The Sun. — London, England, 1845-08-08 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN NEW PUBLI . CANS' PROTECTION SOCIETY. _ The eleventh anniversary dinner of this body took place yesterday, at the White Conduit House, Pentonville. The cloth was laid for upwards of 800 members, and Mr. Rouse, the spirited proprietor of the establishment, catered in his usual liberal style. The cloth having been removed, and Non Nobis Domino sung, CHAIRMAN gave "The Queen" and the other 10) al toasts, which were responded to with every mark of enthusiasm. Mr. KINNERSLEY then proposed " Lord Monteagle, the patr in of the Society, and its other Parliamentary friends." They had rendered essential services to the beer trade and to the brewers of the metropolis, by coming forward at a time when they were hard beset by enemies. The trade had found that the nobleman he (Mr Ktnnereley) had had the honour to name was , ever oe.sy of ttecees. and at no period of his life did he teen a deaf ear to their representations. To Mr. War burton, to Mr. Hume, as well as to ether lion. Mem 'Lir!, NV , thee also indebted. because they, too, reel strenuously ativeeated the intere , ts of the beersellere, and he was sure that the gentlemen around him would remember with gr (entitle he services rendered to their betty by these (ern cent The toast was drank with acclamation. A comic on was then sung by Mr. Bruton. Mr. BISHOP, the Secretary of the Society. then rose. He said that it had devolved upon hitn to propose a tea-t which, he was sure, would only require to be named to re • ceive the hearty sanction of every gentleman around the tables. He meant " Success to the Metropolitan New Publicans' Protection Society." He was called upon, by his office, to show a few reasons why thosepresent should join with those who had already contributed to brig the Society into a state of life and usefulness, in further ing as far as might be in their power, the sphere of its operations ; and he had to show, also, that this would he the wisest policy, because the more they did for the Soeiety the ereater eu-tics did they de to themselves — (Cheers)—and, in proving the usefulness of this S feriety. he must retrace a few years to show the dawning of its usefulne, , s, ere it arrived at its present strength. When the beer trade was first thrown open, the Legislature merle a grievous mistake in not establishing some stan dard by which the eLginility of those entering it might be tested. They did not do so ; and, although this,was a first great step towards free trade, the public were not alive to the important fact, and, consequently, it was un attended to. The trade had. indeed, been thrown open. but the beer-seller was crippled in every way by legis- lative enactments ; he was daily ant hourly subjected to the most rigid pains and penalties ; and hence arose the necessity fur some organisation like that, which they were met that night to celebrate. The Legislature spoke of further enactments ; but before the character of these could be determined some years did intervene, and in the interim they found un fle aged legislators, who considered that, any thing wonht be good enough for the Beerseller, introducing mother upon motion before the House ; one person proposing that they should close at seven o'clock, another extend ing the hour to eight, and a third thinking that nine would be sufficiently early, until at last a sort of corn promise was entered into, that any hour no later than eleven would serve every purpose. Ultimately the matter was left in the hands of the magistracy. He should wish to speak with g reat respect of that body—b great deal had been said of an invasion of their pri 4ileges by hecrsellers, and he was aware of it, but he was also well aware that the general magistracy ha{ never lent themselves to any attempt to put down the beersellers as a body.—(Cheers.) When Mr. Patting ton took it into his head to send round circulars to every magistrate, entreating his signature to a me morial, with the view of putting down this trade, not .500 out of 5,500 signed—(Loud cheers)—but with a pee aeverance, which was certainly worthy of abetter cause. the Henourable Member did not slacken in his en deavours, for he gave notice of a Bill, which would ie the most ma•erial degree have injured them. But the Committee was prepared to meet him. They had an interview with the then Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and they personally or by letter visited every Menden. of Parliament then in town. They laid the facts of the case before them, and when, to the questions put by these Members, they replied that they would be content with any ho- re of closing ' • that they would be content with any regulations ; and that they only wished that what the Legislature already did to A—(the licensed vie tuallers)—they shoidd also (le to B—(themselves.) Thee the Members of the Legislature said, " Does the public require you ? ask them ; get what you can in the shape of petitions, and apply again to Parliament." They used their endeavours to get these petitions subscribed, and counter petitions were got up by their opponents. They (t4O beersellers) alleged in their petitions, that good had been acme by the trade in beer, inasmuch as agricul ture had been encouraged by the greater demand for barley ; and they alleged also that good had been done to manufactures, le: cause the manufacturing labourer could purchase the article at its lowest value, and in its purest. state. Well, their petitions with the counter peti tion were presented to Pariiament,and while to theirs were appended 22,600 signatures, that of their adversaries did not come within one-fifth of the number.—(Loud the ring.) The result was, that they obtained a release from the magieterial hours of closing—(Cheers)—in cer tain parts of London, but in other quarters they were not so fortunate. The speak , r then went on to detai th- etruergle the Committee maintained against a " double Dogberty" and the bench tit m..gistra.tes its Surry; then employing Mr. Clarkson, who was not allowed to intro duce the matter in Court ; and, finally, their applies tion to Lord Normenbt, then Secretary of State. That Minister was astonished that tnagisterial despotism be carried so far; and the results which followed, provers that this iuterference, on the part of the Surry Bench, w:se this very best teing that could have happened to the beersellers. In 1839 the House of Commons passed a resolution that the licence for a beerseller should be an nually 51. ss. This was passed on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. What did the Com mittee do ? They prepared statements to show that the beersellers, a body of 35,000, actually paid a greater sum per annum than the Li ceased Victuallers, a much more powerful body, en dowel with greater privileges, did for their own licences. And again, in this case, what was the result ? The licences were reduced to 31. 3s. Why, were it but for this alone, the trade ought to owe the committee a debt of gratitude —(Great cheering). Then as regarded that de besed class—a class that were, that now, happily, were nol—he meant common informers—(cheers)—the cow mittee had been mainly instrumental in putting them down, because they had put it out of their power to intrude upon the beerseller. after the hour of' closing, with a plausible story of sick ness, and a necessity for a drop of beer—thus making the best feelings of one's nature a very means to fine and loss of licence. These wretches he was glad to say were put down, and the duty, or the acceesity rather, of look. ing that the law was not infringed upon was left to the metropolitan police. The Secretary, after some remarks upon the manner in which the police had acted, while he stigmatised the conduct of individual members of that corrs'ltis moat tiewerthyegt the same time doing justice tetheg enerai 'effiefehey:'coecluded by proposing the tow amid vehement cheering. proposed-the ft Public Preis." Mr. Cox gave te.TeneLaidies."._ • Atr.ZikSHLEY, the solieitoreto the Society, in proposing dechatrman's health, took occasion to enter into a de tailed, account of the proceedings at several of the p o lice. court's in the Metropolis, where members hail been sum moned, end had succeeded ie defeating the false accusa tions of the informing parties- The learned gentleman concluded by parsing a high eulogium upon the chairman for the great exertUns be hati made in behalf of the S ;elev. The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks. Thanks were subsequently voted to the secretary, Mr. Bishop, and the party broke up only to adjourn to the built-room, where dancing was kept up till a late hour. 'We need not say that every thing passed off in the higheet good humour, that order was maintained, that Mr. liiggs, who acted as toast-master, " was perfect in his part," and that the vocalists gave universal satis faction. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. The twenty-fourth half-yeerly general meeting. of the Directors and Shareholders of the London and arming. barn Railway Comeany took place yesterday, at the Ens ton-square terminus. fur the purpose of receiving the report of the Directors, and fur other general business connected with tee Company. There was a large num ber of the Directors and Proprietors present. The portrait of the Chairman of the Company, Mr. Glynn, wldch was voted at the list half-yearly meeting, was placed in the I ir„te room of the Company. G. C. Glynn, E.q.. to .k the chair short le after twelve. Th , • Secretary, Mr. CREED. having read t'.e advertise ment eating the meeting. and the usual formal business of the Company having been gone through, The CHAIRMAN pr vended address the meeting. He was extretn-ly arisieus not to occupy the time Of the Company - by going through the statements of the accounts, because it happen , d npen the present occasion that there i.vas a grwat preis of business to be disposed of het,.ro the neptitig adj iuried. Those who looked to I,be accounts would see the result with satisfaction. The points to which he wished more particularly to call the attention of the Proprietors were the recent proceedings in Parliament. It would be. in the recollection of the Proprietors that several Bills had received the sanction of the last meeting—the Tring and Worcester, the fittrit London, the Betbord, the Danstable and the i'rentelEkb ley. Of those Bills, the West London, the Beilf ird, the rranstable, and the Trent Valley had received the royal assent: Those Bills were of extreme importance to the 1 2 ,- zlon and Bi rm i ng h am Railway, more especially the T Valley. The Company, however, he admitted, had felt a sevare bl ow i n t h e 1. as of the Bill with refer ence to the Tring and Worcester line. He (the Chair man), however, could not consider that they bad lost that Bill in consequence of the superiority of their orpon: tits' line. lie believed the real cause of their failure was the principle of competition, which, for the first time, Parliament had adopted in direct contradiction to various resolutions of the House of Commons, and their own legislative Act of the previous session. H e did not find - fault with their opponents, the ironmasters of Staff irdshire, for the course they had adopted. They doubtless thought they were acting for their own interests, hut he believed that experience hail shown thorn the reverse. He could not, however, but express his surprise at the conduct of some of their other opponeUrs—he allud'd to the Great Western arid the Grand Junction. Companies. The first company had taken advantage of cireumatances to tie up by bowl rail ways in their own districts from carrying any line in =petition with them ; and the Grand junction had *Sod -in- a way that their Directors had not antioi rated. But the contest was over, and he hoped with , t all angry feeling. He believed, if they all went on doing their duty to tithe public, there was enough and to spire for all of them.—( Herr, hear.) It was, however, the duty of the Directors of that Company to watch carefully the interests of the Proprietors, and that they were determined to do. Acting upon that principle, it was their intention, in the course of the next year, to bring forward several projects that had had their origin in a desire on the part of the Directors to increase the resources of the Company and the emoluments of the Proprietors. They intended to propose, with the future sanction of the Proprietors, making a branch railway from Watford, by St. Alban's, to Luton. They proposed also to carry a line from Northampton to Banbury-. They proposed also to connect the Leamington and Warwick line with Coventry and Nuneaton, and by that means to connect it with the Trent Valley line. They had also in view extensive nojects in con nexion with Warwick and Buckinghamshire. They proposed to continue the line from Hampton to Warwick and Leamington, anti thence to Banbury ; and he believed that the same Company would carry it on to Ctielteeh all. They proposed also to carry the line to Aylesbury, Brackley, Missenden, into their own line at H .rrow. Now, these lines, he believed, would he a eource of considerable profit and emolument to the Proprietors.—( Ileac, hear.) In addition to t his they hail formed a connexion with the Birmingham Canal Gin-patty, with the intention of forming a rail way etinneeting Birmingheen with Wolverhainrten and tie Shrewsbury and Wol%erhampton line. And, although they had lost the South Staffordshire Bill, the Proprie tors would see that this arrangement would ensure. if carried out, the great bulk of the mineral traffic of South Staffordshire flowing into the Birmingham line. In short, he had very little doubt that this line would bring upon the London and Birmingham line the whole traffic of that part of the country, because they intended to carry that project out by another line up the Stour Valley. Another hue which they proposed was from Wolverton to Buck ingham, in connexion with a branch from Wolverton, by Buckingham, to Bicester and Oxford. He was happy to inform the Proprietors that the Directors con tinued to cultivate the r connexion with the North Staff irdshire line. Indeed, he believed he might say that the Company had net lost, notwithstand ing their defeat in Parliament, any connexion, not even the connexion of Lord Ward.—(Hear, hear.) It was the desire of the Directors to seek peace in every way, and tie could assure the Proprietors that they had (lone all in their power to promote it.---(dear, hear.) it was right that he should now call the attention of the Proprietors to some other points which, although they were not very material to the interests of the Company, it was desirable he should advert to, in order that the Proprietors should keep themselves right with the public. He alluded to a declaration made same weeks ago in the House of Lords by the Marquis Clanricarde, in which he stated that it would be a singular inquiry to see how far the London and Bir mingham Railway Company had kept their faith with ,he public, and whether, for the sake of increasing their .lividends. they had nut increased their charges.—(Hear, tear.) Now he would appeal to the greatest enemy that that Company had, whether the engagements that had been made on the part of the Company had not been carried out to the very letter—that after their profits had reached a certain extent, they would reduce their fares ? The charge made against them of increasing their rates for the purpose of in creasing their dividends was not founded on fact, and he defied any one to prove it. He now came to another charge, made the night before last in the House of Com mons, as to the proceedings of the Company in re gulating their general business. That charge arose in consequence of a statement made by a Noble Lord in the House of Commons, and the effect of that charge was, that the Lon lon and Birmingham Company had used two engines to propel heavy trains, and that had taken place especially in the ateghbourhood of Weedon. Now he (the Chairman) -,bought that before such a charge had been brought some inquiry ought to have taken place as to whether it was true or not. On the part of the Directors of the London and Birmingham Company, he denied it in the most forcible manner possible, and he asserted that so far as it re - gtsrded them, the charge was utterly false and groundless. Since that charge had been made inquiries had been set, on foot by the Directors, and it was upon the result of' those inquiries that he founded the strong and unequi vocal denial he had given to the charge. He felt con vinced that the Noble Lord who had made the accusa tion had been misled, as far as it regarded the Bir mingham and London Company. There was no instance, he believed, of any of the trains of the London and Birmingham Company being propelled in the way stated. Indeed it was the instruction of the Directors to all their servants that such a course should not be adopted unless under very special circumstances. As he had before stated, since the change had been made, inquiries had been instituted, and he could assure the Proprietors and the public that no instance of the kind referred to had occurred. All he had to express a hope for was, that the refutation he had thus given to the charge, would be made as public as the charge itself had been. That Company had certainly not received much favour from Parliament.—(Hear.) Indeed, they did not desire it—(Hear, hear)—but they asked for justice.—(Cheers.) They had a pledge from vlr. Gladstone that justice should be done th. m with respect to the law of rating. But, notwith standing that pledge, another session had passed, -luring which they had got nothing ; and the law stood, with respect to that subject, just where it .tend before. The law with respect to rating operated ei railway companies with great oppression; indeed, he had almost said it sanctioned robbery.—(Hear, hear.) Ile other points to which he had now to advert were, he was happy to say, of a more pleasant nature. En order to provide for their: engagements with the Holyhead Company and the Trent Valley Company, the Directors proposed that the creation of 201. shares should be ordered.—(Hear, hear.) That would give to each share of 100/. one share of 201, arid it was proposed that the dividends from those shares should commence on the Ist of October next ; of course , uhject to the charge of deduction of 5 per cent. on calls not paid. And it was also intended with respect to those shares to make that reservation according to the agreement with the Birmingham and Manchester Com twiny. That was, that they should have the full amount of shares as if the amalgamation had taken place. The Directors of that Company, he could assure the Pro prietors, had no wish whatever not to come to Some amicable arrangement with the Grand Junc tion Company notwithstanding the statements that had been put forth at the last meeting of 'hat Company. He believed that he had now gone through the whole of the topics he had intended to advert to, and he hoped, in conclusion, that the Pro prietors would not consider that the Company was in a worse situation than when the Directors met them at the last half-yearly meeting, notwithstanding that they had been defeated in several instances.—(Cheers.) The SECRETARY then ,read the following REPORT. The operations of the last half-year exhibit a great in crease of traffic, both in passengers and goods, and a consi siderable excess of receipt over the corresponding half-year of 1844, notwithstanding the large reductions which have since been made in the Company's fares and rates, amounting on an average of the passengers' fares of all classes, from 2.609. per mile in 1844, to 1-818 d. in 1845 ; and on the average rates of goods of all clases, per ton, from 2.916 d. per mile in 1844, to 2-530 d. in 1845. The total mileage of passengers is 38,758,260 in 1845, ikain5t.24,664,979 in 1844, being an increase of 57.143 per cent: The total mileage of goods is 9,350,718 tons, against 6.929,875—beine; an increase of 34.933 per cent. The receipt for the gross or dinary traffic for 1845, is... £447,190 1544, is... 405,768 Increase £41,422 The charge on the traffic for 1845, is 1844, is Increase to charge The chief increase of charge is in the locomotive depart ment, arising from the additional work required from the engines, which amounted - For the half-year of June, 1845, to Against the charge for 1844, of 32,603 Increase but the Directors having made provision, as stated in their last report, for a supply of engines of greater power than those hitherto employed, and better calculated for the ex tended carrying business of the Company, although disap pointed in their delivery as early as was expected, they con template a large prospective reduction of expense unde-r this head in the course of next year, when these engines will have been brought into work. The Directors trust, also, that the charge for maintenance of way will be progressively reduced under the operation of new contracts whic, owing to the improved state of the works, they have been enabled to make at lower prices than those previously subsisting. The Directors have again to remark on the exorbitant charges made for parish rates, which amount to 3.910/. more in the last half-year than in 1844, and they regret that, under the existing system of appeal, there appears little chance of redress. As respects the increase of traffic, the Directors feel that although the greater portion may be fairly ascribed to the improved state of the country, aided by the influence of low charges. and in a small degree by the opening of the Warwick and Leamington branch line, no inconsiderable share of the passenger receipts is due to the extraordinary movement which the numerous railway projects before Parliament have excited, and they are of opinion that the Proprietors will act wisely in not dividing more of their profits than is re ciff ire,,l for the present rate of dividend, clear of income-tax. By the accounts which are now before the meeting, it will he seen that the Gross receipts for the ha1f .£452,881 8 1 vear are The charges (including 25,642/. lls. 4d. for rates 134,250 17 7 and taxes) Net receipts From which, deducting the allowance for depreciation of stock ........................ £15,498 0 0 Interest of loans Rent of Aylesbury line £ 58164 19 3 Thera remains a net profit 0f... £259,965 11 3 To which. adding the surplus of the December half-year And profit realised on the allotment of the New 251. Shares 5,000 0 0 The disposable balance is ... £312,058 12 6 from which amount the Directors recommend that a dividend be declared, clear of income tax, of 51 on every 100/. of the Company's capital stock, leaving 69,310/. (from which the income tax is to be paid) to the credit of the present half year. The Directors in reporting that the Northampton and Peterborough line was opened on the 2d of June, are enabled to state, from their brief experience of the traffic, that the expectations they had formed as to the value of this railway to the public and the Proprietors will be fully realised. The works of the Chester and Holyhead, and Lancaster and Carlisle lines, are in a satisfactory state of progress, and , funds have been voted by Parliament in the present session, for the commencement of the Holyhead THE S N, LON DON, FRInA Y EV EN IN G, AUG UST 8 1845. The royal assent has been given to the Trent Valley, Bed ford, Dunstable, and West London Bills ; in all which lines this Company has a direct interest.. The works of the Bed ford and Dunstable lines will be commenced without delay. The Directors regret that the issue of the proceedings in the Worcester ar.d South Staffordshire, and Rugby and Oxford Bills, disappointed the reasonable expectations which had been founded on the able and comprehensive Report of the Board of Trade. The result has in no respect shaken their opinion of the superior advantages which these lines would have afforded to the district for whose accommoda tion they were planned on the narrow gauge; and the evi dence before the Committees only the more confirmed the Directors in their belief of the prejudicial effects which must follow the introduction of a gauge, differing from that which is uniformly laid down throughout the country, with which it is proposed that the wide gauge shall be connected. That a Company whose line is formed on the narrow gauge, and whose interests appear to be directly connected with the support of the system, should have aided the op posing party, may be matter of surprise, but the Dircetors do not feel called upon to enter into a discussion of the grounds on which ilia Company referred to has sought to vindicate the proceeding. The Directors haV'e a duty to perform to wards their own Proprietors, and to this they will steadily adhere. They a ill oppose what they consider unjust to wards this Company, and encourage on the other hand inea sures which, in aftbrding additional accommodation to the public, are calculated to maintain the interests of their Pro prietors. They are persuaded that no measures arc better adapted to this end than moderate charges. combined with economy of management ; and that a steady adherence to these principles wilt afford the most eftectual guarantee to the Company against unfair competition. Following up their views on this subject, the Directors made in t;:e last month a further and important reduction in the rates for merchandise, the effect of which has already been to add greatly to the tonnage, without lessening their receipts. The Proprietors will be called upon to give their sanction at the present meeting to a creation of new shares, for the capital which is required to meet their engagements for the Company's interest in the Chester and Holyhead. Trent. Valley, Lancaster and Carlisle, West London, and Aylesbury lines. They recommend, for this purpose, that a new share of 20/. be offered to each Proprietor of 1001. stock of this Company, leaving a proportional reserve of shares for the capital of the Manchester and Birmingham Company—the new shares to participate in the future dividends from and after the Ist of October next, subject to the deduction of 5 per cent. interest on the amount not called for and paid. A resolution was then proposed by the Obairman and carried unanimously, to the effect, that the report then read should be adopted and printed, and circulated amongst the Proprietors, and that a dividend of 5 per cent. should be declared on the consolidated stock of the company of 4,124,526/. ; and that a dividend of 17s. on each of the 32/. new shares, amounting to 241,7511 125., should be declared free of income-tax. Another resolution was also unanimously agreed to for creating new 20/ shares ; as was also a resolution to in crease the present number of Directors from 17 to 24. Mr. WILLIams wished to know whether the Directors had in contemplation any alteration with respect to the charges for carrying goods ? The CHAIRMAN said that at present the Directors had not in contemplation the making of any alteration. They were aware, however, that abuses had crept in, but they were devising plans by which the public would know what was charged by the Company. If, however. they found that the plan they were now adopting was in jurious to the public, they would then consider the pro priety of becoming cart iers on their own account. If combinalon went on with the carriers, the Company, he was sure, would think it right to interfere ; but the Directors were of opinion that if they could consult the interests of the public and act with the carriers, the in terest:of the Proprietors would be the result. In answer to a question from a Proprietor, The CHAIRMAN assured the meeting that everything would in future be &me that lay in human power to pre vent aceilenti occurring on the railway. Mr. HOMFREY wished to know if the Directors had come to any determination to facilitate the attendance of Proprietors oho lived in the country at the nacettligs which were held in London ? The CHAIRMAN said that that . was a subj Pct which rested vith the Prop ictoi s themselves, rather than the Directors. Mr. HODIFREY then gave notice, that at the next miset. ing should move that all the trains on the railway should be free to the Proprietors on such occasions. A PROPRIETOR considered that, while they were re ceiving such ample dividends, and the Company was going on so prosperously, they could afford to pay the fares them-elves.—(A laugh.) Thanks w.-re then voted to the Chairman and the 1)1- rectors, and the meeting separated. LONDON AND BI IGH.TON RAILWAY. The usual Imif-yearly meeting of the London and Brighton Railway Company was held yesterday after noon at the London-bridge terminus. The meeting was made specild, for the purpose of sanctioning the purchase of the Brighton, Le Nes, and Hastings, and the Brighton and Chichester Railways. Mr. Rowland Hill, Chairman of the Board of Directors, occupied the chair. The report, Avhicil was of y an exceedingly satisfactory nature, stated that the late reduction which had talc, n place in the fares had produce.l the most satisfactory results, and re commended the meeting to declare a dividend of 20s. per share. The report having been adopted, a dividend wai dectired alc,rdingly, and resolutions rati fying the terms of tilt purchases of the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings, and the Brlght , na and Chich , suer Rail ways, which have already be , n made lc,,own to the public, having been agreed 10, a vote a thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. LONDON AN]) YORK RAILWAY BILL. Thy following is the petition of subscribers in the London and York Railway Company, in reply to that of Mr. Bruce:— The humble Petition of the undersigned Persons, being Subscribers in the London and York Railway Com. PanY, Showeth,—That a petition has been presented to your Honourable House, signed by Henry Bruce, of Mincing-lane, merchant, which petition has been printed by order of your Honourable House, and is now pub lished, and on sale to the public for one penny. That the said petition contains false and scandalous matter, most injurious to the character of your peti tioners, and tending to inflict serious damage upon them in their several stations and callings. That the said petition contains, amongst others, the following allegation, namely:— " That the following names of subscribers to the London and York Railway subscription contract is, in respect of their several names or descriptions or places of abode, fictitious and false." That among the names to which the said allegation applies are those of your petitioners (excepting your petitioners Robert Perks Pitman and Robert Michael Baxter), and that the said allegation is entirely false with respect to them, inte.much as the names, descrip dons, and places of'abode, so appearing in the said con • tract, are truly and in fact the names, descriptions, and placed of abode of your petitioners,. ; • That, with respect to your petitioners George Hadley, John Spotter, .57itliatn,French„Edward Filder, tieorge Thomas Barnes, ,Rager Mortimer, Roberts Perks- Ptt man, and Robert Michael Baxter, it is alleged that they ere persons who, from their circumstances and station in life, are utterly irreponsihle, and unable to pay the several sums StiScribed by them. '1 hat such allegation is, with respect to your said two petitioners, absolutely false and scandalous. That the petitioner Henry Bruce is the vice-chairman of a company promoting the Cambridge and Lincoln Railway, which was a rival scheme, competing with the London and York Railway, and was rejected upon its merits by the Committee of your Honourable House. That the London and York Railway Bill has passed your Honourable House, after a long and most expensive investigation, which lasted 67 days. That your petitioners verily believe that the said Henry Bruce has made the said false, and slanderous al legations maliciously, and with a view to impede the progress of the Londe' and York Railway Bill, so as to forward the interests of the rival and defeated project promoted by the said Henry Bruce, and in which the said Henry Bruce has a large pecuniary interest. That your petitioners are advised that they cannot take the necessary steps for the vindication of their characters before a court of,law without b-ing guilty of a breach of the privile,- ; !es of your Henourable House. Your petitioners humbly pray, flea. if your Honourable House shall think fit to cause an investigation to be made into the said subscription contract, the same may be made without delay ; and that your petitioners may be per mitted, in the meanwhile-, to institute such legal pro ceedings against the said Henry Bruce, fur his false and defamatory statements, as they may be advised. Robert Michael Baxter. Edward Filder. Thomas Clapham Chadwick. John Haines. Gorge Hadley. Charles Brown. John Shotter. Benjamin Badcock. Benjamin L. Cox. George Thomas Barnes. Townsend C. Dance. Roger Mortimer. Thomas Sheridan, late Major William Henry Ince. Rrn al Marine:. Rcibc rt Perks Pitman. W. French. D. M. Clarke. LONDON AND Y ORK RAILWAY. --• - - TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—The allegations contained in the petition of one '• Henry Bruce, setting forth that the following names of subscribers to the London and York Railway, is in re spect of the several names and addresses false and fit Ctious," as pr , ..mulgated in your valuable journal of the 6th inst., comprising my name—allow me to say, that when I paid the deposit, and signed the deed, my address was co-incident with those set forth, as such had been for nine years previous, yule any commercial directory to the present period. I hope it is not on account of the error which I proved before the Committee of Group X, in the levels of the Tottenham and Farringdon Line, that I am selected as an object of attack. Mr. Bruce may be the Vice- Chairman of the Cambridge and Lincoln Line, the pre amble of which shared a mutual fate with that which I opposed, that I, in my professional capacity, should be thus attacked. I therefore trust that equal publicity will be given to this repudiation of an assertion so wantonly inflicted on,—Sir, your obedient Servant, JOHN DAVIS PAINE. Lincoln's Inn-fields, August 7, 1845. THE LONDON AND YORK DEED. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Siu,-I attended the Committees of the Houses of Lords and Commons this day, in order to enable " Mr. Henry Bruce, merchant," to state the grounds on which he had ventured to place my name in his list of London and York subscribers, " who, in respect of their several names, or descriptions, or places of abode, arc fictitious and false." On my being called before the respective Committees, however, the agents for Mr. Bruce, the petitioner, en tirely and at once abandoned that clause of his petition which had reference to me, Mr. Parkes, for Mr. Bruce, dmitting that there was not the shadow of a charge against rne. Mr. Parkes further explained that Mr. Bruce had never intended that my. name should appear in the petition ; that my name bad been transferred from some private list into the public petition by an oversight; and that when Mr. Bruce read his petition previously to placing it in the bands of a Member fur pretentation, he did not observe that I was included therein. . I beg to observe, Sir, that this apology was made in privcte Committees of both Houses ; and though I feel perfect confidence in the justice of Parliament, it is very possible that the reports of the Committees, which will do me this justice, may be delayed until next session. Thus circumstanced, and having no reason to believe that Mr. Bruce has taken any steps for mak!ng his apology known beyond the walls of the Committee-rooms, I am compelled, in self-defence, to ask insertion for this latter.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES BROWN. New Bridge-stre , t. Bla-kfriars, Aug. 7. IMPERIAL PA EtLIA 31EN T. HOUSE OF LoftDs, Amy. 7. Their Lordships met at Five i;e:oek. The Consolidated Fund Appropriation Bill was read a second lime. The Turnpike (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed._ The Municipal Districts (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passe). The -Naval Medical Supplemental Fund Bill was read a third-time and passed. '1 he -Fees (Criminal Proceedings) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Commons' amendments to the Lunatics Asylum (Ireland) Bill were agreed to. THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO GERMANY. Lord CAMPBELL rose to . put a question to the Noble .Lord opposite, the President of the Council, respecting the approaching visit of her Majesty to the Continent. He .was far froin wishing to throw any im pediment in the way of her Majesty's journey ing for her gratification, and for the purpose of cementing the friendly feeling which happily prevailed between this country and foreign nations, and which could not fail to be promoted by the interchange of royal visits and friendly intercourse of the sove reigns. There formerly existed an Act which pree vented the Sovereign of this kingdom from .quitting it without the consent of Parliament ; but that law had long passed away, and there was now ne ob stacle to the Sovereign's travelling where and when she pleased. King William the Third exercised that right ; but then the. Queen Regnant, his consort, exer cised the royal functions in his absence. George I. also exercised it ; but he appoint. d Lords Justices, of whom ' the Archbishop of Canterbury was the head, to act as a regency. That took place in the year 17 . 16, that was, the second of his reign. It was true that King George 111. never - travelled a hundred miles from the place where he was born. Perhaps it would have been better if he had done so. Perhaps if he had done so, and had visited- the banks of the Rhine; where the principles of -liberality prevailed in a great degree, he would not so lobe. have re sisted the emancipation of his Roman Catholic subjects. George 1., in a speech which he delivered at the end of the session preceding his going to Germany. said, fur the purpose of promoting the peace andprosperity of the country during his absence, he intended to constitute his son, the Prince of Wales, guardian of the realm.-However, there was, subsequently, some misunder standing between them, and thirteen Lords Justices were appointed-in his place, of whom the Archbishop was one. When George 11. went abroad he app .- pled his Consort Regent. e bn the 161 h of May, 1735, hi,. Majesty, in council, was " pbased to declare his in -tent-ion of visiting his dominiens in Germany. and that h. had appointed his dearest Consort to be Regent in his 1 absence_" George IL invariably followed the example tit George 1., and appointed Lorelsslustiees. He was never absent from Lenoon I. tee. George 111. never left Ene , lan 1 ; George IV. was only absent from this. ceuntry. he believed, once. On the - 17th September, It+2l Lards - Justices were appointed, conzisting of th. Duke of York, the Archbishop - of Canterbury. the Lord Chancellor. and otht:r et-Beers of State, to the number of nineteen. Great inconvenience must arise from nut following in this case the precedent which has been adopted by preceding sovereigns. He did not like to see the -royal authority in abeyance. - It ought to be adopted- fur they security of the monarolly during her ah therefouc, -wished to know, whether during the absence of her Majeste it was her intention to ap point Lords Justices to administer the'royal timetions ? The LORD - CIIANCELIAYIt said, in rept), to at, ouestiOn of his Noble and Leirned Friend, he had to make __a very short and slistinct answer-that it was not the intention of her Majesty's. Government te advise her'Majasty to appoint Lords Justices during her absence on the short tour she intended to make. Previous to her vi.iting France, the Opinion of Sit F. Pollock, the present Chief—Baron,--and ef the late Attorney-General were taken on the expediency of ap peiuting a Regent or Lords' Cornmission,rs during her absence, but, after considering the subject, after giving to it due deliberaticin, they came to th. decision that it was by no means necessary, in point of law, that such appointments should bp made. He (the Lgrd Chancellor) concurred in that opinion. The opinion orthc.other law officers of the Crown was taken, and i. was to the same effect. The- peaceable state of the continent arid the neighbourhood her Majesty intended .isiting, together with the increased facility of com rnuuication, rendered it both unnt.cesary and inexpedient that such a Commission should be appointed. The in fluence of the Queen was not less abroad than at home; and, besides, the journey home would not occupy more than two days. The precedents to which his Noble Friend had referred were . caused by circumstances. In most of the cases to which he had referred, the word " short," vi hich was frequently used, denoted that the resi dence of these Sovereigns abroad-was likely to be protracted. Under these circumstances, as the;royal residence must be fora considerable period on the Continent, it became necessary, as a matter of convenience, that power should be given to persons in this country to - exercise some of the functions of royalty, but this pcivver was merely nominal, by the restrictions which *ere imposed upon it. On all important occasions it. was necessary to have the authority of the Sovereign directly. This royal visit was unlike those to which his Noble and Learned Friend had referred. It was but for a very short time, and at no great distance from this country. Her Ma jesty would be accompanied by one- of her principal Secretaries of State, and under those circumstances it was unnecestary to have a cumbrous Commission appointed, and it was on this account the Government had not thought it necessary to recommend the appointment of such Commission. _ _ Lord CAMPBELL referred to the visit of George the Fourth, in whose absence a-Commission had been ap pointed. - The LORD CHANCELLOR—But that was for five or six- vk eeks. Lord CAMPBELL said he did not see why a Com rnissiO7 qn.ultr nbt be appointed: - His Noble and beAritd Frieria on tlie wooriick had' given no' good reason — to the contrary, and he believo there was not a sinele instance of the Sovereign b,ing 41):,ent without the a,pp,,i.otnint of _such a Commission say?, 4 . 1 e, foundation of the monarchy. . _ BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. - The Earl of- BESBOROUGVI Moved that a letter be sent to-each Peer on the first week of the ensuing session 0 . Parliament, - requesting hint to suy when ,it would be convenient to him to attend on Committees on opposed This . Duke of WELLINGTON Congratulated the House upon the mode in which :heir Lordships had dis charged the laborious duties imposed. on them, and be felt confident that they would always_ be ready to dis charge- the important trusts which devolved upon them. He meant that the attendance -of those Lords who never came-to the House at all, and who should have rendered their - assistance on the several private Committees which hid been sitting during the - tatter part of the session. He Would therefore beg that the Nobto Earl would post pone The motion of which he bad giien notice for the present, and when the proper tune arrived he should be glad to give whvteier aid he could in order to render it efficient. He trusted, therefore, that the Noble Earl would refrain from taking any steps on this subject, for then lie should have good hopes that the business of the House would be perfiwrned usefully -to the public and sivhfactorily to the House. Lord MONTI4T.AG LE thouLtht that the present amount of business in the House, and with that which had so lately been in the House, that - 54 me regulation should be made by which a better regulation might be adopted for the passing "f through the Legislature. The standing orders had caused a considerable impediment to the passage of Mils, but the difficulty was done away wiQi by the resolutions to which the House had come to carry-on Bills the next session in the same state as they were left at the close of this. But it should not be con cealed that this was a great departure from the principles of the constitution, and what was done in private Bills was equally applicable to public Bills. One alteration, hoa ever, might be effected with advantage. This was a resolution that Bills for canals, railways, docks, and other affairs of a similar character, should be brought into their Lordships' House in the first place. This course would in no way affect the privileges of the other House, and the change would enable both Houses to proceed at the same time, and thus that injudicious haste to which they were now compelled would be avoided.—(Rear, hear.) Lord REDESDALE objecfed to thP motion. Thp Earl of BESBOROUGH said that, under the circumstances, he should follow the suggestion of the Noble Duke, and withdraw his motion. COL , _ lERY EXPLOSIONS. TO THE EDI7'OI? OF THE SUN. Sin,—When, in September last, ninety-five human beings were deprived of existence by an explosion o fire damp, at Haswell Colliery, county of Durham, a vast deal was said and wrote about the necessity of Le gislative interference, in order to prevent the recurrence of such direful events ; and at the eat nest solicitation of the miners solicitor her Majesty's Ministers agrecd to send down two or three prolessiurcil persons to investi gate into that affair, so as to aseertgin what could be dune towards :fficiently securing the fives of the miners in future. Messrs. Faraday and Lyell were selected to report on that subject, and in that report brought before do vernment and the public their views thereon, but stating, in explicit terms that further examination was ilicessary. order to eatabl6ll any improvetnunt on a pc-rtnanow uundation. 6hortly after the meeting of Parliament, the miner:, petitioned the L. gisiature 0:1 the sulker, and pond( d uc eert ,in IlietL,111": s II: ces,:ay , and which, if adopted, weult.! prev'.mt. any recurrence such c,larnities ;at the ,aine tune, ui-grog the l:lthseat itive.tign.tiun. Knowing the in re strict the inquiry, the tn,,re - whu!esome atia utt:l would he the remedy, the petitioners wt•re met by tile Govvrnm,ta, assuring them ttJat. the subject was r consid%ration, :„Luti as soon :46 he rcport was rtottey ;Faraday and Ly,l!) the r,eolumentlaiionb of the sato . eport stiou d have their immediate atterilio::. rei.ort has ni:w been out a e.iiiderable tune, and .lot a word has been spoken on the matter. No cloutY ;he (:xees.ive railway business has run them c!ose for time, and no doubt also that the estiumb e and worth . ) M.P.'s, Lord Ashley and T. S. Buncombe, have sprc-c the Government the ii-fliction of repeating the question (both gentlemen having bten requested to du so a sht,rl time ago) on the above grounds, yet when I perceive it the Momday edition of The SUIL that- another of the,e .ireAdful calamities has hurtled into eternity thirty-nine of our fellow -creatures, and seeing also that a few tour. (lays is likely- to close the session, I cannot remain silent any longer, tor should we have to wait another year, certai❑ I am that vie shall witness the whttlesale and in dividual sacrifice t,f . human life to an alarming amount, and that in the face of the pledged assurance of her Ma jesty's Government that something should be done a , soon as the report of the Leained Commissioners was published. • beefing that the serious collisions on railways hare been, and very justly, brought before the Hons., anti perceiving that the saute promptitude has evinced itself in Government to make the most searching inquiry into the nature and cause of such collisions and accidents, I Mill indulge the hope that they will at least issue a com mission of inquiry for the purpose of laying the lasting oundation or a measure that shalt (if not perfect for that purpose) be as near an approximation for the pre• vention of such dreadful and extensi✓e sacrifice of tht hard toiling and industrious miners of this country a, possible.-1 remain, yours, in baste, MARTIN JUDE. Newcastle-on-Tyne, August 6. RAILWAYS. On the motion of the Earl of DALHOUSIE, several verbal amendments and alterations were made in the standing orders of the House relating to railways. Lord REDESDALE then moved, ou behalf of Lord BROUGHAM, that a series of resolutions be added to the standing orders, that Committees shsll have the puwer of awarding costs to parties who opposed the construc tion of railways. Lord MONMEA.GLE thought the provision would be unjust util,ss rendered mutual, so as to prevent vexatious opposition, as well as pertinacious promotion. • The motion was then negatived without a division. The bills on the table were then advanced a stage, and the House adjourn e d till T wo o ' c l oc k t o - morrow (this day).- BANKERS IN RAILWAYS.—The Bankers' Magazine gives the following summary (from the recent Parliamentary return) of the number of bankers who have subscribed for 2,0001. and upwards in railway companies, and the total amount of their subsenptions :- 8 Bank of England Directors have subscribed for £151,500 36 London Bankers, ditto 122 Country Bankers, ditto 2,761,235 21 Bankers in Ncotland, ditto 7 Bankers in Ireland, ditto 1 Banker in Paris, ditto ........., •••••=•••••••.....o 196 in all, who have subscribed for 63,680,125 THE NAVY. DEATH OF A VICE. ADMIRAL —Vice-Admiral of the Red George James Shirley died at. Bath, on the 2d inst., aged 77. The dates of his commissions are—Lieutenant, Nov. 20, 1790; Commander, Sept. 11, 1797 • Captain, April 26, 1793; Rear- Admiral, June 2, 1825 ; and Vice-Admiral, Nov. 12, 1840. He was on the half-pay of a Rear-Admiral. Paosionox.—Mr. G. H. Thain, acting-master, command ing the Faity, royal yacht tender, has been promoted by the .Admiralty to the rank of master. Mr, Thain was next in command to Lieutenant De Courcy on boast: the Charybdis, 3, brigantine, when engaged with the federal squadron of Columbia, on the 15th December, 1841, which ended in its defeat and surrender, and the subsequent liberation of that country. Mr. Thain's conduct in this situation as well as when he was employed on shot e, protecting the Bri tish Con:plate at Carthagena, during the siege of that city, was very -favourably reported by his commanding officer, who was himself promoted by the Admiralty for his gallant conduct on those- Gccas! , ns. The incidental mention of the affair between the Charybdii , and the Colombian squadron leads to a brief account of the particulars. Although their recital is not requisite as a spur to the gallantry of British officers or seamen, it may be never theless cited as a glorious example of what has been accom plished in modern times, as affording a salutary lesson to petty insolence of what the smallest representative of the English fleet can do against even confident odds. We believe the Colombian squadron had plundered two or three merchant vessels, and had incarcerated some British subjects. An application was made to the Government for their release by the British consul, but failing in his endeavimrs to procure their liberation, he communicated the particulars to Lie-utenant De Courey, commanding the Charybdis, 3, irrigazeine, in the neigh bourboiid, on, board of which were !oriy-two officers ann men, ten boys, and eight marines. Lieutenant De Courcy dispatched an officer with a letter to the Commodore of the Colombian squadron which was lying at anchor it the port of Carthagena, consisting of a corvette, a brig, and three schooners, demanding the surrender of the British sub jects, but that worthy, flushed with conscious superiority of now, dared to treat both ietter and its bearer with contempt. The gallant commander of the little brigantine, determined a , all hazards to maintain the honour of the flag, immediately entered the port, but while proceeding to an anchorage a shot from the commodore's corvette carried away his forestay aad precipitated the crisis the results of which have been before related. The corvette, the brig, and the three schooners were engaged with the Charybdis, little estimating the bravery and endurance of the gallant little band with which they had to deal. A very short space of time had elapsed when the corvette had struck, the com modore and twenty-rive of his men being numbered with the dead: In five minutk's after the Charybdis brought her guns to bear on the brig she had vanished beneath the waters, and the schooners, discovering their mistake, had surrendered at discretion. The gallant De Courcy was immediately pro moted, and is now an inspecting commander of the coast gmard; and we are glad to find that the services of his second in com mand have met with just reward. A PPOI NTIII ENT. —Second Master Robert W. Roberts (1838), of the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, an active and experienced steam officer, has been appointed acting master commander of the Fairy, Royal yacht tender, vice Thain, pro moted. The Board of Admiralty did not proceed to Chatham and Sheerness on Tuesday, on the annual Admiralty inspection, as intended. Their Lordships will leave town to inspect the es tablishments at those ports on Monday next. The Admiralty yacht, the Black Eagle, Master Commander Cook, after land ►ng Colonel Wylde and Mr. Hanson at Antwerp, will return and wait the pleasure of the Board of Admiralty. THE EXPERIMENTAL FLEET.—The following► report is in circulation at Poi tsmouth, but we attach no credit to it. It is possible, however, that it may have some foundation. No ac counts have been received at head-quarter.:—" The Queen had the advantage of all the ships, except the old Canopus, which vessel had beaten the whole fleet."—Herald. ....-.- —• The Cambrian, 38, Commodore Chads, C. 8., v6ll be paid off at Portsmouth on Saturday. The Crocodile, 26, Captain Maxwell, at Sheerness, will be ready for sea on the 19th inst. The Ferret, 10, Commander Josiah Oak, will be paid off at Sheerness this day . The Scout, 18, Commander the Hon. Henry Drummond, will be paid off at Cha ham to-morrow. The Rapid, 10, at Devonport, will not be ready for commis sioning before the 30th instant. The Heroine, 6, at Devoaport, will be ready for commis sioning on the 18th instant. The Victoria and Albect, Royal steam-yaoht, Captain Lord A. Fitz larerte, left Portsmouth at six. on Tuesday evening, and - arrived at - Woolwich yesterday afternoon. The Porcupine steam-surveying vessel, Captain Bullock, has arrived at Woolwich to attend on the Royal yacht on her voyage to Antwerp. The Fairy, Royal yacht-tender, Commander Crispin, arrived at Portsmouth on Tuesday evening, after conveying Prince Albert to CDViCS, on the return of his Royal Highness from accompanying the King of the Netherlands. HOP INTELLIGENCE. MAIDSTONE.—The hops have not made that progress the last week, in coming into the bur, that was expected. yhe weather has been against them, yet they continue to grow, and are free from disease but they now w an t warm weat h er . WATERINGBURY:AIEREWORTH, AND TESTON.—III con sequence of the wet and cold weather, the hops are rather unfavourably spoken of ; but, should the weather become fine and warm. there is every appearance of a good crop. B RENCHLEY.—Owing to the wet state of the weather, our hops do not get foro,ard in bur. They have not materially suffered, otherwise our prospects are not so favourable as they were this day se'onight, consequently the duty is not so freely backed. IGHTHAN.—The hops are still growing fast, but the late winds and heavy rains have battered them about very much. There is very little bur out yet, and unless we have more fa vourable weather in the course of the week, there is a great fear they will fruit very badly. GOUPHUAST.—A little more sun and warmer nights are desirable to bring out the bur as we could wish, but still the hops are looking well, and we think need fear nought but wind and cold. • TUDELEY AND CAPEL.—So far as the vermin are con cerned we may consider ourselves safe, and if the weather should prove congenial during this month we may anticipate a good crop. SEVENOAKS.—The hops look exceedingly well in the neigh bourhood, the bur being str erg and free from vermin. HORSMONDEN.—We are locking anxiously for fine warm weather, as the hops are progressing slowly ; indeed, if we do not get a change of weather, it is impossible our hopes of getting a heavy crop can be realised, as a great deal of the bur will never come into hop. The bine is still clean and looking tolerably well, considering the late rains and winds. FARNHAM, ALTON, AND COUNTRY DISTRICT, AUG. 2. Unless we get hot weather within a few days, the hops will fall short of.our anticipations, as the season is now so far ad vanced. HASTINGS, AUGUST 5. —The late high winds have had a material effect on the hops in this neighbourhood, and they are in consequence not in so flourishing a condition. Duty called 180,0001. WEsTrlELn.—The hops have not improved this last week, being much in want of sun and warm weather. BEXHILL AND IlooE.—Our hops have been very much injured by the wind the last few days. The crop will fall short of what was expected a fortnight ago. We want more sun and kind weather. • WHATLINGTON.-Our grounds are quite wet enough, and the late winds have rather bruised the bales. We cannot speak so favourably of our hop; as hitherto. RYE.—The hops in the neighbourhood continue to improve, and fine warm weather is all that is requtred to ensure a good crop. GUZSTLING.-Our bops have had a great increase of lice since our last report. The bur is not very fast in its progress. ICKLESHA3I.—There are a great many lice in this parish, but they do net seem to affect the bine. The bur has made its appearance, but gets on very slowly. DETLING (NEAR AIAIDSTJNE). AUG. s.—Our hops are coming into bur very slowly ; and what little is developed is not looking very thriving. Considering that a hacktvard and prolific crop is beyond precedent, we are not very sanguine. Great nunalaers of tourists daily pass through Ul verston from Bardsea, where they arrive by the steamers from the south. The new steamer, the Lady of the Lake, continues a source of great attraction at Windermere; and causes numbers of tourists to bend their steps in that direction.—Cumberland Pacquet. EARLY HAuvEcT.—A small crop of corn, belong ing to Mr. Smith, Content Garden, Wallace-town, was cut on Saturday last. It was sown on the 25th March, and came into ear-on the. 16th June: • Seventeen ea, thus elapsed between sowing and reaping.—Ayr Observer. GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY.—The fol lowing are the traffic returns for the week ending 2d Aug.:— Possengers, 14,114 ; amount received, 344/. 15s. 2d. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. MIDLAND CI RCI.7 I T.— Coratry, Aug. 6. ( Before the CHIEF BARON. FORGERY.— Thomas Tanfield and Thomas Pollard were indicted, the one for forgery, and the other for procurin, and uttering a bill of exchange for all, knowing the same to be forged, with intent to defraud William Coleman. Mr. Waddington and Mr. Spooner were for the prosecution ; Mr. Miller defended Pollard, and Mr. Willmore, Tanfield. The facts were these —Pollard was a silk dyer at Coventry, Tanfield acting as his clerk and accountant. On the 21st of February Pollard paid an account to Mr. Coleman, a manu facturer of Coventry, with an acceptance of 301., purporting to he drawn by Pollard upon Air. Leeson, accepted by that gentle• man, and payable at Jones Loyd and Co., London. The bill was endorsed by Coleman, and was paid into the Coventry and Warwickshire Bank, but upon becoming due was dishonoured. Mr. Leeson upon being called stated that he could not unite; it followed of course the endorsement on the note was not his. Being in a large way of business he authorised his Jaycocks. to draw and accept bills on his itecount, but he swore most chstinctly he never authorised any rote else to accitt or draw for him. Mr. Coleman stated he received the acceptance in question, and paid it into his banker's, but on becoming due it was dis honeured. Mr. Jaycocks, the son-in-law, swore the words James Leeeuri" were not in his handwriting. Several persons wore then calved, who proved the body of the bill, the signature " Pollard," the acceptance " James 1.ce,0n," and the endorsement " William Coleman." were in he handwriting of Tanfield. Before-the bill became due .'ollard thought fit to quit the country. The prisoners were bound Guilty, acd sentenced to Le trans mrted for seven years. NORTHERN Gill C .T.. 1 I T—Ctrlisle, Aug 6 CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE. ) HIGHWAY ROB BE RV. —John Henry Wrigley and Nicholas Allison, two labouring men, were charged with the offence of assault with intent to I ob. This case was tried yesterday afternoon, but was not concluded until some time after the post closed. Mr. Grainger and Mr. Ramshay appeared to conduct the prosecution. .The prosecutor, William Bushby, a man of about fifty four or fifty-five years of age, is a farmer and maltster, residing at Prospect, a short distance from Cockermouth, anti farms about 1 000 acres of land. He stated that on the 2d of September last he was at Cockermouth market, and there, during the day, received 80/. He received 60/. from John Carter, at the Woolpack Inn. Believed the prisoner Wrigley was present at the time. Left Cockermouth at about eight in the evenieg to return home, on foot, and he would have about two miles and three quarters to go. On the way he met one of his labourers who was coming to meet him, bringing a mare for him to ride. He got upon the mare, and that was at about three-quarters of a mile out of Cockermouth. After proceeding some distance on the road, he saw the two men, supposed to be the prisoners at the bar. They came out from under a hedge, and one had a gun. They again retired, and the one having a gun gave it to the other, and then crept along under the hedge for about 100 yards a-head of him (the prosecutor). This induced him to put the mare into a canter. On coming towards the spot where the nearer man was, that man came out into the road with the gun, at a few paces be fore the mare's head, and endeavoured to stop her, saying, " Deliver up your money, or we'll shoot you." Witness said, " It's all nonsense, I've left it at the bapk. ' He then put the mare into a gallop, arid went towards the other man a-head. That men was the prisoner Wrigley. Had known hint before, and he is called " Proofer," from being a hat-proofer. Wrigley then came running in a desperate way, sloping I towards witness, seizing the mare's bridle with the left hand, and grappling with the right to get witness oil. He told witness to deliver up his money, or to at he should have his brains blown out. The mare swerved to one side, and went against a stone wall. Wrigley had hold of the bridle, but witre ss struck his hand with a stick, and so disengaged the hand of Wrigley, at the same time calling out to him, " Clear the road, you beggar." Wrigley appeared to fall, and witness then galloped on home as fast as he could. At about eighty or ninety yards from where he had lett the first man there was a gun fired. Witness did not know Allison that night at all. He told the family at home what had happened, and described to them •• Prooter" as one of the men. A servant noticed that his hand was bleeding; it was found to be scratched; aad the next morning, on going to the spot where he had the struggle overnight, he found there was a brier, by which the scratch, as he suppose t, was mane. His neither ev..s on a visit to him some days after, and he showed the spot to him, and had a conversation with him respecting the occurrence. Did not go before the magistrates till the 23t1 of last June ; but on the lath of June was with Mr. Hoskins, the magistrate, about this matter. On the 4th of June last witness was at Cockermouth cattle-marke', and went with Mr. Thomas Bird to the Ship Inn. While there, at about three o'clock it. the afternoon, the prisoner Allison came in. Alli son asked witness if he knew him. Witness said he did not. Allison then went on to say that he had once saved his ( witness's) life, and explained how. He said that en the night referred to he and Wrigley were out poaching; that thee saw him (witness) coming on the road from Cocker mouth, when Virigley said that he ( witness) had got 10W. ; he bad seen hint get the 100/. that day ; and that if he (Alb sett ) would take the gun and shoot witness, they would divide the money betwixt them. " Bu'," said Alliscn, " 1 rued— I thought that Wrigley was that sort of man that if anything was said about it he would inform, and I would either be hung or transported " Allison added, " he's a bad 'en ; we got nine hares that night, and he sold 'em, and tot , : me he never got paid." Allison came into the house a second time that day, and repeated the same story, except that in one case he said it happened six months ago and in the other nine months. Wit ness was at Cockermouth fair on the 18th of June, and saw Wrigley in the street. Went before Mr. Hoskins, the magis trate, on the 19th or 20th. In answer to the question from Mr. Ramshay, why he had not told sooner, the prosecutor said that " but one of the men was known by him; that he thought it would be a great deal of trouble to prosecute, and that he was much excited at see ing a man remaining in the town who had attempted his life, and hired another elan to shoot him." Mr. Wilkins appeared fur the defence of Wrigley, and Mr. James for Allison. The prosecutor, upon cross-examination, admitted that he had at first told Mr. Hoskins that the occurrence was on the 23d of December ; but he found, after looking at his bank book, and a memorandum there, that he was wrong. Other witnesses were called, who corroborated the evidence of Mr. Bushby in certain particulars. John Coulthard, gamekeeper to General Wyndham, had seen the prosecutor ou the road on the night in question, and saw two labouring men near the same spot. John Robinson. landlord of the inn at Cockermouth, heard the tale told by Allison as above repeated, and this witness was confirmed again by Mr. Thomas Bird, the prosecutor's compa. nion upon the occasion. Thomas Barton, a blacksmith, said that Allison had come to witness on the 7th of last September, and related a similar tale to him. He came to get a lock mended. A memorandum of the lock being mended was written in a book (now produced). There was the date of the 7th of September apparent ; but so written, that it was contended for the defence that there had been an interpolation in making the memorandum. This wit ness said he had not mentiunetfthe matter earlier, because he was a tenant under them (the family of the prisoner Allison), and did not feel obliged to do it. Mr. WILKINS and Mr. JAMES addressed the jury for their several clients, and the prisoners were both acquitted. His LORDSHIP refused to allow the expenses of the pro secutor. CHARGE of MURDER.—Jane Crosby, against whom a bill for murder was found at the las assizes, has been acquitted. The trial lasted all to-day, and has finished but a few minutes before post time. It will be remembered that the charge against the prisoner was that of burning her own daughter (a child of six years of age) to death upon a fire. The principal witness for the prosecution was another . dahghter of the prisoner, a child of eleven. At the last assizes Mr. Justice Coltman thought this child not then fit to be a wit nesr, from the ignorance she discovered touching the nature of an oath ; and the 'cave Was accordinglr postponed in order that she might receive instruction. POLICE IN TELLIGENC E. YESTF,HDAY. MANSION-HOUSE. A young men, of gentlemanlike appParince, named Dawson Miles, wis brought before the Lord Mayor, upon a charge of having krg , 'd a cheque for 451 10 , . upon the banking-house of Sir Charles Price and Co., and a bill of exchange for 861., purporting to be drawn in Jamaica. Mr, nobler appeared for the banking-house. Mr. Taylor, of the, honk of William Taylor and Co., of Crosby-square, Manchester agents, stated that he was acqu;inted with the pri.;on , r, whose fathi-r, it appeared, formerly banked at Sir Charles Price's. On the sth of June the prisoner called upon him with a ticket in his hand, apparently of a rot oritud bill, and asked for the loan of 101, as the bill was his father's ; at the same time depositing in his.hands a bill of exchange for 801., and also a cheque upon the above-mentioned banking house for 451. 10s., signed " Hy. Jackson," and dated from the Foreign Office. The prisoner stated at the same time that witness could pay ov, r to him the 51. 10s., when the cheque should he paid. Upon in quiry at Sir Charles Price's, it was found that no Hy. Jackson kept money there. It also appeared that the cheque had belonged to a book of printed forms, about seven or eight years old, when the prisoner's father kept cash at the firm. Mr. Hobler asked whether application had been made at the Foreign Office on the subject ? Mr. Taylor said that he met with the greatest facilities at the Foreign office, and soon ascertained that there was no such person connected with the establishment as Hy. Jackson. The prisoner, who did not utter a word, was re mended. John Smith was charged with having robbed his master. Edward Buckingham, City policeman (307), stated that about eleven o'clock on Friday night, his attention was called to a quarrel between the prisoner and the conductor of an omnibus, near tbo European Tavern, in Mansion House -street, where the prisoner had just alighted. The prisoner refused to pay the fare de manded by the conductor, and at last produced a silver cup, and offered to leave it in the hands of the con ductor as security for the payment of the money, and witness suspecting that all WLS not right with the pri s trier, who was intoxicated, took him into cuttAly. In the prisoner's possessitm was found a silver dish cover, a 5/. Bank of England note, a small silver image, . and the key of a desk. John Bradfield stated, that he was in the service of Mr. Peter M'Evoy, of Winableton, and that the pri soner had been in the same service as butler about three weeks, and the plate was in his care. On Friday last, T at about six o'cl,ck, the • prisoner went away without giving notice, and after he was gone the silver mug which hail been off red by the prisoner to the conductor was missed. Witnes,s miss d his writing-desk key, and upon examining his d,sk he missed a 51. Batik of Egg. land note, part of the money he lad lately rectived as wages from his master. The other silver artiele. were the property of Mr. M'Evoy, who was so ill as not to bs able to attend. The prisoner said he hail no observation at all to make, and was committed for trial. • ORKNEY, KIRKWALL, JULY46.-IVe have had a grand whale hunt here this week, 'which, although not at tended with success, has afforded some sport to the irhabitants. On Thor-4day last about. 100 whales were di:coveree spo'•ting their figures in our bay, when a tvand torn out of g e ntle , o ,d t .imple was soon. made, 1111; - ; i t slid WO %capon ft ! , 'could be mustered were put . however, proved to be " too far north" to be caught by land lubbers. It is supposed they are still in the bay taking a breath ing, to be ready for another (lace. MORE CUSTOM-HOUSE FRAUDS . At the Thames Police-court yesterday, Mr. Hopper, clerk to the Solicitor of Customs, accompanied by Mr. Cole, ColoP" troller of Accounts in the Customs department of the London Dock, came before Mr. Pallantine in great haste, for the p ura pose of obtaining a warrant to apprehend two persons, one s merchant in the City, the other a clerk in the Custom-house' fur conspiracy and fraud. Mr. Hopper said, that it had just been discovered that the Crown had been defrauded of duties to a considerable a mount by the connivance of a clerk, and the facts were shortly these' —The duty was paid upon 104Ibs. of nutmegs at the Custom" house by the owner and seller of the prcperty, and that quart, a tity only ought to have been delivered, but a warrant f ur the delivery of 1,1291b5. had been made out by the clerk , e ndue Crown bad consequently Oren defrauded of the duty 'lc', 1,0251bs of nutmegs, amounting to 135/. 15s. He t brought with him Mr. Cole, the Comptroller of Accounts, a° whose. department the clerk belonged ; the purchaser of the nutmegs, who lend received from the vendor 1,1291 b).; and th-e, clerk . who computed the duty at 10411 as The Solicitor Customs had directed him to apply, in the first instance) 5 the Lord Mayor, anti he had done so; but his Lordship e°° ,' , no: interfere, as the offence was committed out of his jurisdi!„ lion. He required a warrant that the parties might be fort.% with apprehended and brought before his Worship on 'l' cha•gtoof fraud and conspiracy. • 3 60 0 Mr. Ballantine had no recollection of a similar apatite „a having been made to him before. Assuming the facts a 5 by Mr. Hopper to be correct, a serious offence had beeo nutted by a servant of the Crown, but he should like to be 1'" in possession of more of the case before he interfered. b•a • Mr. Hopper said there could be no doubt the parties eb conspired togather, and he would explain the way in %Il a , to) fraud had been committed. The merchant went to tea long room of the Custom-house, and applied for a duty-P . t„ warrant for 1041b3. of nutmegs. The duty on that qual!'!`j was computed by the clerk and paid, and the merchant receive' a duty-paid warrant, which he took to the clerk in the C ° s l troller', accountoollice in the London Dock, and in the of apt course of business he ought to have signed a delivery il' 2 " r " . for lU4lbo of nutmegs, but he made out one for 1,12911 a- f Mr. Ballantine asked for the docuinents, and Mr. g°l l lo handed to him a memorandum written by the merchant t. o-aner of the goods, requesting a duty-paid warrant for 10411; of nutmegs, warehoused by Currie and Co , and from Bra ts posessions, and also a delivery warrant, to which the dells' quent clerk's signature was attached in red ink. It authorised the delivery of I,la9tbs. of nutmegs. Mr. Ballantine wished to know to whom the mernotso; dum was delivered ? Mr. Hopper—The owner of the nutm e g s paid it to the collector in the long room, and he corept!ted duties on 1041bs. of nutmegs, which was paid, and sigoo duty-paid warrant. Mr. Ballantine—Where is the duty-paid warrant? A l o r i Hopper—That has been made away with, for the porin se a t e carrying on this fraud. It cannot be found, but I have o 0 proper officer in attendarce to prove that the duty was paid Walbs. of nutmegs only. „ a nti Mr. Ballantine—And who made out the delivery vvele a —, Mr. Hopper—The clerk in the office of the comptro°,, a t 6 accounts of whom I complain. On the receipt of the o '4 pail warrant, it was the duty of tilt clerk to have made ' 2° e delivery warrant for 10411)s. of nutmegs, but he made out on , for 1,1291b5. Mr. Hopper then submitted that it was f el° 7 to defraud the Crown, and he asked for a warrant to see r hend the parties forthwith, and there was prima facie evi dE against them of fraud and conspiracy. Mr. Ballantine said the parties had prima fade corolobe an indictlble offence, but the question was, had he any V e is to interpose in the way now sought ? If a felony bat' t o committed, or if the Board of Customs intended to charite s o parties with a felony, all the solicitor of Customs had to d°, l 4 to order the parties into the custody of a police officer. l ors constable had the power of arresting a man for felony oi l " a Mr. 01 0 Hopper was aware of that, but the solicitor of etr„ t rt el had instructed him to apply for a warrant, which he coov" - `: t ae the most regular course. There were other cases agio",, a e , 1 same parties , but it was only necessary to proceed upon ; m e 1 Ile held in his hand a delivery warrant, signed by th e s ts clerk. for the delivery of upwards of 3,0001b5. of pepper' an the London Dock. The pepper belonged to the person s ' o f owned the nutmegs. The difference between the quart st d pepper delivered and that on which the duty had been P o was 2,0001b5. Mr. Hopper was about to hand the decal connected with this fraud to the magistrate, when , t ee Mr. Ballantine said he would first dispose of the net - , ie and that ease was bad enough. Had Mr. Hopper any cusp' attendance attendance to prove the hanowriting of the clerk P Mr. Fer—YesMr. Cole can do that. 14 05 Mr. Ballantine—You can recover the duties, and "- penalties too, in the Court of Exchequer. Mr. Hopper—Yes, Sir ; but we wish the parties to 1° their appearance its a Criminal Court. •t 11111 Mr. Ballantine observed, that in cases of conspiracy been the practice to go before the grand jury, and indict , r ot if a true bill was found, to obtain a bench warrant, and ar the the parties. Whether this was a case of fraud orw e . r de rei statute he would not undertake to say until he had eons , the matter seriously. ant is% After some further discussion relating to the facts, "- which ,s the Mr. Hopper said he had h a d no ti me t o p re p a re hinase"' frauds having only been discovered that afternoon, ' Mr. Ballantine consulted with M r . Symons, the chief ', l le ' and said before he discuss e d the ma tte r further he shah; or to see the Customs solicitor. 'lie case was one of gee' f lid portance, and th ere were some diffi cu lti es in the way Of interference ; but there were none in the way of indietrtrt parties for conspiracy, or proceeding against them in , the of Exchequer. Mr. Hopper could mention the solicitor ot Customs, and he could apply again. f Cured Mr. Hopper said that Mr. Walford, the solicitor e t a n tire would most probably wait upon the magistrate, and th en with the genCemen who accompanied him. subjedict teethe THE SPECULATION MANIA' for Among the new companies to which the present 1x, 1 ! 1a ... 00 speculation has given rise, the following seems promisionto account t ot its extreme novelty. That the merits of th e c c may be well unestood, w pri, in extnso, the " PROSPECTU d S r OF THE e GRA nt ND PIC- e NIC JUNCTIOS S II GREAT ALIMENTARY CANAL COMPANY.—The c apital of consist of two hundred thousand spoons, and the Coole b o has been already provisionally registered. The object of t vast national undertaking is to develope the resource' pic-nits to a greater, extent than has ever yet been _d• tempted. Tee Directors have it in contemplation to rd chase the Petersham meadows, and lay down a l ip° 0 plates from one end to the other with a cold collation e, each of the grand termini, and sandwiches at all the iet er s of diate stations. It has been calculated that the Colrot will thus secure all the pie-nie baffle from the u nt o Western road ; and the addition of a branch to nan i p. Court will greatly augment the probable pe n of the shareholders. It is intended subsequently to " - foto communication between Sandwich and Ham Common' hire which a large revenue may be looked for. The director s to o' ascertained that five hundred fillets of veal and an Oro :0 3 ber of rounds of beef are annually consumed in p i c nic si at is' having secured the services of a celebrated engineer, a 1,6 hall-slice celebrity, they calculate that the cuttings n i ti o n ,l conducted on the most economical principles. The prow, e committee are daily engaged in trying experiments Si, and boaid on the best means of supplying the alimentary cao a ,re' the deposits paid by shareholders will be devoted to th e o w liminary expenses which are being now incurred for tbe a l, pose alluded to. Prospectuses and further partiaularo : 3 ;10 1 1 had at the company's temporary offices on the Eel Pic Al t" and in the mean time it is hoped that the announce,iecte Duke Humphrey as chairman, will inspire the public W" fidence iu the solidity of the undertaking.—Punch. -• Chi P The will of the Hon. Amelia Quin, late 0 :, :o re worth Lodge, Southampton, widow of the Hon. Ricbsea,;4ol l° Quin, has just been proved by the executors, James .7;00 1 Pyle, Esq., and John Reynolds Beddome, M.D. rZ he estate under 25,0001. The bequests are numerous. lat e left her carriage and horses to ihe Earl of Dunraven , b 7„, th e husband's brother, and a specific bequest of jewellery; JO' Countess. Other articles of jewellery and ornament' ' a le rt posed of separately to her friends Pecuniary . bequests s'lolo to her brother, Sir John Wlldbore Smith, and to her P e fe and nieces, and to her goddaughters, and Sir William „, Galiwey and his family, and Lieut.-General Sir Alex tu rte b e Woodford and others of her acquaintance. Directs 800 1 - d or invested in Government security, the interest exPO de en d nually for ever in providing medicine and attendance,o to clothing for the poor of Chilworth. Leaves 1,000 guittety to ter executor Dr. Beddome, and the residue of her proPeeee he equally divided between her other executor and tbffista. her nephews. .Leaves to her own maid 600/. and be t „ robe, and annuities and legacies to all her other ser van ie sides a year's wages and Mourning. The will was Pt December, 1843, and a codicil, dated 29th of May , 164 toile CANVASSING.—A Cambridge b u k oili ° beirg canvassed during the late contest for Mr. Adak, 'l,lOO of that gentleman's friends, he pointed to a leg 0 !, ',I V' hanging in the shop and said, " That's a fine leg, sir. sti it is," was the reply. "It weighs 101b5.," added the i t Or blue, G 0 and its price is Si. a pound." " Then," sai d 'k t 'i, O f ' vasser, "it will suit Mr. Kelly's appetite better tut' Adair's," and left the shup. _ loth An eagle at Orkney lately flew off with f X rig' which, however, he dropped to make a stoop on rtniaciog The latter being defended by the sow, and the !3fp ii cli 6 ' escaped, the royal bird was compelled to make off with appointed maw. .1.16.01 Y • .31R7' H N. Of On the 6th inst., at Stafford House, the MarcbioDeP" Lorne, of a son. ihe ladY ° On the 2d inst., at Blackdown House, Sussex, • James Henry, li,q., of a daughter. er• ja di Oa the 4th inst., at Esher, Mrs. Lamb, of a da u g bt On the sth inst., at John-street, Berkeley-square; the of Robert Pollock, Esq., of a daughtet. f 5. J. f ‘ On the 6t h inst., at Quebec. street, Marylebone, D=r- Callow, jun., of a son. 1 , the On the 6th inst., at Park-terrace, Ilighbury-par't of John Dale, F]sq., of a son. of On the sth inst., at Lewisham Kent, Charles, third s ", e l et, Thomas Henry Plasket, Esq., of'Clifford-stree s t , ql ß ut o re d : u s o t si p o t ; to Elizabeth Henriquez, second daughter of Williain Esq , of Ravensbourne park, Lewisham. On the 4th inst., at St. George's, Hanover- Ransom, Esq., of Hastings, to Miss ' Hannah Martha reli' only daughter of Mr: Pearson, of Pimlico. e s '" On the sth inst., at Crewkern i Somersetshire, the Fe John Miles Cox, M.A., of Cheddington, Dorset, tud th e youngest daughter of the late Isaac Sparks, Es ( l'' '- former place. 11 01 ' On the sth inkt., at Christ Church, Marylebone, theshir, Arthur George Baxter, Rector of Hampreston_! o f 1 1 to Mary, second daughter of John Shewell, Esq. , place Lodge, St. John's-wood. Lately, Mr. Henry Charles Barfoot, to thss Welch• Grer On the sth inst., at St. Pancras, Char les KnewlY' of 11. Fide, of the Inner Temple, tsq , to Ellen, da u g hter Bromley, Esq., of Fitzroy-square. DIED i Clef* On the 28th ult., in the Avenue Lord l3yron, Pa r "' the wise of George Catlin, Esq. her o° -4-11r On the 30th ult., Mrs. Bowers, at the house of law, Major Grange, Kingstown, near Dublin. d-st reBt. On the 31st ult., Mr. D. Ellis, John-street, Oxf" kV. , 0,1 the 31st ult., at Bath, James Mac Donnell, Esq" late of her Majesty's 57th Regiinent of Infantry. Li.„.134 On the 2.1 inst.; the Rev. Ri c hard Samuel:Dixon, Rector of Flempton. frstree t, On the 3d inst., James Gordon Duff, of Devouper . -n ° "se Hyde-park. On the 3d inst., Marv, the wife of Nicholas Stuber:beeird; of Dulwich-common • r t, On the 4th inst., at Wrackleford House, '-' Pattison, Esq., aged 82. flerbP ( 0 ) nu the the 4th 4th inst., On the 4th inst., at Swindon, IVilts, G. Tow nsel' re, 31°- On the 5111 inst., in Woburn-place, Russell-stlua ,s Ls: :: at K Henry e - . 11 . 1 g o r z e l e e r y i ~ i‘ E i s r q s .. ,iotfutl e t °Fur: aorgYje:(l;7:4,. garet, relict of Richard Harris, Esq., aged 87. ~ a d, SoP D' ' Ham pste ; +,l the scl+ i,,s! - . at ()i4l Grove House, ~ lict ~f thi, 11 , Matillw.v 11,1illio,•M.D. - - 1 - "";/ - 140i ° ,' . . ~. rsn - you- - 12 I, .0.,.0.h.. t'':.:X.:d anti rublishcd ny-MITRIP,,,_ v0.,0f .i,,. 112, Straw', Printer, at De Sun OPlm , ' , c . S ra :1_ in the Precinct of the Savoy, in t he Middlesex, Friday, August 8,1845•