The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-31 00:00:00

LIABILITY OF THE PRESS. Our columns of yesterday furnish another proof of the enormous risk, or rather certainty, of expense en tailed by a faithful record and investigation of daily occurrences. It is our contract with the public, and one which they expect to see discharged to the letter, to state every event of any interest or consequence that the day may bring forth, and, inasmuch as mere insulated facts are mere gossip, it is part of our contract to state them in their most probable and most profitable con nexion. The moment we confined ourselves to a mere registration of calamity, the public would speedily ob serve, " There is no speculation in thine eye," and transfer their patronage to those who endeavoured to fulfil the just expectations of rational men, and who commented on disaster with a view to obviate its recur rence. Yet many disasters are obviously of that sort, that it is impossible to trace them and account for them, 'without criminating individuals. The moment you touch on a cause, you elicit the human defendant. Somebody finds himself at the bar of the public, who may very probably find it easier to show that an allegation has been made without . irresistible proof, than that it is utterly without foundation. As we are expected to be perfect, it is useless to hint at the chance of error in some hundreds of new communications every twenty-four hours. We will just mention a case or two to illustrate the unavoidable ne cessity of implicating human agents, and interfering with particular interests. We have been absolutely obliged to show up the abominations of the Spa-fields burial-ground. That exposure has been ruinous to the lessees, who are now adding only two or three bodies a Sunday to their mass of putrefaction, instead of 30 or 40. If we do but extract from a blue book the account of a row of houses built in wanton disregard of the rules of decency and health, of course we injure that property; and though Parliament cannot do wrong, the pre*, which records its proceedings, can. An agricul tural meeting the other day resolved that the present murrain came in with the foreign cattle. Had we thought that opinion probable, we should have said so, and thereby done a mischief to the importers, perhaps themselves the breeders. The press has published much information on the rot in sheep, very useful to farmers generally, but very prejudicial to the name of certain districts of pasturage. The cider of certain counties Las been denounced for the lead it had acquired from the cisterns, and that publicity has secured a better mode of preparation. Many writers have brought various charges against the several water companies. M'Culloch, for example, says, after some body else, that none of them do as much to purify their water as they might do, and ought to do. This of course is a statement likely to affect their custom and their divi dends. We are occasionally obliged, in our accaunt of the markets, to designate the butchers who sell unsound meat, and the fishmongers who offer unseasonable fish. And of course in many instances we are obliged to be content, not with an ex parte statement, but a state ment on one respectable authority. Now, then, to the case in question. The member of a respectable house in the City brings to our office information of the utmost im portance, and which he has had the best opportunity of learningcorrectly. Through the medium of their mother, with whom he resides, he is in daily domestic communica tion with two gentlemen who havejust arrived from India, and who are both suffering a very serious and very re markable complaint, which, in common with the rest of their fellow-passengers, they ascribe to some water shipped from a floating tank at St. Helena. Their pe culiar symptoms first sh Aved themselves after touching at that island—they seemed to indicate metallic poison, and could be ascribed to no other cause. Either mis informed, or accounting for the impurity of the tank water by a hasty hypothesis of his own, he adds that the tank was coppered—a circumstance which, of course, while it made the whole statement less literally true, made it also more credible. lle adds other minute ex planatory details. With the facts, the sufferers, the symptoms, the authority, all so prompt, so recent, so unexceptionable, there really was no alternative but to accept the statement, if important enough. But its importance was incalculabe. There is nothing of a material nature over which a State exer cises so jealous a control as water. It is most delicately susceptible of deleterious admixtures or infec tions, and then becomes death instead of life. At all our ports at home we take every possible care to provide pure water for our shipping. So, publishing, as a Journal does, every wreck, every new-discovered shoal, every impediment as well as every assistance to naviga tion, we could not but insert a letter which merely re lated an unforeseen result without throwing real blame on any party. We will answer for it that no person, not otherwise informed as to the facts of the case, read that announcement without a startling sensation of its vast importance, and without also a feeling of gratitude to the means which had given it publicity. Immediately on the appearance of the letter, we receive a peremptory request to do what no journalist could do either wisely or honourably—what would put an end to all freedom of communication, to publicity and truth itself—to give up the name of the writer, without it being at first even pretended that he had said anyth:ng for which he should be particularly answerable. We ob'erve our own ne ussery rules, and decline. Meanwhile oar authority finds himself in error as to the ownership of the tank, and writes to correct his statement, but certainly bring ing the cause, not the b:ame, more expre sly home to the true owner. On the same day we are visited with a lawyer's letter, informing us now for the first time that the tank was not copper, and demanding the name of cur correspondent, isith a view to legal proceedings. Our reply is twofold, and comprehends all the sati fee tion that justice could po,sibly require. We offer to give the name of our correspondent, on a guarantee that we shall be lh _Teby absolved from the resp.msibility of his statement ; and, at the same time, we publish an analysis of the water, which proves its entire freed an from copeer in any form. Most of our readers would probably conclude, on the appearance of this document, that the original statemen t or surmiso (tOre.l by " Nauticus" had entirely f.llen to the gnetnil, and that there was ro party which could feel itself any further aggrieved Far from it. In common apprehensions, the Tiestien had end. d ; in tlw hands of agents an d lawyers, the case had only b .gun. The grievance is duly fo tercel and brought to a trial. What now does the trial add to our own immediate contradiction of our correspondent's error, contained in the result of the analysis ? Nothing. All the other facts of the case arc proved, and more added. By the testimony of ;all, even by the reluctant netiinony of the Captain, it appears that, soon after taking in two hundred pounds' worth of water, wine, and other provisions, at St Helena, the pessengers, ten then in improved health, were attacked, as the Chief Justice expresses it, "certainly in a vary ream - kale manner." They- all conceived their symptoms to be metallic; they did not refer it to Sinde, to a stray Arab, to a few oranges, to sleeping on the deck, hut to something peculierovith them, in the s hip—something in their diet—in fact, they appear to have had no doubt whatever that it eas in the water. True, the water was filtered, but %%hat process of filter ing will avail against chemical solution? They thought of heal and of iron, and very naturally included copper in their suspicions. liut why is :t so unpardonable to think of copper ? Le there a moral gradation in metals ? The Lord Chef Justice adds his powerful authority to the opinion, that something remained to be accounted for beyond the reach of oranges :—" I confess, if I were to hazard a conjecture upon this point, I eheuld say that probably the free, and perhaps the careless, use of mer cury, with the addition, probably, of drink and some de gree of imprudence, may have induced the disease with which they were attacked." We only inserted and immediately disproved a statement that a copper tank was at the bottom of this mysterious visitation ; the Lord Chic f Justice ascribes it to the carelessness of the doctor and the intem perance of the passengers. For cur part, we canno see why the tack-owners' interest should be more in violable than the Doctor's, especially as it appears that the latter is in a scrape already, and will feel all the more weight of a fresh charge. For the mere difference be tween mercury and copper—mercury still persisted in, and propounded from the seat of justice—copper stated in a moment of misapprehension, and at once disowned are condemned to pay 5001. to redress the injured reputation of this unlucky tank ; and everybody knows the additional tail of expense that verdict carries. Meanwhile there is not an atom of evidence to show that our correspondent, and the whole body of passen gers, may not have been, after all, nearer the truth than the mercurial Chief Justice. Mr. Solomons' wine is not vindicated from lead, or his provisions from other possi ble ills. Perhaps time will show that his tank ought to have been charred, as water-barrels usually are in the navy. Throughout the east, and all warm climates, there is a well-founded prejudice against tanks, which ate never used but from necessity. A few years may vindicate us, and show the sacred value of impartial, un flinching publicity ; but meanwhile we are martyrs. — Times. STATE OF TRADE. FCILEIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, MARCH 28.—Foreign Wools continue to maintain great firmness in prices ; but the business done during the past week in German sorts • has been rather limited, imputable to the little choice left in the market. On the arrival of fresh stocks, which may now be looked for daily, a brisk demand may be confidently anticipated. ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, MARCH 28 —We have not any alteration to report in this market during the present week, either in sales or prices. LEEDS.—There has been an improved demand at our Cloth-halls this week, for Cloths of fine and middle qua lities, also for fine Tweeds, calculated for the summer trade, but low goods of all descriptions have not been so free of sale as of late. Prices are steady, and the stock of goods generally are lower than usual at this period of the year. There has been a considerable number of the larger buyers in the town during the week, and, in con sequence, a full average amount of busines3 has been done in the warehouses. If ECKMONDWIKE BLANKET MARKET, THURSDA Y MARCH 27.—There was a full attendance of buyers on Monday, and more doing than there has been for the last few market days. To•day's market only quiet. LEICESTER.--The price of wools remains very steady, and in yarns there has been little actual variation, except the case of lots made up for sale during the recent slack demand. There will now, however, be less cotton worked up, as the spring shipping demand has closed, and the goods now made will be for the autumn trade. The prospects for the American fall trade are very dull as compared with the last year ; but fur the home de mand, we are happy to find they are considered much more encouraging, in consequence of the long-continued winter having cleared the retailers of their stocks, so that they must come much earlier into the market. If, therefore, we continue to have an ample supply of cheap food, we may this year look to our home population to be our best customers.—Leicester Chronicle. BRADFORD MARKET, MARCH 27.—The spinners still continue to supply their immediate wants for wool on the most limited scale, and the prices sought are such as holds no inducement to more extended operations. The change in the weather is 109klid farouxably On by the spinners, who are complaining of the ruinous price that yarns command ; and if any change, for the better, in the.demand, higher prices must neeessari y follow. Thero are rather more lookers-on in the piec . market, and perhaps an increase in the business done, which may now be fully expected from the home-trade merchants for the spring ; also by the American houses, which fur some time past have done only a trifling business. Prices are very steady. TRADE OF MANCHESTER, TUESDAY EVENING.—The breaking up of the frost has not yet restored animation in this market. The demand for yarn was yesterday more limited than for some time past; and some of the buyers for Russia and Germany were offering orders on lower prices. 'We believe that, at a very triflng concession from previous rates, a considerable amount of business would have been done.—Leeds Mercury. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM TELE EVENING PAPERS OF SATURDAY. GLOBE.—John Tawell, the wretched murderer of the confiding woman whom he had seduced, and who was the mother of two children by him—has suffered the appropriate and well-merited punishment which the law assigns to the crime of deliberate murder. Pre viously to Tawell's leaving the cell to which he had been confined since his conviction, he delivered to the Rev. Mr. Cox, the chaplain of' the prison, a sealed paper, which contained an admission, full and explicit, of his guilt. He poisoned his victim by the means charged in the indictment; and had previously sought h-r life by administering to her a different poisonous pre paration, as suggested on his trial, in September last. The turpitude of this atrocious criminal's offence was greatly heightened by the base hypocrisy of his obtrusive preten sions to piety, by which he sought to procure a reputation for sanctity of morals, while he was secretly indulging his vicious inclinations, and revolving the means of murdering the poor creature he had previously betrayed. So successful were Tawell's personations of good ness, that—in the face of proofs of guilt that were, perhaps, as strong and conclusive as were ever ad duced against any criminal on his trial—there were not wanting persons who could not think that such a man could ba the perpetrator of such a crime. These — doubtless amiable, but certainly weak minded, persons, are now relieved from all doubts. However difficult it may be to solve the psychological paradox which the cha racter of Tawell's mind and contradictions of conduct displayed, the fact of his guilt, in the fulness of its de pravity, is now placed beyond question. To every one capable of reason, this was placed beyond controversy by the evidence of the different witnesses against him on his trial. The line of argument adopted by his counsel— if that can be dignified by the appellation of argu ment which was a mere string together of im probable and contradictory hypotheses—removed Ila expectation of his acquittal, for it had [not shaken the direct and conclusive testimony against him. This mode of meeting the case, by such an advocate as Mr. Kelly, showed to what an extremity this justly-eminent lawyer felt himself reduced, when he could oppose nothing but extravagant, far-fetched, and almost puerile suppositions to such a case. The prisoner had admitted that the woman he was accused of having murdered, died in consequence of something she had poured into the porter of which she drank. Yet, notwithstanding this admission, Mr. Kelly actually argued that she did not die of poison, but by suffocation from the water which was attempted to be forced into her mouth by her neighbour, who entered the room when she lay in eafremis, if not actually dead. The Learned Gentle man also suggested, and argued the probability of the hypothesis which rendered nugatory his former reason • ing, and with a gravity which would imply his own belief of what every one else saw was not merely delusive but absurd—that the woman died from the effects of prussic acid, generated in the stomach by the process of digestion, from the pips of an apple found partially digested among the contents of the stomach, which were subjected to medical examination and che mical analysis—no apple-pips, however, being found therein ! The acute mind of the Learned Judge (Parke) who presided od the trial, in a few words swept away this miserable refuge. We have dwelt strongly on this branch of the evidence adduced on the trial, because there is too much reason to believe that the monstrous verdict returned in a case of an individual who was tried at the Central Criminal Court a short time before Tawell made the first attempt on Sarah Hart's life in September last, suggested both the mode of the perpetration, and the hope of escape, if detected, from the difficulty of esta blishing commission to the satisfaction of a jury. The conviction of Tawell will, we trust, tend to correct mis taken notions which are frequently entertained by some persons, both in and out of the jury-box. Any extravagant suggestion, however opposed to reason and science, with such persons is sufficient to destroy the effect of the most direct testimony. If ingenuity succeed in raising a momentary doubt, it is pounced upon, as sufficient to destroy the strongest proofs enforced by reason, derived from the evidence of unquestionable witnesses, supported by th. 2 testimony of science, and therefore claiming from reasonable men the calmest investigation, and the obedience of reason to the conclusions to which they lead. STEAM BOILER EXPLOSION AT A SIITO N ND I?, It- LYNE. Thursday- morning, about six o'clock, just as the en gineer of Messrs. Mason and Sons' mill was preprint; to start the engine, one of the boilers exploded with such fearful violence as to shake the whole building to its very centre. Fortunately, however, the boiler house is situate some distance, from the mill. It appears that one end of the boiler was completely blown away, carrying with it the walls of the build ing for upwards of two hundred yards. The boiler was driven from its seat, and the engineer and fireman both blown into the canal, which adjoins the mill, mother of whom sustained any material injury, if we except a few bru 3 ses and a ducking in the cartel. The roof and other parts of tho building u erc carried ac oss the canal and the river Tame to a dis tant e of seventy or eighty yards, awl, coming in contact with a machine shop, smashed nearly the whole of the windows, and materially damaged the walls of the building. Several of the m chanics sustained bruises in endeavouring, to make their escape, bAieving that their lives were in dang , r. The mill hands, as might be ex pected, flew in all directions, and in the confusion many of them were seriously injured. The scene of this acci dent presents a very singular appearance, on account of thc scores of window-frames and wood-work which have been shattered to pieces by the shock. The most extraordinary circumstance in connexion with the explosion is the escape of the engineer and fireman, both of whom wore blown a distance of several yards, and absolutely dashed against the bottom of the canal. The mill is the property of ' Messrs. Swires and Lees, but at present in the occupa tion of Thomas Mason and Sons. The damage to pro perty is very considerable, and upwards of four hundred hands have been thrown out of employment in con scqurnce. It is stated that, had the other end of the boiler given way, it must have carried with it a portion of the mill, and that not fewer than from 100 to 150 persons must have perished. DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE EARLY SHIPMATES OF TILE LATE KING WILLIAM IV. Died ut Aberdeen, on Monday, the 17th of March, 1845, in the 85th year of his age, William I'hilips, late of the Royal Navy, which he entered in 1780, as IMaster at•-Arms on board his Majesty's ship \Warwick (under Sir George Keith Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Keith), while his late Majesty, then Prince William Henry, was a midshipman in that vessel. Wiriam Philips served in the Warwick 011.1783, and during the currency of that period, the late King, when only sixteen years of age, met ....la' an accident by tumbling over the ninth gun on the larboard side, upper gun-deck, by which the Prince fractured his collar-bone, and was, in consequence, con• fined for about three weeks to his cabin. William Philips afterwards served in the French fri gate L'Aigle, captured on the American coast under Sir Wm. Fox, Admiral Digby being Port Admiral of the squadron then and there stationed. At the beginning of the French revolution in 1790, Wm. Philips sailed on board the Leviathan, 74 guns, under Lord llugh Seymour, when Toulon was delivered over to British arms. After this the Leviathan was or dered home to join the fleet in the English Channel, re maining there till the celebrated action of the Ist of June, 1791-, under Earl Howe. . _ William Philips afterwards went with Lord Hugh Seymour to the West India station, in Le Sans Pareil, 80 guns, until she was sent down from Martinique to Jamaica to relieve Admiral Parker, who was ordered home to head the fleet sent against the Danes at Co penhagen. In the year 1805, William Philips having left the navy, and being captain of a vessel of his own, was captured on the coast of France, and confined, during the late war, fur nine years in a French prison, until released, at the peace of Paris, in 1814, when he re turned to Britain. In 1842, our excellent Queen Dowager, coming to the knowledge of William Philips being alive, with her usual munificence, sent the honest shipmate of her royal and lamented husband a present through her pri vate secretary, along with a kind communication, through the same channel, expressive of her Majesty's sympathy for the venerable sailor. _ _ Near the close of his life, William Philips was offered a provision for the remainder of his days by the Lords of the Admiralty through the Earl of Haddington, which, however, he saw fit to decline. William Philips was a man of singular integrity of character, and, in early life, was an admirable mathema tician and navigator. He is the last of those who served on board the Warwick with the late King, and has sur vived almost every relative see, we believe, the present minister of the ,parish of Kirkurd, in Peebleshire.— Edinburgh Post. A Petition against the increased grant to May nooth has been hawked about Southampton for signa tures. It has been concocted privately without public notice or discussion by the old ultra-Tory clique, and is stuffed with the stale clap-traps of worn-out bigotry and intolerance. For these very sufficient reasons, the demand for signatures has signally failed, and the names attached to the petition are almost wholly made up of the class of old alarmists and their dupes—scarcely a liberal of any shade joi r ning in giving countenance to the stupid and illiberal document. We are glad of this. Our objection is to the principle of increased grants of public money to Church establishment—of which there are already more than enough. But whilst fighting the battles of prin ciple, Liberals must guard themselves against being found in the ranks of Bigotry, and scorn to use its en venomed weapons.—Ha»ipshil e Independent. LYmlNGroNsp—The Free Trade Bazaar, to be held at Covent Garden, in May, will receive many contribu tions from the ladies in this town. We have seen beau tiful specimens of needlework and other articles, which display much taste, which are highly creditable to the zeal of those who are favourable to support so good and righteous bi mine... Hampshire Independent, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1845. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME Cll?CUlT.—Kingston, March 29. (Before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Common Jury.) DoE ON THE DEMISE OF NEWTON AND OTHERS V. BROOKS.—This was an action for the purpose of ejecting the defendant from the possession of certain premises, situate in Stoney-street, Southwark. Mr. Sergeant Slice and Mr. Wines were for the plain tiff, and Mr. Charnock for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant SHER stated the case, and said the plain tiffs were compelled to adopt the present proceeding, to recover possession of certain property leased to them by the Bishop of Winchester, and which had been taken possession of by the defendant, or by a person named Cox, who acted under him, but neither of whom had any more right to it than the greatest stranger in Court. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to state that the lease was granted to the plaintiffs by the Bishop of Winchester in 1835, and they made use of the property for some time, but it became unoccupied and remained so for some time, and at length a person named Cox obtained possession, and without the slightest right or title whatever persisted in remaining there, and set up a title to the property. The present proceedings, therefore, became necessary to remove him. The lease granted to the plaintiff in 1835 was then put in and formally proved. Lord DENMAN—What have you to say, Mr. Char nock, on behalf of your client ? Mr. CHARNOCK—Does your Lordship think that the lease is sufficient proof of the plaintiff's title ? I . 4ird DENMAN—Certainly. Mr. CHARNOCK—Then, my Lord, I have nothing to say.—(A laugh.) Lord DENMAN to the jury —Well, gentlemen, the de fendant admits he has no title, and therefore, you will find for the plaintiff. Verdiot accordingly. TOOVEY AND ANOTHER V. SWEENEY. Mr. Sergeant Shee was for the plaintiff, and Mr. Petersdorff for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant SHEE said, that this action arose out of a case of a similar character to the one just disposed of by the jury. The defendant without any right or title had taken possession of a house of considerable value, and he could not be got rid of but by an action of eject ment, which was accordingly brought against him, and at once decided in favour of the plaintiff. The present action was to recover the sum of 251. incurred in that action, and also the amount of rent to which the de fendant was liable during the period he was in posses sion of the house. Mr. PETERSDORFF Said he had no answer to the plain tiff's case, but he wished the costs to be taxed. Sergi ant SHEE said he bad no objection. A verdict was then taken for the plaintiff. (Before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.) EVELYN V. WORSFOLD. This action was brought by the plaintiff, who is Lord of the Manor of West Cott, near Dorking, to try the liability of the defendant to pay a certain fine upon his coming in as one of the copy holders of the manor. Mr. Sergeant Channell and Mr. Dawson were for the plaintiff. Mr. Montagu Chambers and Mr. Peacock ap peared for the defendant. The case was one of a purely technical character, and eventually a nominal verdict was taken by consent for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the Court upon certain points of law. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Hereford, March 28. CROWN COURT. Joseph Yeomans, aged 23, was charged with having stolen, on the 20th instant, one wether sheep, of the value of 1/., the property of Mr. Thomas Morris, Guilty, to be imprisoned twelve months. James Pritchard, aged 30, was charged with breaking into the dwelling-house of George Willim, for whom he worked, and stealing therefrom a quantity of bacon, bread, and cheese. Verdict, Guilty. The prisoner, on being called up for judgment, protested that he was in nocent. Imprisoned twelve months. NISI BRIUS COURT.—(Before the CrlliE BARON.) FRETWELL v. BLISSETT, CLERK. This was an action brought by a land surveyor, re siding near Ensham, in Oxfordshire, to recover the sum of 1471. 4s. for work and labour done for the defendant, the Rev. Mr. Biissett, residing at Lelton, on the banks of the Wye, his estate being surrounded, as it were, by a perfect peninsula, formed by the windings of that river. To obviate this by alterations, cuttings, and improve ments, had long been the wish of the reverend defendant, but several obstacles prevented the accomplishment of his design, a portion of the property to be cat through belonging to the Cornewall family estate, the heir of which, being a minor, was a ward in Chancery, but having at length obtained the necessary consent, the work was commenced, and the plaintiff was employed to superin tend and direct the operations, remaining at one time as long as 42 days at Lelton, and consequently being un able to attend his own affairs in Oxfordshire, where he has two large farms. The defendant pleaded that he never was indebted beyond the sum of 591., which he paid into Court, and upon this issue was joined, the pre sent action being brought to recover the remaining items in dispute. It appeared that a portion of the work of the plaintiff had reference to the commutation and valuation of the defendant's tithes. Several letters were put in, and read, which had passed between the partie, on the subject, one, of which terminated thus—" bell going for church, and a glass of cold grog to-morrow ;" and another from the Rev. Mr. Blissett to plaintiff, ooncluded—" The old fool is gone down the river, God knows where, to look for two planks and a trestle, not worth a pound." The epistolary evidence having been adduced, the verbal testimony of several witnesses was then given, to the effect that the plaintiff was there from the 22d Sep tember, 1542, until the 231 h November following, super intending the works and . paying the men, giving his attendance all day, from six in the morning until the same hour in the evening. Mr. WHATELEY addressed the jury for the defendant, contending that the attendance of Mr. Fretwell was ren dered as a return for kindness he had received from Mr. Biissett'a family, and that nothing more than the amount paid into Court was due. Two witnesses, Messrs. Freer and Mar , h, civil en gineers, were called on the part of the defence, who stated there was no necessity for the attemlance of Mr. Fretwell. The brother of the defendant, Mr. Charles Blissett, a merchant of Bristol, deposed that on several occasions plaintiff told him that he should make no charge to his brother, out of kindness for what he had done for him, as he once got him out of difficulty, and he would not therefore leave Lelton until after the last barrow of earth was thrown on the works. Mr. Sergeant TALFOUIID having delivered a powerful speech in reply, on behalf of the plaintiff, his Lordship summed up, and the jury retired from the box. On their return into Court in about two hours, the foreman said eight of them were fur the plaintiff and four far the defendant. The JUDGE —I wish the Counsel were here, perhaps they would agree to withdraw a juror. The Foreman—My, Lord, eight of us are of opinion Mr. Fretwell should have his wages and four the other way. Mr. SELFE here entered the Court, and said that in the absence of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd he did not know how to act. The plaintiff cared nothing about the costs, but he felt it was a just claim, and that his character was at stake. The JUDGE, emphatically—The defendant's is far more so. The plaintiff might have made a mistake, but the defendant cannot, and if he is unjustly defending this action he is doing that which no clergyman or gen tleman ought to do. The defendant, in person—l feel myself exactly in the position your Lordship has described. After some further consultation, the foreman said from the information my Lord has given, we are agreed to find our verdict for the defendant. Verdict for the defendant entered accordingly. NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, March 29. CROWN COURT. —(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.) Benjamin Anderson, 21, stood charged with an attempt to administer poison, namely, sugar of lead, to his wife. Sarah Anderson, and her two infant children, al Manchester. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Monk, and Mr. Pollock defended the prisoner. The case was opened by Mr. ANDERSON. The charge, he observed, was of a very serious character, that of an attempt to administer a certain deadly poison, known by the name of sugar of lead, to his own wife and children, by introducing it into the sugar which they were about to use for sweetening their tea. The prisoner, so far as his instructions went, had not been in the habit of act ing towards his wife with cruelty ; he was, however, when in liquor, cross and abusive. The prisoner fol lowed the trade of a millwright, and was in the employ of Messrs. Fairbairn, who carried on business in Canal street, Manchester. For some time previously to the 6th of January last, which was the day on which the occurrence took place, he had been drinking for several days, having only worked half a day since the previous Tuesday. About three in the afternoon he came home, and said he wanted some tea. His wife replied, " the tea will be ready presently," upan which the prisoner took the kettle off the fire, which at that time contained the water for tea, and after making use of some offensive expressions, turned his little boy and wife into the street, and locked the door. On looking through the window they perceived him doing something at the cupboard, with the sugar basin in his hand, at which time, it is supposed, he was mingling the poison with the sugar. One of them went to the window, and he put his hand up to prevent them seeing. In a short time he came and unfastened the door and let them in. The little girl then came home, and prisoner's wife began to make the tea for herself and children, and sweetened it with the sugar from the cupboard. After the tea was sweetened she found it a very bad taste, in consequence of which it was thrown away. The tea was made a second time, and the sugar again used, but the same bad taste prevailed. Having some of the same quality of sugar in a paper, the prisoner's wife put it into some coffee which she then made, and found it quite palatable, and she and the children partook of it. The sugar which was in the basin had been used at breakfast the same morning. A portion of the bail sugar which had been preserved in a small bottle, was handed over to Mr. Davis, chemist, of Manchester, which, on being examined by him, was found to con maintain sugar of lead. The Learned Counsel argued that the conduct of the prisoner at the time of the occur rence showed ho was_ aware of the consequences of such an atrocious act. The prisoner left the house about four o'clock, previously to the tea being made, and proceeded to a beer-house, where he stayed a short time, after which he got up suddenly and went to the door, observ ing to the person who kept the house, " You will hear of a row." He afterwards returned home very drunk, and said, "If there was meal in the house he would do it again." Shortly after' this the police having become acquainted with the circumstances went to the house and took the prisoner in charge. At that time he was asleep, and on his being awoke he said " They are not stiff yet, but they soon shall Los." At that time no charge had been male. Afterwards, on being taken to the police office, and told what the charge was against him, he said, "It is a bad job it has nof been done." The police twice told him he was accused of putting sugar of lead in the sugar basin, and he replied, " I suppose you wish to know where I got it, but I shall not tell you." About three days before, namely, the Friday, the prisoner, bought an ounce of sugar of lead, at a chemist's in Man chester. Some of the same kind of poison was found in some meal which had been got into the house for the use of the family. The Learned Counsel concluded by observing that he should call witnesses to bear out the statements he had made, and leave the result in the hands of the jury. A great number of witnesses were called, the principal being the wife and child of the prisoner. Mr. John Davis, chemist, of Manchester, deposed to testing the portion of sugar sent to him, and found it contained a quantity of sugar of lead. He declined giv ing an opinion as to its operation on the human system, and the quantity required to produce death. Mr. Walker Golland, surgeon, had examined the con tents of the basin, but was of opinion that there was not sufficient to cause death, if taken all at once or in small quantities. Mr. J. Pou,ocx, in defence, called the attention of the Bench to the Act under which indictments for of fences of that nature were laid, the words of which were, " shall administer poison or any other destructive thing." It had been shown by the evidence of the medical men that the whole quantity of sugar of lead found in the sugar basin would not be sufficient to produce death, either in one dose or repeated doses, and consequently could not be a destructive thing, although it was un doubtedly obnoxious. The charge, therefore, he held, would fall to the ground. His LORDSHIP said, that if the verdict went against the prisoner, he should reserve the point for the consi deration of the twelvo Judges. Mr. POLLOCK then addressed the jury upon the evi dence at considerable length ; and his Lordship having summed up, the jury, after a short consultation, re turned a verdict of Not Guilty. The trial lasted eleven hours. John Burgess, aged 22, was indicted for the offence of manslaughter in killing William Swindles, at Staley bridge, on the 20th of Februury. Mr. Brandt appeared fur the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins for the prisoner. The deceased was a lad who worked at a mill in Sta leybridge, and on the evening of the day in question he was leaving the mill along with some other lads there, when they saw the prisoner at the bar sitting against the gates of the mill. He appeared to be asleep or intoxi cated. One of the lads kicked his clog, and desired him to get up, and another shook him. He then rose up and ran after the deceased into another shed. The deceased then fell; but what it was that caused him to fall, could not, it appeared, be at all explained. One of the wit nesses, however, said that the prisoner kicked him on the heel ; but another said that he fell from catching the kerb-stone with his toe; and a third thought that he fell down without either of those causes. He uttered a cry as he fell, and while he lay on the ground it would appear that he had been struck by the prisoner, either with his fists or his feet, if not with both. This also seemed quite uncertain. After the fall the deceased was not observed tJ stir at all, until the prisoner left him. He then stretched out his arms, as if in a convulsive state, and remained on the ground for some minutes, till the prisoner himself began to be alarmed, and raised him. Finding that there were no signs of life, the prisoner asked the people standing by to fetch him some water, and said he thought the lad was in a fit ; but it was soon ascertained that he was dead. He was examined by two medical men, who could not recount for the death, and who found no marks of violence, while another medical man stated that the brain was in such a sta; - ;Catiiecould say the lad had not died of apoplexy. There was no effusion, and no symptoms of disease about the body. It was said, however, that there might have been blows on the abdomen without their being perceptible, and that these might have caused a shock to the nervous system sufficient to occasion death. Mr. Pearson, who first examined the body, was of opinion that the lad's death was to be attributed to apoplexy, and considered that such might have been the case without any effusion. Verdict—Guilty of a common assault. Sentence—To be imprisoned for one month. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. George Aihen and Charles Wright, two young men, very respectably dressed, were placed at the bar before Mr. Twyford, charged with having assaulted several policemen. Wells, constable of the F division, stated that in con sequence of information he received at the station-house, that a disturbance was going on in Brydges-street, Drury lane, he went there and found the two prisoners assault• ing every person who came in their way. Wright was given into his custody on a charge of having broken a window of the shop of a Mrs. Spicer ; and, on his appre hending him, the other prisoner attempted to rescue him, declaring that he would knock his brains out if he did nut release his friend from custody. Some other constables at length arrived, who were severally assaulted and kicked by the defendants, but the latter were at length overpowered, and conveyed to the station-house. The prisoner Aiken denied that he had done anything more than endeavour to get his friend home, who he admitted was very drunk. The other prisoner admitted he was so drunk at the time, that he did not know what he was about. Mr. TWYFORD said he could make no distinction be tween the defendants and persons of a different grade in society. The charge against them had been clearly proved, and he should. therefore, feel it his duty, in order to protect the police, to commit each of them for one month to the Ilona of Correction. The defendants beg ed hard to have their sentence • . changed to a fine, whips they expressed their readiness to pay ; but the magistrate was inexorable, and they were sent off in the van, like common persons. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. James Darby, a cab-driver, was charged before Mr Hardwick with having ben concerned in the attempted robbery and murder of Mr. Charles Green, in George yard, Crown-street, Soho. It will be recollected that a cab-driver named John Stack .wai some weeks since taken into custody, charged with having rendered Mr. Green insensible by a blow with the handle of his whip or some heavy instrument. The prisoner's obvious intention of robbing his victim was, however, frustrated by the timely appearance of police constable Clarke, C 55. The prisoner Stack was fully committed, but ordered to be brought up from tin^ to time, in order to give the police an opportunity of finding the second man. Mr. Green, who appeared to have raceived a wound two inches in length close to the temple, gave a short outline of the facts, the whole of which have been al ready pullshei at the examination of the other prisoner. Police constable Clarke, C 55, found Mr. Green lying bleeding and insensible on the pavement, in George yard. The prisoner was the man who was seated on the box of a cab. Police-constable E 159 took the prisoner into custody. The latter said it was a bad jub, but denied all knowledge of the assault.—lle was coNimitted for trial. IVORSHIP-STREET. . In the course of the afternoon all anxious interest was excited by the appearance of four orphan children, two boys and two girls, the brothers and sisters of James Tapping. They were here by direction of Mr. Broughton, the sitting magistrate, to whom application was made in their behalf a day or two since. Upon inquiry respecting them, it appeared that the parents died a few years back, leaving a numerous fa mily, of whom the two eldest song, who are married, and have themselves families to support, carried on their father's business of what is called " grease melting," assisted occasionally by their brother James, from whom chiefly the poor children derived their means of support. His conduct towards them attracted notice to the poor young creatures, who afterwards experienced very kind treatment from several persons in authority, particularly Mr. Sheriff Sidney. Mr. Christcy, one of the parish officers of Bethnal green, to which parish they belong, was in attendance, and expressed a readiness to receive the children into the workhouse for a time, where, he said, they would be well taken care of until otherwise provided for ; and he suggested that as the preferable course for them. The aunt, however, expressed a most decided repug nance to their entering the workhouse, and said she would endeavour to keep them herself rather than they should do so. Mr. BROUGHTON said he thought the course suzgested by Mr. Christey was much the best for them, but he de sired that they should appear before him again in a few days, and some arrangement would be made. lie now gave money for their maintenance in the meantime. THE REV. MR. MONCKTON. DIOCESAN COURT OF INQUIRY—SATURDAY. This case was resumed this morning at the sitting of the Court, when Sarah Huggins, Lady Galway, Lieu tenant Monckton, and Arthur Bennett were exa mined, and their depositions were taken with a view to rebut the testimony of the different witnesses examined for the prosecution. The next witness called was Mr. Oldershaw, Mr. Monckton's solicitor, who deposed as follows :—Having answered a few preliminary ques tions, he continued by say ing he considered that the conversation he had with Mr. Lake was private, and should not have been taken advantage of by Mr. Lake. Witness here produced a letter from Mr. Monckton, denying the charges. Did not know of the girl being confined at Gravesend until some time in January, and first heard of it from Mr. Lake. Re-examined—Heard Mr. Lake say he would not believe Mr. Monckton's denial on his oath unless he dis charged his servant. Told witness he recommended Mr. Monckton to go to the country, and the matter might blow over, and that ho would get somebody to do the duty. Mr. Lake said to witness that if he were an un married man he might do the same. Witness then distinctly offered Mr. Lake a declaration denying the charges, both by Mr. Monckton and the servants. Was authorised by Mr. Monckton to do this. Denied this before the Bishop had been written to. Mr. Lake was most violent in his language to witness. (Witness here read a letter from Mr. Monckton, denying the charges that he had heard were rumoured about him and his servants ) To the COURT-At the time witness had received that letter, he was aware the girl had been confined; told Mr. Monckton, as his professional adviser, that he had been guilty of gross indiscretion, at least his conduct would be open to such for taking the girl back. Here the Court adjourned for a few minutes, and when it resumed, Sarah Huggins was recalled for cross-examination, she having fainted when first brought into Court.—She deposed that Susan went to her mother's, and returned after three days' absence, to the parsonage. This was in summer. It was after Lady Galway left in June that Sarah left. When she came back she was ill, and came Us be nursed, as she could not get proper attendance at home. Has never left the parsonage since. She is there as a servant. Will swear she does not know what wages her sister has. Ann Day has 101. a-year. Has had quarrels with her sister, but not in regard to Mr. Monckton. He has been in witness's bed-room at day and night when she was in bed ill. Had a peculiar illness but once, cannot say when; but it never happened before or since. Was not ill when Sarah Lovett was at the parsonage, but is not sure ; complained of pain to Mr. Mathew. Will swear that Mr. Monckton did not bathe her ; went to live with him in October, 1842. Will not swear she was a virgin then. (Here the Counsel put other ques!,ions as to the conduct of the wit ness and her moral character, both before she went to Mr. Monckton's and while there ; but she declined to answer them.) She then continued by saying that her sister and Ann Day suspected she was in the family-way. A few dayi after Mr. Mathew examined her she went to Gravesend with her sister in a cab. Witness did not see her off. Was at Gravesend about ten weeks. Mr.Monekton came down about three days after she was confined. One of the children died on Saturday, and the other on Sunday. Does not recollect that Mr. Monckton had tea upon the occasion of his visit; asked him to take her back when she was well. He said he would not promise. Said she would pay him back the money he lent her when she should get another place. The birth of the children was en tered in the register as Sarah and Susan, and witness as the wife of Huggins, a mariner. Mr. Monckton never broke open her door to her.know - ledge. Did not receive any wages for the time she was away. Did not sec Mr. Moncktcn sit at the table at the dinner on Christmas-day. He stood and carved, but did not see him eat. After dimmer he sat in the drawing-room. He went away about five o'clock. He returned about supper time. Did not hear any singing that night. Betty Biggs had a child about five years old, which she often brought to the parsonage ; she also brought wine to Gravesend from Mr. 3.4onekton. Mrs. Williams used to sing indecent songs; cannot say how many—whether thirty, or forty, or flity,or sixty, or seventy. The new•year's dinner was at one o'clock. Anne Day was sent for the Williamses. Mr. Monckton was in the kitchen when they came. He had dined before that, in the study, alone. Was never sent after by Mr. Monckton, to go back. Never saw any impro priety between him and the other servants. Re examined.—Mr. Monckton was not present when Nirs. Williams sang indecent songs, nor did he know it. His house is very large, and requires three servants when there are visitors. Mr. Monckton had not the slightest means of knowing that she had misconducted herself with any other person. Mr. Duke sworn.—ls a medical man. Cured Sarah Huggins of erysipelas. Anne Day sworn.—ls twenty-four years of age ; went as servant to Mr. Monckton in November, 1843 ; saw Fanny Froude there ; she was a girl of unclean habits ; heard her frequently con• tradict herself ; saw her very- much intoxicated once. Mr. Monckton carved on the Christmas-day, because Mr. Williams could not do so, having lost a thumb. Mr. Monckton was very cheerful that day, but not tipsy. He did not attempt to throw down Mr. William;. Never saw Mr. Monckton attempt to take Mrs. Williams on his knee. Witness never sat there, nor saw any of the servants do so. Never heard him use indecent or blasphemous language. Never heard him drink a toast, " Here's to the waitress's health. Never heard such a thing mentioned, as that " Some old woman had said what was doing at the parsonage," or any such expression. Mrs. Williams never said in the presence of witness that she (witness) told her (Mrs. Williams) that Mr. Monckton slept with Sarah llng4ins six nights out of seven. She dare not say so in her presence. He never put his hand indecently on witness's person, or said anything indecent to her. The witness gave the same positive nega tive answers to all the questions relative to smoking, eating, &c , &c., with the other servants, as sworn to by the witnesses for the prosecution. Never saw any one with Mr. Monckton whilit preparinn• sermon in his study. He has taken tea in the kitchen. Sarah Huggins wrote to witness to ask Mr. Monck ton if he would condescend to visit her (Sarah) at Gravesend. Witness burned that letter some time after. The tone of the letter was that Sarah feared she had very much offended her master by her misconduct. Told this to Mr. Monckton. He did not go down until after witness had received a second letter from Sarah. Sarah wrote to witness after her confinement, announc ing the death of the two children, and requesting Mr. Monckton to visit her. Lady Galway, the mother of Mr. Monckton, deposed to the high character and morality of her son. She had never, during her visits, perceived any impropriety of condlict towards the servants. The general tenor of the evidence of tho lady was to discredit the imputations against her son. Several other witnesses were examined upon the same points, but the evidence was not mate rially different from that already given on the same side. Mr. DoINE replied at great length. The Commissioners retired to consult, and on their return— Dr. LUSHINGTON said it was impossible, at that late hour of night, for the Commissioners to draw up any final report in conformity with the provisions of the Act of Parliament. Still, however, he ought to state that the Commissioners were unanimous in the report they in tended to make. Thinking it advantageous in a case like this, he (Dr. Lushington) would, with the assent of his brother Commissioners, state the general result of the inquiry under the various heads. The Commissioners were of opinion that their decision could not fall within the nature of a judgment, but still they thought that they were called upon to give their return under the 4th sec tion of the Act—that they were bound to find in favour of the Rev. Mr. Monckton upon parts of the charges, and that upon just evidence, and against him upon one part. Now, it was the intention of the Commissioners to make a special report as to the charges in which, in their opi nion, he had offended against the laws ecclesiastical. The charges were that he had offended against the laws ec clesiastical—that he had been guilty of fornication—that he had taken indecent liberties with various women— that he had been intoxicated, &c., thereby bringing scandal upon the Church of England, of which he is a member. Now, the Commissioners were of opinion that as to the charge of fornication they were not justified in reporting that it had been proved. But they were of opi nion that there were circumstances which had rendered this investigation absolutely necessary—circumstances which induced alarm to those who were anxious to uphold the purity of the church (as we understood the learned President.) The Commissioners would allude in their report to the children begotten on the body of the servant, and that she was allowed afterwards to remain in the house, and subsequent to the time when he de clared that his house was well regulated. The Re verend Mr. Monckton ought to have afforded a full explanation upon matters connected with those charges. He, however, contented himself with a general denial. Now, the Commissioners were of cpinion that he must be relieved from the charge of fornication, but that his conduct had brought scandal upon the Church. As to intoxication, the Commissioners were of opinion that no evidence had been produced as proved it. As to the final part of the case, the Commissioners were of opinion, especially with reference to Sarah Huggins and other matters—the habits of Mr. Monckton—the indul gences which he followed have given ground for scandal to the Church. The Commissioners had the power to acquit. They acquitted him from the charges of fornica tion and of intoxication, but his conduct with respect to Sarah Huggins, and in other affairs already mentioned, rendered it their duty to report to the Bishop, and he would take what measures as he might be advised. The Commissioners could not close those proceedings without expressing their strong and entire approbation of the manner in which this case had been conducted by the counsel at the bar. The President (Dr. Lushington), afte r a slight con sultation with his brother Commissioners, intimated that on the Bth of April a formal and written judgment would bo delivered, The Court sat until nearly half-past ten, and it was as crowded by earnest hearers as at the moment when the Commissioners took their seats, so great appears to be the interest taken in this novel investigation. DISCOVERY OF HUMAN SKELETONS.—On Wed nesday, as some workmen were engaged in excavating the ground on the north side of the Town-hall, St. Mar garet's-hill, High street, Borough, they discovered a great quantity of human bones at a depth of about eight feet. Some of the thigh bones were of extraordinary size, and the teeth in some of the jaw bones were in ex cellent preservation. They were placed in a cart and taken to St. Saviour's churchyard for interment. The ground in which the bones were found was formerly the burial-place attached to St. Margaret's Church, which Many years ago stood oh the site of the Town-hall. ILFORD PETTY SESSIONS. Shortly after the magistrates had taken their seats on the bench, Police-sergeant Tebenham, K 36, stated that on Tuesday last he received I.iformation that a prize fight was about being fought on the marshes at Rainham, not far distant from Barking. He immediately proceeded to the spot, and saw collected between 200 and 300, who had been conveyed as far as Dagenham Gulf, in a steam boat, at which spot they effected a landing. He directly ordered them to desist from fighting, when he was sur rounded by a great portion of the mob, and received several severe blows on the ribs from heavy bludgeons, with which many of the parties were provided. Not withstanding, however, the ill-usage he met with, he succeeded in breaking up the ring and driving the parties to the steam-boat ; but he was unable to state who were the combatants. The only person present whom he knew was a man named Oliver, who supplied the ropes to form the ring, against whom he now applied for a summons. lie did not see the man who struck him with the stick, but two respectable persons were ready to come forward and prove that it was done by a man of colour, whose name, he believed, was Sutton, and who acted as second to one of the fighters. Mr. Cotton, the Governor of the Bank of England, said that those exhibitions were now becoming so fre quent that the magistrates were determined to put a stop to their taking place in the marshes on the Essex side of the river. They should issue a summons against Oliver and bind him over to keep the peace. With respect to the other man, Tebenbam had better procure the attend ance of the witnesses he had alluded to, and if they spoke positively to the man of colour being one of the parties assaulting the constable, means should be forth with adopted for his apprehension. A summons was then directed to be issued for the at tendance of " Tom Oliver" at the next meeting of the magistrates. We understand that the Lords of the Treasury have appointed Charles Ross, Esq., (formerly Member for Northampton), to be a Special Commissioner for the purposes of the income-tax, in the room of Thomas Pargiter Dickenson, Esq., ho has been appointed . Commissioner of Customs. ON THE EVIL EFFECTS OF THE REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE ON RAILWAYS. TO THE EDITOR OF 7'HE SUN. SIR,—As an old subscriber, I have taken the liberty of sending you the following remarks on the pernicious effects of the continued advertisements in the Gazette of the decisions of the Board of Trade for and against the various new projected lines of railways, hoping that, as the editor of one of the largest and most popular journals in this country, you will take such notice as to prevent the possibility of the re2urrence of so absurd a system in a fu ture year. I had hoped the exposures of these reports in the Houses of Parliament, and the declaration of Sir R. Peel that they were by no means final, and more especially the decision of the Committee that some of the lines reported on favourably had not complied with the standing orders, and, consequently, could not go to Parliament this session, would have caused the Board to have dispensed with their advertisements, and have led them merely to have published their detailed report for the assistance of the Committees on the various Bills; but they do not appear content with this, they must still continue their advertisement that they have decided on reporting favourably, &c. It is not necessary for me to say anything here as to the constitution of the Board, and the time they have had to decide on this important subject (scarcely so long to decide on 224 lines as it takes a Committee of the most able men in the House of Commons to decide between two lines). Neither is it necessary for me to advert to their would-be secresy. If sufficient has not been said on the South-Eastern case, any one who has noticed the prices of shares in the markets,. must be aware that the report of Tuesday was known and was acted on for stock-jobbing purposes, by the favoured few, before the publication of the Ga zette. But it is not of the stock jobbing I would take notice, if this were all the evil. Those who seek it and lose deserve all they get. The evil I fear is of a more permanent character. Many thou sands of persons, of but limited means, induced by these reports, purchase at a great premium in one of these favoured lines, solely because the line has been reported on favourably; such report bearing an official stamp, they think their investment is sure. A Committee of the House of Commons may not think with the Hon. Board, or the plans may be defec tive. Should such be the case, the whole of the premium is lost, together with a portion of the deposit-money; the consequence will be that many persons will be ruined by it. I will take a case in point; in the Staffordshire and Shropshire district, a line called the Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Birming ham line, was reported on favourably, and its rival, the Grand Junction Shrewsbury branch, was reported against, the consequence has been a great rise in the price of the shares of the former company. I have it in my own knowledge that many parties have pur chased in consequence of such report. The Committee of Standing Orders have since thrown out the Bill for non-compliance. That, in many respects, the report was a fair one on the merits there is no doubt, but, in consequence of the failure of compliance with the standing orders of Parliament, this Bill is not before the House; the report is therefore useless. The effect will be that, should the opposing line be successful in the standing orders (and they have now no opponents in committee), they will get their Bill ; should they not, it will be as bad, or worse. The Grand Junction Company are too old Parliamentary tacticians to go next session for a line that has been reported against and thrown out this; they will deposit for a line with as great or greater advantages than the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, according to the report, and if the Board of Trade and Government follow out the Conservative speech of this year, they, as the trunk line, will get it. What, therefore, is the action of these ill-digested reports, or decisions on the ex-parte evidence of the promoters of a Bill ? In this case it is this—that eighty thousand pounds will be entirely lost. This Company have 18,000 shares, these shares were at 4/. premium, there can hardly be a doubt that 10s. per share will be spent in Parlia mentary and other expenses; should they lose their Bill, of which there is now little, if any, doubt, 4/.los. will be lost to the present holders, of whom, five-sixths have purchased at the present high rates ; but this is only one out of many cases. I have no doubt that millions will have changed hands this year, and many deserving men ruined by these proceedings; they must he altered. HO the Board been constituted of the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, assisted by two or three of our most eminent engineers, had their powers been merely drawing up the reports for the assistance of the committees, as to the merits of the various lines, it would have been different ; as it is, without materially assisting any parties, they have caused much mischief. I hope we have seen the last of their decisions. I intended making some remarks on the detailed reports of the various districts, more especially the Manchester and Leeds, but find I have trespassed more than I intended. Should you express any desire to hear from me again, I will forward you my remarks.—l am, Sir, your most obedient, ALPHA. CUSTOMS' IMPORT DUTIES. The Bill to - alter and amend certain Duties of Cus toms contains two schedules; the first (Table A) enume rates the articles on which the duty is repealed imme diately. The other (Table B) enumerates the articles which are excepted, and thus classes them:— FROM AND AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE, 1845. Seeds, viz.— Seeds—continued. Acorn. Lettuce. Anniseed. Linseed and Flaxseed. Burnet. Lupin. Colchicum. Maw. Cummin. Millet. Fenugreek. Parsley. Forest. Quince. Garden, unenumerated. Shrub or Tree. Lentiles. Worm. FROM AND AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY, 1849. Spermaceti. Sperm Oil of Foreign Fishing. FROM AND AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY, 1847. Train Oil or Blubber of Foreign Fishing. Whales' Fins of Foreign taking, and not prohibited. A SCHEDULE OF DUTIES OF CUSTOMS. s. d. Isinglass, per cwt. Oils, Chemical, Essential, or Perfumed, per lb 0 1 0 - Essential of Cloves, per lb. 0 3 0 Pickles preserved in Vinegar, per gallon 0 0 4 Pickles or Vegetables preserved in Salt, for every 1001. value . .. - 5 0 0 Refined Camphor, per cwt. 0 5 0 Smelts, per cwt Turpentine above the value of 15s. per cwt. Verdigris, pct. cwt 0 5 0 Yarn Cable, per cwt 0 3 0 That from and after the expiration of Excise Du tics on British Glass, and until the 10th day of October, 1846, the following Duties of Customs : Glass; viz.— Any kind of Window Glass, white or stained of one colour only, not exceeding one-ninth of an inch in thickness, and Shades and Cylinders the cwt Alt Glass exceeding one-ninth of an inch in thick ness; all silvered or polished Glass of whatever thickness, however small each pane, plate, or sheet, superficial measure ; viz : Not exceeding more than nine square feet, the square foot Containing more than mne square feet, and not more than fourteen square feet, the square foot Containing more than fourteen square feet, and not more than thirty-six square feet, the square f00t...... Containing more than thirty-six square feet, the square foot . 0 3 Glass, painted or otherwise ornamented, the super ficial foot All White Flint Glass Bottles, not cut, engraved or otherwise ornamented, and Beads and Bugles 0 14 0 1 0 0 2 of Glass, the lb. Wine Glasses, Tumblers, and all other White Flint Glass Goods not cut, engraved or otherwise orna mented, the lb 0 0 4 All Flint Cut Glass, Flint coloured Glass and Fancy Ornamental Glass of whatever kind. the lb 0 0 8 Bottles of Glass covered with Wicker (not being Flint or Cut Glass), or of Green or Common Glass, the cwt 0 3 0 Glass manufactures, not otherwise enumerated or described, and old Broken Glass, fit only to be re- manufactured, the cwt ... 0 14 0 And that from and after the 10th day of October, 1846, until the sth day of April, 1848, there be charged on the said article one-half of the said duties, and from and after the sth day of April, 1848, one-fourth of the said duties. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. DEPARTURE OF FOREIGN MAILS. The next mails for Malta, Greece, lonian Islands, Egypt, India, &c., viii Southampton, will be dispatched hence on the morning of 'the 3d April. Her Majesty's steamer Hecate is appointed to take them out, but will not take passengers. The next mails for the Mediterranean, Egypt, Ceylon, India, and China, vic2 Marseilles, will be dispatched hence on the evening of the 7th of April. Madeira, Brazils, and Buenos Ayres—Her Maje s brig Express for the mails of to-morrow. West Indies—The steamer Dee for the mails of the morning of April 2. America—The steamer Caledonia for the mails of the evening of April 3d. Sydney, New South Wales—The ship Graham for this evening's mails. Holland and Hamburgh—The mails for the above places are now conveyed direct by the steamers. Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar—The steamers will in future be dispatched on the 7th, 17th, and 27th of every month, instead of every Tuesday, as heretofore ; and, when those days fall on Sunday, the Mails will be made up on the following morning. Mails will also be sent to Corunna by the steamers in future. CAUTION TO MARINERS. SUNKEN VESSEL IN THE DO WNS—OBSTRUC. TION TO FAIR WAY. Deal, March 28. Sir,—l have communicated the circumstance of the Anna, of Sunderland, having sunk in the Downs to the Superintendent of Lights and Buoys at Ramsgate, to Messrs. Latham and Co., of. Deal, and to the pilots in the cruizing cutters, in order to prevent accidents. Captain Davis, Trinity-lime Superintendent at Rams gate, informs me he will proceed with a wreck buoy aua place it over the Anna, which has since capsized. e The Anna lies about two and a half or three miles the the town, in the fairway of ships passing through ti le roadstead.—l am, Sir, &c. (Signed) W. Dobson, Esq , Lloyd's. LLOYD'S AGENT• SIR JAMES DOWLING, LATE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW SOUTH WALES' We have great pleasure in transferring to our columns, from the Australian. Daily Journal, of the 28th ST temper, the following testimony to the character a tl late Sir James Dowling, whose death we anno unce , some weeks back, but the official intelligence of w hich has but just reached this country: — Another of the ornaments of our colonial history gone. Before this will have reached the e y es of WO of our readers, they will have heard of the m elancho l y fact of the death of the Hon. Sir James Dowling , the Chief Justice of the colony—an event which occurred yesterday afternoon, at 20 minutes before 4 o'clock. bi t James had suffered under a painful illness during thel o three months, from which, about five weeks ago, be gal e some hopes -of recovery. Unfortunately ho sustained * relapse, which proved too much for his feeble and er hausted frame, The history of the career of a tor like Sir Jathes Dowling is scarcely to be written i n ti ° il l columns of a newspaper. We may chronicle his arril:sl amongst uc—t , e years that he sat upon the ju dic ! bench—and la respect and esteem which attended ID ! throughout ; but the details which would give life to skeleton sketch, must necessarily be wanting. ic!„ arrived here about seventeen years ago, and took h f seat on the bench, and on the departure to Europe °i the late lamented Sir Francis Forbes, about eight yeast since, Sir James Dowling succeeded to the COl P er ' „, ; Justiceship. During the whole of this P e it is a well-known fact that he scarcely kveo one day's relaxation from his heavy toils. Few hi°, ever left life more rich in all that should acconiP*l3/ old age—public approbation, the affection and reverenre of all ranks, all sects—the esteem of great men, and t , gratitude of humble ones. It would be no eulogy t,,74 of so long and active a career that it was acconielisi',,, without reproach ; but this negative praise would ill exPrt t the fervid and generous qualities of virtues that Were 13 ' merely active, but had in them something of enthusias°?; The Local Legislature, by their recent vote* / esb en was hoped that his return to convalescence was ce rtain gave the most decided manifestation of their high resPe. and esteem for his public character—and the v ari ? P departments of the legal profession vied with each otner a on the same occasion, in addressing him in the langt of the warmest and most affectionate regard. As a Pue, and a statesman, he was humane, gentle i m partial, e tensively informed, firmly attached to the well-belovict constitution of his own country, and a zealous promovt€:s of those measures by which a new constituti on granted to this : he was a warm friend of that gonl,.'ilset social liberty, which is but another name for the bin t he and most comprehensive justice ; and his labours on bench, and in the late council chamber, are a monurnera not more of his talents as a judge, than of his pure an upright character as a than. *" A vote of the full salary of 2,0001. a-year, lep dot the absence of Sir James from the colony on Twenty-three of' the same body have, since the leaf!! judge's death, signed a memorial for a pension to widow, who has been thus suddenly deprived of her OM resource." UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCA OXFORD, MARCH 28.—Mr. Matthew Arnold , --- e ; Scholar of Balliol, and Mr. Henry James Cole 8.A., Scholar of Trinity, were this day elected te,th„,/ vacant Fellowships at Oriel. Mr. Arnold is the eniie son of the late Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, and gain ed j Newdigate prize (" Cromwell") for English ver l ', ° fo r 1843. Dr. Arnold was himself a Fellow of Orie' several years, before he was Head Master of R ug by. o f Yesterday afternoon his Royal Highness the Pukegis Cambridge paid a short visit to the University. in . Royal Highness arrived the preceding day at Nune,bilirk, park, the seat of his Grace the Archbishop of t he from Viscount Barrington's, and was accompanied to University by Mr. Egerton llarcourt and bliss lin o, court, Lord and Lady Radstock, Miss Coutts Bade r Lady and Miss Johnson, and Baron Knesebeek. 14'rtse,, partaking of luncheon at the Warden of An ~c it' i l.pa his Royal Highness and party visited the ha" 0 ,1 chapel of that college, New College, the Geologiec.. Museum at the Clarendon, which was shown to thand by the Professor, Dr. Buckland ; the theatre..,. Christ Church. Previous to their departure for in s it ham to dinner, his Royal Highness and party paid a, v im to the New University Galleries, where two ° L A t he Curators, the Rev. the War Jen of All Souls , on 11, Rev. Henry IVellesky, Vice-Principal of New I nn --'' were in attendance. 2S• CAMBRIDGE, MARL S LIBRARIAN. The election of public librarian S is HIP put off by ord er °f the Vice- Chancellor till further notice. ST. JOHSOLLEGE. The church patronage of N' this College has been far t i t e t t e enriched by the recent bequest of 5,000 L by the Rev. William Winthorp, 8.D., to be laid cut in the P the chase of small advowsons for the Fellowships °II Platt foundation.. tint, Mr. W. Earle, of the same College, and asst' be master of the Yarmouth Grammar School, hasjust e' I appointed head master of the Tunbridg e -wells Cle o School. There were 141 candidates. THE CHURCH. if l l I. The following appointments of gentlemen of this - versity have just taken place The Rev. Robert Pulleine, M.A., of Emmanuel 01 1 lege, to the living of Kirby Wink, Yorkshire— • al ue, 6 4, The Rev. Joseph Hudson, M.A., of St. Peters I', lege, to the perpetual curacy of Hexham, No rthute° land—value., 139/. The Rev. William Ludlow, M.A., a St. Peter'g ( 1 - lege, to the living of St. Botolph, Aldgate—valu c,`2 ,V„ , The Rev. Barnard Gilpin, M.A , of Queen's Col '-' to the vicarage of Stanwick St; value, 611. col- The Rev. Thomas Sheepshanks, 8.A., of TiinitY- lege, to the perpetual curacy of Arlendall, John's, Yorkshirc" borough—value 681. The flev. Henry Robert Mereweather, 8.A... of dalene College, to the curacy of St. glary, Reading. MAIDS or HONOUR.—We have not had for a his. time a novel so 1:1(cly to attract general attention e 5104 be r tale of the Court of George I. As regards the numich and variety of its characters, and the skill w ith iNh ri , they are brought before the reader, it is almost tiilllW valled. The remarkable fortunes of the four beauties first selected to grace the Court of St. cin n i ? . t he " Maids of Honour," form the groundwork n d by novel. They are the fair Mary Lepel, immortellse den. Chesterfield, Pope, and Gay, and the Misses 13ellepheir Howe, and Meadows, almost equally eulogised LI their wor k c00 ,,0t , celebrated literary contemporaries. The an elaborate picture of the Court of George L _„.„ precsi, big inn us with full lengths of the Hanoverian Ning suite of mistresses, including the Schulenberg Oft er t ; s of Duchess of Kendal), and the Kielmansegge (C °l-11 %. - }ting Darlington), the Hanoverian Prince of Wales (n ) "„ r t), awkward love to the beautiful attendants of his ° l ' s- 10 and the amiable blue-stocking, Princess Caroline'ritesi their society we are introduced to the King's fa °ll Orr, Baron Bothmar, and Counts Roberthon and 13ern and and the Turkish pages of the back stairs, Mu,ste a s tori Mahomet. Amongst the other personages 0 ' Joh n are the celebrated Earl of Chesterfield, Lo r " mj the Hervey (Pope's Lord Fanny), that heroic nvel"' Peke s th e Earl of Peterborough, those gay Lotharios , ~ with of Somerset, Buckingham, and Wharton, tegel"„ea Or,' the Dukes of Newcastle, Kingston, Argylo , 11- an d mond, Lords Bellenden, erkeley, and Bohngbrolliore, the King's Ministers, Walpole, Townsend, and h ri l l :j for The literary characters are not less distingui su `q;eeie , they consist of Addison Pope Defoe, Vanbrught,-fiting Swift, Kneller, &c. society of these fO e ' o rl t - Court beauties and brilliant wits, the reader ea" of finding a fund of entertainment. 11 h 35 DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—Mademoiselle re - g ic• more than fulfilled the utmost expectation of h er P s ti atli ti roux admirers, and has created a complete ,se n r St yle amongst the devotees to her enchanting art. re' of dancing is equally as exciting as it is novel , too; ceives, as it well deserves, the utmost aPP r° „ ce ssil i ` She performs in the new balht, after the S A II-- fi ttrs e ' revival of I:o."iert the Devil, and their combine" bare tion has filled the theatre each evening; these pi" — been played togt,ther. BIRTHS. 11 W ' On the 27th of March, at Greystoke, the ladY °I. Askew, h Esq , of a daughter. Da , Griffith ,sq. ' On the 28th of March, the wife of G. S. l , ton-crescent, of a son. On the 28th of March, Mrs. J. Johnson, of" atlil3g-street' of a son. to ---- MARRIED. SW' 10, On the 12th of March, at Altona, Henry L ouis Julie Mary Hesse, daughter of H. L. Hesse , ESCha Wllli illi 4111 On the 22d of March, at Christchurch, Surrey, eir,",, jo o 0 C. Foord, to Louisa Isabel, second daughter of the l a te Cooper, Esq., of Blackwall. • k 1311 " t ~ On the 27th of March, at Cheltenham, Frederic 11 Whalley, M.A., barrister, to Frances Augusta Carohee, child of Major Hamerton, of Hamerton, Tipperary. god On the 27th of March, at St. James's, Westminster, daub Brown, Esq., late of Calcutta, to Maria Louisa, e ldest s" a ter of Mr. George Cooper, of Piccadilly. . W. On the 27th of March, at St. Mark's, Kenningt°ll to :,, e la Cosens, Esq., to Rosa Frances, youngest daughter of 1 , . W. F. Collins, Esq.. of Clapham. I ,oo o ' On the 27th of March; at All Hallows, Barking,,A, DO' the Rer. W. W. Griffith, of St. Hilders , South Shielio Is ham, to Emma Maria Herbert, second daughter of Mr. William Phene, of Aldermary Churchyard ------' DIED. og , f On the 16th of March, of consumption, at Gra 3 ° Austrian Silesia, in his 29th year, Benjamin Bright, J,"" Rochdale, brother of John Bright, Esq., M.P. h Sf. On the 24th of March, at George-street , et, Edinburg., Th R.S.A., aged 74. r i ba rlot te ' On the omson, 20th of March, at the Charter House, ‘-',.,dree•7! relict of the late Rev. R. Black, formerly of St. •"" Holborn. On the 26th of March, at Cheltenham, T. White, sc li . e On the 26th of March, in Paper-buildings, TeraP Edwards, Esq., of the Inner Temple, barrister - a t ' On the 26th of March, a t Maidenhead, J onathan Esq., formerly of the Tower, Matlock, Bath, DerhyesTre:oettf On the 27th of March, Frances , th e wife of 11. Esq., Chatham-place East, Hackney, aged 83. 00 ". On the 27th of March, Mrs. Ridley, late of li.entisiobire. On the 27th of March, Mr. J. Willey, of Ripon , l el- ,, A no' On the 28th of March, in High-street, Deptford, -1 wife of J. W. Roberts, Commander, R.N., aged °` 65 . Gee On the 28th of March , Emily Mary, daughter Walter, Es., of Greenwich. foal ° On the 28th of March, a t Savage-gardens, J olla gill, Esq., aged 77. yOV.,I"V London: PrintA and Published by MUNDO No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun 011ie% oo tio Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in ale v " -= Dliddleux, avuthly, ilinrol 31, 1545. GE' COMPAN ",_ , PS are appoin t iANTBunGil 1111 Saturday MOI OTTEIt DAM erg Wednesday' A INTWERP—I, dap,b at Eleven, 11 gAVRE—Frir silaSTExw.L'E. vFI OULOGNF e b ALAlF,_ E `j er L—Every" ll L ' A R IINDURGII , , 26, and 30, SA GEO b h , to intirnat 44,0,1 winter tak 41,e4 in akes its Iv 10 14 Aources w to, x itc e ""ge their %r e ; but with c g ‘ n g• Sir 1 dut,.tatinot be ti 4 11 '_uPon prope st wi :, ° uchsafed ; top t e to our ca to all ht,,: kl ' t Y upon v , "t°-be.f or - gc hit ECLA J session,to th t o eli AN G E The A MC ROLE T tx, YI , N TY-SE' I:l4 . '„„ di nir T 1 h•''''-' I " 4 D RE it . GE( notice, I to ob `to— to Public 4„-action mart A , No. '4/Pital F reehc Year. Tw o 2° and 'l, 141we1l-built a a Year, fr A 4 P it a l Ic°- 4 4pd- louse t 10,„ TWo "Y Chiawi T HE cLI /4 Sars FIN' P atti tin 4th 1107, 131 tdtt, l uction Rte__ Itt tonbENCI 1c,,,C511-11. GE R 40 ikt:s. iky lions fri at 146 e, the Rhl L SIN( eq for many hi * Placed in t ' 404 the vE R' G Ay It ,CIN VI '4lbered °fi th TH t,- superii tp "tit. hi 44,ctiogn itp q illoucies hie A 1 4 iGR F i i ll , 1 t*, , Nci tlittil:°lsaQl7t°' Th iit 1 06 t rr , '". by ( 1 :1; in it wi th ta ' 441 %4 e g l ree 'Na 4 ' N p ,.. 'nab, era x A r tkn eh d APIT, stri t :; ° fiv o ak '' , Bilk 1 4 tt 'de4t, Th, It] v eki t s arr„ , , no g. Witt dt, lOU all relB,:ii,!:l Cl azet :l t ! h, 4 CAN e xcv nett t able, ~ t. Y be l ) n il,ec Linco