The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-25 00:00:00

-- - IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. 1100-5 E OF COMMONS, April 24 JUVENILE O:;FENDERS BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Sir GEOR,GE GREY was not in the least diipCned treat with il:dift , renee the questi3n before the House; h o think the House would be indifferent to rely prautic d measure on the subject.—(Hear, hear.) The Bill now before the House contemplated the ex•ension of the summary jurisdiction possessed by megistrates with regard to juvenile offender?. That was nothing more nor less than to leave the law pre cisely 03 it was under the Juvenile Offenders Act, introduced by his Honourable Friend the Member fir Droiteich (Sir John Pakington). The Bill, secondly, proposed the adoption of the principle of the criminal responsibility of parents; and he (Sir George Grey) was not prepared to give such a latitude of power to the magistrates as was con templated by that part of the Bill. The third object of the Bill was the establishment of county and district industrial schools in respect to juvenile of fenders. It however was of a different character; it proposed that two justices should have power to adju dicate in cases where parents instigated their children to the committal of crime, so that a man who urged his child to commit a murder would be liable to a trumpery fine, while the child would be tried for the capital offence, (Hew, hear.) The fact was the Hon. Gentleman who had introduced the measure had mistaken the criminal responsibility of the parent for a pecuniary liability. These formed two distinct questions of a very different character, and this circum stance only showed the inoperative nature of the Bill. The remaining clauses were equally objectionable, Many of them were really extraordinary, if not dan gerous, while some were laughably ridiculous. No ma gistrate indeed could venture to put auy of them in force. One of them came directly in contact with tie Mutiny Act, and in not a few respects the provisions of the Bill would inflict great hardships on the juvenile offenders rather than benefit him or im prove his condition. With regard to the third object of the Bill, which related to the establishment of in duetrial schools, he did not object to the principle of this part of the measure in the abstract, but then the question was, would the Bill as it stood, lead to the realization of that principle. He was afraid not, while if the principle were good, as no doubt it was, why confine the industrial schools to counties? Why should t iey not be extended to towns?—(tlear, ar.) This point of the subject, however, was not of so pressing a nature as to justify the passing of this Bill, and though he agreed with the well merited eulogiums which the Honourable Gentleman had pissed upon the exertions of the Phi lanthropic Society. whose efforts were ever di rected to the reclamation of youthful offenders, he did not think the Bill would tend to reduce the evil it eae proposed to meet, if it were held out to the world that all juvenile offenders would be provided for, and he must therefore resist the motion for its second reading.— (Heae.) No later than yesterday he received a commu nication from the secretary to the Philanthropic Society, enclosing him a translated report to the French Republic on this very subject, and he felt bound to state that its conclusions were quite opposite to those ho had just urged upon the attention of the House. With regard to the question of pecuniary responsibility on tLe part of the parent, he at once admitted that the principle was an admirable one ; but here again the provisions of this Bill were highly objectionable, and most inoperative. To a certain extent this very prin. cinciple was already in force, but the Bill proposed that it should be extended to every case—an absolute impossibility. In a word, the whole ma chinery of the Bill was impracticable, and however laudable its object might be, or however admi rable its principle was, in many respects, he must give it his decided opposition.—(Bear, hear.) Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND rose to move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months ; but it was not his intention to make a speech in support of the amendment. 03 the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat dew❑ had anticipated every objection he could urge against the measure. In fast the Right lion. Ba- Tenet had taken his speech out of his lips—(Hear and a la'igh)—and he should therefore content himself with pointing out one or two defects in the measure which had moat forcibly struck him. From beginning to end the Bill had been drawn un in a most careless manner. Its preamble stated that great evils resulted from the continual imprisonment of juvenile offenders, and yet one of the clauses distinc:ly provided that an offender after so many convictions should be liable to ba imprisoned in what was celled an industrial school for seven years. Mr. M. MILNES said the Hon. Baronet was in terror, and was proceeding to explain when he was called to order. Sir G. STRICKLAND then proceeded, to say that the Bill was full of imagination, and as a natural conse rin,nce, full of inconsistencies.—(A. laugh.) It aimed another blow at the palladium of British liberty—trial by jury, and he was therefore surprised to find on the back the name of an Hon. and Learned Gentleman, who must have had ample opportunities, in his own time, of witnessing the advantages which resulted to the country from the existence of this institution. Ile would venture to say that the present Bill was one of the molt ludicrous pices of legislation that was ever brought before the House, for by its provisions any party might be tried, not before a magistrate, but in his servants' hall, before all his drunken servants—(Hear, hear)—for the Bill gave power to the magistrate to depute any one to try parties charged with criminal oflbnc:',.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member cmclud-d by moving that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. S. CRAWFORD seconded the amendment. Mr. SIMEON supported the second reading of the Bill. He thought the course that had been adopted by the Honourable Baronet opposite (Sir G. Strickland) most inconsistent and totally uncalled for, if the mea sure introduced by his Honourable Friend the Mem b^r fir Pontefract was only rightly considered. The principle of the Bill was one which would meet with the approbation of eviry man who had given a due degree of attention to this important subject. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Milnes) had showed beyond doubt that the present state of the law with regard to this class of offenders was bad and mischievous iu the highest degree. He (Mr. Sime.in) concurred in that opinion. Ourtrew ment of this unfortunate class of the population was well described by one of our poets, who said— "Their infant minds, their infant years, Owed nothing to our care; Their minds neglected and their bodies bare." The Honourable Member went on to draw a contrast between the French prison of MAtray and our p r i son at Parkhurst, unfavourable to the latter. The prisoners who went to Mettray went not to a prison, but to an agricultural colony; but the offender who went to Park ha rst went directly to a prison. The fact of a boy hav ing been at Mettray was an inducement for his fellow men t) respeao him in after life; and it was no uncom mon thing in France for persons who had been trained at that colony to have placed over their shop signs the words " Educated at Mettray." Mr. lIEADL AM would give his cordial assent to the broad principle involved in the Bill before the House, though he would not pledge himself to vote for all its details. One of the most important parts of the Bill was that which gave power to the magistrates to make the parish or the parents liable for the maintenance of the juvenile offenders while in the proposed reformatory asylums. He held in his hand the report which was made by several of the greatest men in France to the National Assembly, in which they recommended the Legislature to establish industrial schools, on the ground that, after n years' experience, they had been fully successful. Being of opinion that the present Bill would accomplish a great amount of good, he should give it his decided support. Sir J. PAKINGTON gave the Hon. Member who introduced the Bill credit for his benevolent and praise worthy intentions, but he could not agree with him in the m o d e b y which he proposed to carry those i ntent i ons into effe c t. Th e Bill would not only offer a prem i um on , vice and dishonesty, but would saddle a large expense on the county rates ; and he should therefore feel it his duty to vote f the amendment. Colonel TawarsoN said he had looked over the re port which was mode by a Committee of the ' Na tional Assembly o f France and he could not find in it the mention of anything which at all approached to corporal punishment.—(Hear.) He was .fluence in sorry when this species of punishm en t was losing its introductionm the army that any one should Propose its into civil affairs. toliev,d that Napoleon o u l d no mo re have thought of submitti ng a young French officer to corporal punishment than he would have considered hi rli fitted for service in a seraglio.—(Laughter.) He remembered a captain of her Majesty's guards telling him many years ago that he consid( red Wat Tyler the first of Etigli:h reformers, though to be sure he I was of a very rough sort.—(Loud laughter.) Th e pe a cantrY of this country were a very sen s iti ve class, and if this species of punishment was to be put again into practice, he th>ught there would be an end of that wholesome compact which existed between the pea- santry and the arist , cracy. Mr. TREL A WNY called upon the House to give their serious attention to this important measure, which it was his intention to support. He, however, begged it to be distinctly understood that he supported the prin cip'e and not the details of the Bill. After a few words from Mr. RICE, Mr. M. MILNES, amidst considerable impatience and some confusion, essayed to reply, but the House seemed indispos e d to hear him further, and he at length put an end to the noisy scene by stating that it was his inten tion to withdraw the Bill, au announcement that was received with loud cheers. The motion for the second reading was then negatived wilhont a division, and the amen d me nt agreed to. VESTRIES AND VESTRY CLERKS' BILL. This Bill was r ea d a second time and ordered to be committed on the 22d of May. AFFIRMATION BILL. Mr. PAGE WOOD, after pr esenting large number of petitions in favour o f this Bill, proceeded to move its committal, observing that its j o rinciple had been twice affirmed by the House. The e a perhaps was not aware of it, but it was neverthelesuss that not only , were Quakers, Moravians, and Separatists, relieved from taking an oath in courts a Jaw, bat one who had ever belonged to these bodies also enjoyed the same privilege; and he could see no reason wh l yll e ie d s i rt i rn e con o cession should not be extended to all parties of an o oath. enter tained conscientious objections to the taking He rested the second reading of the Bill ground s—first, the right that the p u bli c h a d , in atw° to have the best evidence that could be p rocure d , anall d, es se condly, on the extensive persecution that had prevailed against those who conscientiously refused to take an oath. The Hon. and Learned Member at some length referred to caoes that had occurred, showing the evils and grievancei; that had taken place from not allowing parties to gicw evidence who would not take an oath. ITha parties having a scruple about taking an cath were liable to be committed to prison in the event of their refusing to do so in courts of justice; and they could not sit on juries or hold most of the civil offices of the State without doing violence to their consciences. The present Bill relieved only the conscientious, and a man had only to say that he was a Mcravian or a Quaker, and objected to take an oath, whenever he might be called on to do so, and he would be relieved from the obligation, and the judge would allow him in such cases to substitute an affirmation. He knew of a case in Honduras where a Dissenting minister had been confined for a period of six weeks for refusing to take an oath, and other persons in that colony were fined very considerable sums of money for the same offence. Taking all those circumstances into consideration, he hoped the House would not object to this Bill going into Committee. Mr. GOULBURN opposed the motion that the House should go into Committee on this Bill. He main tained that a man engaging to speak the truth under the solemnity of an oath, and knowing that he would be punished here and hereafter in the event of his perjuring himself, was more likely to give true evidence, in courts of justice, than a man who merely made an affirmation or a declaration. The Honour able and Learned Gentleman proposed to leave it to the option of the judge to decide whether a witness should be sworn or not, but such a practice would be at tended with the greatest difficulties, and he thought would not further the ends of justice.—(Hear, hear.) The great majority of magistrates engaged in the administration of justice thought the taking of oaths was essential to the ascertaining of the truth, and that they would not be able to obtain from witnesses; that precise state of facts which they would give under the imposition of an oath. The general tendency was not to adhere strictly to the facts when a person had simply to give a conversational account of anything which had taken place. He concluded by moving that the Bill be committed this day six months. Mr. COCKBURN hod made up his mind to support this Bill, though he believed the oath was one of the safeguards to the due administration of justice; but he supported the Bill, because he felt that many persons were precluded from giving evidence by the law as it now stood. Many persons professing particular faiths were already relieved from this obliga tion of taking an oath, and he put it to the Right Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down whether it would be right to withstand that concession. Well, then, if these persons were enti tied to this privilege because they entertained conscien tious convictions against the taking of tin oath, why should not the man, although he belonged to an other sect, who considered it opposed to his religious duty to take an oath, be placed upon a similar footing? It was nonsense to tell him that a man might escape justice by putting evidence on oath against evidence given on affirmation, because the same argument told as much against the existing system as against the proposed change. But while he approved of this Bill, he thought it ought to be accompanied with a provision which should make it the duty of a judge to satisfy himself that the parry wishing to give his evidence by way of affirmation really did entertain conscientious objections to the taking of an oath before he consented to absolve him from that obligation.—(Hear.) Mr. NEWDEGATE supported the amendment, and declared it to be his conviction that, if this Bill passed, in many instances justice would be defeated by parties who were now restrained from giving false evi dence by the sanctity of an oath. It was too bad that at the bidding of a nondescript section of society to pass a law which could remove no diffi culty, but would have the effect of encouraging perjury. Sir EDWARD BUXTON would be glad to know from the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down if he knew of any instance where evidence which bad been given upon affirmation had afterwards turned out to be false? It was a singular fact that no such cases could be found; and as justice was ott?n frustrated by the operation of the existing law, Le was at a loss to und,r stand why its reform should be objected to. The House then divided, when there appeared— For going into Committee ... 129 Fur the amendment ... ... 148 Majority ... —l9 The announcement was received with loud cheers. The Bill was consequently thrown out. SMALL TENEMENTS RATING BILL. The amendments to this Bill were considered and agreed to, after a short discussion. Colonel BOYLE presented a petition from Frome against church-rates. COLLECTION OF FEES BY STAMPS (COURT OF CHANCERY). The House went into Committee, and a resolution for founding a Bill for the collection of fees by stamp (Court of Chancery) was agreed to. NEW WRIT. On the motion of an Hois. ISIEmnEn a new writ was ordered to issue for Lymington, in the room of the Hon. G. T. Keppel, who had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. KIDDERMINSTER ELECTION COMMITTEE. The Committee appointed to try the merits of the pee tion presented against the return of Mr. Best, for the borough of Kidderminster, re-assembled at the usual hour yesterday; Mr. Bouverie in the chair. Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE intimated at the sitting of the Committee, that the case for the petitioners closed with yesterday's evidence. Mr. JAMES, Q.C., on the same side, summed up the evidence at some length, insisting that it sustained the allegation of the petitioners, that the election of Mr. Best was carried by bribery and treating. Mr. ALEXANDER afterwards addressed the Committee at equal length on behalf of the sitting Member, an nouncing that it was not his intention to call rebutting evidence, as he did not think the petitioners had esta blished any case against his client. The Committee, under these circumstances, intimated that they should adjourn till to-morrow (this day) at two o'clock, when they would be prepared to give their decision. THE NATIONAL REFORM CON- FERENCE. The conference met yesterday at ten o'clock; Sir Joshua Walmsley, Esq., M.P., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said the first business of the day would be to receive reports and suggestions from the provincial delegates present ; and he should first call upon - Mr. BIGGS, of Leicester, who said that the political tone of Leicester was, he was glad to say, perfectly healthy.—(Hear, hear.) They had there a National Reform Association, with its officers and working machinery, and he did not doubt but that, let an election come when it would, they would return two Radicals to Parliament, as they ever had done.— (Cheers.) The principle which recommended the asso ciation to the men of Leicester was, that it laid down that all men were equal in the sight of the law. This was a principle which lay at the root of all progress, whether they looked at the rapid spread of the Christian religion, or to the social progress of the new world, as exemplified in California more particularly. In all the other objects of the association, whether of political or financial reform, the men of Leicester perfectly con curred, and would support with all their energies. Mr. ADAMS, of Derby, next addressed the conference. At Derby the committee was formed for working pur poees, and contained men of every shade of liberal opinion. In their neighbourhood they had formed a National Land Association, and although circumstances had not yet been very favourable, yet 400 shares had been taken up already. He also wished to say that the Chartists of Derby, though they had not abandoned their claim for universal suffrage, had given their support most unhesitatingly to the National Reform Associa tion.—(Cheers.) Mr. M'GRATH, of Dublin, said he was present a t this conference to assure it of the support of the b od men with whom he acted in political i f mat ters. lie hoped that the Reformers o f Eng land and Ireland would no longer be kept ng separate as they bad been by the devices of their rulers, and he could assure the conference that on better ac quaiutance they would find that the Reformers of Ireland would act with all their energy in support of this great national movement. Mr. EVAN JONES, of Merthyr, South Wales, next presented himself; to make known to the con ference the sentiments of the great manufacturing districts of Wales. They were warmly attached to this movement because they looked upon it as the cmstitu tional precursor of further political and constitional refolns. The fi at had gone forth spinst all political and ecclesiastic& despotism, and it was impossible for Lord John Russell, with his present House of shams and hypocrisy, to attempt to arrest it. The town of Merthyr was under th e d om i n i on of l i iu r princely run m asters, who mov e d it as th e y chose; but he hoped that the present movement would in its course emanci pate them as well as others from that aristocratic thraldom. Atter Mr. Lewis a n d M r . H arr i son , d e l e gates from Stroud, and Mr. Whitewall, of Peterborough, had ad dressed t he w t e r e x t Mr. Tu W OE' London, thought that the great object of this conference was but t o give practical not to indulge in remarks upon political quest i ons, sugges tions for the operationsassociation. The great and first obj ec t was to in cr ease the number of of sugg es the - electors, and he thought b y attention to the means which every district had in it s p ower , by carefully ing the registry care f u l ly , and selecting esouvpeerrisenetresndin , every parish, that object might, to greatahethought extent, be so, hethe secured. If he might be allow e d say tlo t constitution of the present association was too aristo cratic—there was not a sufficient leaven of working men in the council. He thought that if there we re a confe r. ence every two years of all the members of the association, when the council were re-elected then new bl ood would be infused into it. Mr. CHARLES GILPIN wished to explain that there were on the council many men who were elected, and who had no other qualification than the payment of one shilling per annum. After a few words from Mr. THWAITES, Mr. COBDEN, M.P., then rose, amidst loud and re peated cheering, to address the conference. He pre sumed that O l e reason why the gentlemen whom he saw before him had come up to Loudon that they were dissatisfied with the doings was, of the House of Commons, and he should be a great hypocrite if he did not agree with them. He presumed they thought that by an extension of the Parliamentary representation they would eecure a better House of Commons than the one they now had. and that not only he, but every Englishman who professed to be a lover of his country, would be a hypocrite if he did not agres with them in that. Again, he would presume that as they called themselves a Financial Reform Association they considered that an extended suffrage would ensure a more economical Ad ministration. The House of Commons well deserved any suspicion and mistrust with which the people regarded it, for he must say that the House of Commons was much more extravagant than the Ministry itself, and it was upon this House that they would have to work, in this part of their operatious. Well, then, how was this t be done ? What were the means to. be employed ? It could only be done by long and arduous work. No better maxim could ba found than Sir R. Pce,'s cry which he raised for his own party—register, register! The whole political power in this country sprang from registration; that was a subject to which they must pay the greatest attention—the only political, moral, and constitutional means by which they could effect any object in this country was by attention to the register. Every man when he got home must at tend most earnestly and zealously to this subject, must form associations for this purpose. If they did this, they would gain a great influence in Parliament. This was an object which could not be effected by central efforts—local efforts were the great means to be applied. But it was not only in the boroughs that they must work, the greatest opposition to the cause of reform was only to be found among the county Members, and he would give them instances of this. On Mr. Hume's motion 104 county Members voted against it and 13 for it, 5 of whom only were English Members. On Mr. Berkeley's motion for the ballot 14 county Members voted for it and 82 against it. Oo his own motion 19 county Members voted for him and 99 against him. So they saw that it was the county Mem bers who stopped the way in improvements. He firmly believed that it was by acting upon the counties that the Anti-Corn-law League had succeeded in its efforts. He (Mr. Cobden) had always said, during that agitation, that let them only get South Lancashire, the West Riding, and East Surrey, and they could carry the repeal of the corn-laws. Well they got them, and they carried the repeal. Let them, then, by means of the National Land Associations work upon the counties, and there could be no doubt that they would, in like manner, carry their objects. He (Mr. Cobden), was a vice-president of one of these associations, and he was happy to say that up to this time they had secured 340 votes, and were pre pared to lay out 10,0001. to secure more. Let them exert themselves to the utmost to secure the establishment of similar associations. Such Land Associations as these were the only means to interest the people in the ownership of property, and that was one of the greatest blessings he thought which could happen to the country, because it would tend to elevate them above those habits of wasteful extravagance and immorality which more than anything else would prevent the people from obtaining those political privileges to which they were entitled. The Government were taking the matter into their own hands with respect to Ireland, and, probably. Scotland would follow next session. The times were favourable for the efforts of this association ; only let it work well and it would soon grow fashionable, as the League had done. They could not go on much longer in this state. Look at the present state of parties in the House of Commons, all broken up and shattered ; things must be changed, and great leaders of parties must look out of doors for some party to cling to, and nu que.tion would be taken up but an alteration in the re presentation of the country. They had then a very cheering prospect before them—the country would be in debted to them for their efforts. Let them go on in the same way as they had begun, and they would carry ano ther great reform, and it would be carried for ever with out the necessity of ever looking back. The Hon. Gentleman then concluded amid loud cheering. Mr. CHARLES LIISHINGTON, M.P., rose to move the first resolution. He apologised t 3 the meeting far not addressing the meeting in support of the resolution, as he was labouring under severe indisposition caught during his attention to his duties in the House:— " That, as the Freehold Land Societies have bean proved to be powerful auxiliaries to the cause of reform, by adding to the number ef voters in the county consti tuencies, and as they are a means of promoting thrifty and provident habits among the working classes, this conference is of opinion that they are worthy of the earnest support of every Reformer, and easy be wide greatly instrumental in promoting the reform move ment." Mr. LATIMER, tenant-farmer, of Hertfordshire, sup ported the resolution. He claimed fur his fellow-agricul turists a share in the present movement. They had failed to get justice from the landlords, and they now turned to the people of England to obtain from them the protection and security which they desired for the secu rity of their capital. He ridiculed the idea of ever re turning to the old system. Mr. MACGREGOR, M.P., then addressed the meeting, assuring them that he should be ready to support the objects of the association in his place in Parliament. This concluded the morning sittings of the confe rence, which adjourned until two o'clock. The conference resumed at two o'clock, Mr. Biggs, Vice-President, in the chair. _ _ Mr. REYNOLDS wished to take the sense of the meeting upon two resolutions which had been submitted to the business committee, but had been rejected by them. He must, however, observe, with deference, that this assembly, though called a conference, had as yet done nothing which could entitle it to the name'of a con ference.—(Partial cheering.) The first resolution was one embodying the principle of universal suffrage; the second advocating the payment of Members, and pledg ing the association to carry out these principles. Mr. TILLETT rose to explain the reasons why the committee had rejected the resolutions. They conceived that the object of this conference was to consider the best practical means of carrying out the principles which had been stated as the basis of the association, and not argue what the principles should be, inasmuch as they were all laid down in the programme of the as sociation. If Mr. Reynolds did n, t agree in these prin ciples, it was his duty to retire from the conference. The CHAIRMAN then put the question, whether the meeting would entertain the resolutions, but the con ference rejected them by an unanimous vote. After Mr. BURTON, of Winchester, had addressed a few words to the conference, the Chairman introduced Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., who said that ho should abstain from saying anything in praise of the principles which they were met to carry out, but should confine himsef to endeavouring to give the conference a few hints as to the best means of carrying out those principles. He thought that nothing could be of more importance than to present an undivided front to the country, both in the nature of their propositions and in the means of carrying them out. There could be no doubt that their propositions would meet with men who would not entirely agree with them ; some would think they went too far, and some that they did not go far enough. Now one reason why he always felt confidence in defending their propositions was, that they were not directed against any particular class, or involved propositions which did not affect all classes alike. It was a mistaken notion, but one which had great sway in the country, that there was something in the power of the many which would be destructive of security of property and good government. There was one course which some speakers followed which he was free to say did some degree of harm, and that was identifyin,z the destruction of their own particular objects of politi cal hatred with the purification of representation. For instance, if he (Mr. Bright) were arguing in favour of this proposition, he would not say that he calculated that the moment he got an extension of the suffrage he would upset the Established Church, because that would do no good, but only frighten many men who thought the principle of an Established Church was quite right, but who would go with him on the question of Parliamentary reform. There were reasons quite numerous enough without going to such reasons as these. There was a strong tide of opinion flowing in their favour even in the House of Commons; the progress of the Irish Franchise Bill showed that there was no longer any question of the absolute necessity of these advances, but only how they were to be done. The great care which this association had to take was, that in their speeches and writings they should not alarm the timid portion of the public, that they should lay their propositions before the public in the most tempting shape. If they did their duty they would have little f: ar of opposition, but would gain one step in the realisation of that great principle, that all real govern. ment must be based on the concurrence of all classes of the people. The Hon. Gentleman then sat down amid loud and repeated cheering. Dr. BOWKETT, of Poplar, then spoke to the resolution, which was proposed by Mr. Lushington, M.P., in the morning sitting. Mr. F.RAZER, of Ipswich, next addressed the con ference. After the first resolution had been put and carried, Mr. CLARK proposed the next resolution, which was seconded by Mr. TILLET, and carried unanimously. It was to the following effect:— " That the council be respectfully requested to pre pare a Bill containing the plan of reform prop )sed•by the association, with a view to its introduction, in that shape, to Parliament." Mr. THWAITES then proposed," That this conference is of opinion that for the future the members of the council be chosen by election, without reference to the amount of their subscription, by a conference of delegates from various parts of the country, and that the ten pound qualification be discontinued; and this conference would further recommend that the council shall henceforth be chosen at the annual conference." Mr. WADE, in seconding the resolution, took . occa sion to find fault with the former constitution of the council, which, he complained, did not afford sufficient opportunity for the admission of the working classes. The CHAIRMAN then explained, and some discussion followed with reference to the resolution, in which Mr. Alcock, Mr. Alderman A. ScholefiPld, delegates from Sheffield, Mr. Prout, and Mr. G. Dawson joined, when The CHAIRMAN announced that the hour fixed for the adjournment of the conference. had arrived. The debate upon the resolution was then adjourned until the meeting uf the conference at ten o'clock to morrow (this day). STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian.) MANCHESTER,. TIIESDAY.-Our market has relapsed into a state of quietness like that in which the Nia gara found it at the b eg i nn i ng o f l ast wee k ; w i t h this differ ence, however, that, allowing for an abatement from the more extreme demands of producers, they have now taken their stand on a rather high range of prices. The quotations may be broadly stated at id. to id. per lb. above those of this day fortnight, in mule and water twist, and lid. to 3d. per piece in wide shirtings, printing cloths, and other medium fabrics. Exceedingly little business has indeed been done, either in yarns or goods. The home dealers appear to be gaits out of the market, and the continental merchants are watch ing the course of things, in a state of harassin; per plexity, cautious not to operate beyond the supply of the immediate and more pressing wants of their correspon dents, who, as well as themselves, are anxiously noting the successive ebbs and flows of prices in this market, and losing something of confidence with every vibration. However, the firmness of producers for this class of buyers is materially sustained by the British •• •• •... •• •• •• Ditto l• rovincial•• •• Brighton . ........ City of London ...... ContinentalConsolidat. Equitable.• •..... •... Imperial •• .... •• •• •• Independent ......... London•• .... •• •• •• •• Ditto.. • • • • • • • • • • • • Do., Parl. Preference Phcenix . • • .• • • • • • • • • Ratcliff ... • - .. • • •• • . United General • • • • • • Weatrainster Chartered Ditto, New . • • • -• • • CANALS. ..1 1 I r; ' 'Dividend Names of r., Dividend Price. Names of ..., Companies. A per ' Companies. .0 F" Price. ..1 Annum. r. Annum. i.c ----- -- - --- -- --- X X Ashtn& Oldh 97 71. 113 Macclesfield% 100, 21. 105. 50 Barnsley ...• 160 121. 180 Neatk ••• • • • 100 1 61 • 340 lirknk&Abrg 150, Si. 85 Oxford.. •• • • 105 201. 185 Birmingham 40 1 41. 86 Peak Forest. 7g , 31. 18s. 70 Coventry.... 1001 251. 210 Regent's.... 33 11. 2s. 18 % Derby .•. . . 100 ; : 61. 63 Rochdale.. • • 65 " 50% Ellsmre&Chs 1331 565. 41 Somrset Coal 150 7/.105. 130 GrandJunctn 1001 5/. 85% Do.LkFdSt 12 61. p. c. - Grand Surrey 100 2/. Os. 30 Stffrd &Wore 140 281. 410 Grand Union 100 11. 10s. 24 ShrewsburY•• 125 151. - Grantham .. - - - Stourbridge- 145 201. 300 }Unfit & Ant 39 7s. 6d. 5% Severn and/ 21. Os. - Lancaster . 100 21. 32% Wye Rail.j 26 Leeds& Livrplloo 301. 322 Warwick& / ,i., 41. 64 lOC LoiCester .... 1 100 5/. 66 Ilirming. 3 1- ' Letcstr &Nthl 83 41.- 48% Warwick& } 100 31. 42 Loughboroghi 142 701. 510 Napton.. 9fonmouthshlloo 81. - Worcstr &} 78 31. 41% Mntgamrysla I 100 - - Birming. Meltralwbri 100 - - Wilts & Brks. -14 s. 8 rasa' or SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of I Paid. Price. Annum. Share. ---- -- 5. . X I. d - Bank of Scotland British Linen Company U. per cent. 100 0 100 0 0 18G ;aledonlan Bank City of Glasgow Bank . 61. per cent. 10 0 10 0 0 12% Clydesdale Bank --6% per cent. 20 0 10 0 0 13% commercial Bank .. • • 71. per cent. 500 0 100 0 0 169 Eastern Bank .....• • • 61. per cent. 25 u 10 0 0 94, Edinb.& Glasgow Rank 61. per cent. 5 0 5 0 0 51. lOs Exehangeßnk of Scot.. 4/. per cent. 100 0 50 0 0 8 Isle of Man. Company 71. per cent. 10 0 7 0 0 _ gational Bank 6% percent. 50 0 10 0 0 14% gorthof Scotland Bank 41. percent. 20 0 50 0 3% North British Bank • • - - - - Royal Bank of Scotland 51. per cent. 100 0 100 0 0 132 Union Bank of Scotland 81. per cent. 100 0 50 0 0 90 Western Bank-- -• • 71. per cent. 50 0 50 0 0 74 Alliance Firs and Life 8%1.pr cent. 10 0 10 0 0 20% B. Accord. Life aud Fire - 20 0 010 0 - dritish Guarantee Ins. 41. per tent. 10 0 1 0 0 16.; Od Caledonian Fire Insur. 101. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 23 Colonial Life ... - 50 0 1 0 0 It, 3s, City of Glasgow Life 6/. per cent. 25 0 2 0 0 21. 9s Edinburgh Life Incur 6l. percent. 100 0 12 10 0 20% East of Scotland Life - 10 0 015 0 - Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 217 6 - Herculeklnsurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 - Incur. Co. of scatlnd 6l. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 - Life Assoc. of Scotland 6/. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 li. 103 Mercantile Life National Fire and Life 51. per cent. 10 0 1 0 .0 228.'6,1 North British Insur. North & West of Scot. 61. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 - Scottish Life and Guar. - 20 0 011 0 - Scot. Mas. and Gen. Life , - 0 015 0 - Scottish Union Insrnca . 6 Ul. pr cent. 20 0 1 0 0 231.04 Standard Life ...... - 41. per cent. 50 0 45 0 9% United Dep. Assurance 51. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 16s 6d MISCELLANEOUS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of raid. Price. Annum. Share. - . - X. s. d. X. s. d. Auction 3fart........ 2/. 55. 50 0 0 - 25 Australian A , ,Triculturl 1/. 100 0 0 30 0 0 lb Anglo-Mexican Mint., IL Ws. 10 0 0' 10 0 0 - Ditto, Dail Shares.. - - I 210 0 -.... Canada ... ••.... .. .. Gl. per cent. 100 0 0,32 10 0 26 Uppr Canada Bonds 51. percent. - - 89 Ility Navigation .... - - - 91 Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c. k., bs, 2/ 100 0 0 100 0 0 94 Equitable Reversienry 51. pr cont. 100 0 0 100 0 0 - Gen.SteamNavigation 11. 81. 15 0 0 14 0 0 - London Inst!tution ... - - 78 15 0 - Rotel Institution.... - - 126 5 0 - Peninslr& Orient.Stm. 8/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 80 Reversionary Int. Soc. 1%1. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 91 Royal Mail Steam •• - 61 18. 4. p. c 100 0 0 60 0 0 52; South Australian... •• 11. per share. 25 0 0, 25 0 0 19 Van Dieman's Land.. - 100 0 01 29 0 0 - LAW INTELLIGENCE. C . .)17111' OF Q UEEN'S BENCH, April T QUEEN V. WHITMARSII.---'TLIE NATION AL I. :IND ICHEME. thi; case a man'han►us had issuocl, directed to Fi.ancis Whitmarsh, the registrar of Joint Stock Coro p,'Jlies, commanding him to register the National Land Company's scheme. The defendant made a re turn, in which he alleged that the company in ques tion was not established for any commercial purpose, or for any purpose of profit ; that the company car ried on the business of bankers, being constituted of more than five persons, and carrying on such business within sixty miles of London ; and, lastly', tha: the scheme was illegal, it being conducted in the manner of a lottery. The prosecutor demurred to the return, which demurrer now came on for argument. Mr. PEAcocK (with whom was Mr. Macnamlra) supported the demurrer. He contended that the Na tional Land Company was a commercial company, established for the purpose of profit, such profit being employed, not for the private advantage of any one member, but for the purpose of promoting the general ~ u ccess of the scheme. The object of the scheme was the purchase of land, to be divided in allotments amongst the subscribers. He denied that the com pny was a banking company within the meaning of the B Inking Acts, although it had established a bank for receiving and applying the contributions of the members. Neither was it a lottery, no member having an interest opposed to that of the rest of the members, though it was true that some might at an earlier period than others have the enjoyment of those interests. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr. Welsby) said that if the present company was enti tled to be registered, any company for the distribu tion of money or goods by lottery would be entitled to the Bathe privilege. He contended, first, that the company was not established for any commercial purpose, or for any purpose of profit. The object of the Act was to encourage trading companies which might produce a profit to shareholders and the public. In this case no profit could be made, and if it were made, that was merely subsidiary to the main object. Secondly, the scheme was a lottery, which did not depend on whether there were blanks or prizes. The whole scheme was founded on the fact, that those who drew prizes were entitled to an advantage ; and the question of the amount of advantage was immaterial. Thirdly, by the 25th section of the Act parties who applied to have their schemes registered were bound to state their business, and they were bound to tell their whole business. They had not done so, for it was returned, and not denied, that they carried on the business of bankers in Holborn ; and it was contrary to public policy to give any sanction to a company which was violating the law. Mr. PEACOCK, in reply, said the only object of the parties was to comply with the Act of Parliament, for it would not give them power to do anything which could not be done without registration. There was a power given to the directors to sell as well as purchase lands, so that great profit might result. Lord CAMPBELL—VaIuabIe mines might be dis co% e red. Mr. Justice ERLE-But that is not the purpose for which the company is established. Mr. PEACOCK—If any profit were made, that would be sufficient. It could not be regarded as a :ottery, for those who drew prizes must pay five per cent, upon the amount of capital expended in the pro duce of the land allotted, and in the improvements ef fected upon it. He (the Learned Counsel) thought that most owners of land would be very willing to let all their land on these terms. Lord CAMPBELL—The scheme may be a lottery after all, then, it being considered an advantage not to have any lands allotted. Mr. PEACOCK snblnitted it was merely a partition of their own lands among part-owners. It the company should be declared to be illegal, those who hAd paid deposits would not be able to recover them blek ; but if it should be declared to be legal, and entitled to registration, it would be brought within the Winding up Act. Lord CAMPBELL said the Court would take time to consider whether the company was established for a commercial purpose, or for any purpose of profit, and whether it came within the Lottery Acts ; but not the other objections which had been urged. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, April 24. (Sittings in Banco before Lord Chief' Justice WILDE, and Justices CRESSWELL, WILLIAMS, and TAL FOURD.) This was a special paper day. LEVY V. MOYLAN AND OTUERS. This was an action of trespass, in which the plain tiff, Lawrence Levy, com pl a i ne d that on the 20th of February last he was taken into custody and dragged to Tothill-fields House of Correction, where he was kept two days in confinement, by order of the defen dant Mr. Dennis Creagh Moylan, late judge of the 'estminster County Court, against whom, Francis Smedley, his high bailiff, William Flack, assistant bailiff, and Frederick Tracey, the governor of the fothill.fields House of Correction, the present action was brought. The death of the defendant Moylan was suggested on the record, and the other defendants pleaded a plea in justification, setting out that the trespass in question occurred in the district of the Westminster County Court, of which the de fendant Moylan was judge ; and justifying the trespass complained of, under a warrant signed by the judge, ant under the seal of the Court directed to the defendant Smedley and the constables, peace officers within the jurisdiction, and to the governor of the House of Correction of Tothill fields, the said warrant reciting that the plaintiff did wilfully insult the defendant Moylan during the sitting of the County Court, and that thereupon he (the said judge) ordered him into custody until the rising of the Court, and required the High Bailiff then to deliver him to the Governor of Tuthill-fields Gaol, to be there kept in custody for seven days, or until he should be discharged. The defendants severed in their pleading, each pleading similar pleas. To these pleas there was a special demurrer, on the ground that the pleas were bad for uncertainty, "in not showing in what manner the plaintiff insulted the said Dennis Creagh Moylan, whether by words, ges tures, or acts, and on the ground that the warrant recited contained no commitment to any prison. Mr. S. TEMPLE, in support of the demurrer, con tended that the warrant was 'bad. It should have shown on the face of it what the insults were, in order that the jurisdiction of the judge might be seen from the warrant itself (" Gosset v. Howard," 10 Q. B.). The officers of the Court were only justified by the warrant when it was good, and they were bound to judge of its sufficiency, otherwise they would be exonerated for carrying out warrants of the most illegal kind. Where were you to draw the tine, if the warrant ordered an officer to take a man and hang him ? Mr. WHATELEY—Ronnd his neck.—(A laugh.) Mr. TEMPLE—A duty beyond implicit obedience to the warrant must be imposed on the officer, or grave inconveniences might result. Then what was to be deemed an insult? If the insult were to be depend on the caprice of the judge, and need not be set forth, a man's liberty might depend on the state of the judge's digestion and on whether or no he supped heavily the night before. It might be said that the 113th section of the County Court's Act which en acted that "if any person sh a ll w ilf u lly i nsu lt th e . judge, or any juror, or any bailiff, clerk, or officer of the said court during his sitting or attendance in court, or in going to or returning from court, it should be lawful for the bailiff or other officer, by order of the judge, to take such offender into custody and detain cim until the rising of the court, and the judge should have power afterwards to commit for seven days," gave the judge the power to decide what was a suffi cient insult to warrant the exercise of this au thority. That power must, however, be liable to supervision, and the nature of the insult ought to have been stated. Would it be said that twirling a white feather before the judge would warrant such an exercise of power? Or if a person put his thumb to his nose on meeting the high bailiff in the street, would that warrant it ? Or was an advocate to be deemed to be insulting the Court because he was tedious ? He submitted on these grounds that the warrant was insufficient and was no justification to the officer, and that the judg ment must be for the plaintiff. Mr. WHATELEY, Q.C., for the defendants Smedley and Flack, submitted that the warrant was a sufficient justification for them, and that they were not hound to inquire into the sufficiency of the warrant. There could be no doubt that the judge had the power to commit for contempt, the court being a court of re cord, and there was no doubt that the 113th section of the County Courts Act gave that power. Supposing the insults were as suggested by his Learned Friend, they were gross insults. A gentleman now in Par liament had supposed the act of "taking a sight" to be derived from the Phoenicians, but it was no doubt a gross insult; and twirling a white feather in a judge's face might so irritate him as to render him incapable of fulfilling his office. But were these acts to be described in the warrant, the warrant would be ridiculous. He submitted the warrant was sufficient. Mr. OGLE, for the defendant Tracey, addressed similar arguments to the Court. Mr. TEMPLE having replied, The COURT took time to consider its judgment. THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON V. PARKINSON This was an action of debt, the verdict in which was made subject to a special case. The plaintiff brought the action to recover a large sum alleged to be due by the defendant for coal dut:es, the defendant being the proprietor of a new kind of fuel imported into London from Newcastle, called the Tyne Patent Fuel. The component parts cf this fuel were 87 parts of small coal, 10 parts of pitch, and three of lime. The question raised in the special case was, whether or no this fuel was substantially coal, and subject to the duty as such, or a different manufac tured article. Sergeant Ch:tnnell appeared on behalf of the phlintnr, ::rui Will-s for the defendant. 'Pia? Col7rt-r c! , :ferred giving judgment until they hal loAecl i:Ito the it.atat - es relating to the impAtion of tiles.? we therefore po3tpone a more de tailed report. COURT OP EXC,REQUEII, April 24. (Sittings at Nisi Prius at Westininster, before Mr. ALDEasort and Common Juries.) There were 20 causes entered in the list for the day. The only one of them which would justify a notice was fact that they are not burdened with heavy stocks, while they are aware that there is no excess of supply abroad. And the department of o'er tna,rlr. , q finds sup port also, thow,r,h indirectly, in that extensive demand for the markets of the eas, which continua; to take off so hrge a proportion of what we produce. Then, the loss in which tine trade is so seriously and increasingly involved, is at once strengthening and ex tending the determination to diminish the production, if there is t) be no better altivment of price to cost; and this determination is, we know, being qaictly carried out by parties who have hitherto cudeavoured to avoid taking such a step. ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The flannel market continues very quiet, and the merchants show no disposition to operate. There is little or no change in wool since last Monday, either in price or demand. The time when the new clip will be ready is fast approaching, end generally induces the manufacturers to buy sparingly. MACCLESFIELD. TUESDAY.—There has been Do change worthy of note in our markets during the last week. If anything, trade may be reported rath-r quitter tan it was amongst toe manufacturers and throwsters ; but the present fine weather, it is thought by some, will create abetter demand shortly. The raw silk market remains, without alteration. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—There has been rather more business done in our Piece Hall to-day; but the demand for worsted goods is far from brisk, and prices remain without improvement. We have no change to report with respect to yarn and long wool. Short wool goes off heavily; and quotations are rather easier than they were a week or two ago. LEEDS, TubsDaY,LThere is no change of importance to notice in tLe cloth trade since last week. The mane.- facturers are wal employed, and there is a good business doing in the warehouses. Prices continue firm. PRICES OF SHARES IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM. COMPANIES' STOCK. Frcm the Official List. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING. LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 23. ZOINT-STOCIL ILANXS. Dividend per Ai; - iCI3II - . 245. 51. per cent. 71. per cent. 61. per cent. 51. per cent. 15/per cent. 61. percent. 61. per cent. 61. per cent. 81. per cent. 81. per cent. 51. per cent. 61. per cent. l 5/. per cent. 61, per cent. 61. per cent. 6/. per cent. 61. per cent. Name of Company. Australasia • • • • • • • • • • Britsh N orth American Ceylon • • • • • • Commercial of London C Gloucestershire ...... lonian • • • • •• • . .• • • .. Londn and Westminstr Ditto . •••• • • • • •... London Joint-Stock... Provincial of Ireland.. Ditto, New ..... tiAtional of Ireland .. Sat. Provncial of Eng. Ditto, New. South Australia Union of Australia.... Union of L0nd0n..... Union of Madrid 25 0 0 100 0 0 h 0 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 2 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 Amount of Share. X s. el. Stock. 100 0 0 Stock. Stock. 50 0 0 Amount of Share. X. s. d. ICO 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 70 10 3 'ORKS Amount of Share. £ s. d. 100 0 0 50 0 11 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 M CO Amount of Share. X. s. d. 40 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 60 0 0 50 0 0 INStrIELANCE COZSPANIES. Name of Company. Albion ...... Alliance Brit. and For. Ditto Marine.— .... British Commercial Cleriel,Bled.&Gen.Life Oaunty .............. Crown ............ Eagle European Life •• • • General .......... ()Lam •• •• •• •• G ia.rdi an .. imperial Fire • . imperial Life ...... Indemnity Marine Law Fire Law Life Letal and General Life Licensed Victuallers London Fire London Ship • • •• lied. Invlid & Gen. Life Yational Lean Fund S'ation al Life.... Palladium Lite Pelican • • • • • • • • • • .. • E'homix .. • • PI °teeter Life.. Provident Life •• • • • • Rock Life Royal Exchange Sun Fire.. Ditto Life ..... United Kingdom Universal Life Vlaoria Life.... Dividend Amount per of Annum. 512 tag. 3/. 10s. 7114s6d&bs 61. per cent. 135.43. Is. 6d. spr ct.&bs. 31. 14s. 6s. f 414 per cent. 61. per cent. 51. 121 per cent, 12e. 11. sh. & bB. 11. 165. 10s. 10s. 12s.per share per ct. 5/. per cent. bl. per cent. 51. per cent. 31. p. sh.&bs 51. per cent. 11. ss. & bB. ss. 6/. per colt. 61. 10s. 11. 6s. 41. per cent. 10N pr cnt. 51. per cnt. X 8. d. 1 500 0 0 1 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 e 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 Stock. 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100'0 0 50 0 0 5 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 b 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 100 0 0 Name of Company. East and West InCa East Country . • London .... . Ditto Bonds •. ...... St. Katharine ........ Ditto, Scrip ..... . Ditto Bonds • • • • .. • . Southampton •• ...... Name of Company. Charing -cross•..... •• Southwrk .......... Ditto Nw of 734 p.c. Waterloo .... .. .... •• Ditto Old Ann. of 81. Ditto Nw ditto of 71. Vanahall .... ... Ay. Name of Company. East London..• • •• •• •• Grand Junction •• •• • • Lambeth . • • • • •• • • • • New Rivr Lndn Brdge Vauxhall .. • • • • •• • • •• West Middlesex • • • GAS-LIGHT Name of Company. 3130C=3. Dividend per Annum. 61. pr cent. 20s. per eh. 51. pr cant. 41. per cent. 4 per cent. liAl. pr cent. 21. per cent. 132,11DG: Dividend per An - num. 355. per cent, 11. 43. 0(1. 11. ls. Od. Paid. A •. d. 40 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 10 0 0 13 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 10 0 0 22 10 0 35 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 0 40 0 0 TiTATER.-' Dividend per Annum. 41. per 31: 10s. - 51. per cnt. l. 5 I. 2 ler i ° c 3. n 61.04. pr AND CO: Dividend Per annum. 11. is. 4%1. 7s. 6d. 31. 12s. Amount of Share. A s. d. 40 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 Paid. X 8. (1. 50 0 0 11 0 0 5 0 0 5 6 8 5 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 All paid. 5 0 0 36 10 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 12 10 0 12 10 0 15 0 0 2 0 0 2 10 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 4 0 0 10 0 0 4 12 6 Paid. 4 s. d. 25 0 9 50 0 0 Paid. Z. s. d. 60 0 0 4000 raid. Z s. d. :PII.I7IES. Paid. A. s. d. 18 0 0 20 0 0 150 0 0 31 5 0 60 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 50 00 2 10 0 49 .0 0 90 0 0 5000 10 0 0 Price. Pric e 21 Os. 551 209 210 Price. Price Price 115 Price INGRAM AND COOK V. STRANGE. Mr. Crowder and Mr. Bramwell appeared for the plaintiffs. No counsel appeared for the defendant. The plaintiffs were the proprietors of the London Illustrated News, and the defendant was the book seller who has already been brought before the pub. lie for pirating Prince Albert's etchings, and who, Mr. Ihron Alderson remarked at the close of this case, seemed inclined to fly at all game high and low. The action was brought for printing, publishing, and selling exact copies of the cover, with its designs and illustrations prepared by the plaintiffs, for bind ing up the half-yearly volume of their journal for the half-vear, from January to June, 1848. It was stated that the defend.int had been in the habit of prepring and selling great numbers of copies of the covers prepared by the plaintiffs each half year for binding up their journal; that when they discovered the fraud they applied to the defendant to desist ; that he refused ; that they then (in January, 1849) obtained an injunction to restrain him ; and, as usual, leave to bring an action, and commenced the action ; that in consequence of his being unable to pay damages or costs they did not wish to incur expense in proceeding against him, and offered to his solicitors to waive all claim for damages if he would undertake to abstain from imitating their covers in future. It was also stated that this offer was declined, and that the defendant, last January, moved in Chancery to discharge the injunction, for want of prosecution, and gave notice that if the plaintiffs did not proceed at law, he would apply for judgment of non pros, and that the plaintiffs were by these proceedings forced to bring this action into court. The case was fully proved, and the counsel for the plaintiffs saying they wanted only nominal damages, with a view to the question of right and the proceedings in equity, the damages were assessed at 405., and his Lordship certified for costs. MIDDLESEX S'ESSIOIVS, April 24. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant-Judge, and a Bench of .'Magistrates.) TIM ARGYLL ROOMS. The grand jury in the course of the day brought into Court four t-ue bills of indictment against George French Bryer, Robert Bigrell, Christopher Browne, and Etnile Laurent, the elder, for a misde meanour, in keeping the Argyll R -oals, in Great Windmill-street, Haymarket, open for music and dancing without being licensed in pursuance of the 25th George 11. The informer Stowell then handed in some affi davits, upon which he prayed that warrant might be issued in the usual course. The Learned JUDGE inquired whether the parties were not at the present moment under an indictment in respect of these rooms, and whether the offence now alleged was not committed at the same time in both eases ? Sowell replied in the affirmative. Mr. O'BRIEN said he had been instructed to apply on behalf of the defendants that any warrant which the Court might grant should nit issue until Friday, as some of them were out of town, and would be till that day. On that day the parties would be pre pared to come in and give bail. There were, however, already indictments against the same dt-fendants at the instance if the same person, in respect of which, so far as some of the defendants were concerned, a nolle prosequi had been entered, pending in the Central Criminal Court. Tne Learned JUDGE said he should grant the ap plication of the Learned Counsel. Charles King, aged 15, was indicted for having fraudulently obtained by false pretences the sums cf 12s. and Hi. from Mr. W. Pinney, M.P., and Mr. J. Bonham Carter, M.P., their property, with intent to cheat and defraud them. Mr. Payne appeared for the defendant. It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor's and of Tozer, a servant, that on the 30th of January the defendant went to their residence in Berkeley square, and presented a receipt for 14s. for a copy of the modern edition of " Whateley on the Common Prayer," which had been delivered for Mr. Pinney, and which the receipt alleged had been ordered some time previously by a member of that gentleman's family. Under the impression that this statement was correct, Mr. Pinney gave 14s. to Tozer, and told him to pay the sum to the defendant. This instruc tion was in due course carried out; but it sub sequently was discovered that the book had not been ordered, and, moreover, that the publishing price was only 3s. 61. Steps were thereupon taken, which re sulted in the apprehension of the defendant. When he was searched a large number of similar receipts were found upon him. Similar proofs were also given in respect of the fraud upon Mr. Carter. The jury found the defendant Guilty. The Learned JUDGH sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and hard labour. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. IVES'TMINSTER. Thomas Powell, a middle-aged Irishman, who de scribed himself as an artist, was charged with sending threatening letters to the Earl of Besborougb. His LORDSHIP stated that he had received a num ber of abusive letters, bearing the same signature, but none couched in so violent a strain as the two he now produced, which were the subject of the present charge. The two letters alluded to were put in in evidence and read by Mr. W. Taylor, the chief clerk. The first bore date July 27, and after abusing his Lord.. ship in unmeasured terms fur having neglected to answer his previous communications, recommended him to do him justice, and that speedily ; and then said :—" Du not drive me to become a second Mac. naughten ; his imaginary wrongs drove him to rmad ness—my real ones ma y h ave a s i m il ar term i na ti on ." The writer, after stating that he had been unable from illness produced by persecution he had received, to follow his profession for the last eighteen months, again entreated his Lordship " not to convert him into another Macnaughten," and signed himself " Thomas Powell." The second letter, which was dated I.sth inst., was a tissue of the most violent abuse and invective, un sparingly heaped upon his Lordship, the late Earl, and his father. The threat it contained was, that in the writer's peregrinations through town in search of his Lordship he bad brought a good stick in his hand to support his tottering steps, and to lay about his Lordship's shoulders, unless he gave him copies of informations he had exhibited against some persons in Ireland, and other papers, and the letter concluded by stating—" I will await your return here, and at your peril refuse," and bore the same signature as the other. Mr. James Russell, superintendent of the B divi sion, who had apprehended defendant upon a warrant, stated that on the 31st of January he went to him at the address given in his letters, in obedience to an order froni Mr. Mayne, Commissioner of Police, and told the accused that if he continued to write letters of this description to the Earl of Besborough he would be charged before a magistrate. The accused, who admitted that he had sent the letters, said that he would desist as far as writing was concerned, but would annoy his Lordship in the street. Witness told him he might rest assured that if he attempted such a course he would be taken into custody; and in consequence of what he said witness had had a con stable in plain clothes following him ever since. Mr. BRODERIP—You have bad an eye kept upon him since that time ? Mr. Russell—Yes, sir, con tinually. Mr. BRODERIP (to his Lordship)—Do you pray the protection of the law ? His Lodship—l put my self under the protection of the law. Mr. BRODERIP (to defendant)—Have you anything to say in answer to the charge ? Defendant—l don't know that I said to Mr. Russell that I would desist from writing. Mr. BRODERIP (to the superintendent)—Are you positive that he said he would desist from writing, bat would annoy his Lordship in the street ? Mr. Russell —Quite positive. Defend.mt said that he wished to be put in posses sion of the papers for which he had applied to his Lordship, and which were withheld. Mr. Baonaair observed that if there were such papers—and he did not assume that such was the case —it would b, no excuse in the eye of the law for writing such letters us those produced to any subject of the Queen. Defendant suggested that if the case was adjourned it would afford him an opportunity of having a pro fessional man, as his (defendant's) nervous system was so deranged he could hardly collect his ideas. Mr. BRODERIP thought an adjournment unneces sary, as the simple question was whether defendant had written these letters containing language amount ing to threats. Whatever cause he might have, nothing could :ustify such letters. Defendant then entered into a rambling, incoherent statement of conversations his father and himself had had with the late Earl, and the support which his (defendant's) father gave the late Earl by voting fur hidi Af.er being thrimn from a jaunting car in a general fight with the partisans of the opposing can itida:e for Kilkenny, when in consequence of the in juries receiv,d, he was carried to the hustings by f air men, and poll. d while in the greatest agony, and in a dying st.ite. He then declared that his family had been driven from the 13esborough estate, and that the papers, with some lettere, for which he had' 8 qpplied in the 'et e s written F w er e a oz consider. bl e impor ancp, a d re w.:hheld fro! him. Taev were of c ns.,ierz..)!e tinportthce, as tnef .sere me erial for an a, tion for d,f.:matioa of char ter, and amongst them was SOlll3 information he, t . exhibited against some p ar ti es , Lnd value to him. After defendant's cccupyingso:ne time in irreleva nt matter. Mr. BRODERIP asked his L -;rdship if be ka e anything t f the pap e r s t o w hi c h the defend an t alluded? H s Lordship replied that he remembered de; fendant making ch arges aga i ns t some r especti% people, w+ jell were heard beture th e magistrate' , '„ (qie Noble Lord), however, nut being of the The investigation took place at Besborougl', * wit " llcharges were compl e t e ly di sm i sse d. He, of C o did nut know what bec ame o f any pipers collec t ! with that investigation, or whether they were Ity hished or not. Mr. BRODERIP observed, that if d e f en dant had hadt the most talented advocate in th e wor ld he could 11° have argued that the letters did not contain threats._ Ile had listened to all defenda n t h a d sa id, a nd the c gs : stood just as before ; and if there was any weig nt a t , be attached to these papers, it seeme d th a t his l'n r Tj 't ship had had nothing to do w i t h t h em . Defen,',lo must find bail, himself in' 2001., an d two suret.', " 7, l ll 1001 each, to keep the peace t o hi s L or d s hip and her Majesty's subjects for twelve months. He was committed in defaul.. THAMr_S. Philip Green, a labourer, 26 years of age, residi ng at .:hart-green-yard, Whitechapel, was charged ar '' s having caused the death of Thom as Coppartlavvaitel drayman. The case was one of considerable inte r° d inasmuch as that, to a consider a bl e ex t en t, it inycar i f t , the question whether a man co u ld b e t r i e d tWiceei°B the same offence. The facts were these :_Oa 6th inst., the prisoner was brought to this court " b r e fare Mr. Ingham, charged with having assaulted r ,„ t „, deceased under the following circumstances parthwaite was going with hi s t eam through Sara:. in street, Whitechapel, and the p r i soner wa s cool f g e with a truck in the opposite dir ec ti on . Th o ugh th e was full room to pass the p r i soner wou ld n ot Ma i o o way, and when the decea se d a tt empte d to moss truck, Green knocked him down unawares, when wheel of the dray pass e d over hi s an kl e , fealla'' crushing the bones, and the t en d ons . O n that er dente the prisoner was fi ne d 51., which sum W a it ;re stantly paid. Copparthwaite su b sequent l y di e d w• , injury, and an inquest being h e ld on t h e b o dy, a ve ba diet of manslaughter was returned against Greellt: i was brought on that charg e b e f ore Mr. Yarit The evidence was, however, of a diff erent chara n ' ss from that given on the previous occasion. l tW c o. shown that during the alt e r ca ti on pr i sone r a" ,, he s ceased were sparring togeth e r, th a t d ecease d fell W". O turning round to look at his h orses , an d it was t' the accident occurred. Mr. YARDLEY said that th e ev id ence Was —, cora , t r favourable. to the prisoner then th an on the for'", o occasion; he would therefore admit him to ball if% his own recognizances, but it was probable tha t t, ford, the constable who h e ld th e coroner ' s warr-I,°er would take him into cu s t o dy. L wou ld be tat'; hard, but ti.e coroner's jury h a d come t o the eoa niti sion that he caused the death of the deceased. big The prisoner was then admitted to bail, own recogyix..nces of 201., to app ear b e f ore Mr. Ji r ",; ham, the magistrate who i n fli c t e d t h e fi ne in the t p. instance, and it is expected that in the interim f 9 ,,. 8 munication will he had with th e S ecretar y of St y rtspectieg the difficulties in which the case 1 % volved. Immediately on leaving the court he sr. taken in'o custody by Giffurd on the coroner's er rant. Another question is thus ra i se d as to W het # be his recognizances should b e f or f e it e d s h ou ld he ll" the able to appar berore Mr. Ingh a m on F r iday, a 5 is expense of procuring bail in judges' chambe rs is heavy. Tile cas,e altogether is one w hich Pre ] ' difficulties of a very unusual character. THE COUNTRY MARKETS,'„i t h LEEDS, APRIL 21. —We were m o d erate l y supplieu.. e .st wheat, and experienced a fair r e t a il sa l e f or f res h quslit i est the extreme rates of Friday. B a rl e y as before. Bean"' and other articles steady. of ,i/P9 ,lIEWCASTLE BORN MARKET, APRIL 23,--,-Arr'' t ists wheat small, both from coast a n d a b roa d ; tra d e firmerugsdeft rates. Flour of better sale, at former quotations. beans, and other articles as before. aPPY NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, APRIL 23.-The OW both of beasts and sheep about th e same as on l a st ° c over and a good clearance effected. Th e b east trade 9 139 %Ist° and at rather better prices. Sh ee p met a s l ugg i s h sale !logo rates. Arrivals—Beasts, 80( P ; sheep, 4,000. Beef, 39 55 3d ; mutton, 4d to 6d per lb. ere i° EDINBURGH MEAL MARK ET , A ran 23.—There ;0P the meal market to-day 19 sack s oa t mea l, eac h weighing, 4 , 6e' imperial, which sold thus :-10 at 1/ 5s Od, 6 at I ,‘ and 3 at 1/ 4s Od ; average p r i ce o f the whsle 1 1 ";‘ ,2 55. 2-12ths. 3 sacks flour, wh ereo f 2 so ld at 27 5 , an d 1 Of 7 sacks pot-barley, whereof 5 sold thus :-4 at 11 45 and 1 at 1/ Is Od. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET, APRIL t p) Oat straw, from 7 s 6d t o O s 6d per k emp l e of 16 stones Ol' wheat ditto, 9s Od to 9s 6d; barley ditto, 6s Od to Hay, from 10d to Is per stone. `! try DALKEITH MEAL MARKE T , APRIL 22.—There - fe.3() bags oatmeal, 38 of ba r l e y mea l, and 2 of p ot b ar ley at soot day's market ; sales d u ll. O atmea l d own 6d on the toP4I 9d per bag on th e secon d qua li ty ; t h at sold at 21s 6d"„asli' inferior quality ; barl e y mea l d own on t h e top and second 4 ties from 6d to 9d per bag. Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. imperial .. Barleymeal, per ditto ... Peasemeal Flour Pot barley rrhird First Second 1 - 61 24s 01 223 31 ?„ 13 , (1 1 173 01 163 31 iv: 04 —s Od —s Od —7 ,, 04 —s Od Od pd 22s 01 --s 0d ".!" , 4 COAL MARKET.— YESTERDAY. 1 65 ~., Bate's West Hartley 14s 3d ' Belmont .................. , 6 , o_, Buddle's W. Hartley 14s 6d,Braddyll ............... !,,, Carr's Hartley 6 i Chester Main l4s Od Ha5we11................ l' 4 „ _!: Devison'sWestHartley 14s 6d Jonassohns ......... .... 17 , 1 4 Holy well . North Percy Hartley l4s 3(l' Lumley ................• lli , u ,,, , New Tanfield l3s 9d Russell's flattop ..0" 1701 Ord's Redheugh Ravensworth'sW.Hart 14s 6d l Whit we ll ..........•••• i 6, r a ''anfield Moor Penfield Moor Butes l3s 01! Heseldcn ..... ••• .... 15 0 0 rownlev l3s 6d ; Ileugh Hall ........... 16,1 n A Walker's Primrose 'Vest Hartley Wylam Wall's End, &c. I Thornley ........ . ..... 13 , Brown's ..... 13uraton Killingworth 14s 9d 4 1 delaidei Tees ......... 03 0 3 Brown's Gas Gosforth ..... Hedley Hotspur ... • l4s . d South Durham ........• 10 ; t j Heaton Hilda Washington Walker• .. Eden Main b. V los Od Howard's W. H. Net 40 Lambton Primrose Bell MONEY MARKET.—The premium on gold - t ce Of is 16f per mune, which, at the English Mint P r i e %' 3/. 17s. 10fd. pct. ounce for standard gold, gives 0-00 change of 25.56; and the exchange at Paris on L A °l3 lter at short being 25.57 k, it follows that gold is 0."60.00 cent. dearer in London than in Paris. By advic e : 6 ,od' Hamburgh the price of gold 436 k per Ina rk c.ef °l. at the English Mint price of 3/. 17 s . lop. per 00 ,5 0: standara gold, gives an exchange of 13.11:4; no d 7:1 1 r change Hamburgh on London a t s h ort beingr o . it follows that gold is 0.23 p er cen t . d earer in 'l4°- than in Hamburgh. c „ i 010 [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Abscesses, Piles, • r : 6 0 0 ,, t ; and Ulcerous Sores can be cured by using HollowsY:', flo s t"d ment and Pills.—The very satisfactory results arising "",bee," - use of this invaluable ointment, in cases where patients W itr " isi; suffering from abscesses, ulcers, piles, and fi stulas, or be ,,,itt,'" down, have induced several of the medical p ro fi.ssion , L e- if for their skill, to intraduco it into the hospitals and to e , 01" vate practice, and in many instances where the suffor n considered incurable Holloway's Ointment, in conitio ctl ,. °- ef erl his P il ls, has healed the most desperate wounds site*,,dicil other remedy had been tried in vain. There is no known that can equal it for the curs of scrofula, soil; .;fe§r diseases of the skin.—Sold by all Druggists, and at 1-8.- Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. , _ 1 - .....---- g t°l4 MARRIED. On the 18th inst., in St. Ge.)rge's Church, F A c ' c i r(l l ll 42t6r Robert W. Lang, Esq.. of Dublin, to Emma, secon d r• of the late W. ,stanton, Esq., of Fordington, N rche9t sg e 1/te d On the 22d inst., at St. Martin Outwich , Bi tib° • P eb, Sli t, street, the Rev. J. J. Ellis, rector of St. Martin Out V. • ' to brother of Sir Henry Ellis, of the British Museu m ' an d Gilbert. . i . Of, On the 20th inst., at St. Mary's, Woolwich. wirji v , '' B. Sargent, to Sarah Ann, eldest daughter of R. •'°''''" of Rectory-place, Woolwich. 4 6, 0 f; . DIED, On the `-4 thinst., at 6 , 3, Leadenhall-strEet, ' ag ed uildre ll - William Thompson, leaving a widow and three CR od laten Gross n t r h o i s s loss. eor so n• . -street, on the 22d inst., the Right6o% °I Rev. Lord Frederick B eauc l e ,k, D.D., you n g est 0 1( Aubrey, fifth Duke of t. Alb an 's . ,s, vil(1 On the 19th inst., at Brighton, aged 89, Elizahe''' OV° 2' cif the late Biontagu Bur g oyne, Esq. On the . a in. ,t ,at Stai,gate, Lambeth, aged 53 ' t _, ,er , o beth. wife of Mr. George Searle. On the 22d inst., at Tor - C lietc4. ''' quay, the Rot. C. f '' Southwell, Nottinghamshire. a ed 59. ire 0 On the 22d inst., at Charing, Kent, Mary, th e 11- lAte P. Wiiks, Esq., aged 75. A f tb o On the l'2 t inst.. Sar.h Moxon Walker. relic t '''d 78. ~,,, W. Walker, Esq., of Bridge-street, BlaclOiars, ag e ~---r- ---- o 1 YO 11‘' f . ndon : Printed and Published by ' MIJRO9,„ S.: , I il2, .:';,. ,, t , td. ;'totter, 4t. Th., NuN Olu''o. l ",. ~, !2-stci,.;.' ~,1 , hen ‘,..y.,,,, , I ; th'' CO "' ;// ..• Middlesex, Thursday, April 25, 1850. • - 0 1,1kant l n; A C( for - readin; the West Strand Office of tt ______ r i E The hire( P 2 ;; ThAt t 4L LETORs Lao tith day 2. That at Ciarei, whic tad vote. E 3. That tt . 0 4 91, a n d reti re h l ants, for ;\ b 4 . That al "coining C notice of the cl qs Pre viot X :ti• To /tin p ERR -..-......__ NAT, This Inßt *l th r espe( Ilion for tl o_. r b.a: b a le re r 'en ,eit,-42 _ of ll tl. The cont.' at th e 4 _ Stithh on un ' 411 °4 ch Po . OM t the o t r l fepUs thati “hi nioß o Qtra either it iriY death°l-411 borr e .w : ZriAifrfeitu ' l thoutlPtili; thin]. of 11 w i • throuzliq fie eured 0 65 , by a 21. 123. ~_ lAnnl sr, 4 s 4 30 26 71/ 1, 40 13 1 : ter°l Medi th as 4,„.41 s " r ing t 0 , roeT A ° he al Or .CTWar " 11 ) R ; 147, FlArie e Otteee , i 7 trio ng Z IPt7uien! est, xa A v lsi 'IIA VG A L tZttl3,.4 t t.,ml 1 4t1„ 411 , 01 Or ß th l74 4 Il e DJ ke a ""°. , reth 11: 1 41 ,, oGi % l i e n re • Pt i3 , t toPca ,a A '1824) it Z " t(7.11 0.1 1,!11 .-- ---- f BIRTHS. w ife 0. 110 On the 19th inst., at Penshurst Rectory, the .1 P. Rev. W. Green, of a son. tolr 3 ' _, On t he 21st inst., at Campden-grove, Kensington , IY ' Barrawl, of a daughter. R :. On the 22d inst., at Denmark-hill, Camber Well, i r ' A. Baiss, of a daughter. • e • o- On the 22d inst., in Park-street, Islington, the W 1 P H. Buckler, of a son. g as or, th e wif e o f the 10 On the 22d inst., at Ed b t Lillingston, of a son. a '''''''' On the 22d inst., the wife of R. Hesketh, Esq.' pole-street, of of a son. !ar k On the 22d inst., at Upper Clapton, Middlesegt e- On Gill, of a son. a .0e — On the 22d inst., at Itchenor, near Chichester, ' , L i ' lady of the Rev. S. Johnson, of a daughter. THE SUX, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 2.5, 1850.