers little contingencies — among others, the pro- Beeution of an engineer for a neglect of duty. Some men 'might consider 40s. a godsend, and so it would be if 11 : ° . t hiner, more could be obtained ; but, for one, be was 11 ' Prepared it,quiely to contribute 621. 10s., under the t a . pression that was idle to contend with a powerful ° LnUlittee with large funds at their dispoeal. But all 4 'cu were not as resolute, and he would ask in what 5 Y could an individual so circumstanced protect him ' elf so effectually as by mutual co-operation? In one • 3.5 e the many struggle for the many, in -the other the idividual for all. (Here a gentleman said he thought he new the railway alluded to, and that he was in the same ",ht.) After many other remarks, to which the corn- S ay listened with great attention , Mr. Harve y read the / l ,l .°Posed rules, which, upon full discussion by man y of t ".. e , gentleman , present, were unanimously adopted , an d "e.red to be printed. , CIIRISTMAS, of Raymond-buildings, Gray's Inn, e mit he attended at the instance of various clients, no had paid upwards of 100 , 000 /. towards various * a liwas' projects, many of which, there was too much r eason to apprehend, were extremely suspicious in . th • Inreir origio, and not less so in their management. ''ta, strongly urged the great importance of calling 'Tao the promoters to satisfy their subscribers as , their present state and prospects. He thought : v ery honest provisional committee would readily 4c aPond to the inquiry. His clients and he were moot ady t o give their fullest support to a society, the ob `t.% and intended rules of whic h he entirel y a pp roved. sev eral gentlemen present were anxious to o p en their Midget of grievances, and some pointed allusions were 'made t o a co mpany proposing a direct line to Exeter, to Vine in Canada, and also to the Royal N o rt h of S p ain 'liway, but the Hon. Chairinan intimated that no tattsonable time would be sufficient for the detail of rail- Wee .7 grievances. The rules having been agreed to seriatim, Sir NV. LOWTRoRP moved that D. W. Harvey, Esq., should b e appointed the president of the society, and t hat the thanks of the country were due to him for L_ .' v as originated this importa nt undertaking, which the appointment unamiously adopted by acclamation ; as w as also aPpointment of Messrs. Amory, Sewell, and Moores, 14 ) be the solicitors ; and Mr. R. P. Davis, of the firm of John' and Co., to be the treasurer of the so ciety. R - Upon the .acknowledgment of the honour do ne to his rM by th e ir appointment, Mr. AMORY observed that he a nd his partners had been p rimaril y induced to connect th emselves with the society by its great public utili t y and the a .peculiar legal condition of railway pr o jec ts ; and he m° , lred that it should be fully understood that while the ad vice of their firm would be cheerfully gi v e n to ever y —l elnber, that there was not the slightest obligation to eb .s,,ge their professional services. u Pon acknowledging a vote of thanks to the chai rman, th at gentleman observed that the best proof he could g ive of his cordial approval of the society was the immediate payment of his subscription. This example was followed Y onwards of forty gentlemen ;present , and a list of neatly one hundred persons, chiefly residing in the e ouritry, was given in. Lord Dinarben has suffered a painful shock by the d e j i Pt of the melancholy news of the deat h of h i s bro t her, vo onel J. Hughes, C.B , who, we are informed, expired on ," 29 th ult. at Poggibtaizzo, in Tuscany. The gallant do lt' "ti'ed serv e d i n coTtugal and Spain. under Sir J. Moore, 1 , 1 ' 4- Was present at the cavalry actions at Mayorga and Bene rit.o. Subsequently lo again proceeded to the Peninsula, served from February, 1813, to tLe ending the war in 0 15 2 4 , , including the action at 3 . lorales, the battles of Vittoria, tiis.‘l4le,and Toulouse, for which he was rewarded with the tuctto n of a medal and two clasps. He was severely w ounded 'ett in encountering the enemy near Ellite, in the south of Prance. Lord C. Wellesley left Alasley House tm Weeues (ll,' oil his ret urn t o Stratlitiel,save, to meet, her Ladyship, who is stayi ng th ere w ith th e D u ke of Wellington. His rm-nre1$111I) canni to town to consult his medical attendant, uip; for some days suffered from lumbago. 1 XTLREMENT OF COLONEL Bin FROM THE 2D 4,elalalENT OF LIFE GUARDS.—Colonel Reid. the recently !lotted M.P. for Windsor, has just retired, upon half- pay, from the Lientenant-Coloneley of the-2d Regiment of Lifo Guards. It is expected that Major M.Douall, who stands Ilext for promotion in the regiment, will succeed to the vacancy created by the retirement Colonel Reid. A - step in their . respective ranks will also be obtained by the senior caPtam, lieutenant, and cornet. REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS. MEE'llis:G- IN THE PARISH OF ST. PANCR.A S. A public meeting of the parishioners of St. Pancras was held yesterday evening at the Vestry-room, Gordon. street, Gordon-square, for the purpose of petitioning Parlianient, with a view to the abolition of the corn-laws. The meeting was very well attended, and we observed Sir Benjamin Hall on the platform. Mr. Howard took the chair. The notice calling the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting had been called together at a most critical period to consider the mo mentous question of the corn laws.—(Hear, hear.) The question was not one that affected the nation at large alone—every individual was equally interested in it. There might have been, some seven or eight years ego, a difference of opinion in such a meeting as the pre sent, but on that occasion he thought they would all tie very nearly, if not altogether, unanimous. He knew that there was little necessity to enter upon the general nature of the question, but he might be excused for making one or two obseriations on the resolution he had to propose to them. The corn-laws were of modern institution, for it was not above forty years ago that the original law was introduced. Its effect was not immediately felt, and therefore the people bore with it patiently; but since that time en important power had sprung up in the country. An association, entitled the Anti-Corn-law League, had endeavoured, and with great success, to enlighten the people, and not only them, but the legislators of the country.—(Cheers.) They had gone through the agri cultural districts, and had removed the delusion which had held many of the farmers in fear of this law. This was a great and important change in public opinion. This might be partly accounted for by the blight in the potato crop, and the declaration of Lord John Russell for the immediate and total repeal of the corn-jaws. The blight in the potato crop might have induced the late Administration to modify the corn-laws at present exist ing, but the letter of Lord John Russell must have had a decided tendency to advance the total repeal of the corn-laws. What the blight of the potato crop com menced, the letter of Lord John Russell may have been said to have finished. Thus, as it appeared to him, there were three measures which bad immediately led to the repeal of the corn-laws. They seemed to have acted in the same manner as the plagues of Egypt did among the Egyptians. They did not emanci pate the Jews until they found these plagues intolerable ; and so the landed aristocracy would not relinquish these laws until compelled by popular opinion. They were of course aware that the vestry 'had invited Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, and other distinguished in dividuals, but they had not the pleasure of their pre sence there. They had, however, apologetic letters, stating that previous engagements would prevent their attendance.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HoucinTost said that it was with great pleasure he met in that room so many with whom he had on pre vious occasions been acquainted. It was not the first time they had met in that room for a similar purpose, and he always hoped to unite with them in the same good cause. In such an emergency as the present every man ought to be up and doing, either in diffusing his opinions, or in applying to Parliament to get rid of this obnoxious law. Ho would take the opportunity of stating, in as few words as possible, what that law had been, and how other countries had acted under similar circumstances. A constitution like our own prevailed in Belgium, but when a scarcity was felt there the ports were at once thrown open—and what was the result ? Sixteen ships left the port of London and Liverpool for the ports of Belgium with food ; those ships contained 2,500 tons of barley, 11,800 bags of rice, and 3,000 bags of potatoes.—(Hear, hear.) He had re ceived, only the day before yesterday, a letter frcm a correspondent at New York, and he said that the markets we re in a most unsteady state, -owing to the uncertainty and the speculation which existed in this country. —(Hear, hear.) He added, that only specula tive merchants would export to this country. The speaker then went on to point out what the effects of the sliding-scale had been in the importation of wheat from Odessa and Marseilles, and concluded by proposing a la solution declaratory of the opinion of the meeting that the corn-laws should be immediately repealed. Mr. CLARKE seconded the resolution. _ LITERATURE. MEPHYSI OPHELES. No. I. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS• FROM THE MORNECG PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. This is a new weekly illustrated periodiral, devoted to wit, fun, and satire. The artist, whoever he may be, to whom the illustrative department is confided, is a very clever fellow. His "Dr. Russell rescuing Dr. Peel from his Landlady," is a first-rate sketch, founded on the well known picture of Johnson and Goldsmith—Lord John representing Johnson, Sir Robert Goldsmith, the Duke the landlady, and Lord Brougham the bailiff. The other illustrations are all excellent. The Duke of Wel lington, in the character of James 1., publishing " counterblast against tobacco," is a very happy hit., We subjoin a few extracts from the literary portion of the number, and leave our readers to judge of their merits. " STANLEY'S GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONIES.—StanIey is a great man for the colonies: just the man to elevate them into nations. He began with Ireland. He found it miser able, but English. He left it miserable, but Irish. His genius worked that astonishing 'evolution that has trans formed Ireland from a neglected province to become the earner stone of European politics. _He has sown the seed of a distracting nationality which may grow up to, we know net what of mischief. New Zealand will never forget his kindly care. Stanley has no ability, if he fail to give back that fine island to the barbarism and semi-solitude of its original possessors. He chooses governors to prove the inefficacy of civilisation in securing common sense, and uses English soldiers to teach savages how to fight. His protocols prepare—his generals organise defeat. His system is to evolve out of barbarians, victors of Englishmen ! Already has he turned a hero out of the cannibal Heki. What then shall be done with the profoundest statesman the great country England can place over nearly one-half the civilised globe, its colonies? How long, because he can utter smart common places in Parliament, shall he be privileged to knock about our colonies as if enjoying his round at nine pins?" 4 .‘ LOILD BUNTINGTOWER ON DEBT.....Whether a man owes anything or not, is a matter of question between the assumed creditor and the - supposed debtor; no man is a judge in his own cause; therefore, no sensible person pays anything at all without taking the opinion of twelve impartial individuals upon the subject." LIGHTLY TREAD 'TIS HALLOWED GROUND.'—A great landholder is:a tender-footed crlttur, who fears nothing so much as your treading on his corn." TIMES.—The announcement of the approaching and in evitable repeal of the corn-laws is already travelling fast and far over the world. The widening wave of public excite ment is circling round the globe. Wherevef men labour, or congregate, or converse, this coaling change intrudes upon" the common occupations of their lives, and they lift up their heads to be spectators of its accomplishment. The repeal of the corn-laws will prove to be an event of the utmost im • portance to our foreign relations. Its effects at home have doubtless been exaggerated by the fears of its opponents and the hopes of its friends ; for, in a state of society constituted like that of England, no single event, however important, produces a decisive or permanent change on the great inte rests of the country. But with reference to our intercourse with foreign states the case is different. The immediate ob ject of the measure is to promote the interchange of commo dities with foreign nations, and to bring the multifarious po pulations of the earth to one great market. Such a result as that is the greatest to which a statesman can aspire, for it in cludes the questions of peace and war, the progress of improve ment, the destruction of prejudices, the spread of civilisation, and the diffusion at home and abroad of a larger measure of prosperity and knowledge to mankind. At this moment, therefore, we turn our eyes with the deepest interest to our allies, our dependencies, our competitors, our customers, and even our adversaries in all parts of the habitable globe, in anticipation of the effect which this event must produce upon our relations with them and upon their own social condition. At this very moment the :passions of the American demo cracy, and especially of the western states, are probably in flamed with extraordinary violence by the language of the inert to whom their votes have intrusted the destinies of the Union and the peace of nations. We have lately received evidence, though not yet of a formal official character, that Mr. Polk, in resuming his diplomatic intercourse with the republic of Mexico, has thought fit to designate England as " the common enemy." It is needless to disguise our expectation that the message will be framed in very intemperate language with reference to this country and to the Oregon territory ; and to such language the Ministers of the Crown, whoever they may be, will know how to reply. But the vigour of their reply will be heightened by the contrast offered by the policy of the two States et the present moment. A more memorable spectacle has scarely eccurred in the annals of free nations. A more signal contradiction has never arisen between the two great systems of constitutional monarchy and of popular government. On this side of the Atlantic the greatest aristocracy and landed interest of the world are gra dually surrendering long-cherished convictions and the tena cious prejudices of interest to the influence of more enlarged views of the public welfare, and to the demands of public humanity. The vast majority of those who have earned the respect of the people of England by their talents, their patriotism, and their public services, far more than by their illustrious descent and their princely fortunes, are slowly, and sometimes reluctantly, but nevertheless steadily, arraying themselves on the side of truth, and acknowledging no law but the general interest of the country. Here, in this state, where party-traditions are so deep and strong, partyopposition has already been reduced to the desperate struggles and the in effectual protest of a faction, and the opponents of years are startled to find themselves at length enlisted in the same cause. Noris this unanimity of wise and good men dictated solely by the pressure ofa present calamity at home. This cause is that of peace and of civilisation at home and abroad, now and for the future. In the United States, on the contrary, the Execu tive Government formed by the ascendancy of the Demo cratic party, seems ready to sacrifice every great interest of the Union, and of its neighbours, to the miserable exigen cies of its own existence. Its whole conduct to Mexico is an aggravated copy of the policy of Russia towards the Ottoman empire, at the worst times, and before the rest of Europe interposed to preserve the remaining dominions of the Sultan. The American Cabinet mainly rests its popu larity, and its hopes of renewing power at the expiration of four years, upon the reckless pursuit of worthless and unlawful objects ; and the people whose pride it once was to be known to the rest of the world by their trading pursuits, their love of peace, and their renunciation of the hackneyed crimes of intrigue and ambition, are now hurried along in a course of aggression which can only terminate in war, unless it be effectually resisted by the Senate of the United States. Let the nations judge between this picture and the other ! POST.—Notwithstanding the acuteness of an Evening Contemporary, and its very interesting discovery that the :Morning Post would be willing now to accept of a moderate fixed duty, in lieu of the present sliding-scale, provided a Government could be formed with that policy in view— not withstanding all this, we do in reality remain of our old opi nion, that the Whig scheme of 1841 was a foolish one then, and won't do now. The fact is that, however romantic and impracticable the notion may seem to be to the modest gen tlemen of the Liberal school, we go not only for the whole protection of British industry, which the present law allows, but for something more. It is not less protection which would satisfy us, nor a continuance of the present, but only a more real and effectual protection than that which now exists. We do not say that this is a matter to be effected all at once, or by one Act of Parliament. We do not say that no Government should be trusted which did not promise to increase the scale of pro tecting duties. Much has yet to be studied upon the difficult question of the best means of fully developing and fairly re warding the industry of the people. This, however, we say is clear, that neither the one nor the other is done as it ought to be under the system of law and government which now exists. We say, also, that in our opinion no Govern ment will be fully worthy of the earnest support of this nation, which does not adopt as a principle that it is right for the Government to do all it can towards more fully developing the industrial capabilities of this nation, andturn. ing the reward thereof more towards the pockets of those who do the work, than hitherto it has been turned. Amongst men who call themselves "Liberal," the great object always seems to be to serve the interests of the owners of capital. Now, we would protect those interests too, but we would not do so at the expense of the working people. We would not depress the millions that the hundreds might make a better per tentage on their capital. We do not think that the welfare of the capitalists is best promoted by those who try to make them more rich by a process which impairs the security of the general framework of society. A man with eighty thousand pounds in a country where peace, security, and good feeling reign, through the general com fort and contentedness of the population, is in very truth a richer man—an owner of a more valuable property—than the possessor of a hundred thousand pounds among a people whose condition is fast driving them to despair. Our delibe rate opinion is, that, having regard to the increase of know ledge in the art of producing food and clothing in this country within the last thirty years, the people ought in all reason and justice to be better off than they were thirty years ago. The population has increased, but it has not in creased in anything like the same proportion as the increase of productive power. We say that were the nation managed as it ought to be, the people at large Would share in the benefits which may be furnished by the new discoveries in the arts of production. The very reverse is notoriously the he mass of the the state people cannot fact. It is notorious that as th e national means of feeding and clothing have become grea t er i n proportion to the Population, ri o w r a h t i e c d. r o p w illa p t a i the has deteriorated. h it paid without perceptible difficulty thirty years ago. Luxury has made great progress. There are classes who live in a much more profuse, though not more virtuous manner, than they did thirty years ago, but the working people do not live nearly so well. This fact, in a nation which has been all the time advancing in wealth, is in itself a condemnation of the system which governs the reward of the people's industry. During the last thirty years the system which is called " Liberal," and which we deeply regret that mercantile and manufacturing people so generally approve, has been continually making progress. During all that time the protection of British industry has been in various ways undergoing diminution. The nation has been getting richer —the masses have been growing poorer. If this go on, the end will be either the complete debasement of the British working people, and the ruin of Britain in that way, or the rage of the British people rising into revolution, and producing ruin in that way. In either case, the Liberal system, which regards wealth and not the welfare of the people, must bring national ruin. - _ Mr. HAYNES then rose, and in a long address reite • rated the common-place arguments on this question, and concluded with moving a resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. LEWIS SMITH trusted that the importance of the subject would procure for him a hearing for the few cbservations he had to offer. After all that had been said, there and elsewhere, it would be unnecessary fur him to do more than draw attention to the present crisis. (Hear.) They had just witnessed a statesman, who had hitherto been opposed to the repeal of those laws, coming forward and declaring that they should now be repealed. Sir Robert Peel, it was known, had been actuated by similar views. If the people would but stand to each other they would effect all they required. His resolution was, " That the corn-laws were injurious, and bad for their object merely the aggrandisement of the landed proprietors, to the detriment of the working classes of the country." Mr. HOLDEN seconded the resolution, which was carried un animously. Mr. C RO UCH said it had devolved upon him to pro pose the third resolution. He had to congratulate them on the largeness of their present meeting, on the favour able views entertained by their Sovereign towards their cause, and the adhesion to that cause of several of the aristocracy. He would inculcate on them the necessity there was, from their history of this very subject, for an extension of the suffrage. He would conclude by pro posing the resolution, which was to the following effect:—" That there was every prospect of famine in the country, and that it behoved them to come forward and avert this calamity, and protect the people from its accumulated evils.' The mind of man was incapable of conceiving the advantages of free trade.—(Cheers.) The resolution being seconded, was carried unanimously. Mr. DOUGLAS said he had to propose a resolution, to the effect that a petition, founded on the foregoing re solutions, be presented to both Houses of Parliament, and that the Members for the borough be requested to sup port the same. The resolution was seconded, and carried una nimously. Sir BENJAMIN HALL, M.P., in proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, observed that he was a free trader in principle, and accounted for his absence from Parliament the session before last by the loss of a near relation, and last session by severe illness. He also stated that his colleague had, at a meeting in the northern capital, expressed himself in favour of a re peal of the corn-laws.—(Cheers.) The resolution being seconded, was carried unani mously, and the meeting separated. EXTENSIVE FIRE AT LAYER- DE-LA-HAY. It is with extreme regret we record the following particulars of a lamentably destructive fire in this county, and it is indeed a matter of surprise that in the time of a failure in the supply of some of the neces saries of life, a miscreant should be found base enough wilfully to occasion the destruction of any portion of those with which Providence has supplied us. The scene of the calamity was the homestead of Mr. Wat ford, opposite the Fox public-house at Layer-de-la-Hay, a barn npon which was discovered to be on fire about eight o'clock on Tuesday night last. The wind blowing a rather stiff breeze from the south, from the combus tible nature of the material of the barn and its contents, the flames spread with the most alarming rapidity, and messengers were instantly dispatched to Colchester fur the fire-engines, one of which Ras promptly at the spot, and there being a pond near by, a plentiful supply of water was obtained ; the exertions used were, however, of little avail, as the raging element was irresistible and continued its course of devastation to a very large double barn, containing 22i quarters of thrashed barley, the produce of seven and a half acres of oats in the straw; two large wheat stacks, three stacks of clover (30 tons), two straw stacks, a granary containing 17 quarters of wheat and 20 quarters of oats ; horse, cart, and cattle sheds ; cart and nag stabling ; piggeries, cow-houses, &c., with a large quantity of agricultural implements, all of which, with the workshop and the greater part of the valuable stock in trade of Mr. Thomp son, wheelwright, whose premises were situate on the opposite side of the road, in a line northward, were de stroyed. In about an hour after the fire broke out, it is calculated that there were not fewer than 3,000 per sons upon the heath near by, witnessing the hasty de molition of so much valuable property. Superintendent Brown and the county police were at the spot, and ren dered every assistance in their power for the preser vation of the property, and the firemen and neighbours did their best to accomplish that object, but in a few hours the whole of the property above described was rased to the ground, and scarcely a vestige was left to be seen. A range of four corn-stacks escaped destruc tion, owing to the point of the wind, viz., two barley stacks, one wheat stack, and an cat stack, although they all stood within a few yards of the other stacks de stroyed. The dwelling-house and furniture, with the brewhouse, also escaped, but the furniture was removed, as well as that of a considerable number of the neigh bours and cottagers, who, from the direction of the wind from the first hour after the fire broke out, had no hopes of their dwellings being saved ; fortunately, how ever, the wind changed at that period, or at least a dozen houses must have been consumed, and the greatest consternation prevailed throughout the night. Happily no human life or live stock were sacrificed. The home stead, which was very extensive, and one of the most complete in the country, was the property of C. G. Round, Esq., M.P., of Birch Hall, who, within the last few years, purchased the estate of the late Lord Western. The corn destroyed was the property of the executors of the late Mr. William Piggott, the tenant of the farm prior to Michaelmas last, when it was taken possession of by Mn Watford, to whom belonged the stacks of stover, corn in the granary, and the agricultural imple ments consumed. We are happy to add, that most of the owners of the property are covered by insurance in the Colchester, Essex, anti Suffolk Equitable Fire Office, but Mr. Thompson, we hear, is insured for only 1801. in the same office, which, it is said, will not cover his loss by a very considerable sum, as his stock is very valuable. We extremely regret to state that there is no doubt it was the act of a foul incendiary. 'The damage is esti mated at upwards of 3,oool.—Essex Herald. The Countess of Lichfield and the Ladies Harriet and Geraldine arid the Hon. Adalbert Anson are expected to remain in the )''reach capital until the end of the erso ing month, when they return to rejoin the Noble Earl, at rar ffen burg, FRUE-TRADE MovErdENT ,, -We are to find that active committees have been formed in Valli and Bristol since the recent free-trade meetings in those cities, for the purpose of promoting the enfianchieement of free-traders in East Somerset, West Gloucester, and North Wilts—a pro ceeding at all times constitutional, and more than ever ne cessary at the present crisis. A forty-shilling freehold may, by means of Ono commit tees, be so easily obtained, that we hope to hear of - many i,undred applications, and that the conveyances have been duly made Won) the 30th of January next. TB __E SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORN] NG. DECEMBER 19, 1845. LAW INTELLIGENCE. ROLLS' COURT, Dec. 18. His Lordship sat at ten o'clock. EARL NELSON V. LORD BRIDPORT. The arguments on behalf of the defendant in this ca3e were resumed, and occupied the whole day. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 18. His Honour the Vice-Chancellor of England took short causes and unopposed petitions to-day, none of which were of the slightest importance. His Honour will not sit to morrow. SHERIFFS' COURT, Dec. 18. (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURC/AELL. RICHARDS V. POILE.—DEBT AND COSTS. This was au action to recover the sum of 211. 12s. 6d. on a guarantee. The defendant was landlord of the Cart and Horses, Turn mill-street, Clerkenwell. An action had been brought against defendant's brother, and execution obtained on the goods. Defendant, however, consented to pay the debt, 11. Is. 6d. and costs. making altogether the sum at present claimed. The UNDER-SHERIFF said they were large costs for so small a debt. The Attorney said there had been an application to the Court above arising out of the case. The UNDER-SMERINF—SO the defendant has to pay costs in that action, and this for one guinea. Gentlemen, this is not very cheap law, but you have no choice. The costs have been taxed by the proper officer. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff. WALLS V. TRICKEY. This was an action to recover the sum of 71. for bricks. The Attorney for the plaintiff said that in this case he should submit to the Under-Sheriff that the debt had bean contracted by fraud, and that, upon proof thereof, the defen dant could, under the new Act, be taken in execution as well as his goods. William Wells was called—Remembered defendant going to his father, and giving orders for bricks, to be sent to Messrs. Lyons, oil and colourmen, Kent-road. Defendant said his name was Trickey, but he did not mean to trick them. The bricks were sent. Defendant said they were for Messrs. Lyon, who would pay for them; Had since called en Mr. Lyon, who refused to pay, on the ground that they had already paid Trickey. The UNDER• SHERIFF said, what Lyon had told the wit ness was not evidence ; he, therefore, did not consider there was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant. The jury concurred, and a verdict was given for plaintiff. BENJAAILN V. COLWELL. The plaintiff in this action is landlord of a public-house in Vinegar-yard, Drury-lane ; the defendant is a truss-maker in Horse-shoe- court, Ludgate-hill The :union was brought to recover the sum of 21. 10s. for money lent and goods sold. Benjamin Kelsey was called, and stated that he had occa sionally served the defendant with brandy, cigars, Ise., on account of plaintiff, who was a friend, and witness assisted him in business. He had taken an account to defendant, who said that he had been very unwell, and had not been out of the house since he was at the plaintiff's, but when he could get out he would call and pay. Cross-examined.—Had been a licensed victualler, and kept the Anglesey, Bow-street, but had been out of business for two years, and bad since assisted at two or three public houses. Had been on railway business. Was not a stag, nor had dealt,in shares. Had been doing something better. Was not a " director," but had been taking traffic, employed by Messrs. Bush and Blundell, of Mildred-court. He declined saying how much he received. Plaintiff's house was for- merly Dutch Sam's, and before that Money Moses was land lord. The account charged defendant with 11. Bs. for a glass broken in the parlor. There had been a scuffle, as defendant said he had had his pocket picked. The waiter was a man named Evans, alias " the Starling." Could not say whether the spirits supplied amounted to 10s. He could not say that defendant broke the glass. For the defendant it was contended that there was no proof of money lent, nor could the witness say what amount of spirits had been supplied, or that defendant broke the glass. The UNDER-SHERIFF said the case was as weak as it could be ; there was no proof of any delivery of an account, but the note delivered by Kelsey alluded to one of which, if that witness was to be believed, defendant was aware of, in which be promised topay. Verdict for defendant. ADMIRALTY COURT, Dec. 17. THE BATA.VIER.-COLLISION. This was a suit to recover compensation for the da mage sustained by the Gravesend steamer Topaz, from a collision which occurred in Limehouse-reach, between that vessel and a Dutch steamer, the Batavier. It appeared that the Gravesend steamer was at anchor in the middle of the river, and was run into by the Dutch vessel, which was going down the river. This brief statement of the position of the two vessels would seem to throw the whole blame upon the latter ; but on the part of her owners it was to-day contended that the col lision arose from the improper and un-nautical manner in which the Topaz was anchored. She was swinging with a single anchor, instead of a double anchor, which it was said she ought to have had, and in consequence of her thus swinging loose in the middle of the stream, it was contended that the accident occurred. For the owners, however, of the Topaz it was argued that the Dutchman had no business to steer so closely to her, that there was plenty of room to pass without doing so, and that the blame was exclusively here. A. further point was raised in the case, and upon it the decision ul timately rested. The Dutch vessel had taken, in obe dience to the provisions of the Pilotage Act, as pilot on board, a man who was always employed by her owners in going up and down the Thames ; and the point urged was that, at the time of the collision, the Batavier was under his exclusive command, and that her owners were not liable for the misconduct or mistake of a man whom they only engaged under the compulsion of an Act of Parliament. Dr. Addams and Dr. Jenner appeared for the owners of the Topaz ; Dr. Curtis and Dr. Bayford for the owners of the Batavier. The Trinity Masters (by whom the Court was assisted on the question of nautical skill) expressed their opi• nion there was no blame imputable to the Topaz in her mode of anchoring ; that the collision occurred through the bad steering of the Batavier, but that the fault could not be laid to the charge of her master and crew, as they had acted, as they were bound to do, under the control and direction of tho licensed pilot who was on board. Dr. ADDAMS then submitted that the ordinary con struction put upon the Pilotage Act with regard to the liability of the pilot himself, and the non-liability of the owners who had been obliged to employ him, did not apply to this case. Here, though the owners had been compelled to employ a pilot, they had exercised their own choice, and had always selected this particular man. He had thus become their agent or servant, and for his misconduct they were fairly liable. Dr. LUSHINOTON thought otherwise. The Act of Parliament compelled the owners of vessels sailing up and down the Thames to take a duly licensed pilot on board, and it would be most unjust to make them re sponsible for the conduct of a man acting in their ser vice under such circumstances. It did not affect, and would not remove, that injustice—that the master or owners had selected one particular man, and always employed him. Their selection was confined to a cer tain class of men, in whose appointment they had no control, and such a selection could not fix upon them a liability so opposed to natural justice. The Trinity Masters had held that the blame of this collision was attributable to the pilot alone, and that the master and crew were open to no censure-I'ad been guilty of no misconduct. Under such circumstances, the Court could not hold the owners responsible, and must dismiss the present suit. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Dec. 17. (Before Mr. Commissioner Lew.) IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM DAVIES. Judgment was pronouneed in this most extraordinary case, which was on the last occasion before the Court on the 11th inst. The facts require to be succinctly nar rated in order to understand the judgment given. The insolvent had figured as an attorney's clerk and potato salesman. Subsequently he became a house-agent and an accountant at Hoxton, where he lately resided. His debts were under 500 L, and he told a marvellous tale about losing by robbery a sum of 2,0601. His principal debts consisted of two claims for law costs, one by a Miss Parkin, for whom he had acted as agent, and against whom he had brought an action for upwards of 700 L, which was referred to arbitration, and in the course of the investigation thereon he swore in February last to the then possession of 2,0001. An award was made against him, and the costs followed, which with the costs of his own attorney (Mr. W. H. Smith), exceeded 400/. As an applicant to the Court from these claims, it was incumbent on him to show that he had been deprived paying them out of the 2,0001 which he stated he possessed in February last, and he alleged that he had been robbed of the money. The two cre ditors (Miss Parkin and Mr. Smith) refused to credit thb story, and opposed his application to be discharged. A lengthened investigation took place into the circum stances before the Learned Commissioner, who expressed himself of opinion that the statement was an absolute and atrocious falsehood. The story told was that the insolvent, after the award was made against him, went to Ostend, accompanied by a foreigner, whom he had met at Gravesend, to enter into a partnership at Paris, and he took 2,0601. with him in his portmanteau, which, after he got into a private house at Ostend, was broken open, and the contents abstracted, with the documents relating to the intended partnership. He presumed the wine he drank was drugged. He made no complaint to the police, but got 24 frcm a person in the house, and came home. He afterwards met the same person in London, and, at his instance, went to Antwerp in search of the gang by whom he had been plundered. On the last occasion the Court requested that some evidence should be obtained from a savings' bank, in order to form an opinion as to what sum he had actually possessed. It appeared that he had possessed a number of lease hold houses at Hoxton, which he had disposed of to a Mr. Lake Mr. DowsE, as counsel for the insolvent on the pre sent occaaion, tendered some information which had been obtainadfrom a savings' bank, in which the insol vent had money deposited in the name of his wife. The insolvent was sworn to the truth of his schedule, in which the story of the alleged robbery was detailed. In giving judgment, the Learned COMMISSIONER ob served that he had expressed his opinion on the last oc casion. He disbelieved the story of the loss, and he also disbelieved the insolvent had possessed the sum he had mentioned; because, if he had thought he had the money and had concealed it, this course would have been clearly defined; namely, to have refused to pronounce any judgment on the case, as the applicant would have had the means of satisfying every demand against him. What the insolvent had possessed he could not say—he did not believe that he had the money stated (2,0601.), nor (Amid he presume to form no opinion as to how much he actually possessed; that he was a person pretty well to do in the world was plain, for he had owned a number of houses, which he had sold after ho found the action went cgainst him. The judgment of the Court was that he be imprisc , ned for a period of twenty-two calendar months from the vesting order, for making away Keith and concealing his property. The judgment will be computed from the I Ith of October last. The insolvent was removed to Whiteeross street Prison. The Earl of Pembroke's extensive stud and splen did equipages have been removed to Paris, and we hear the NQble Earl contemplates a protracted residence in France, SIMMONDS'S COLONIAL MAGAZINE. It is not often that the Colonial Magazine favours us with poetry. In the present number, however, we find the following beautiful little poem, and we fear that the author, like the poet of the olden time, is a prophet also, and foreshadows but too truly what must be the in evitable fate of all aboriginal semi civilised races:— THE INDIAN HUNTER. BY H. W. LONGFELLOW. When the summer harvest was gather'd in, And the sheaf of the reaper grew white and thin, And the ploughshare was in its furrow left, Where the stubble land had been lately cleft, — An Indian hunter, with unstrung bow, Look'd down where the valley lay stretch'd below. He was a stranger, and all that day Had been out on the hills, a perilous way; But the foot of the deer was far and fleet, And the wolf kept aloof from the hunter's feet, And bitter feelings pass'd o'er him then, As he stood by the populous haunts of men. The winds of autumn we-re over the woods, As the sun stole out from their solitudes • The moss was white on the maple's trunk, And dead from its arms the pale vine shrunk, And ripen'd the mellow fruit hung, and red Were the trees' wither'd leaves around it shed. The foot of the reaper moved slow on the lawn, And the sickle cut down the yellow corn; The mower sung loud by the meadow side, Where the mists of evening were spreading wide, And the voice of the herdsman came up the lea, And the dance went round by the greenwood tree. Then the hunter turn'd away from that scene, Where the home of his fathers once had been, And heard, by the distant and men-sired stroke, That the woodman how'd down the giant oak; And burning thoughts flash'd o'er his mind Of the white man's faith, and love unkind. The moon of the harvest grew high and bright, As her golden born pierced the cloud of white; A footstep was heard in the rustling brake, Where the beech o'ershadow'd the misty lake, And a mourning voice and a plunge from shore, And the hunter was seen on the hills no more. When years pass'd on, by that still lake side The fisher leok'd down through the silver tide, And there, on the smooth yellow sand display'd, A skeleton, wasted and white, was laid ; And 'twas seen, as the waters moved deep and slow, That the hand was still grasping a hunter's bow. The present number also contains a valuable paper on the railway prospects of New South Wales, and a vast mass of useful statistical colonial information. THE NEW LONDON MAGAZINE. This is the fourth appearance of this new candidate for public favour, which is an agreeable melange of useful and entertaining information. We would commend " The Bachelor's Encyclopedia of Practical Economy" to the attentive perusal of all yowig men beginning the world. The present paper propounds the art of living upon 701. a year, and shows clearly how it may be ac complished. The lovers of fun will be delighted with Obadiah Goosequill, and Mr. Tippletoddy, while gossip ing with the olden poets, will introduce many a reader for the first time to one of the most brilliant wits of the Court of Charles I, and at the same time one of our most elegant lyric poets, Sir John Suckling. There is a great deal of pleasant reading in the New London Ma gazine. SPORTING MAGAZINE. Harry Hie'over continues his valuable treatise on "Educating Horses," and takes occasion to go into the subject .of education generally, and treats it in a very philosophical manner. Take the following as a spe cimen : _ • One of the most material things in teaching men, chil dren, or brutes, is to make them perfectly . understand what it is we want of them, and this I suspect is not always done in either case, Children, lam satisfied, are often punished from our fandsing them unwilling or obstinate, when, in truth, their not completing their task arises from our fault in not making them comprehend it: with horses I am quite certain this is a matter of hourly occurrence. We are too apt to fancy that easy which we know ourselves, forgetting that A B is as difficult to learn as a first lesson as solving the most difficult problem of Euclid is at a maturer age or in more advanced education." It would be well that all engaged in the business of instruction should keep this observation constantly in mind. The illustrations to this number are " Clipping," engraved by Engleheart, from a picture by Turner, and a view by Beckwith of the " Hunting Lodge of Queen Elizabeth, Epping Forest." The Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine Vil liers have closed their visit to the Duke and Duchess of Grafton, at Wakefield Lodge, and gone to pass a few days with the Hon. Frederick and Lady Elizabeth Villiers, at Belle Vue, near Towcester. The Noble Earl arrived at Mid dleton Park, from the Duke of Grafton's, on Monday. 1 iST. MARY, ISLINGTON.—AII information in Chan cery is now pending against the trustees of this parish, to compel them to refund a sum of 9004 alleged to have been illegally paid by them out of the poor-rate; and on Monday evening a meeting took place at the chambers of the Attorney- General (Sir F. Thesiger), to hear the parties on a memorial presented to him by the trustees to stay the farther proceed - proceed ings, when, after hearing Mr. Rodgers, the counsel for the DEATH OF A RETIRED CUSTOM-HOUSE OFFICER BY trustees, and Mr. Roe, the solicitor for the relators, the At- FIRE —On Wednesday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the torney-General decided against the trustees. The suit will Bricklayers Arms, Gloucester-street, ;Vile-end-road, , on the therefore proceed. body of Mr. Frederick Greenwaller, aged eighty years, a ESTABLISHMENT OF A WOOL AND CATTLE MARKET retired Custom -house officer, lately residing in Gloucester- AT Anonossase—A very influential meeting of agriculturists street. On Friday evening last he was sitting by the fire • was held on Friday last at Ardrossan, for the purpose of ester- side, much burnt about the lower parts of his body, when a noise was heard as if a heavy body had fallen, and when one of the witnesses went up stake, he found the bushing a wool and cattle market there. Upwards of forty deceased lying on the hearth with his trousers on fire. He proprietors and farmers attended—Lord Eglinton and Winton in the chair. After considerable discussion, a of which committee was appointed—James Campbell, Esq., of injuries he died on the following day. At the time the acci- Craigie, convener who resolved that a market for dent occurred he had a great quantity of sovereigns in his the sale of wool, cattle, sheep, &c., should be held pockets, and on th e mante l- p i ece w as a bank note of consi at Ardrossan in July, a f e w days preceding the In- po ckets, and which lie placed in a box containing lucifer verness market; and that two trysts should be held matches. There was no evidence as to how the deceased set for cattle, sheep, and horses, each month, in September " himself on fi re . The jury re turned a verdict of " Accidental and October, a week preceding those held at Falkirk in the death. same month s. ' A sum of about 161. was collected on the PUNISHING PATIENTS IN HOSPlTALS.—Wednesday, spot to defray the expense of advertising the resolutions of Mr. Walden M . P ., h e ld a n inquost at the University Col the committee, &c. Lord Eglinton afterwards entertained le ge Hospital, on the body of Emma Willing, aged five years the whole party to luncheon in the hotel ; and the meeting and a half, whose parents reside in Victory-place, Edmund broke up highly satisfied at the progress made in the under- street, Battle-bridge. On Friday last, during the momen taking. From the central position of Ardrossan, and the tary absence of deceased's mother, a younger brother com facilities afforded for the conveyance of stock from the op- menced playing with the fire, and in so doing ignited her polite shores of the West Highlands by steam, we should clothes. Though the flames were extinguished promptly, think the Ardrossan trysts will turn ou t to be of vast im- deceased was f ata lly burned, and having been convey e d to portance to the country.—Ayr Observer. the above hospital, she died in it the next morning. The Coroner instituted DAILLY, DEC. 15.—An accident of a most painful minute inquiries amongst the patients to nature happened at Dalquharran colliery, on the evening of ascertain whether or not deceased had been threatened with Saturday last, by which a young man, of the name of Andrew punishment to still her cries , by any of the nurses or hoe- Bryden, son of Adam Bryden, lost his life. Havi ng fi n i s h e d petal authorities. Finding that she had not, he expressed his week's work, he had just gone into the creel, at the pit might force from it. be bottom,Verdict— in order to ascend the shaft. when the ascending creel his satisfaction, and told the jury he made the inquiry at the top struck against the side, by which contact a lump cause he had seen in one of our hospitals a birch rod hung up on the bed of a juvenile patient who had undergone a on the top of the creel was precipitated down the pit, It painful and dangerous operation. The child could not look upwards without seeing this iestrument of torture placed to struck the hapless youth between the head and shoulders, and he expired-in a moment.—Ayr Observer. check the cries that agony " Accidental death." THE CITIZENS OF PRAGUE. Mary Howitt, a LUC K. has just brought before the public another of those charming A PIECE OF GOOD _ Some days since a writer whose works have attained extraordinary popularity, gentleman in this city, being about to remove from one real fictions with which her name has become identified. In in decessors, and of this Mrs. Howitt is so fully impressed, that Bence to another, sent for a party who was in the habit of terest, " The Citizens of Prague" far exceeds any of its pre in the preface she styles it " a noble work , and an honour purchasing books and other articles, and dealing in them, t r o ac h t u ar r w n h n a at m ur a e d .: a T gr h e e at he fi ro ga i r s e ainvtehrya last rem cen tury; arkable cha a and telling him that as he wis h ed . to clear away a quantity of old lumber that lay in the kitchen and underground cel lar, lie had better look at them and see what he would give On did so, and from b t with novel readers the chief features of his ve ry time to time purchased them for what he conceived they and romantic story will be the animated pictit picturesquecon tains were worth. Among the rest was an old iron box or safe, of the Court of the celebrated Empress Maria ie which had lain for years neglected in one of the cellars, and as their value. The dealer accordingly, this illustrious lady and her equally eminent Mini st e r , resa appeared intrinsically worth very little. He offered 11. for Kaunitz, playing distinguished parts in the narrative. it, upon which the owner said lie might have it, and directed "The Citizens of Prague" will enable the English rea der to him to take it away at once. The aid of four men, who were draw an interesting comparison between noble - m in ded this in the house was obtained to remove it, but they were un n and his own, in which he will meet with some a ble to carry it, and four more had to be brought in, whose very singular coincidences. united exertions placed it on a car, and it was conveyed to in Mallow- CHESTER CATHEDRAL.—The re 'opening of this the purchaser's house l ane. Before it was taken off the car a pawnbroker, from . Blackpool, saw the chest sacred edifice, which has been for some time closed for re- •el to buy it. The original purchaser offered • it, storation and improvements, is to take place on Sunday , and prop ose d l' for 3/. 10s. ,ti January 6. The Llerd Bishop of the diocese will preach after some higg ing, ie pawnbroker would give not . ' on but 3/., and as he could get it for that went away. The the occasion. weighty bargain was then taken off the car, but the pur- ACCIDENT ON THE PARIS AND ORLEANS RAILWAY.. ch a ser not liking to p ut it on a timber floor, le ft it in the —On Saturday afternoo n, at h alf - past five, a luggage trainl street for a couple of nights. On sending, however, for the which had left Orleans at fifteen minutes past eleven , had key, which could not be had when he bought it, it was found stopped at St. Michel in order to take in other goods, when a ' by a label attached to it that the contents of the box must second special train, proceeding in the same direction and have been worth more than 205., and accordingly a gentle on th e same rails, mite in contact with the train that had man , on behalf of the owner , went to where it lay, but cou ld stop p e d in, and the two engines were, in consequence of the no t open it from the rusty, state of the lock. Te e serv i ces shock, thrown off the rails and upset. Owing to this deplore ofa l oc ksmith were a t length obtained, and whe n the b ox a bl e enco unter, M. de t lanzei, one of the Company's inspec- was o p en ed it was foun d to contain plate and oth er va l ua bl es tors, who was on the locomotive, was thrown under it and to the amount of, we understood, over 500/. —Cork Reporter. killed on the spot. No other per-tons were hurt. It was DEATH FROM SCALDING.--Wednesday evening, some hours before the road could be cleared and the southern Mr. Baker held an inquest at the William the Fourth mails could proceed. . Tavern, Bethnal -green-road, on the body of Julia Osborn, WORTHING.—The herring fishery is brought to a aged two years, whose parents reside in the above street. On c l ose , wi th less success than it promised at its commenc e - the m' riling of Thursday , the 4 th inst., th e d ecease d was merit. The fishermen are s h " ires . , d3 7 3re P arin g,, fo e r the IlLtekerel sitting in feint of a lar g e fire on whi ch was placed a saucepan season, which in a very 's"o "me w ill uti6l e n• — Brighton of boiling water, and while i the mother was lifting the saucepan Gazette. i off the fire-grate, it Blipped, and the contents fell over the Gl,Aspow FIG-IRON TRADE, DEC' 10 -- Since head, shoulders, and neck of the child, who expired on Satur this, - day week there bevo beep several fluctuations in p r i ces , day morn ing la t. Verdict, " Accideetal d ea th . " but we quote the 'nice exactly as fit that elete—Say 725. 6d. ' The West Indiaman Duke of Manchester, William nett. 'IV day a sa l e was made et the above time, ~,,,a Scott Mprray, master, bound to Jamaice, got on shore on the another at 765. cr edit—buyers scarce. A consi erable parcel Goodwiti Sands on the Mil ineteet, and is now on her way ()tiered at 745. was not disposed of. We are sorry to bear of beck to the river Themes, to discharge her cargo in the a failure in Liverpool connected with this trade.—Glasgou, We.t India Docks e preparatory to the vessel going into dry National. dock to be repaina. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, Ilse. 15. (Before Mr. Justice ERLE.) CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—DEATH OF THE LATE Mn. BUTELEIL—Thomas Wheatley, a young man of about 25 years of age, who had been out on bail to appear to the present charge, and who had been engine driver upon the North Midland Railway, was indicted for the crime of manslaighter, in having, on the 28th of October last, at Royston, feloniously caused the death of William Fuller Botelcr, Esq., by neglect and unskilfully (!riving a pilot engine, of which the prisoner then ha•l the management. The circumstances attending the lamentable event will be in the recollection of everybody, from the great interest which was excited at the time of its occurrence. It was reported that Wheatley intended to keep out of the way, but the result has proved other wise, and this morning he was put to the bar to take his trial. Mr. Hall, Mr. Boothby, and Mr. Pickering appeared to conduct the prosecution ; and Mr. Bliss, with whom was Mr. Overend, for the defence. Mr. HALL opened the case by observing to the jury, that it was one which had naturally caused a more than ordinary interest in the public mind, on account of the rank of the deceased gentleman, who had been one of her Majesty's Counsel, a Commissioner of Bankruptcy for the Leeds district, and Recorder of Maidstone, as well as on occount of the known excellence of his cha racter and disposition, and those high attainments by which he had been distinguished in life. This case must also be of unusual importance, from the circumstance of the melancholy loss of life having occurred upon a rail way, now that it had become an almost universal habit with the people of this country to travel by railways. It would appear that on the night of the clay in question, Mr. Boteler set out from London by the mail-train to come to Leeds. An accident happened to the train before it arrived at Barnsley, but having got some temporary repair, the train proceeded thither, and then con tinued on, a pilot engine being ordered forward to its aid, and which followed after to overtake it. From Barnsley, towards the north, there was a considerable rise. The prisoner, it would be shown, had put on steam, and had added speed, when he should have slackened it, therefore he had been guilty of negligence. Also, it would appear that he had not kept at his post while on the pilot engine, for he was driving it without keeping that look out ahead which was a part of his business. Now, the law would protect every man in his calling, so long as he properly conducted himself in its pursuit ; but if he were guilty of such negligence as was incompatible with the safety of others in that calling. and so caused death, the law would hold him guilty of the crime of manslaughter. One circumstance, render ing the prisoner's act inexcusable was, that the usual lights were exhibited at the tail of the mail train, into which he had run the pilot engine. And it would ap pear that he must have seen those lights on approaching the train. Immediately after the collision, which arose from his misconduct, a passenger by the train charged him with it. The prisoner said there were "no lights." But that passenger, having ascertained that there w ere lights, then told him so, and to that information he replied only by saying, that " they were very dim." To account, in some measure, for the prisoner's negli gence, the jury would learn that there was a strong south wind blowing at the time, and, perhaps, it might be that he had so placed himself upon the engine so as to screen himself from the wind, but in such a position as to prevent him from performing the duties of his post. It had further been alleged, on the part of the prisoner, that the rail was slippery, but as the engine he drove was at the time proceeding up an incline, that circum stance, if true, would operate a contrary way, and would rather tend to retard than accelerate. It was also said that the break of the pilot engine was imperfect ; but it would be shown that that part of the machinery was quite sufficientfor its purpose, and an officer, who had been sent down by the Government to inquire into the cause of this disaster, would be called before the jury to establish this latter fact. Having detailed the facts throughout, the Learned Gentleman proceeded to call the witnesses for the prosecution. The evidence did not materially differ from that given on the coroner's inquest, which has already appeared in The San. After an address from Mr. Buss for the prisoner, the jury retired for half an hour, and on their return said that they found the prisoner Not Guilty. A verdict of Acquittal was then entered upon a second indictment, in which the prisoner was charged with the manslaughter of John Stubbs, the polic-officer, who died in consequence of injuries received upon the same occasion. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAZO, Assistant-Judge, and a Bench of Magistrates.) On Wednesday, Chatles Lewis, an Irishman, aged 27, was indicted for stealing a brass funnel, the property of Richard White. In itself the case did not present any feature worthy of a report, but that which arose towards the conclusion of the examination of the principal witness, and that which followed, created no little astonishment in all who were present, save the prisoner, his father, and their witness. The evidence for the prosecution clearly proved that the prisoner, who had progressed some considerable way towards the attainment of a complete state of intoxica tion, had, in the public-house of which the prosecutor was the laullord, taken he funnel off the counter, placed it in his trousers, and walked off with it. He was of course followed and taken into custody, but upon being charged with the theft, he denied first that he had stolen anything of the sort, and next that he had the funnel about him. Upon being pressed, however, upon the subject, accompanied by a threat that he would be searched, he without any further hesitation pulled it from his trousers. Just as this part of the evidence against him had been given, The prisoner, addressing the Court, said, " Oh, my Lord, that is nothing at all ; I often do those sorts of things, but there is nothing in them. Only just let me ask the witness a question, and I'll settle the whole con cern at once.—(Loud laughter.) Now, then, tell we, did I take that funnel as though I intended to steal it ? Did I take it in anything like a surreptitious style, like this, you know, as if I meant to walk off with it ? Did I look as if I intended to commit a robbery ? Did 1 mean to do a felony, do you think ; that's all ?"—(Re newed laughter.) _ _ , The witness, who appeared to be quite overcome by this torrent of questions, said, all he knew was that the prisoner took the funnel, and, having hidden it in his trousers, had then gone off- He could not tell what his intentions might have been, but for himself; he thought they were directed towards the appropriation of the funnel. The Learned JUDGE observed that the act of the pri soner, he thought, pretty well bore out that opinion. Now, prisoner, what have you to say in your defence ? The prisoner, who had previously asked for a copy of the depositions, at once said, " Oh, my Lord, I meant nothing of the sort; I'm not guilty of a theft. I'm given to freaks. I'm all full of fun, innocent, harmless fun, my Lord. That's all.—(Laughter.) Lord, I went to Ireland, my own country, some time since, but it was all for fun, nothing else.—(Continued laughter.) Lord bless you, anybody who knows me knows that I would despise any action that is bad. I might have taken this concern, and when asked about it then have denied either that I had it or that I knew anything about it, and only for the pleasure of bringing it back the next day, and having a good laugh over the affair. I might have done that, but they spoilt the fun I should have had. But, mind, I don't say it was so. I don't say I took this thing; but it might have been so.—(11 uch laughter.) Lord, I have often done these sort of things and lots of fun we've had." , The Learned JUDGE—Then it is quite time that you should be stopped in such a career. Have you any one to speak to your character? The prisoner —I have a number of friends who would give me a fine, aye, an ex cellent character. They will speak to my honourable and good character; but The father here stepped up and wished to say that his son could not have done this, for ho was out of his mind. The Learned JUDGE—The Court cannot listen to that at this moment ; we must hear your statement upon such a point presently. The prisoner —Oh, Sir, I don't wish to get off upon that score, you may depend upon it ; don't think it.— (Laughter.) A "PubliCan in Wild-street then stated, that the pri soner was a constant visitor at his house, and that he was in the habit of taking things away with him, and bringing them back the next day. He sometimes took funnels, sometimes glasses, sometimes pots, and— The JUDGE asked the witness whether he was aware that he had placed himself in a condition to be indicted for compounding felony ? He would recommend him not to say any more, but at once to stand down. But, with regard to the jury, he was compelled to say, that if he were to permit such testimony as that which it ap peared the father and the publican had come prepared to give, and clearly without . any ground, fo r th e pr i soner displayed all the cunning sharpness and tact of his coun try, it would become his painful duty then to leave it to them to say whether they would acquit him because he was of unsound mind. Surely, the father, and the wit ness he had brought with him, could not know that if it were to happen that his son were to be acquitted on the ground which he had set up-- The prisoner —Oh, Sir, I don't wish to get off upon that ground. I don't, indeed ; but it would be such a disgrace if my friends knew that I was in this place. The Learned JUDGE.—The prisoner was sane enough ; but he was about to say, that the father could . not have known that the def e n ce h e h a d se t up for his son was such that if it were successful it would cause that son's imprisonment for life. The prisoner had . no counsel, and therefore it had become the duty of the Court to guard his interests. He could not, consequently, permit this evidence to be proceeded with, especially as it was manifest that there was no foundation for it. As for the facts of the case, they were clear enough, and distinctly proved the theft. He dal not believe one word that had been uttered by the publican. The jury wo u ld arr i ve at their verdict upon a consideration of the evidence. It was quite clear the man was not of unsound mind ; but if they should by any chance acquit him upon that ground, the result would be that he would be imprisoned for life. The prisoner—Not by any means, my Lord ; I don't wish to get off upon that ground, and they have not at tempted to set up such a defence. I very often do this sort of thing for fun. I'm fond of a freak The Learned J UDGE was at a loss then to understand what object the father could have had in saying anything upon the subject. However, he would leave the case now to be dealt with by the jury. The jury at once returned a verdict of Guilty, but at the same time recommended the prisoner to mercy. The prisoner then said it was a most dreadful thing co:• him, with regard to his friends, to be in such a posi , tion. The Learned JUDGE remarked, that his friends were aware of his position, because the father had come forward. The prisoner —Oh, but my father does not tell at:y one about it. lie k'eps it to himself.—(Laughter.) The Learned JUDGE ordered tie prisoner to be re manded until the next session, and that inquiries should be made respecting his connexions and his previous mode of life. RAILWAY RESPONSIBILITY. (From the Times.) The railway drama approaches its denouement. Each day developes some new of of the actors to escape the toils they have spread for each other. The more they struggle the more the plot thickens, and the deeper becomes the interest of the scene. There is a strange peculiarity in the perform ance. It reverses the established order of things, and inverts the common proportion of numbers between the players and the audience. Here we have on one side a crowded stage and a whole community for the dramatis perslnce, on the other a beggarly account of empty boxes, dotted thinly here and there with a few critical and unsympathising spectators. For our own part we have but little pity for the sufferings of disappointed speculators. They have not, for the most part, any legitimate claim upon our feeling. Theirs is a common case. A large adventure and great risk; enormous gains on one side, ruin on the other. The throw of the dice has been unlucky; but the gamester, though entitled by pre scription to accuse the fickle goddess he adores, has no right to quarrel with the better fortune of his fellow-worshippers, and certainly none to ask assistance from the bystanders. We speak, of course, of those only who have been playing with their eyes open. It is a very different matter when the dice have been loaded and the cards packed. Then all who see may interfere, and it is the duty of all to expose the cheat. It cannot be doubted that in the monster catalogue of railway schemes there are many bubbles. Companies there must be which never had an idea of proceeding beyond provisional registra tion, nor any object but to raise deposits and rig" the market. These arc not bond fide associations. They have flourished by false pretences, and are, in fact, fraudulent and illegal. The public needs not to be informed, that the promoters of such schemes can have no claims upon sub scribers which a court of law will enforce. Deposits that have been paid to them may be recovered back; and de posits that are apparently due to them upon letters of al lotment, but which have not been paid, are safe in the pockets of the holders. It is idle to talk of partner ship and liability to contribution and an equitable adjustment of losses. There is no partnership where the contract has been a fraud practised by some members upon the others, and consequently there can be no claim to contribution. And what equity is there in sharing losses where there never would have been an account of profits? But unfortunately it is often difficult to prove fraud. There is a strong rule of law that it shall never be presumed, and the burden of proof lies always on the party who makes it his defence. It may thus happen that bubble companies who have laid their plans well, and so cautiously worded their advertisements and prospectuses that no false pretences can be shown, will be bold enough even to assume the offensive and to take legal steps for enforcing the payment of their deposits. This has often been threatened, and sometimes, we fear, with su ccess . The form of the threat hitherto has been a simple demand of payment on a certain day. One company, however, has gone a step further, and holds forth the terrors of a Chancery suit as the penalty of non-payment. The circular of the Great Welsh Central Railway Company is in these words:— " December 10, 1845. " Sir,—Upwards of 400,000 shares were applied for in this undertaking by yourself and others, persons of known sub stance and respectability. On the faith of such applications the Committee of Management was induced to make very considerable outlays, proportioned to the extent of the line and the high estimation in which it was held by the public. The deposits on a considerable number of the shares allotted to other applicants, as well as on those allotted to you, have not been paid. The expenses, considering the magnitude of the scheme, will be but small, if borne rateably in proportion to all the allotments, and as it would be manifestly unjust to throw such expenses exclusively on those parties who have honour ably kept their engagements, the Committee have thought it their duty to lay this case before high legal authority, and are advised that every applicant to whom shares have been alloted is legally compellable to pay the full amount of his deposit. 4 Acting under this advice, and with a view to a fair and just apportionment of such expenses, the Committee have directed me to request that you will, on or before Thursday next, the 18th inst., either pay into the hands of one of the undermentioned bankers the sum above specified, tieing at the rate of 4s. per share on your allotment, and your average ratable proportion of such expenses, or that you will forward to me before that day the name of a solicitor who will under take to appear for you to a bill in Chancery at the suit of the Company. Thus you may be spared the personal inconve nience and annoyance of being personally served with the writ of subpcena." The " high legal authority" which is here alluded to is probably that of Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who has, we understand, given an opinion to the effect that the application for shares and letter of allotment constitute of themselves a complete contract, by which the applicant binds himself to become a partner, to the extent of the shares allotted to him, in a copartnership recognized by law—namely, by the Joint-Stock Companies Act. This opinion certainly appears to be quite irrespective of the issuing of scrip or the signature of the Parliamentary contract. Such, we believe, is the general impression among the lawyers who have viewed it favourably. If it be correct, we can only say it is most un fortunate; for the extent of liability it imposes upon thou sands of imprudent individuals cannot be viewed without alarm. It is, however, to be remarked, that the Solicitor- General's opinion does not touch the case of a party, who, having paid his deposit, applies for his scrip and offers to sign the contract, but is refused the one, and not allowed to do the other. It would certainly appear reasonable that the law should make a difference between such a per son and one who refuses altogether to pay his deposit, because he finds there is no chance of premiums in the market. It' the former has been the case of the Welsh Railway, we are strongly inclined to doubt their having been well advised. At all events, there are some crumbs of comfort still remaining for the victims, which we are at all times ready to distribute to them ; but, be it understood, more out of pity than from any acknow ledgment of their deserts. It may so happen that the ques tion will be, whether the contract is one of present or future partnership—a question which, of course, depends very much upon the terms of the prospectus, and the particular acts of the parties. If the projected company be advertised to con sist of a certain number of shares, a part only of which are allotted—a considerable portion being reserved—no matter for what purpose, the individual who has agreed to take shares in such a scheme may well be heard to say that the partnership he contracted to belong to has never been formed. There is no doubt that the original projectors are the parties liable to pay all expenses. In the absence of any express promise on the part of th e so - called shareholders, any are not chargeable for contribution. It has been said that persons set a scheme afoot, and assume to be directors or managers, all the expenses incurred before the scheme is in actual operation must, in the first instance, be borne by them. When it is in operation, the expenses and charges of manage ment will be borne by the concern ; tied then it may be fair that the preliminary expenses should be paid in the same way, for then the subscribers have the benefit of them. There is no lack of decisions on this point, and "Nickels r. Crosby" may be worth an attentive perusal. It may, how ever, be urged that what the Committee of Management seek to establish in the case under consideration is not so much a partnership, as a contract to pay an ascertained sum for the purpose of carrying out a certain undertaking, the specific performance of which contract will he enforced by a court of equity. This is probably the real state of the case. If so, we advise all those who are sought to be charged to remain perfectly quiet, and to keep their money in their pockets. Let these projectors try their luck in Chancery. If they do, ' we promise ourselves the sport of seeing "the engineer hoist with his own petard." THE LATE MINISTRY.—Sir Robert Peel had a meeting of certain members of the late Administration, on Wednesday morning, at his residence in Whitehall• gardens. The meeting took place at the early hour of ten o'clock, and among those present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Lincoln, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and the Right Hon. Sydney Herbert. The meeting se parated at half-past eleven o'clock. The Earl of Aberdeen leaves London to-day for Brighton. Lord Wharncliffe is very much indisposed at his residence in Curzon -street, Lord Gran ville Somerset has left town. His Lordship has not attended to his official duties since the members of the Cabinet ten dered their resignation. SYRO-EGYPTIAN SOCIETY.—A very numerous meeting was held on Tuesday evening, Dr. John Lee, F.R.S., President, in the chair, when a paper was read by Mr. John son on different types of the Mongolian race, particularly illustrated by remarks on the analogy of the Bushmen of South Africa with the Gongas of Abyssinia. There were exhibited two interesting juvenile specimens of the former race, which, on account of the unremitting hostility prac tised against them by the Kaffirs and Hottentots, and by the whites prior to the occupation of the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies by the English, are fast becoming extinct. The parents of the two children were killed by a Kaffir tribe, by whom they were sold to a Dutch Boer for a gun. An in teresting conversation followed, in which it was satisfactorily proved that they formed an important connecting link in the scale of an universality of the origin as well as the religion of the human race. Loss or LITE BY FlRE. — Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr. Baker, at the Coach and Horses Tavern, Myddleton-street, Whitechapel, on the body of Jessie Jacobs, aged 85 years. The deceased was a Jewess, and on Saturday last she was left alone in a room in which was a large fire, and during the temporary absence of a female who had been engaged to do the household work, her clothing by some means caught fire. Her screams brought several persons to her aid, who, with considerable difficulty, extinguished the flames, but not before her arms, face, neck, and upper por tion of her body were frightfully burned. She died soon after from the effects of the injuries. Verdict, "Accidental death." ----- YANKEE COU RAGE.-General Green, in his history of the Texian expedition against Mier, observes that those Texian soldiers who had the most bloody mottoes painted on their caps were the last to prove them true, and he does not recollect seeing one with a " liberty or death" motto who did not take the liberty of returning home a little too soon. It is aptly enough remarked by the Baltimore American, that the illustration here given of loud -talking bravery should be kept in mind when we hear noisy declaimers about war, treating it as though it would be to them a mere holiday amusement.—Journal of Climmerce. SERIOUS CABRIOLET ACCIDENT. --Wednesday after noon, between two and three o'clock, Edward Middleton, Esq., of Montague -square, was driving at a quick rate along Park-lane, when in passing a coal waggon, the driver acci dentally struck Mr. Middleton's horse over the back with his whip. The horse instantly set off at a furious speed, and Mr. Middleton in his alarm lost all control over him, and leaped out of the cabriolet into the road, unfortunately falling on his head. The groom descended from behind the cabriolet, and succeeded in stopping the horse without further mischief being done. On examination, it was ascertained that the injuries sustained by Mr. Middleton, though severe, were not dangerons. FATAL ACCIDENT AT KING JAMES'S STAIRS, WAI".. riNG.—Wednesday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the London Hospital, on view of the body of Mary Jeffreys, aged twenty four, whose death was caused by falling over the wharf ad joining king James's-stairs, Wapping. The deceased, wh o had been six years in the service of Mr. Foster, a gentleman residing at Wapping, on the 29th of September ult. had a holiday. She was returning home about t en o ' clock at night, when in mistake she turned down the tho roug h fare leading to King James's-stairs, which was near her master's res id e nce. On reaching the end she fell over the wall of the wharf, which is unprotected, and was precipitated a depth of about twelve feet.. On being taken up, her left ankle was found dislocated. She was removed home, and from there was conveyed in a cab to the London Hospital, where she lingered till Monday last, on which day she died from exhaustion arising from the injury. It having been stated by Mr. Foster that many accidents have occured at the same spot, the Coroner, at the request of the jury, said that he would write to Mr. Mellish, the vestry clerk, to have some protection placed there. Verdict---" Accidental death."