The Sun. — London, England, 1851-06-06 00:00:00

FRANCE, The Bishop of St. Claude, in the Jura, died on Saturday last. A letter from Chateauroux, in the Eure, cf the 3d inst., states that the party of order has obtained an important advantage in the election of their candidates as municipal councillors of the Canton of Levroux. The demagogues, not daring to offer any candidates, hoped to divide the party of order by proposing some Moderates. Their tactics were defeated. They only polled 60 votes out of 150. The Mayor of the Commune of Channe, in the Charente, has not only refused to legalise the signs. tures to a petition for the revision of the Constitution prepared within his jurisdiction, but, on Sunday last he harangued the people from the door of the church to dissuade them from signing the petition, telling them that if the Constitution were revised wheat would rise to 50f. the hectolitre. The people, how ever, possessed too much good sense to be de ceived by his words. The 20th Committee of Parliamentary Initiative, on the proposition of General Fabvier for raising the state of siege of Lyons, yesterday heard the Minis ter of the Interior, who took occasion to defend the Bill for the establishment of a police system in that city and the suburbs. The Committee decided that there was no ground for taking General Fab vier's proposition into consideration, and it ap pointed M. Brehier reporter thereon. The Commit tee on the Bill on the police of Lyons resolved to re commend the National Assembly to adopt it, and ap pointed M. Ferdinand Barrot reporter. An aide-de-camp of the Minister of War has just left for Algiers, with dispatches for the Governor- General ad interim. The Bourse was animated yesterday, and a decided improvement took place in the price of public securities. The Five per Cents. opened at 90f. 80e., and rose gradually to 91f. 20e., at which price they closed. The Three per Cents. closed at 56f. 45c.; Orleans Railroad Shares, 825 f.; Rouen, 615 f.; Havre, 242 f. 50c.; Great Northern, 475 f. • Avignon, 221 f. 25c.; Vierzon, 435 f. Basle, 145 f.; Bordeaux, 397 f. 50c ; Paris and Strasburg, 36 3 f. 75c.; Tours and Nantes, 277 f. 50c. DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES, THE KAFIR WAR. We have received Cape papers to the 7th of April, three days later than the last advices. Things remained much in the same state on the frontier, as will be seen by the following extract (From the Graham's Town Journal Extra, April 1.) " Advices were received yesterday from King Wil liam's Town to last Saturday. Since the Governor's return from Fort Hare strong patrols have been sent out in various directions, for the purpose of harassing the enemy and crippling his resources and means of pro tracting hostilities. This is the Kafir harvest time, and if allowed to store his supplies the war may be conti nued to an indefinite period. " During the past week, a patrol of 600 men proceeded on the 26th up the Buffalo, and another on the foilowing day towards Perie ' in which direction it w a s u n d ers t oo d there wer e many huts and gardens. Subsequently ano ther patrol, under MajorWilmot, R.A., has been detailed towards Seyolo's country, for the purpose of opening up Line Drift, the ford of the Keiskamma, on the direct road to this place. The latter has proved himself to be an energetic and able officer. He earned distinotion in New Zealand, and he has shown here the value of the experience gained by him in that colony. " In our Saturday's issue it was stated that 600 Hot tentots had been armed and permitted to accompany General Somerset to patrol the Kat River, where the Kafirs were said to be in force, having attacked the loyal Hottentots at Eland's Post, and butchered four of them. One or two errors were made in this state ment which we take this early opportunity of correcting. The number of Hottentots who were permitted to ac company General Somerset was 100, and not 600, as above stated. The fact of the enemy having roasted one of these poor creatures is confirmed, and shows what this peoplo may hereafter expect, should they place themselves at the mercy of their Kafir allies. " The Hottentots about icing William's Town say that Sandille, has a large camp in the Amatolas, and lives in a holies: built in the same manner as that of an English person. "Letters from Fort Hero have come in to-day up to Sunday last, at which data Major-General Somerset was out on patrol, as above stated, in the Kat River. From the accounts received, it appears that on the evening of Thursday the picquets were fired on by the enemy, who appeared to be in some force. The Lingoes and Hottentots immediately went to the support of the sentries, and from the blood spoor seen the next morning, it is inferred that several of the enemy must have been either killed or wounded. On reaching Eland's Post all was found quiet, it being sup posed that the rebel Hottentots had moved into the Amatola. Several ' clumpa' of Kafirs were seen, but none of them were brought to action. The General wee continuing his movement, and has sent directions for six days' rations to be forwarded to Post Retiof." The following comments of the Zuid Afrihaan of the 7th of April are interesting, as showing the opinion entertained by the colonists as to the speedy termination of the war : " The Government notice of the 25th ult. is of a grati fying nature. We say this, inasmuch as the defeat of the enemy, therein recorded, is the first affair that we look upon as actually reflecting any credit upon the forces at head-quarters. Hitherto we have been too much accustomed to the old tune of marching and cows. termarching Tong the high roa d , and upon being assailed making a charge upon the enemy and marching on again. " We do not, however, estimat e so hi g h ly the advan tages gained by this engagement, nor do we believe that there is aoy present prospect of the war being soon brought to a conclusion; but such lessons as the one re cently taught, if followed up with rapidity, will cer tainly prove the only means to lessen the period of pro traction. " With the Gaikas at open war—with a reinforcement to their ranks from the 'Slambies—with the connivance of the Aneagalekas—with the Tambookies and almost every native chief throughout British Kefraria and the Sovereignty in arm,—and the Hottentot rebellion and defection in the army to boot—what actual prospect is there, we presume to as k, o f a s p ee dy t erm i na t ion o f hostilities? " With such facts on record, no general order can h ave 'may effect. The danger is not diminishing, but lnegreesive, a n d t h e worst part of the present rupture may iman Ist have t o b e enacted. At the outset the Cone dr-iteChief had only to deal with the Gailea clans; now the n um b er of his adversaries are tenfold. Let there be no hope held out, therefore, of approaching lo p e a a y c e f , nfi w ic h t en aTaam-r i i t l e yet raging with all its horrors, and h il s u t rn the colony never yet recorded in the pages of ita • " The praise bestowed m who have nobly done their duty to their Queeno rarecompense men is f well earned, and is, after all, bat a their lives; dangers which they have bravelat tperil lives; but, whilst trumpeting forth this praise, et us not, in the description of our achievement s and the results likely o to flow therefrom, resort to w e unconsciously induce expectations never to doing any reverse may be realized, or perhaps induce at some distant period : and who can estimate theisg.utst "Veit a mind inflated by produce, or the obloquy that withwil entail upon the de ictured voted head of him who may, recent victory, have held outsuchexp m ec a tat h io a n us ! P " We trust our own apprehension s than in reality • is, but the an aspect to us wore gloomy .. . facts before us only strengthen our misgivings." yesterday . at the Colo n i a l - Dispatches were received Wee! from the Governor of New Zealand. gold at Paris MoriEr MARKET.—The quo tation is about 5 per mule discount, r i t price of according of to the awl tariff, which, at the English London at 7s. lOid. per ounce for standard gold . , gives an ex change of 25.04 ; and the exchange at Parts on short being 25.02 i, it follows that gold is 0.06 per cent. dearer i n P aris than in London. By advices from tlam „ burgh the pric e o f gold is 425 per mark, which, at the Eng lish Mint p r i ce of 3/. 17s. lOid. per ounce for standard go ld, gives au exchange of 13.4 7 • and the exchange at Ham: burgh on London at short being 13.51, it follows that gold is 0.29 per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburgh. The course of exchange at New York on London for bulb at be6o days' sight is 110 i per cent., and the par of exchange England and Atnerica being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is nominally favour of England; and after making allowance for differ -0.92 per cent. in ence of interest and charges of' transport, the present rate leaves a profit on the importation of gold from the United States. Fouit GOOD HABIT& There Were four good habits which a wise and good man earnestly recommended la his counsels and by his own example, and which he con sidered essentially necessary for the happy management of temporal concerns—these are punctuality, accuracy, steadi ness, and dispat c h. Without the first time is wasted, those who rely on us are irritated and disappointed, and twilling is done in its proper time and place. Without the second mistakes the most hurtful to our own credit and interest, and that of others, may be committed. Without the third, no thing can be well done; and, without the fourth, opportuni ties of advantage are lost which it is impossible to recal. Lusus NATURM.—A person residing a short die ance from Troedyhiwgoch-gate, near Llandillo-fawr, in this county, has now in his possession a living calf which has two heads and four eyes, but is in every other respect like the rest of the species. The animal takes food with both mouths, but he has only one gullet, through which it of course passes into the stomach. It is apparently perfectly healthy, and likely to live a l on g time, b ut i s at present only a fort night .14-this dar—Welshmaa. The lndependance, of Brussels, has the following from Hamburgh, Ist inst.:— " I have already announced to you the regulation of the succession to the throne of Denmark, and to th e sovereignty of the two Duchies , by t he ad option made by the King of Denmark of the young Prince Christian of_ Glucksbourg. It appears that the Grand D u k e of Oldenbourg, who enjoys immed iate and incontestable rights over these countries, is by no means inclined to alienate those r ights, or to have them wrested from him. The Russian Minister, M. de Struve, is endeavouring diplomatically to overcome the resistance o f t h e G rand Duke to that act of succession decided upon at Copen hagen. The threat of armed intervention, simulta neously addressed by Austria, Prussia, and Hanover, to the Senate of Bremen, has at l engt h h ad for result to overcome the resistance and the opposition of the Legis lative Assembly of the Bourgeoi s i e , where the demo cratic element was i n great major ity. ' The Socialist papers have been obliged to suspend their periodical publications, and their meetings have been prohibited by the police. The Senate is now occupied in drawing up some very stringent Bills on the liberty of the press and on the right of meeting, which will be very soon submitted for the adoption of our Legislative Assembly." The ATTORNEY- GENERAL—Of course not. He comes forward for gain.—(A laugh.) Witness said he had been at the rooms once, but he did not rav to go in. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL--You may go back to Flora, Mr. Nigatmgale ; but before leaving us tell us who is Jacobs? eVituess—He appears always like a gentleman to me, but I am not clever enough to say whether he has any profession or calling. I only knew him as a frequenter of the Flora Gardens. Mr. James BereFferd, son of the late inspector of the C division, was examined by Mr. CHAIIBERS, and stated that he plays the double bass in the orchestra of the room=. Mr. Laurent, sen., paid his salary. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY -GENERAL —Young Mr. Laurent found the music, and that is the custom of the profession. Mr. Christopher Brown is in the rooms every evening. Inspector Wall, of the C division, examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I know these rooms, and have seen them frequently. In the early part of June, 1850, there were no such words as " Licensed by Act of Parliament." This was the case for the plaintiff. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then addressed the jury for the defence , and reminded the jury th a t M r . J aco b s brought this action as a common informer, which he believed was his only calling. The plain tiff, the jury would remember, assisted to distribute the bills for the ball, in June, 1850 ; and yet he brought this action to recover penalties in respect of that very ball. The case reminded him (the Attorney-General) very forcibly of the well-known case where a publican got up a concert in his house, for the benefit of a friend, and that friend, after receiving the proceeds of the con cert, turned round upon his benefactor and filed an infor mation against him for having allowed music to be played in his house without a licence. This case was not quite so bad as that, but it fell not very far short of it, and he hoped the jury would mark their sense of these discreditable proceedings by returning a with stricte v a er se dit for the defendants. He maintained that no !lettel been made out either against the rooms or the defendants. The rooms it was admitted were conducted lessee, and evidence and decorum, while it had been proved by the zee that Mr. Christopher Brown was the How, then, eetll,, G.F. Bryer was only a managing director. Act of Parliament'. er l l e y 13E0 kept a diso - t d be said that the latter gentleman house, as prohibited by the whaiewveren there had been no concealment i in the matter lessee, and the other us u ; s the one was advertised as the re a al Manager, and if this ection 'o, that were biought for wa l s eo n ni fide purpose of pro s tegcatiinnsgt Brown? e w p n upli N e w h y why the names of Messrs. Bryer, Laurent: Tinhewyaswtoersehuntothmeiorretand but the r i e i a b so d n wott at ee t t hs e action b _ brought mouths hi tt tthese. on n t g b is e o e t t Some been dragged sion, or else they would have told the jury what the real facts were. • o Mr. Dryer applied to the time ag magistrates for a refus e licence, and it was unfortunately to risk d. Mr. Christo pher Brown then determined . the opening of the rooms wi, ?bout a licence, and . these gentlemen he (mi.!, and it was preposterous to 85V engaged as his monk, persons keeping the est lA' h - a Is rant. that they were the were the rooms condu cte d be. So admirably, howerer, parish that the fore the licence was obtained, all sympathy with authori ties of St. James'e, who repud i ate d the a c ti on , vo luntaelly withdrew ad the Middlese x a opposition to thi s 11 Popular pl a c e of amusement,nt, n magistrates almost unenimouly, for there was only one:disea n tient, agreed to grant a license to the present propri e t ors . No injury, therefore, had accrued to the pl a i nt i ff from the ex i stence o f th os e rooms p rior instituted these • a to the li cence, and as the plaintif f had in, proceedings not for the sake of vindicating the majesty of th ' law, but to p u t mone y i n to his own pockets, he confidently reliedbut upon the verdict of the jury being in favour of the defendants. Mr. Justice w IGErmA.N then briefly summed up, and 1.-ft it for the jury to Pay whether they ORO Me de- "Re Vinnicombe s Fire.—Dear Sir—l have heard from bliss Radmore, and she says her aunt will accept 1101., the office paying the expenses ; or if the office will give 1151. she will pay the fire expenses. If you resolve on adopting either of these plans, the latter will not be the most preferable, inasmuch as the expenses are about 61. She positively refuses to accept less than 1101. I believe this is a trifle less than the valuation which you have. Aro mine and my wife's policies pre pared? I wish them to be settled before my wife's next birth-day.—Yours, &c. " GORGE " Ottery St. Mary, M a y 16, 185 1 E." D. MAYNE. "Re Vinnicombe.—Dear Sir,—lf the directors have resolved on paying Miss Viiirdcombe 1101., they paying the expenses, or 1151., she paying the expenses, I shall bo glad to receive such amount as will enable me to pay her. I shall be going to Thoverton on Tuesday next, re ceiving tithes, and could then se t t l e th e matter, if lam placed in such a position as will enable me to do so. Be kind enough to send me mine and my wife's policies. " Ottery St. Mary, M a y 22, " Your obedient s ervant , 1 1 • 8 G 5 E 1 0 ., a , cut D. MAINE. In consequence of certain information which the office received, suspicion was entertained that no fire bad taken place. I accordingly went to Thoverton on last Friday week, taking with me a copy of the policy, and I found on inspecting the buildings insured that they had not been burnt, and that no damage whatever had been done to them by fire. If the 110/. had been for warded to the prisoner, as requested in his last letter, the office would have been defrauded of that amount. The prisoner admitted to me that all the letters were in his handwriting. _ Alderman WIRE then asked the prisoner, who was evidently suffering severe mental and bodily pain, and who had been accommodated with a chair during the exa mination, whether he had anything to say in answer to the charge, at the same time giving him the usual caution that any statement he made might be given in evidence against him on his trial. - Prisoner handed to the Alderman the following paper:— _ _ _ Sir,--I deeply regret to state that the claim I made upon the office on behalf of Miss Vinnicombe for com pensation for damages alleged to have been sustained by her in consequence of fire to three cottages at Tho verton, was fraudulently made by me, I knowing at the time that no such fire had occurred. I make this ad mission in order to save the office the trouble and ex pense of producing evidence against me, and throw my self entirely on the mercy of the directors.—l am, Sir, your very obedient servant, " GEORGE D. MAINE. " To J. G. Jay, Esq., Manager of the Monarch Fire and Lite Assurance Society." The prisoner was then fully committed for trial. THAMES. THE TRUCK SYSTEM.—In the case of the man named Hutchinson, who was charged by a ballast heaver named Cullen, and three others, with attempting to foist un wholesome and disgusting meat upon them in lieu of their labour, and who was ordered ou Wednesday by Mr. Yardley, who expressed great indignation at the case, to pay 245., the amount claimed, together with .53. each, Cullen came before Mr. Ingham, the sitting ma gistrate, yesterday, to complain that though Taplin, a summoning officer of the court, bad gone with him and his mates, Hutchinson refused to abide by the magis trate's decision. His language to Taplin was of the most defiant character. " I'll be -," said he, "if I pay a shilling for all the magistrates in the country. My goods are in the hands of the landlord, and they may do their best or their worst." Mr. IstortAx, on hearing this statement, immediately issued a distress warrant, and it remains to be seen whe ther between Mr. Hutchinson and his landlord the deci sion of the magistrates can be set at defiance. ATTE MPTED MURDER AT WANDS- WO RTLI. On Wednesday night, about half-pa s t t en o ' c l ock, W Walker, 98, V division of police, having received infor mation that a man living at Point Pleasant had mur dered his wife, he went to the house of William East wood, a man about 40 years of age, who is an ex-poliee man of the V division, and had latterly obtained his living as a broker's man. The constable went to the prisoner's house and knocked at the door, which was opened by the prisoner, who had a baby in his arms, and asked what the constable wanted. He told him he had come to make inquires about his wife, and he said he would toll him all about it. He then said, "I was sit ting down at the table eating my supper, when my wife made use of some words, and as she was leaning over me the knife ran into her, and there is the knife," point ing to ono on the table. Mr. Browne, of the firm of Finch and Browne, arrived at this juncture, as also Mr. Bicknell, the superintendent, and the constable then took the prisoner to the station, and charged him with t h e attempt to murd e r. Mr. Browne continued the most assiduous attentions to the dying woman during the re mainder of the Bight and morning, and Walker, the, con stable, remained in the house to insure to her quiet and proper attendance. This morning, on the opening of the court, soon after ten o'clock, the prisoner was brought up from the cells and placed in the dock before Mr. Beadon, charged with e we trstbehba amintgabhlies.kwniiffee,EwliittnetthenEt a to st m wo u o rd d er in he t r h . • left breast beingtwten nine u g oe . an l s d a w i t d e e — n n t o l t ' o e li l v E o e c a k a s , t I tw Sarah Taylor was th e fi rst w i tness exam i ned, and on t k n a n i c c g h h k i t l e d d r b e a t the door, b ut no one came, and as the door was not ct the Point . heard housent Eastwood' . a L n a d s locked I went into the washhons e , and there saw th e pri soner withwith the a Mrs, and h e answere d, "I young child i n his ar ms.' I asked him w h a t wast the matte r racilatit'ttesrawyi?t'h hlert,haennda:hke'dsaldrheEwalatsw stabbed b w e d h . a t I was h t. e h d e her who by, and sh e said b undresseder ma le m any leth he husband. He was in the room at the time, but by hersge t w remait. Myself and another woman ZasSwincl, gad foud be; blooding dec site ierfsi fendants, or any of them, acted as waster or proprietor of the rooms before their licence was obtained. The jury, without a moment's hesitation, returned a verdict for the defendants. --- --- POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. George B. Mayne was brought before Alderman Wire, in custody of Daniel Forrester, charged with having unlawfully attempted to obtain from the Monarch Fire and Life Assurance Company, the sum of 1101. with a view to defraud and cheat the said company. Mr. Henry Eaton said—l am a clerk in the Monarch Fire and Life Assurance Society. The following letter addressed to the manager by the prisoner was received at our office in the usual course of business:— " Ottery St. Mary, May 5, 1851. " Dear Sir,—On my return home this morning I found the enclosed (which came yesterday) awaiting me. I am very sorry to have to send it, and heartily wish that the insurances on all the thatched buildings in my agency were discontinued, particularly now that it is likely I shall have some of another and difficult class to insure. I will take Mr. Channon, an old builder and surveyor of some standing, and whose property is in sured in the Monarch, with me to Thoverton, and you may rely on my doing what I can for the office, and will take care to instruct him to value fairly, so that there shall be no more paid than what really ought to be paid. I will write again after the inspection, with the report, &c. I send my life proposal for 150/. Ido not know whether in my last I asked you to send me a copy of my wife's life proposal. If not, be kind enough to oblige me by sending me a copy of it. I have sent the necessary papers in my own case to Dr. Garland and my private referee. " Tours truly, " Gio. D. MAYNE." (Enclosure)—" Sir,—By my aunt, Miss Vinnicombe's, desire, I write to inform you that, by a fire which hap pened at Thoverton on Friday last, three of her cottages insured in your office have been much damaged by fire, and she wishes you to come over as soon as you can. " Yours, &c., " Thoverton, May 3, 1851. "M. A. RADITORE." The prisoner, through whose means the policy had been effected, was our agent at Ottery St. Mary, and Miss Vinnicombe was the party whose cottages were in sured. The following letter was next received by our manager:— " Ottery St. Mary, May 8, 1851. " Dear Sir,—Re Vinnicombe—l enclose claim and es timate. The latter, in my opinion, is very fair, and the office has had justice done it. Two of the three cottages are entirely burnt; one other very much burnt; the other two have their roofs injured (the thatch, &c., having been stripped off), and have sustained other da mage. Mr. Channon estimates the cost of reinstating at 112/. 10s. Miss Vinnicombe claimed 1301. I offered 1051., and intimated to Miss V. that her claim amounted to much more than the sum at which our surveyor estimated the damage, and that I was quite sure the office would not give more than what he recommended. This morning Miss Radmore came to me and intimated to me that her aunt, who is very infirm, old, and unfit for much business, wants no more than is fair, and although she had been told that it would cost 1301. to put the same buildings in the same state as they were before the fire, yet she was quite ready to abide by the valuation of our surveyor and not give any more trouble to the office than was necessary. I told her I had no doubt the office would be mainly guided by their surveyor's valuation, and that I would acquaint you hereof. Subsequently I offered, subject to your appro val, 1104 she to pay the fire-engine expenses, &c., amounting to some 51. or 61. From what I could gather I think she would accept 1101., and we pay the expenses; but she has promised to write me to-morrow, with her aunt's determination. After I have heard I will again write. If, however, she will take 110/. and pay half the expenses, I think it would be better to close, although by holding out I thi n k we may perhaps get her to ac cept 1101. and pay the expenses. Still we shall better see how to act after I hear from her. I told Miss Rad more that I would write her directly I heard from you, and that if the claim were satisfactory very little trouble would be given as to the payment. The fire took place in the evening, and originated in a house adjoining to one of those insured in this office and burnt, and from the same cause from which so many of our fires origi nate, viz., the chimney. I enclose my wife's life propo sal. Perhaps you will get mine and her policies ready as soon as possible, as our birthdays are rapidly ap proaehing.—l am, dear sir, yours truly, "To G. H. Jay, Esq." " GEO. D. MAYNE. The enclosure purports to be an estimate by a builder of the damage done to the buildings, amounting to 1121. 10s. Our office next received the enclosed from the pri soner, purporting to be addressed to him : " Sir,—l beg to inform you that I claim of the direc tors of the Monarch,' late 'Licensed Victuallers'. office,' the sum of 1301. for damage done to my cottages at Thoverton, by fire, on Friday last.—Your obedient servant, " ANN VINNICOMBE. " Thoverton, May 6th, 1831." Subsequently the following letters were receives by our manager : THE SIIN, LAW INTELLIGENCE. BAIL COURT, June 5. (Sittings at Nisi Prins, before Justice WIGHTMAN and a Common Jury.) THE ARGYLE ROOMS.--JACOBS v. BIGNELL AND ( THERE. Mr. M. Chambers, Mr. Heatly, and Mr. Barstow ap peared for the plaintiff; and the Attorney-General, Mr. Lush, and Mr. Parry conducted the defence. Mr. CHAMBERS, in stating the case to the jury, said, this action, which was one of considerable public in terest and importance, was brought to recover five penalties of 1001. each from the defendants, Bignell, Laurent, Bryer, and others, for keeping a house or room for public musi c an d d anc i ng, w i thout b e i ng d u l y licensed_ under the statut e . Th e statute i n quest i on was an ol d Act of Parliament passed in the 25th year of the reign . of George the Thi r d, i n consequence o f the evils w hich arose from unlicen se d pl aces o f en t er t a inment of h his description. Wi t h out d ue regu l at i ons , an d unless su bjec t to some kind o f res t r i ct i on , t h ey h e ld out the greatest temptations to those who frequented them, and persons t became so captivated with the pleasures and amusements which they offered as to be induced to supp l y t h e m eans of indulging in th em by adopting dishones t or irregular or practices. The Act provided tha t the proprietor pro prietors of rooms, saloons, or gar dens, which were kept open for public entertainment wit h out _ aicence s ,sh e ould forfeit to every person who should sue for the am the sum of 1001. for each day it was so kept open, and be disorderlyotherwise p h u h n h i s s e h s. abl e T a h s e d i rected th p e la lcaewnhwunder consideration in the cases of Argyle t beßooms , old i i n enough W in dm ill, to rec 1 svitaresewt,eHllskynmoawtknet.as Some m might lect that at one time there existed in Regent -street rooms for dancing, called the Argyle Rooms ; they were burnt down several years ago, and recently, or within the last two or three years, a splendid s a l oon was erected in Windmill-street for music and dancing. In 1849, the persons who then appeared to be the managers or proprietors were the present defendants. It was opened in that year to the publi c w i t h out a li cence. The Act made i t incumbent on the proprietor to have written on some conspicuous part of the exterior of the building a notification that it was licensed pur suant to Act o f P ar li ament, and also to produce his licence if any p arty ;not seeing such a notice outside might request him to do so. In the present case the defendants did not comply with these requirements of the Act, and the natural inference was that the rooms were opened without any licence. The plan, trick, scheme, or contrivance by which they endeavoured to evade the law was this: they announced that dancing lessons would be gi ven at the rooms, and they charged each grown up lady or gentleman who entered one shil ling, under the pretence of their taking dancing lessons. The defendant Bryer, it appeared, applied at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions in 1849 for a licence, but it was refused by the magistrates, notwithstanding the rooms were opened at that time for dancing. Charles Emile Laurent, who was once a celebrated cornopeau player, took the management of the band, and Emile Laurent, his father, had the general superintendence of the affairs in the interior. There was a regular money taking place, but 'persons were stationed at the door to prevent informers entering. In the following year, 1850, Charles Emile Laurent renewed his applica tion to the magistrates, and on stating that he had hired the rooms for three years from Mr. Bignell, a licence was granted to him, and the rooms were now carried on in the reguar way under that licence. He might men tion that Bignell was a well-known sporting gentleman, and the owner of a cigar -shop and saloon adjoining the Argyle Rooms. As soon as the dancing ceased, and the lamps were extinguished, this saloon of his came into requisition, and was kept open until a very late hour in the morning; such ladies and gentlemen who wished to prolong their amusements generally adjourning there after the Argyle Rooms were closed. The penalties now sought to be recovered were for keeping the rooms open unlicensed on the 41)1, sth, 6th, 7th, and Bth of June, 1849, and it would be for the jury to say whether the plaintiff; under the circumstances which would be adduced in evidence, was entitled to one or all of those penalties. Mr. George Baggard, solicitor and vestry-clerk of St. James's, Westminster, examined by Mr. HEATLY, said he was instructed by the governors and overseers of the parish to oppose the application for a licence for the Ar gyle Rooms at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions in Sep tember, 1849. He attended accordingly on that occa sion, but the counsel who appeared for the proprietors of the rooms withdrew his application. At the next ses sions, in 1850, he again attended to oppose a similar ap plication, but the magistrates granted a licence. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY. GENERAL—HIS opposition in 1850 was unsuccessful. The magistrates were almost unanimous in granting the-licence; only two or three opposed it out of twenty-two magistrates, James Gregg, beadle at the sessions, gave similar testimony. Mr. John Willis, formerly a police•constable, was called and examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I was employed by Mr. Bryer on the 19th October, 1849, to attend the Argyle Rooms to keep out disorderly persons, prostitutes, and pickpockets, which he did up to last year. At the time I was employed Mr. Bryer told me that ho made the engagement on behalf of Mr. Chris topher Brown, whom he represented to be the proprietor of the rooms. I often saw Messrs. Bryer, Laurent, and Bignell in the rooms, but only the former took any part in the active management of the rooms. The rooms were always conducted with strict order, and care was taken to observe propriety and decorum in those who attended. The rooms were open from eight o'clock till half-past eleven o'clock every night. I recollect a grand ball taking place on Tuesday, the 4th of June, 1849, Messrs. Bryer and Biguell were there that night, but I did not hear them give any direction. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I know Mr. Christopher Brown. lie was the lessee, but I can't say whether he had the management of the rooms. I have seen him there, taking part in the management. Mr. Bryer acted as director of the proceedings, and I believe ho exEcuted the decorations. On the night'of the grand bull the rooms were re-decorated by Mr. Bryn-. Mr. Laurent, jun., was the leader of the band. Everything was conducted in the rooms with perfect propriety and decency. Richard Francis—l know the Argyle Rooms in Great Windmill-street. I am a printer, and I printed the posting-bills for those rooms. I recollect the 4th of June, 1849. I printed bills for that day, but Ido not know whether they were posted. I have got a bill for the ball, which I printed by direction of Mr. Bryer, but I saw neither Mr. Bignell nor Mr. Laurent about it. The treasurer of the rooms, Mr. Bryer, usually paid me. I also printed a general bill for the rooms by di rection of Mr. Bryer. I printed for the rooms between October, 1849, and August, 1850. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL-4 was employed on behalf of Mr. Christopher Brown, and I debited him with the cost of the bills in my books. Charles Nightingale—l was manager and conductor of the Flora-gardens in the summer of 1850, and dur ing that year Mr. Bryer brought some bills to Mr. Jacobs, who distrinutecrthein about the gardens. Mr. Justice WIGHT.3IAN—WI3O is Jacobs? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—The virtuous plaintiff, my Lord. Mr. CHAMBERS—No. He does not come forward for virtue. LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEABORNE MAILS. [N signifies that the mails are sent horn the General Post-ernes by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.) When made up in From what Wh PLACES. G eneral Post-ofEce port die- e n uue. London.: petalled. America (by Brit. pkt.)N.Tene 6 Liverpool • • Juno 9 America (by U.S. pkt.) Nl.Tune 10 .. Liverpool .. America (by U.S. pkt.)3lkfune 18 .. ..ISouthampt. June 12 Africa ( West coast).. Ni lath of the month Plymouth June 3 Alexandria* • • • Nll9th & 30th of mo. Dover .. June la Belgium •• •• NlDaily Dover .. Daily Brazil • .4 M "9th of the month Southampt. (June 12 Buenos Ayres 49th of the month Southampt. 'June 12 California(viaCha,lres)3l"l7th of month Southampt. June 5 Cape of Good Hope N"l4th of month Plymouth.. Juno 3 Constantinople* •• •• 11,7 th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. June 10 Central America M2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. Juno 5 Channel Islets N Mon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Tu. Th•Sa Chili .• •• .• • 111.17 th of the mouth Southampt. June 20 France M&N Twic e d a il y .. .. Dover • • Tw i ceda i ly Greece* •• .. .. N 7th 17th27th of mo Dover .. June 10, Hamburgh N Tuesday & Frid ay L on d on .. Tues. Sat. Holland .. • • .. M Wednes. & Satur. London .. Moil.Tlact Honduras .. .. . N 17th of the moathiSouthampt. Juno 20 Ireland .. •• 31 &N Twice daily "Holyhead Twicedaily India (via Southamp.) 31 20th of the month"Southampt. Jane 23 India (viaMarsellies) N 7th& 24th ofmonthDover •• June 18 Mediterranean (via Southampton) .. 31 20th of the month Southampt. June 23 Mediterranean (via Marseilles) N 7 th&2olsofmonth Dover •• "June 18 Mexico •• •• AI 2d of the month.. Southampt. June 5 Madeira .. •• 31 9th of the month Southampt. June 12 Malta* 17th,17th,19th,27th } Dover June 10 & 30th of month Naples* .. • • .. N sth 15th 25th of mo" Dover .• , June 12 Papal States* .. N:sth 15th 25th o f mo 'D over IJune 12 Peninsular.. •• 3117th 17th 27th of mu Southampt. June 16: Peru •• •• •• • • 3[l7th of the month ISouthampt. June 20 Tuscany* .. N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover • • June 12 31 West Indies .. "17th of the month Southanapt. Jurie 20 West Indies (exc e pt Havanna & Nassau) 31,2 d of the month .. Southampt. /Julie 5 West Indies Mil7th of the month West Indies (except Havana & Nassau) M i The mails to those CI French packet via Mansell CALI FOHNIA.— Malls to ars now despatched and di 2d •f the month . ountries thus mar: !Southampt. /June 5 Led (*) are conveyed by and from CaWorn!: Me by every Ameri, la, via tho United State can packet. MUNIFICENT DONATIONS TO THE ROYAL ORT/10- rxinc Hosrrrar..—Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert have subscribed 1001. to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, in addition to which the committee have received many other donations, including 50/. from the trus tees of the Cholmondeley Charities, 50/. from Quarles Harris and Sons, and a promise of 500/. from " Anonymous" when 9,500/. shall have been subscribed towards the building fund of the institution. THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION.--111 a prospectus of the forthcoming" History of the Restoration," by Lamartine, circulated among the booksellers of nearly every European capital, the associated proprietors, Messrs. C. Gosselin, rag nerre, Fume, Lecos, and Lippert, call the attention of their confreres to the fact, that from the number of piratical houses each one can. sell lout,a comparatively small edition, and that by means of a large edition from one setting of the types, they will be able to supply copies of the original and authorised editions of works at such a price that the pirates cannot successfully compete with them. If the European publishers will assist them in the good work of this experi ment, the copyright question, so far as the piracy of French books in Europe isconcerned, will be settled without the in tervention of diplomatists or ministers.—Literary Gazette. BRIGHTON. --It is stated in Lyell's Principles of Geology, that in the reign of Elizabeth the town of Brighton was situated on that tract where the Chain Pier now extends into the sea; that in 1665 twenty-two tenements still re mained under theglifls ; that no traces of the town are per ceptible; that the sea has resumed its ancient position, the site of the old toren having been merely a beach abandoned by the ocean for ages. On referring to the "Attack of the French on Brighton in 1545," as represented in the engraving in the Arduraiagia, April 14, IS3I, I find the town standing apparently just where it is now, with "a folde in the mid dle," but with some houses on the beach opposite what is now Pool-valley, ete the east side of which houses the French are landing; the beach end of the road from Lewes.-11'o : es and Queries. VALUE OF TIM E TO " CHEAP TRAIN" TRAVELLERS. —The York, Newcastle, and Berwick Company are said to have had a clause introduced into a recent Parliamentary Bill of theirs, authorising the company to reduce the speed of "cheap trains"from twenty to twelve miles an hour. It seems to be considered that time is "of no consequence" to those who cannot afford to pay high fares, whereas it is pre cisely these to whom time is, in most cases, vitally valuable. A man with independent means could afford to journey lei surely, and to defray the increased expenditure incidental to lengthened delays, ,but it is far otherwise with the, usual oc cupants of "cheap' trains," and suah checks on speed as those just alluded to, can only tend to re-contract the public habits of locomotion within the narrow limits of the old jog trot coaching system, and torender " cheap trains" themselves profitless to the companies, because useless to the public,— Builder, breast. We saw no blood till we took her clothes off. The wound was about an inch lonc , and deep. We sent for a surgeon. Th e p r i soner said' he had not done it; she had run against the knife. I saw knife on the table. It was a broad table knife, with a round point. Police constable Walker here produced the knife. Mr. Francis Browne —I am partner with Mr. Finch, the surgeon. I was called on about eleven o'clock last night. A man came to our home and said a woman had been stabbed. I found a wound about three inches below the left nipple; the woman was in a state of collapse, and had fainted. I thought it necessary that what she might have to state should be taken down, as she was in very considerable danger at this time, and there was little probability of her recovering from ouch a wound. It was an inch lonr,. Mr. BEADON—Do you think if we were to take the prisoner down to the house, so as to take the woman's deposition in hii presence, it would be too much for her? Mr. Browne—l think there can be no objection whatever, as reaction has set in. Mr. Beadon, the magistrate, with Mr. Alfred Taylor, the chief clerk, and Mr. Browne, the surgeon, accompa nied by Mr. Bicknell, the superintendent, then proceeded to visit the injured woman, police-constables Walker and Oatley, and the prissner. Mr: Beado❑ then administered the oath, and the poor creature said—My name is Elizabeth Eastwood; I am the wife of William Eastwood. We live at the Point. I was sitting in my rocking chair between nine and ten o'clock last night on the opposite side of the room to my husband. There was nobody else there. Some angry words passed while ho was eating his supper, and he had his knife and fork in his hands; he ran at me and stabbed me. I said, "You have killed me;" and be said, "Oh Elizabeth, don't say that." As I expect to die, that is the truth. The wounded woman then signed her deposition, and the prisoner was taken back to the court, from which ho was remanded till Monday next. ' UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, JUNE 4 . —PRIZE. FOR AN ENGLISII POEM ON A SACRED SUBJECT.—A benefaction of 1,0004 Three per Cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities, having I been offered to the University, the interest to be given . as a prize for an English poem on a sacred subject, which shall be awarded, under certain regulations, once in every three years, and the same having been accepted by convocation on February 15, 1848, the following sub . ject is proposed for the year 1854:---" The Dedication of the Temple." The compositions must consist of not less than sixty, nor more than three hundred lines. The candidates must be members of the University, who at the time when the subject is announced shall have passed the public examination for the degree of B.A. The compositions are to be sent under a sealed cover to the Registrar of the University on or before the Ist day of December, 1853, and the prize is to be adjudged on the Ist day of June, 1554. The author is required to con ceal his name, and to distinguish his composition by what motto ho pleases; sending at the same time his name and the date of his public examination, sealed up under another cover, with the same motto inscribed upon it. The composition to which the prize shall have been adjudged is not to be recited; but printed copies are to be sent by the author to the Chancellor, heads of colleges and halls, the proctors, the judges of the compo sitions, the professore, the founders of the prize, and to the Bodleian Library. CAMBRIDGE, JUNE 4.—SIR WILLIAM BROWNE'S MEDALS.-Sir William Browne having bequeathed three gold medals, to he given annually to such resident un dergraduates as shall compose the best Greek ode, in imitation of Sappho; the best Latin ode, in imitation of Horace; and the best Greek and Latin epigrams; the first after the model of the Anthologia, and the second after that of Martial; the medals for the Greek and ' Latin odes have been adjudged to Mr. F. V. Hawkins, of Trinity College, the late successful candidate for the Camden medal. Subject—Greek Ode— Oraculorum defectis. Subject—Latin Oie—Caro lus Albertus Sardinia Rex. The medal for the epigram was not adjudged. DIVINITY. —The Norrisisn Professor of Divinity will commence his lectures for Michaelmas term, 1851, on Saturday, November 8. MR. EMERSON on SLAVERY in A2IIERICA. The following letter was sent by Mr. H. W. Emerson, in answer to an invitation to attend the annual meeting of an Anti-Slavery Society held at Concord, United States, on the 3rd ult.:— " New York, 18th March, 1851. " Dear Friend,—l bad more reasons than one to regret leaving home at this time, and, if my present engage ments were not of two seasons' standing, I should have made every effort to relieve myself. For your liberty meeting, I thing it has a certain importance just now; and, really, at this moment, it seems imperative that every lover of human rights should, in every manner, singly or socially, in private and in public, by voice and by pen—and, first of all, by substantial help and hospi tality to the slave, and defending him against his hunters, enter his protest for humanity against the detestable statute of the last Congress. I it a subject of conversation in all cars and steamboats, and everywhere distributing society into two classes, according to the moral feasibility of individuals on one part, and their habitual docility to party leading on the other. I do not know how the majority of today will be found to decide. Sometimes people of natural probity and affection are so wrapped by the habit of party, and show themselves so unexpectedly callous and inhuman, that it seems we mast wait fur the Almighty to create a new generation a little more keenly alive to moral impres sions, before any improvement in institutions cuu be looked for. But, as far as I have observed, there is, on all great questions, a tide of undulation in the public mind, a series of actions and re-actions. The momentary interest carries it to day; but, presently, the advocates of the liberal principle are victorious—and the more entirely, because they had persisted unshaken under evil report. And, as justice alone satisfies everybody, they aro sure to prevail at last. " It' the world has any reason in it, it is for ever safe and successful to urge the cause of love and right. I know it is very needless to say this to you, and others like you, who cannot, if they would, help serving the truth, though all the world be gone to worship Mam mon. But it is the only answer I know how to make to our mathematical compatriots. So, wishing you a day of happy thoughts and sympathies on Thursday, I remain, yours respectfully and gratefully, " R. W. EMERSON." JUNE 6, lB5l. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 5. Their Lordships sat to-day shortly before Five. The following Bills this day received the Reya, Assent by Commission:— Property Tax Bill. Sale of Arsenic Regulation Bill. Royal Naval School Bill. London and Blackwell Railway Bill (Branch to Ilaydon square, Whitechapel, &c.). Driffield and Sheffield Turnpike Road Bill. Mayfield Railway Bill (No. 2). Leicester Waterworks Bill. Shrewsbury and Bridgenorth Turnpike Roads Bill. Whitby Waterworks Bill. Scottish Central Railway Bill. Regent's Canal Company Bill. Halesworth, Beccles, and Haddiscoo Railway Bill. North British Railway Bill. London and Blackwell Railway Bill (Extension of Time for Widening). Melton and Driffisld Junction Railway Bill. Derby and Ashborne Road Bill. Aberdeen Public Records Bill. Richmond and Lancaster Turnpike Road Bill. Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway Bill. Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne New Road Bill. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Cranwortb, and Lord Stanley of Alderley. Their Lordships resumed shortly after Five o'clock. Several private Bills were, on the motion of Lord REDESDALE, forwarded a stage. Lord MONTE AGLE postponed the presenting of the petition from Australia on the subject of transportation, of which he had given notice. WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice that he should to-morrow move that the House at its rising do adjourn to Monday se'nuight. PETITIONS. The Earl of HARROWI3Y presented several peti tions in favour of the Absconding Debtors Bill. COUNTY COURTS EXTENSION BILL. On the motion of Lord BROUGHAM the County Courts Extension Bill (No. 2) passed through Com mittee, when divers amendments were introduced. The Bill, as amended, was ordered to be printed, and to be re -committed on the 17th. PETITIONS. The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition, signed by thirty ladies, members of the Woman's Rights Asso c►ation of Sheffield, praying for a repeal of the taxes on knowledge. _ _ _ MARRIAGES (INDIA) BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up. AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL. On the order of the day for the committal of this Bill, Lord BROUGHAM signified his disapproval of cer tain parts of the Bill, and suggested that it should be referred to a Select Committee, but at the same time he was understood to protest against the Bill being re ferred to the judges. The LORD CHANCELLOR was in favour of re ferring this most important Bill to a Select Committee. Lord CAMPBELL considered that the Bill would greatly improve the administration of justice—(" Hear, hear," from Lord Brougham) —and his opinion had been greatly confirmed by the letter which had been published by his illustrious predecessor, Lord Denman.—(Hear.) He thought the judges ought to be coutulted, and that their opinion was entitled to great consideration. He would consent to refer it to a Select Committee, and had no doubt that it would there receive every consideration. Lord BROUGHAM had only intended to object to calling the judges as witnesses before the Committee. He thought the opinion of the judges entitled to every respect. The Bill was then committed pro forma, and ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. Lord BROUGHAM said his Noble and Learned Friend, who was not then present (Lord Lyndhurst) had, in a recent speech, made a statement respecting the Bill passed some time ego for the improvement of the Court of Chancery in Ireland, the result of which he said had exceeded' all their expectations. Ho had not then compared that Bill, which was framed by the pre sent Master of the Rolls, with the provisions of the measure he was now about to lay upon the table of the House. That was the same Bill which he:had introduced to that House in the course of last session, and which had passed through all its stages the❑ without any oppo sition, with the exceptio❑ of some doubts expressed by the late Noble Master of the Rolls. These doubts were, however, subsequently so far removed that the Noble Lord had waived any farther objections to the measure. In consequence of the lateness of the session when it went down to the other House it was dropped. Now this Bill was almost identical with the one which it appeared was so successful in Ireland, and the facts mentioned by his Noble and Learned Friend respecting the Irish Bill applied with equal force to his measure. He had stated the provisions of the Bill ea a former occasion. It had been most carefully prepared by a learned relative of his, and was intended to supply the defects of the dead men's clauses, as they were called, in Chancery. Lord GRAN WORTH said that the Bill, no doubt, deserved their most serious attention. He did nut think that the case of England stood in the same position as that of Ireland. Re recollected that Lord Cottenham, about twelve months ago, had proposed an alteration in the proceedings of the Court of Chancery, abolishing the necessity of petitioning. By these now orders the system was, he believed, made as inexpensive and expe ditious as could well be expected. If the Bill had worked so well in Ireland, he (Lord Cranworth) was surprised that his Noble and Learned Friend had not adopted that feature of it which referred to the petition ing part of the subject. Lord BROUGHAM said it was owing to the expense of petitioning, which was 1.51. alone, that he did not pro pose to proceed by petition. Lord CRANWORTH said that that fact showed the propriety of saying nothing on the Bill until it was actually before them. Lord BROUGHAM said that when his Noble and Learned Friend saw the Bill ho would find that it did not interfere with the new orders. The Bill was then laid on the table and read a firs time, Lord BROUGHAM haring proposed the names of the Select Committee to which ho referred his former Bill, Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 5. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The SPEAKER resumed the Chair at a Quarter before Five o'clock. ROYAL COMMISSION. Sir A. Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, ap peared at the table of the House, and summoned the Speaker to attend in the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent given to certain Bills (for which see Lords' report). The SPEAKER, on his return, announced the names of the Bills which had been assented to. METROPOLIS WATER BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. COCHRANE rose to move an amendment, that it is the opinion of this House that no Bill for the supply of water to the metropolis shall be proceeded with, unless the works required for an improved and complete supply of water to the metropolis shall be put up for competition as to the terms on which they shall be executed and maintained, upon a contract for a term of years, on a general rate. The Honourable Gentleman, after relating the history of the existing metropolitan water companies, from the establishment of the New River Company down to the present time, proceeded to state that he op posed this Bill because it would increase monopoly in the water supply of the metropolis. The history of the existing water companies was perfectly incredible, and he was very much afraid that the present state of the company and the cond uc t o f their managers was equally reprehensible. Many years ago there was a water mania somewhat resembling the railway mania of 1846, and things reached such a pitch that the Legislature was compelled to interfere. Then was established that monopoly which the public now complained of, and ho for one thought very properly complained, for a more disgraceful sy s t em could not be conceived than that which regulated the Wa t er sup ply of the metropolis. Within the last few weeks he had personally gone over London to make himself master of this very subject, and then sights met his eyes that per fectly astounded him. Nothing could be more horrible than the scenes which he saw, and he believed M. Leon Faucher, who had performed a similar tour of inspec tion, had publicly declared that our water reservoirs were a stigma to a nation boasting of its civilization as England did. (rho Hon. Memb er read his personal notes of a visit to places in Bermondsey, Knightsbridge, and other districts, showing that diseases of the worst character always existed where the supply of water was either deficient'or impure.) While the average duration of life among the higher classes was 42 years, among the poor and industrious people, who were more particulary subject to the misery and discomfort of filthy and unwholesome water, it was only ten years, and that fact alone he thought was sufficient to stamp the present system with the condem nation of the House. If a different system were adopted he should he prepared to show that water might be sup plied at 2id. for each house in London instead of 7id., as at present. There was, however, never a greater piece of jugglery attempted on the House than the Go vernment Billl, which would place in the hands of the different water companies a larger profit than they now derived. Simultaneous with the Bill had ap peared the prospectus of a company, which, with a capital of two m illi ons of money, proposed to supply every house in London at a penny a week each with a capital, pure, soft water at high pressure. Add to that ld. as compensation for the present companies, the cost of water would be only half of that which it was at pre sent. The saving iu washing with soft water alone would bo a quarter o f a million a year. Mr. N apier had sh own t h at 57 million gallons per day of the purest soft muter could be o bt a i ne d f rom F arn h am , an d that the cost wou ld not b e much more than a thir d of whath it was at present. The scenes of horror witnessed daily were sufficient to prove the inefficiency as well as the inhumanity of the existing water companies. Ile (Mr. Cochran e ) wanted to know why shou ld t h ere b e a mo nopoly of wa t er, one of the first necessaries of life, on the part of water companies ? In conclusion, he (Mr. Cochrane) quoted from M. Leon Faucher, the present Prime Minister of France, a passage strongly condemna tory of th e san i tary sta t e o f the metropolis, condemna tory of th e l oca l a d m i n i s tration, and condem natory of the monop o ly o f wa ter by the nine companies in posses sion of that privilege. The Bill before the House bore on its face the stamp of these water companies ; it was sufficient for him to know that they approved of the Go. vernment measure to conclude that it Would give no sa tisfaction to the public. Under these ell CUED@tßaces he moved his aulowtsleut• Sir B. HALL should not vote for the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman— he cool] not understand it. Mr. B. COCHRANE said he would withdraw the amendment to give way to the amendment fur a second reading that day six months. The amendment was withdrawn. Mr. MOFFAT then rose to more as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. It was clearly and distinctly proved by the Board of Health that the supply of water to the metropolis was in sufficient by reason of its defective distribution; that it was inferior in quality, as containing vegetable and or ganic matter in solution; and that its cost was higher than it ought to be. The cost was now about 450,0001. per annum, but it had been shown that it eould be ob. tained fur half that sum, of a much more useful and efli cient character, and of a greater economy in the article of washing. The total cost of washing in the metro polis was five millions yearly. There was a graver ob jection to the Bill, inasmuch as it proposed to take the whole property of these companies at a fair and librral valuation. But the value emit be taken at the present value —the value of monopoly; not such a value as open competition would have settled. Ho also objected to the mode in which tho machinery of the Bill was to be worked. If the Bill passed ho believed there would be no material benefit to the public as far as a pure supply of water was concerned. Nor was the Secretary of State the proper person, even if he had time to spare, to look after this important sanitary matter. Ile did not believe the Bill would lower the rate to the public gene rally; for he found that by the Bill the rate was still to be 6d. for every 1,000 gallons. Now, in Whitehaven he knew that the inhabitants were supplied for ld. per 1,000 gallons. Ho thought the Government ought to do with water the lame as had been done with gas. This would serve to protect the public against combination. He thought Government had neglected the interests of the public in the step they had taken; for it appeared to him the only effect of the Bill would be to substitute one great monopoly for several smaller ones. He begged to move his amendment that the Bill be read that day six months. Sir B. HALL had no hesitation in declaring from his knowledge of the feelings of the inhabitants of the me tropolis, from the east to the west, that they unanimously desired the Bill should not be proceeded with. The effect of this Bill would be to continuo the management of affairs in the hands of the existing directors, and the result would be that competing companies could never bo again established. Ho objected also to the mode proposed for valuing the property and the shares of the existing companies, because if persevered in it would be impossible to expect that the public would have any im mediate reduction of the present cost of water to them. The Bill was a Bill entirely for the benefit of holders of shares in water companies, and before they granted this boon the House ought to see what good these compa nies bad done to deserve it. Had they carried out the conditions upon which they obtained their powers from Parliament?—(Hear, hear.) He would prove from documentary evidence before the Board of Health that this was not so. It was impossible to get the Legisla ture to interfere effectually on behalf of the public, be cause the water interest was too strong in that House. He had been told that no less than seventy-five Mem bers of that House were holders of water company shares, and therefore, as they had a direct interest in keeping up monopoly, he considered they ought to ab stain from voting on questions in which their private interest was opposed to the public interest. To show the variation in the charges to the pub lic, in one company the price was charged Bd. per 1,000 gallons, in another the charge was Std. per 1,000 gallons, showing a difference of 128 per cent. between the charges. Pamphlets had been written on bath sides of the question —one by the Hon. Member (Sir W. Clay), in which it was stated that the Grand Junction, of which he was the chairman, drew water at a place where there was no seweraue. Now he (Sir B. Hall) believed it would be found that there was a great deal of sewerage in the district from which the Grand Junction drew its supply. Another company drew its water from Battersea, but hero there was the disadvantage of drawing the supply of water between two sets of sewers. It was this system that the Hon. Member (Sir W. Clay) wished to be left undisturbed. He could quote numerous other instances to show that it was necessary the supply of water should be taken out of the hands of those who at present had the entire mo nopoly secured to them. The Hon. Member hero read the chemical analysis of several descriptions of water supplied by different water companies, to prove that all the supplies were more or less loaded with impurities, animalculre, and other things injurious to health and domestic purposes. The Hon. Member (Sir W. Clay), however, said this was the kind of water the public ought to have, and which his company would go on sup plying if Parliament would not interfere. He would just show that the proposal of Government would fix on the public a higher price than tho New River Company charged. He would first mention, that from a return recently made of the price of shares of water compa nies, he found that a 1001. share of the New River, we understood, was valued at 17,300/. For each 1001. share the directors get a large income, nearly 9001. he believed. Ile would show that the scale proposed by Government fur the rate of charging was higher than the present scale of the New River Com pany. For a 7-roomed house the New River charge was 245.; the Government charge,' 245. 6d. For a 9-roomed house, New River charge, 305.; Government charge, 31s. 6,1.; and for a 10-roomed house, New River charge, 365.•, Government charge, 40s. fie said Government ought to place the whole management and control in the hands of the rate - payers.—(Hear.) Do not let the pub lic be subject to all the schemes and extravagances of tho present directors, especially when they found that the chairmen of two companies had put forward a pam phlet to say the public ought to be satisfied with the system as it existed. The public would be content to buy the plant and property of water companies at its own price—(Hear) —but that price must be a very low one. If the ratepayers were entrusted with the matters they would be found fully capable of managing their own affairs. He felt bound, therefore, to resist the Bill to the uttermost.; Mr. W. WILLIAMS said the quantity, quality, and price of water were complained of from ono end of the metropolis to the other. The Bill was only intended to create a job for the perpetual supply of impure water to the public under the sanction of her Majesty's Govern. ment.—(Hear.) To show the working of the system he weuldi just notice that in London and Southwark, where there was competition, the average price per house was 20e. In the districts supplied by the seven companies the average price was 355. per house, and in West Mid dlesex the average per house was 588. Here was a dif ference of nearly 300 per cent. in charge. Now, did Govern ment mean to pay the company which sold its water at 3iel. at the same rate as the company which charged 15d. for the same quantity? He was satisfied that the Bill, instead of putting an end to monopoly, would only con centrate the present seven monopolies into one gigantic monopoly. Why did the Right Hon. Gentleman not leave the power of managing their own affairs to the ratepayers. It was only by giving the ratepayers this power that they would get good water at a cheap rate. There must be something in the background, for the present Bill certainly contemplated something more than the public good. At public meetings the universal feelieg leg was that the ratepayers should have the management of this question placetwholly in their hands, as they were the best parties to look after their own interests. Ile was of opinion that the power sought by the Bill ought not to be confined to the Secretary of State. He was satisfied it would bring that high functionary into con stant collision with the inhabitants and ratepayers of the metropolis. He should give his decided opposition to the Bill. Sir G. GREY was anxious to hear all the objections that could be urged on the subject before he addressed the House. He had listened with attention to the dis cussion, and he was now prepared to address the House on the question. The Hon. Member for Bridport, on the second reading of the Bill, had brought forward some amendments which he afterwards withdrew. On that occasion he did not labour to prove that which was distinctly admitted—the defects of the present supply of water to the metropolis. He had, however, re ferred in general terms to the various inquiries which had taken place on Committees by the direc tion of the House, and the evidence taken before the Board of Health; and ho assumed that it could not be disputed that some essential change was necessary to se cure to the public the beet possible supply of water at the lowest possible rate. The Hon. Member for Mary lebone had dwelt on the character of the present supply and the expense, as if he (Sir G. Grey) were disposed to contravert that position, when in fact the Bill before the House was founded on those admitted defects. He was not bound to enter upon the defence of the existing water companies. Hon. Members connected with them might do so if they thought fit; but as far as the tenour of the statements made to the House went, he was pre pared to admit th e p resen t sources o f sup ply were de fective—that the quality was bad—and that the expense of supply had b e en grea t er th an wa s necessary. d it. Another point insisted on was th a t competitioh_ failed to accomplish th e o bj ec t a tt r ibuted to Now, the Bill was framed on the principle that competition could not be relied on for the supply of water to the metropolis, and the facts alluded to in the report of the Board of Health supported that view. He did not think the House would act wisely in encouraging competition in the hope that it would produce the results desired. The Hon. Member for Marylebone thought that some control should be given to the ratepay ers . He had expressed a similar opinion, but had stated that pe culiar reasons existed in the metropolis which did not apply to other large towns, a n d Which for the present it was not easy to overcome. After a competition among the nine water com panies so severe that many shareholders were ruined, a combination was effected, which now enjoyed a complete monopoly in spplying tho metropolis with water. The (G ow er of Government had carefully considered th e report of the Health, with t whole of the evidence, and !the effect it had produced on his mind was, that the Go vernment would not be justified in assuming as proved that the existing sources of supply should be abandoned, bo that the hollrela of supply indicated by them ought tO , bo adopted. The Government had selected three-gen tlemen to report on the subject, and the inquiry was still pending. Th e G overnment might have taken advantage of that inquiry to have said that %% bile it way pending they would not support any measure on the sulj, et. But after the various inquiries that had taken place, they had thought it to ho their duty to propose an alteration of the present system, reserving the right of taking new sources of supply, and also of closing any of the exist ing sources which should be proved to be unfit. The prineiple . of the Bill, therefore, was not the t:orpetuation of an irr es p ons i ble monopoly, but the substitution in its place of a combined management, which he believed would be productive of a great Caving of expense. It was proposed to consolidate the boards of management of the nine existing companies into one, with restric tions as to dividends, and limitations as to the amount of the rates, and subject to the control of the Go- Y e rulaQattts t 9 the 6911Xceo from which water might be derived, and as to its mode of sue ply. Another provision of the Bill would enable the Government to keep the interest of any of these com panies at a fixed rate, and to transfer it as Parliament might think fit. To a certain degree he believed the charge, that the companies had abused their trust. The remedy proposed was to take away the irresponsibility of the companies, and to place them under such a con trol_ as would pr even t t h e recurrence of abuse. S ome o f the recommendations of the Board of Health report were, in his opinion, well founded. He thought it WO a sound recommendation, that whatever might be done in superseding the existing companies, a fair and adequate compensation should be awarded to them, either by ar bitration or by a jury ; b u t h e did not approve o f . their suggestion, that a board of salaried officers should be ap pointed for the purpose of taking on themselves the Ela; nagement o f a supp l y o f water. On the part - o f the Government he had declined to ask for those powers which the Board of Health had recommended. All the, power th e y propose d to take was for the purpose et exercising som e e ffi c i ent contro l over t h ose tr ading bodies to whom was entrusted the supplying of the me tropolis with wa t er . H e was not at present prepare d to controvert the opinio ns o f M r . N ap i er on t h e s ubject,_ but lookin g t o th e contra di ctory opinions of the Board of Health on t h e su bj ect, he thought he should not be warranted in saying that the whole supply of water should be draw n f rom t h e sources i nd i cated i n t h e re port. It had been assumed that the expense of the Go' ernment plan would be greater to the consumer than the e x p ense o f the present system. It was di ffi c ult to enter fully upon such a point on the second readin g. The sched u l e now proposed was not to be regar d e d as final, but a s a su bj ect for discussion in C om mittee. The present expense had been stated at 450,001 a year. The r esu l t o f the inquiries had been s tated in the schedule, and there was every reason to believe that the expense wou ld b e reduced, as stated, by a t leas t 100.000!, a year. Last year, in the Bill for providing supply of water from Watford, the expense was stat ed .t.. at 478,000/, being an i ncrease on the present aro°11"on It had been assumed th a t an extravagant compens ation would be given. It had been thought advisable not to ~6 lay down any ab so l u t e p r i nc i p l e of compensation in ',"e_ d , Bill. They had for th e i r gu id ance the princip l e adopte d in the l oca l wa t erwor k s Acts th e Corporation one of which n_e t Corporation of Liverpo o l h a d e ff ecte d the purc hase e tc : the water comp an i es i n th at town. It was a m i sta ke suppose that the G overnment guaranteed to these coreP7 . .. nies 5 p er cent . w h atever might be their malversa ti . or extravaganc e . O n t h e contrary, the complaint on the part of those water companies who had expressed ! d " opinion on th e Bill was, that it guaranteed no divide d at all. The 31 s t clause contained a provision by wh ich the Lords of the Treasury, after inquiry, would be e m ', powered, although the company might not be recein e ! 5 per cent., if they thought it was neglecting its duties , to reduce the rates, and to charge such rates as t" thought might remunerate the company. As to contro l by ratepaye rs , h e m i g h t remark that a Bill had beef printed that d a y t o th e i ntro d uct i on of which, t h o ugh d he had not y e t rea d i t, h e h a d given his assent, as be did not object to its principle. That Bill proposed to buy epi under certain circumstances, the existing companies, AIL to supersede the management of the nine companies entrusting the management to a body to be appointed by the ratepayers. If th e H ouse t h oug h t fi t to refer Olis o Bill to a Select Committee, he should offer no ob.leeli ° to such a proceeding. The Hon. Member for Marre bone seemed to doubt the efficiency of Government eon trol, and h a d re f erre d to the conduct of the Boar d of ' Health with respect to t h e Interments Act. The Boar"A of Health had been most anxious to come to some amic able arrangements w i t h the different cemetery companie s in order to o b ta i n possess i on of their grounds, but the , had failed in every one instance, and were now about to take the ultimate steps pointed out by the Act, and tO bring the terms of compensation either before arbiter ° or a jury.—(Hear, hear.) Without pretending that the• present was a perfect Blil, he hoped the House wool ] , read it a sec on d t i me, so that its details might be sifted in Committee. If the House agreed to the second rean• ; ing, h e should prop ose to refer it to the Committee 0: Selection, in order that they might name a Committee 0' five Members to consider its details up stairs. • Sir J. JOHNSTONE thought some measure was re. quired to compel landowners to lay on water for thei r tenants, where it could be easily done. His objection s to the present Bill were, that it proposed to do a" 1 with the rights a n d p r i v il eges of the existing wale , ,' companies of th e me t ropo li s—that it proposed to aura l' gamete them, without taking into consideration the difs ferent districts they supplied and the different sources from which they derived their supplies of water; and that it contained no principle of compensation. Ile dirl not think that the saving anticipated would be such as to justify amalgamation, nor could amalgamation he jug" tified on the ground that there existed a source su perior to all the present sources of water supply, The Farnham scheme was a one-sided affair, and had been originated by persons not of the highest authority in engineering matters. He denied, on behalf of existing water companies, that there would be anything equal 10 the supply alleged to be required for the metropolis from the Farnham districts; and that assertion was borne out, be contended, by the reports of Mr. N a pier and other scientific persons who had been employed to examine the locality. Whatever might have been the approved quality of the water, the supply could never be sufficient for this city. The Board of Health At one time complained that the companies did not send enough of water; and at another, that they sent double the quantity required; so that the companies were at a loss to comprehend exactly what it was that was meant. If the Government were determined upon legislating oa that subject, let them appoint a Committee to examine into everything connected with the present water supply, and let that Committee report to the House on every point bearing upon it. They should take into consi deration all the schemes started to supply the present alleged deficiencies of the existing companies in their respective works, the capabilities of the districts from which they now derive their supplies, and the powers which they might possess of increasing them ; also the liabilities of each company, the amount of compensation they might require, their scales of rates, whether rea sonable or otherwise, and then let them come to the con clusion that all the existing companies were to be de stroyed, and one large company established in their place for the supply of the metropolis and its neighbour hood. On the report of such a Committee they would have a basis upon which Parliament might fairly legis late. lie thought he had stated sufficient to show why they should object to the present Bill. That any com pany could give the supply demanded uader the existing arrangements ho did not think possible. As for those whom he represented ho could say they courted inquiry. They had sustained a considerable quantity of abuse, and yet the complaints made against them were not well founded. They only asked for an opportunity of meeting face to face those who were so ready to accuse them of so many faults. He had only to observe, in conclusion, that he would oppose the motion for the second reading of the Bill before the House. Mr. MO WATT said he need take up but very little of their time in demonstrating that which was already ad mitted on all hands—namely, that the supply of water to the metropolis at present was bad and vicious in the ex treme. It was bad in quality, deficient in quantity, and excessive in price. Indeed, the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department, from the very fact of his attempting to legislate on that subject, proved that the nature of the supply was bad, and some legislation necessary. Therefore he (Mr. Mowatt) would only deem it expedient to apply himself to the Bill before them. Now if legislation was necessary for the procuring of a bettor supply, the question arose, whether the proposi tion of the Right Hon. Baronet would go to meet the de ficiency? He would a,k, did that Bill remedy those ra dical and fatal difficulties which the present system pos sessed? He maintained that it did not, but, ou the con trary, the effect of his measure would be to perpetuate through all time those very evils and abuses which he said had induced him to legislate on that subject. When, like a great many other denizens of this vast city, he had discovered the impure quality of the water supplied for the use of the inhabitants, he had been glad to find that the Government had come for ward to legislate on that question. The succession of Committees which had been appointed to inquire into the matter had led him to expect a much more comprehensive measure than the one now proposed? What was the character of that Bill ? Did the Government propose that they should go to better sources for a supply than those impure sad deplorable ones which all the existing companies were obliged to use? No such thing The t ß hhi i en g g h p t rtoh H peno o s n ea o st u o r t a od b ot l h e ae G nyci en t l eman did not propquality. o s N e e t t o t h d e o a e d z duce the cost of th e present supply; but ho contemplated consolidating y t o a rned ell the companies, so that the evils which existed in every shape shape and form would continue in perpetuity. So far from rendering any service to the public, or bettering the supply of water, he thought the Right Ho nourable Baronet would inflict the greatest ca lamity on t h e metropolis which it was possible for legis lation to devise. Th e only advantage which would be derived from than amalgamating together all those com panies would be, that their general management might be thereby simplified. Now the public did not want that consolidation of the existing companies, seeing that all their plant was connected with the present impure and deficient supply. He did not object to those com panies making as much as they could of their respect ive speculations; but it was requisite that the public exigencies should be met at some time or other It might bo said that Government reserved to themselves the power, after consolidating the companies, of re quiring that if the water be not pure, and the supply sufficient, recourse should be bad to other sources for a supply better in quantity and quality. Be (Mr. Mowatt) however, c on s idered that th e y were al ready beyond that p a rt o f the question. It h a d been long admitted that the supply was inadequate, the quality bad, and the price too high. "The Right Hon. Gentle man, therefore, was doing a great injury to this metro polis, in deferring a decision oa that subject one day after the Bill was brought into that House. If the Right Hon. Baronet was not prepared to say to the water companies at once, " Zou must go to certain good sources for a better supply than you now procure," he had better not have attempted to legislate at all on that most important question. Ile did not think the Right Hon. Baronet was justified in deny log think the Hon. Baronet the Member for Maryiebore had said with re spect to the effsct of his Bill on raising the rates on the Sir Sir G. GREY said it would not have that effect in th aggregate. MOWATT continued —After all, the amount of rates was of minor conscqu.enee, stmplilyiroafoge7ndsiwaaetreartifoonr. t It le ;it ; when e n o i t : h t e h sanitary ity cpeusbps of f ti o i view that the question was to be looked a • at most parti cularly. Th e H on, Member here went into a brief de scription of scene experiments which he had made on the left a water • supplied to hi s own premises, which he said duck, slimy depestt every month. in the cisterns ; , and this used to taunt the water, after running in, to I)e raigidy 4E4- Jaut.Shati ,-.;c%, a 4 1.141)