The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

appear evident from the following annalysis of the ac tual cost of one or two of the principal railways:— . _ The existing through traffic from York, Hull, &c., to London, is stated only to amount to 97,0001. a year, which is not 61. per mile per week on the 327 miles of the London and York scheme ; and when we consider that a very large proportion of the Scotch traffic will, in all probability, go south, by the Caledonian route, while at present, probably, nearly half of such as there is takes the eastern route, it does not appear probable that there will be anything in the mere circumstances of the open ing of the Newcastle and Berwick, and Berwick and Edinburgh lines, or in the shortening of the journey to York an hour, or an hour and a half, to cause any very excessive increase of this through traffic. An inspection of the map will also be sufficient to show that the London and York scheme, for a consider able part of its length, can hardly expect to command an average mileage from local traffic. For the first 76 miles, from London to Peterborough, it traverses only a few small towns, such as Barnet, Hatfield, Hitchin, Biggleswade, St. Neot's, and Huntingdon, the united population of which does not exceed 22,000 or 23,000. Between Peterborough and Bawtry the " loop" and main line form, in fact, two railways, of 70 and 86 miles in length respectively, dividing the traffic of the follow ing places:— Population. Peterborough . Stamford Grantham 6,786 Newark... Tuxford 1,079 East Retford 2,680 Bawtry 1,083 Spalding Boston Lincoln Gainaborough of considerations of expense, it is by no means clear to us that the proposed line of the London and York, by Hunting don, Ilitchin, Biggleswade, and Barnet to King's Cross, deserves a preference over that by Cambridge. As a through line, we have already stated our opinion that the superior gradients and metropolitan terminus of the Cambridge route fully compensate for the disadvantage in actual distance. The town of Cambridge, both from its population, its market, and as the seat of the Univer sity, is by so much the most important town between London and York on the eastern side of the kingdom that it is highly desirable to place it upon the main line of communication. A large proportion of its traffic, especially of that connected with the University, is also towards the north, and the addition of this traffic could not fail to give considerable support to the main line, and to facilitate the running of frequent passenger trains. The extension of the Cambridge route also affords ac commodation between Cambridge and Peterborough to St. Ives, Ramsey, Whittlesea, and a larger amount of population than the London and York route, which only supplies Huntingdon. The advantages which, from the statements submitted to us, appear likely to result from the metropolitan ter minus which it is proposed to afford by the Cambridge route, constitute another important feature in its fa vour. By the proposed Tottenham and Farringdon street Extension, a terminus will be afforded in the im mediate vicinity of the Post-office and of Smithfield, and the principal markets, and at least a mile nearer to the Bank and the West-end than that proposed by the Lon don and York Railway at King's-cross. This line will also afford a station at the most convenient point for the warehousing and distribution of grain, produce, and other articles brought up by the railway, and for the collection and transmission of heavy goods of every de scription—viz., at the City Basin, on the Regent's Canal. Its proximity to Smithfield and Islington markets may also afford a means of obviating many of the in conveniences which have been proved to exist from the confined state of the former market, and from the driv ing of beasts through the crowded thoroughfares in its vicinity, and of carrying out the views of the Select Committee who reported upon the subject in 1828. In addition to the advantage of the Farringdon-street terminus, the connexion with the Eastern Counties line will afford an alternative terminus, and a means of access to the river, for the carriage of corn, coals, timber, and heavy articles. It must be borne in mind, also, that the advantages of these improved termini, although they can only be ob tained by the adoption of the Cambridge route to the north, which alone could justify the requisite outlay, will be participated in by a great portion of the traffic of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, which would otherwise be confined to the remote and inconvenient terminus of Shoreditcb. t • Preliminary and Incidental Ex penses, per Mile. Land Railway Es tab Law and Works Carr Y ing - RAILWAYS. Parlia- Charges, Com p en- and Sta- lishment mentary sation, tions, per p er Mile. Ex- neering, Enoi ' per Mile Mile ' pcnses. Direc tion, &c. London and Bir mingham 650 1,500 6,300 38 , 280 3,000 Great Western l,OOO 2,500 6,300 40,000 4,800 London and South Western Making every deduction that can be safely admitted for the superior cheapness of land and economy of con- struction, it seems difficult to believe that a railway of the same length out of London, involving works of a very similar character, and passing for a considerable distance through the London clay formation, which is peculiarly unfavourable, can, with the present prices of iron and labour, be constructed at a cost per mile so very much less than the London and Birmingham Railway, as would be required in order to bring the estimate of the London and York line within anything like approxi mate accuracy. _ _ _ . At the lowest calculation which could be safely ad mitted, these 112 miles, including a metropolitan ter minus, would, in all probability, require more than half the capital that is proposed for the whole undertaking of 327 miles ; while there appears to be nothing to warrant us in considering it as a result beyond the range of possibility that this portion of the line might absorb even a larger proportion of the whole amount. On the whole, therefore, we believe that we should not be warranted in assuming, as at all a probable event, that the London and York scheme, as now proposed, could be completed, with stations, metropolitan terminus, and the requisite working stock of engines, carriages, &c., for a less sum than 8,000,000/. ; while it is by no means im probable that the amount might be 9,000,0001. or even 10,000,0001. Again, in the portion of the scheme north of Bawtry, the Sheffield branch and the branch from Doncaster to Wakefield, are directly competing lines with one another for a considerable portion of the traffic of Lincolnshire with Manchester and the manufacturing districts. The latter branch also would be competed with to a certain extent by the Doncaster and Swinton, or any line from Doncaster to the North Midland Railway and Silkstone Coal-field, and also by the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole line. Moreover, the main line from Doncaster to York runs so close to the existing North Midland and York and North Midland lines, that its local traffic would be much restricted. On the other hand, the cost of the Cambridge system would be as follows Length. Estimated Capital. Miles. .e. Cambridge and Lincoln Line Direct Northern Line from Lincoln Under these circumstances, it appears highly impro bable that the average mileage receipt over the whole 327 miles of the London and York scheme could equal that of such lines as the existing Midlands or Eastern CountieF. to York Tottenham and Farringdon-street Extension 5 ... 800,000 1451 ... 3,274,000 To which must be added the following branches, which are proposed by the Cambridge and Lincoln Corn who pledge themselves to apply for powers in order to carry them into effect, in order to complete the accom modation of the districts provided for by the London and York system:— Length. Estimat ed Capital. Miles. Cambridge and Lincoln: — Boston Branch 240,000 Spalding and Stamford Branch 20 With the Biggleswade branch of the Eastern Counties Company, of twenty-five miles in length, and about fifteen miles to complete the communication between Doncaster and Gainsborough. Total length of new railway to be constructed, about 218 miles; estimated capital (including the Tottenham and Farringdon-street Extension), about 4,250,0002 This comparison does not include the lines which upon either system would be equally required for local purposes, or to complete the lateral communications, such as the Nottingham and Lincoln, the Newark and Sheffield, the Swinton and Doncaster, and the Wake field and Goole, but is confined to what may be consi dered as the integral parts of the two great competing schemes. Another check on the probable amount of receipts is afforded by the traffic estimates of other competing par ties in the same district, which are certainly not likely to be under-rated, the object being equally to obtain subscribers to the undertaking, by showing an ample return in capital. The traffic estimate of the Cambridge and Lincoln line shows a gross receipt of 166,000/. per annum upon 83 miles of railway, or of 401. per mile per week. That of the Lincoln,York, and Leeds line, which takes credit for nearly all the principal sources of traffic of the London and York scheme north of Lincoln, as well as of the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole line, shows a gross receipt of 238,0001. per annum for SO miles of railway, or of 501. per mile per week. It is evident that the London and York scheme, if sanctioned, could not command an average mileage re ceipt equal to either of these schemes, which concentrate the same principal sources of traffic over so many fewer miles of railway. These considerations, combined with those already stated in regard to the probable cost of construction, render it evident to us that the London and York scheme, if sanctioned in its integrity, could hardly be expected to afford such a reasonable return as would justify the outlay of such an immense amount of capital ; while in the event of a return to anything like the standard of cost which prevailed during the construction of the prin cipal existing railways, the concern might become utterly insolvent. Against all these considerations in favour of the adop tion of the Cambridge route, the London and York route has nothing to oppose but the accommodation of an ad ditional district between London and Peterborough. The most important town in this district, Bedford, is already proposed to be supplied by a branch to the Lon don and Birmingham Railway, which will afford it the double advantage of a communication towards London, and towards the manufacturing districts. The popula- tion of the other towns in the district is very small, viz.:— Barnet .. 2,485 Hatfield Hitchin Biggleswade St. Neot's Huntingdon 3,507 and, even if the direct line could have been carried through them at a moderate expense, it would be very questionable whether this was a sufficient consideration to outweigh the advantages of the Farringdon-street station, and of placing Cambridge on the main line. When we find, however, that the object of a direct line can only be attained by the construction of a line for the first 112 miles out of London, almost equal in extent of works to the London and Birmingham, while all the principal objects of local accommodation may be attained sufficiently well by comparatively cheap branches, without endangering the success, or rather without almost certainly insuring the failure, of the great object of a comprehensive scheme for a new trunk line to the north, and for connecting the principal agri cultural districts of England with the metropolis, with the coal fields, and with the manufacturing districts, it is impossible for us to arrive at any other conclusion than that the route by Cambridge should be selected as the first link in an extension to Lincoln and York. (To be continued.) The whole of the lines of the Cambridge scheme, almost without exception, are of a singularly easy cha racter. For a great portion of the distance the rails may be laid almost on the surface of the ground, while the course of the line between Cambridge and Lincoln, pursuing the verge of the fen country, is stated to avoid, to a great extent, interference with the drainage, and the necessity for frequent bridges, while it keeps upon sound ground, and at no great distance from the materials re quisite for the construction of the road. It is thus, in every respect, most favourably situated in regard to economy of construction ; and although, from the rise in the price of iron and of labour, the original capital will doubtless be exceeded, there is still every reason to believe that the whole line from Cambridge to York, with the different projected branches,' may be executed for an exceedingly small average cost per mile. There seems to be quite as much reason for consider ing it as a probable result that the whole Cambridge system may be completed for a sum not exceeding 5,000,0001 or 6,000,0001, as that the London and York system, as above described, may be completed for 8,000,0001. or 10,000,0001 Another important difference between the two schemes is in the number of miles of railway that will require to he worked in order to accommodate the 'same princi pal sources of traffic. By the London and York system, as we have seen, 327 miles of railway must be main tained and worked. The Cambridge system would re quire, as above stated, about 190 miles of new railway to be worked, in addition to 51 miles of the existing Northern and Eastern line from Tottenham to Cam bridge ; which, however, must be worked at any rate, and would be in a great measure supported by a traffic of its own from Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. On the whole, therefore, the London and York scheme would, in all probability, involve an additional outlay, as compared with the Cambridge scheme, of 3,000,0001 or 4,000,0001., and would require nearly 90 (or if we ex clude the line from London to Cambridge, nearly 140) more miles of railway to be maintained and worked. The average expenditure per mile for the year 1842, upon the 1,500 miles of passenger railway then in ope ration in the United Kingdom, amounted to 1,300/, and the cost of maintaining and working a good passenger line of fair average traffic cannot be safely taken at less than about 1,000/ per mile per annum. This, for in stance, is the cost upon the Midlands Railway, which is in many respects similarly circumstanced to the proposed London and York line. Including, there tord, the extra cost of working, and the interest upon additional outlay, the London and York scheme would be more expensive than that by Cambridge and Lincoln, by an amount represented by an annual charge of from 150,0001. to 200,0001 Is there any probability of a traffic sufficient to war rant or to support this additional cost ? The London and York estimate of traffic makes out a gross annual receipt of 1,076,0001. ; 1. e. of 20,0001 per week, or of 611 per mile per annum on the whole 327 miles. Under these circumstances, the question naturally forces itself on our attention—What possible security could a new company afford for the completion of such a gigantic undertaking in its integrity, supposing it to re ceive the sanction of the Legislature ? Or again, what security could they afford for the maintenance of the undertaking, if completed, in a state of efficiency and ll3, dependence ; and what prospect would the public have of obtaining cheap and liberal accommodation, and of participating in the advantages resulting from the pros perity of the company ? These considerations appear to us to derive great force from the peculiar circumstances of the lines pro posed, and of the districts to be accommodated. A new trunk line between London and York will, as we have already seen, be necessarily exposed to the competition of existing lines ; and the whole experience of railways tend to show that it is only by a system which, from its economical construction and ample resources, shall be able to escape pecuniary embarrassments, that we can reasonably hope to prevent combination. The benefits likely to result to the districts traversed, will also materially depend on the ability of the railway company to afford the means of communication at very low rates. The districts in question are almost exclusively agri cultural, and a great part of the benefit which is expectd to accrue to them from the introduction of railways will be derived from the transport of coals, lime, corn, cattle, and agricultural produce. From the evidence which has been submitted to us, we are induced to believe that by the adoption of rates of charge upon these articles very much lower than have been usual hitherto upon the principal railways, but still not lower than are con sistent with an adequate return upon the capital required for the construction of an economical line, such extensive benefits may result to the great agricultural interests concerned as to amount to a consideration of national importance. The total cost attending the transmission of a quarter of wheat from the interior of Lincolnshire by sea, from the port of Boston to London, including freight, insur ance, lighterage, commission, and other charges, is stated to amount to very nearly Bs. The charge by railway, per quarter (allowing five quarters to the ton, at the rate of lid. per ton per mile, at which the esti mate of the Cambridge and Lincoln Railway is taken), would not exceed 25., and the remaining charges are cal culated not to exced 2s. 6d., thus showing a benefit to the corn-grower and to the public of 3s. 6d. per quar ter, occasioned by the saving of the sums now paid for insurance, delay, loss in weight, depreciation of quality, lighterage, &c. A still more important advantage to the farmer is afforded by the opportunity given by railway communi cation of availing himself promptly of the most favour able market. It frequently happens that, owing to the delay and difficulty of transmission the farmer is com pelled to sell his wheat at the nearest provincial market, at a price considerably below the average rate, and to lose the advantage of a temporary rise. Whatever tends to equalize prices and to prevent ex cessive fluctuations, cannot but be considered as a benefit both to the producer and to the consumer. We are satisfied that much may be done in this way by an econo mical and well-arranged system of railway communica tion. It is impossible for us to enter into a minute analysis of the traffic estimates submitted to us, or to attempt to check the accuracy of their details ; nor, indeed, would such an attempt be of much use, since experience has abundantly shown that such estimates, even when taken with care, and sifted by evidence before Committees of both Houses of Parliament, afford a very fallacious idea of the results actually realised. In the present instance, however, there are one or two obvious exaggerations which materially affect the estimate before us :- 1. The passenger traffic is taken for the most part at at an average of 2.1 d. per passenger per mile. Now we must bear in mind that, in the first place, there is the competition of steam-boats, &c., for much of this traffic; in the next place, that of other railways in a situation to carry on a most effective competition, and already charging much lower ; and, finally, that the Com pany themselves propose to run at least two third class trains, covered and seated, at the ordinary speed, at fares not exceeding ld. a mile. Under similar circumstances the Cambridge and Lincoln Com pany have taken their passenger traffic at an estimate of only lid. per mile; and it appears obvious that this is as high as can be safely assumed. 2 It is assumed that the railway will get the whole traffic that exists, while it is perfectly obvious that a great part of it will have to be competed for, and divided with existing companies. A slight advantage in distance is not sufficient to enable a line to command the whole traffic, especially of goods, and of second and third-class passengers, to whom money is a greater object than a little gain of time. The Midlands, and London and Birmingham Railways, must run a number of trains at any rate every day for other purposes, and it may be worth their while to carry, in addition, all the traffic they can abstract from the Lon don and York line, at very low rates, rather than not obtain it. _ _ For the transmission of fat stock to the London market, and to those of the manufacturing districts, such a system would afford still greater advantages, the loss of weight, and deterioration of quality under the present system of driving, amounting to a heavy per tentage. The loss of weight in driving to Smithfield market from the rich grazing districts of Lincolnshire, is estimated to average more than 281bs. per beast, and 71bs. per sheep per head. This ameunt, under a low scale of railway charges not exceeding the actual cost of driving, would be entirely saved ; and at an average rate of sd. per lb., the sum thus saved annually would exceed 50,0001. Great facilities also would be afforded for the transmis sion of slaughtered meat, by which a still larger saving would be effected. In the article of coals, the importance of a cheap rail way communication between the mineral fields and the eastern agricultural counties can hardly be over esti mated ; the supply at present depends entirely on the water communications, and when those are impeded, as is frequently the case in winter by frost, and in summer from want of water, the price of this indispensable ar ticle frequently rises to an excessive height. During the present winter coals could, at one time, not be ob tained in many parts of the district in question, under 40s. or 50s. per ton. By railway, at the charge of id. per ton per mile, which has been proved to be remune rative, a constant supply of coals would be afforded, at prices varying from 10s. to 205., according to the prox imity to the coal field. Even in London, it is calculated that Derbyshire coals could be introduced at a price not exceeding 20s. per ton. Such are a few of the more obvious advantages which may be anticipated to result to Lincolnshire, and the important eastern agricultural districts, from the intro duction of railways. It is true that these advantages might be, to a certain extent, secured by any railway however expensive ; but to a very great extent they de pend upon the possibility of introducing a much lower system of rates than has hitherto been adopted ; and this is an experiment which, upon lines of economical construction, may be tried with safety, and the enforce ment of which may be guaranteed by legislative provi sions, while no such security could be given, or if given could be depended upon, by a concern so costly as to afford no adequate remuneration to its promoters. More over, if we look to the future, in the event of the experi ment of low fares proving successful, and of the traffic of the country continuing to increase, still larger advan tages than are now in contemplation would be obtained from a prosperous concern uncler the operation of a revi sion of rates after a certain limit of profit is attained, while such advantages would be postponed indefinitely where the original amount of capital invested had been excessive. Also, with a view solely to the local accom modation of the district, more might be obtained if the capital saved in the construction of the principal lines of communication were judiciously invested in branches and transverse lines. All these considerations tend to convince us that when all the principal advantages of an equally good trunk line, and of local accommodation, united with the cer tainty of low charges, can be obtained by an economical combination like that of the Cambridge and Lincoln scheme, it would be bad policy to risk those great ad vantages by preferring a scheme like that of the London and York, so much more expensive than it must remain problematical whether, if sanctioned, it would be com pleted, or if completed, could be efficiently worked at low rates of charge. The same observations would apply equally to any new trunk line out of London, between the lines already sanctioned f r o m L on d on t o C a mbridge and London to Birmingham. The line to Cambridge was originally sanctioned by the Legislature as the first link of a trunk line to Lincoln and York, and the same route has been subsequently recommended by the Commissioners who have reported on the subject. We should not consider that this circumstance in itself gave any veste d i nteres t to the existing Cambridge line in the northern commu nication, provided a line better for public p ur p oses h a d been proposed in a different direction. But, independently SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—The increased grant to Maynooth will be proposed by Sir Robert Peel on the 3d of April (to morrow week), and not on the 3d of May, as stated in our article of Friday—a blunder into which we were be trayed by adopting the erroneous date given by a morning journal, which we assumed to be correct. The motion of which Mr. Ward has given notice, " that all further money grants for the purpose of re ligion be made out of the funds appropriated for the maintenance of the Protestant Episcopal Church," is well framed and well timed. It raises the whole ques tion in issue. It is the " appropriation clause" contro versy revived. It revives that controversy under cir cumstances which deprive the party who formerly strenuously resisted the application of any portion of the revenues of the Protestant Established Church of Ireland to the use and benefit of the Roman Catholic majority in that country, of the power of con sistently voting with the Minister in his attempt to endow Popery out of the national revenue. It is not the first time that this question, in the same hands, has produced commotion in a Cabinet, and disruption of party ties. In May, 1834, Mr. Ward's motion on the Irish Church produced the resignation of Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Duke of Rich mond, and Lord Ripon ; and six weeks after wards, Lord Grey's retirement from office, and the formation of the Melbourne Ministry. Though riot precisely similar, there is sufficient resemblance in the leading principles and tendencies of the two mea sures to produce similar results. No act of the present Administration has excited so much surprise—certainly none will be met with more determined opposition from different points of the religious zodiac, nor be followed with more damaging effects on the influence Red stability of the Government, than will be provoked by this coup d'adt. From the most accurate estimate, it appears that the population of Ireland comprehends, in round num bers, eight millions, which are distributed among the re ligious sects in the following manner : Roman Catholics Protestants (Estabished Church) 850,000 Presbyterians 8,000,000 The annual revenues of the Irish Church Establish ment have been estimated at not less than 800,0001., the whole of which is appropriated to the support of that institution; constituting it, beyond all question, taking the small amount of its members into account, the richest endowed Church Establishment in Europe. The proposed largely-increased grant to Maynooth out of the general taxation of the country, as a measure of conciliation to the Irish Repealers, will fail of its design. Mr. O'Connell, while he declares that he will take the money, repudiates the notion of its being regarded by him, or his followers, as anything ap proaching to a satisfactory " instalment" of their claims. " Were it 70,000/. he would take it ; but would offer no thanks !" They must, indeed, be sanguine who sup pose that the Irish Roman Catholics will be reconciled by such a measure as this. A large portion of the English people, on the other hand, see in the Premier's proposal that which shocks their religious principles, and alarms them for their pecuniary interests. In the largely-increased grant to May nooth they see the Ro man Catholics supplied with additional funds, placed at their disposal by the Government, to educate their clergy. A larger number of priests of_that Church will thus be provided, to propagate its doctrines and increase the number of its converts. In this additional grant they also see an additional burthen laid upon them for the support of another Church Establishment. They fear that the education of the Roman Catholic clergy by the State will be speedily followed by a proposal for the support of the Roman Catholic clergy by the State. If funds are to be provided for these purposes, what fund so proper to furnish the requisite supplies as that of the wealthy Established Church of Ire land ? The vast revenues of that Church were derived from the property transferred from the Ro man Catholic Church to the Protestant Establishment by Act of Parliament. If it be now found that the in terests of the country require that the Roman Catholic Church be, either in whole or in part, endowed by the State, is it not just and reasonable that a portion of the funds which were originally Roman Catholic, and which are ample for both purposes, should be made available for the education and partial support of the clergy of the large majority of the people ? STANDARD.—On Wednesday, at Chelsea, a poor woman, a domestic servant, but, as it is said, respect ably, connected, destroyed herself by cutting her throat, the Coroner's jury said, "in a fit of temporary insanity, caused by the dread of prosecution for shop-lifting." In the particular case the dread of prosecution was, we believe, groundless, for the gentleman from whose shop the wretched woman had stolen some ribbons, upon his oath disclaimed any purpose of prosecuting ; and we have no right, even if an honest man's oath were not conclusive, to surmise such savage cruelty, as prosecuting the stealer of a few ribbons, to any one. The unhappy creature was the victim, not of the gentleman whom she had plundered, but of others who have made the prosecution of "lady thieves" notorious. We have as little compassion as any can have for the offences of persons above the reach of want, who commit offences for which want itself is an imperfect apology ; but we have, and we suppose all ought to have, compassion for that infirmity of intellect which alone can cause persons in a respectable station of life to hazard what to them is not merely punishment, but utter ruin and degradation, for the sake of trifles which, if their intellects were not infirm, must be things wholly beneath their care ; and Nye have no feeling but that of loathing, for those who pursue such unhappy beings to the utter ruin and degradation that, by their weakness of understanding, they may incur. It is good to support the law, no doubt, but the law is not supported ; it is made hateful when it is made the instrument of ruin to weak-minded trans gressors, and of torture, if not extortion, to their innocent connexions. We should like to know whether these fierce champions of law never violate the law them selves ? It has been suggested to us that there is an ingenious policy in taking every opportunity of ex posing and ruining " lady thieves." There are some dealers who find it more convenient and more profitable to treat with servants than with principals, but such cannot devise a better mode of excluding the latter than by now and then destroying a "lady thief." vv The actual cost of transport upon goods and passen gers, when once set in motion upon a long line of rail way, is exceedingly small, and a difference of an hour or an hour and a half in the time of the journey from York to London, and of a quarter or half an hour from Leeds and the West Riding, would be scarcely perceptible on many descriptions of traffic. Even where the competing route was much more circuitous, as from Lincoln and Newark, viii Nottingham; or from Peterborough, vid Northampton, or rid Ely and Cambridge, to London, the difference of distance would hardly be sufficient to prevent a competing company from regulating prices and abstracting traffic from the shorter route. Many instances of this might be quoted from the experience of railways, but it may be sufficient to refer to one, that of the com petition carried on for Manchester and London traffic, by the extremely circuitous route of Normanton and Derby, which lasted for a considerable time, and was at length only terminated by an arrangement, by which the direct line consented to pay a certain sum to buy off the competition. The certainty that any new line between London and York must be exposed to this description of competition, renders it the more desirable that economy of construc tion should be attended to as far as possible, as other 'vise the chances would be greatly increased of the new line losing its independence, or being compelled to enter into some compromise. _ • To return, however, to the investigation of the proba ble amount of traffic in the London and York line, it may be well to consult the analogy of other railways somewhat similarly circumstanced, which, in our opi _Lion, affords, generally speaking, a much safer test upon which to rely, than the usual estimates of traffic. Re ferring to this test, it will be difficult to satisfy ourselves that the estimate of GIL per mile per week over the whole of the London and York scheme is at all likely to be realised. The Eastern Counties, and Northern and Eastern lines, from London to Colchester and Bishop Stortford, with 86 miles open, commanding the whole traffic of the rich agricultural counties of Essex, Suffolk, Nor folk, and Cambridgeshire, with the metropolis, averaged during the year 1844 only 37Z per mile per week. The average receipts for the same period of the Midland Railway, with 163 miles open, anu enjoying a monopoly of the whole through traffic from York and the North, Hull, Leeds, and the West Riding, &c., both to Lo ndon and to Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Bir mingham, &c., and of those large manufacturing towns with one another, was only 411. per mile per week. Lord Seymour sailed from Malta early in the present month, for Syracuse. Lady Seymour is making a tour in the south of France. THY SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY - MORNING, MARCH 2s l 11448. quainted one with the other, and were in the constant habit ~f seeing each other. In 1842 Cupid appears first te, has a made an attack or. the gallant def ., want —fcr a gllar,sgentlenman he is, heiding the rank of lieutenai. t in h Majesty's 6Cth Regiment of Font. He we., then at the very susceptit le age of twenty, and the fair plain tiff, a beautiful gir], at the bewitching age of seventeen. He told " a flattering tale," and told it so well that it found its way to the heart f the fair listener, and awoke corresponding emotions there with those which flowed in his own. The young people loved with all the fond ness and fervour with which young people alone can love. But, alas ! they had fathers, and fathers never will let those interesting matters alone, but are ever dis posed to interfere where their children the least desire their aid or interference. Mr. Commins, the plaintiff's father, was the first to find out the love that had stolen into the heart of his daughter for the gallant defendant ; and feeling assured that the match would not be approved of by the defendant's father, he wrote that gentleman a note, communicating the fact to him. Mr. Willisford, sen., replied to that note, expressing his obligations to Mr. Commins for the handsome manner in which he had acted. An interview then took place between the old gentlemen, the matter was talked over, and both ap peared agreed that the match was not, under all circum stances, a desirable one, and that it was, therefore, to be interdicted. This consultation an its results were communicated to the parties interested, and it was agreed upon between them that the silent love of their hearts must be extinguished. Time passed on, and, living in the same town, they often saw each other. It is easy to command a heart not to love, but it is often very difficult to get that heart to obey, especially when it is found beating in the breast of a young man of 21, or a girl who has about her all the warmth and fancy of 17. The flame that had only been smouldered for a time, burst out with renewed energy, and as the young people could not meet at the houses of their parents, they enjoyed the delight of stolen interviews at the house of a married sister of the plaintiff, who with sisterly affection contrived this happiness for them. But a second interruption was made to the lovers' dreams, and from some cause or inter ference, the exact nature of which did not transpire, a fresh separation took place. The disconsolate fair one returned the letters that had breathed of love and devotion to him from whom they had come, and to whom she had given, in all its warmth and purity, her virgin heart and affections- She had deeply felt the first separation which had taken place ; but this second was a blow which bid fair to blanch her damasked cheek, and dull the lustre of her lovely eye. Her health was impaired, to recover which her father, with parental affection, sent her to London for change of air and scene, and kept her there as a parlour boarder for almost a year. In the meantime the defendant had left the place, and gone to join his regi ment, which he entered as an ensign about this time. Some time in 1842 the father of the defendant died, and left the defendant about 4,0001. or 5,0001. After his father's death, the defendant returned fer a time to Ta vistock. He had separated from that maiden who had awakened all his youthful fire, and at the desire of his deceased parent had promised to give up all pretensions to her love ; but as it appeared the shaft which had been fixed in his heart had never been withdrawn, and his heart was still beating with the warmest emotions of love for the young and beautiful Eliza Hillyard Commins, the name of the fair plaintiff. He first met her at a party, where it did not appear any communica tion took place between them. A few nights after he again met her at a public ball, where his reserve was broken and his resolution taken that she should be his wife. He employed one of his sisters as his mediator, and she confessed her task was not a difficult one. The plaintiff lent a ready ear to the wish the defendant had expressed, and the parties once more stood in the ro mantic and endearing relation of lovers. The defendant at this time called on the plaintiff's father, declared that his affection remained unabated for his daughter, and requested his sanction and permission to renew and continue his addresses. Mr. Commins replied, that the death of the defendant's father had removed the principal obstacle to his consent, and that if his in tentions were pure and honourable he should not ob ject. " But," added he, " remember, there must be no more breaking off the affair, if it is again commenced." The defendant assured him that his intentions were most honourable, that he had resolved on making her his wife, and nothing would ever induce him to forget or forsake his darling Hillyard. On this assurance Mr. Commins gave his consent, and from that time the gal lant soldier was received in the plaintiff's family as her affianced husband. A few days after this the defendant was obliged to quit Tavistock to join his regiment. Then began the correspondence, extracts of which were read to the Court, and which convulsed all present with laughter. So hotly did the love of the gallant son of Mars burn at this time, that he could not proceed fur ther than Exeter, before he found it necessary to ease his over-charged heart by writing to his lady-love, from whose arms he had just been torn away. He commenced his letter, "My dearest ever-devoted Hillyard." He then went on to depict the misery he had suffered from the moment he had been torn from her, and declared that he had been crying almost every moment since. A thousand loves and angels, dears and darlings, followed, with a conclusion vowing eternal love and fidelity. The next days the valiant ensign had got as far as Bristol. Astance had only increased his passion, and rendered his misery more acute. He sat down and wrote another letter. This commenced, "My dearest dear, dear, dear, dearest dear;" and then, attempting to declare the effect of his anguish, he declared it had so operated on him that he had hardly a bit of hair left on his head. Al though he had thus in his anguish made himself bald, it was necessary that he should proceed, and the next letter was dated from Birmingham, where at that time his regiment was lying. The correspondence continued, and one might judge by the number of " dears," " sweets," " angels," " pets," and " darlings," the love of the valiant ensign by no means decreased. On one occasion he so far forgot his fair correspondent as to write a word or twp about himself. He writes thus : " You don't think it, but I assure you the ladies fall very much in love with me. You may think me an ugly fel low, but I am not so bad neither when rigged out in a black coat, white waistcoat, and white tie—l look as neat as a parson and as modest as a judge, and am very much the thing I assure you."—(Here there were roars of laughter, in which the Learned Judge himself was compelled to join.) At last the defendant wrote to say that he gained his lieutenantcy without purchase, and that he longed to have his beloved with him, and that she must fix a day for their wedding. The answer was not read, but at no great distance of time from this he once more came to Tavistock. The happy day was fixed, dresses were made, the bridesmaid chosen, friends in vited, cakes prepared. together with all the usual para phernalia of a wedding—when, lo and behold ! the false son of Mars sought an interview with the plaintiff's father, and informed him that he had found, from com municating with his brother, who lived in Tavistock, that his means would not be so good as he expected ; and he therefore thought it was no use to marry. The father expostulated, but in vain • he had made up his mind, and would not change. Under these circumstances the plaintiff had gone into Court to seek that compensa tion for her wounded and insulted feelings which the jury should determine her to be entitled to. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAHE addressed the jury for the defendant, contending that what he had done was an act of prudence, for which the plaintiff would have great cause to rejoice, and which, therefore, ought not to be visited with heavy damages. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summed up. The jury then requested permission to leave the Conrt. This they did, and were absent a considerable time. On their return they gave their verdict for the plaintiff— Damages 700 L CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.) Samuel Haydon was indicted for the murder of his in fant daughter, Mary Ilaydon, by giving her a quantity of hartahorn. Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Kekewich prosecuted ; the pri soner was defended by Mr. Cox. It appeared that the prisoner had lived at Bradninch, in this county, and that in February last he had lost his wife in giving birth to the child whom, by the indictment, on which he was arraigned, he was charged to have mur dered. The wife died about eleven days after the birth of the child. He then made arrangements with his wife's sister to take and keep the child, for which he was to pay her 2s. 3d. per week. In consequence of this, she took the child to her house, and commenced the duties of a foster-mother to it, and up to the day of its death the poor little thing appeared in good health. On the 17th of February the prisoner's wife was buried. He had been ill for some little time, and had kept his bed. He ex pressed a hope that his sister-in-law, who was coming to the funeral, would bring his child with her, as he said he very much wished to have her with him whilst they were burying his wife. The child was brought and carried to the prisoner, who was in bed. There it was left whilst its foster-mother went down stairs and saw the funeral depart. On her again taking the child she perceived that its little mouth was very much swollen, and found that it refused the breast. She mentioned this to the prisoner, who did not say that he had given it anything, but remarked that it had appeared to suck with difficulty before. The child continued to moan, and appeared to grow worse and worse. The woman took it to the house of a medical man, whom she did not find at home, and consequently she carried the child back to her own house, without any medical advice. At four o'clock that morn ing the child was a corpse. Suspicions were awakened. An examination of the child took place, when the cause of its death was discovered to be some irritant poison, which had most dreadfully burnt and excoriated its mouth and throat, from the effects of which it died. Evidence was given that the father had, a few days before, purchased a pennyworth of hartshorn, and a constable, on searching his room, found concealed in a hole in the floor of the room in which he slept a bottle, which, it was proved, was the one in which the hartshorn had been fetched. The prisoner had been taken up and ex amined before the Coroner. When in custody he had stated to the constable and the foreman of the Coroner's jury that the child was crying and appeared ill, that Ito had been taking some hartshorn himself immediately before, which had done him a great deal of good, and that thinking it would benefit the child, he had given it about half a teaspoonful ; that he had no idea it would injure it, or he should not have given it, and that he should not have given it at all, had he not been in such distress of mind as not to know what he was about. Medical men had stated that they had no doubt the child had died from taking the hartshorn, which was a poison if administered by itself and undiluted with water. But they had never known a person killed by hartshorn before ; and it was constantly taken mixed in water by the peasants in that neighbourhood as a very wholesome medicine. It was proved by another witness that the prisoner had, as he stated, taken some in water a few days before. Mr. Cox addressed the jury for the prisoner. Mr. Justice ERLE summed up, pointing out the many circumstances in the case which tended to throw a doubt on the guilt of the prisoner. liter a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. _ _ _ Carmarthen, March 20. MURDgft AY A 130 Y.—Evan Lloyd, a boy aged . , nine years, was charged with having, on the 13th September, 1844, thrown stones at, and struck, a boy named Daniel Jones, and that Daniel Jones died on the 14th of Sep tember, and that he (Evan Lloyd) feloniously and with malice aforethought killed Daniel Jones. The prisoner, a little boy with a downcast look, pleaded not guilty. _ . Mr. Chilton, Q.C., and Mr. N. Carne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. V. Williams defended the prisoner. Mr. CHILTON, in stating the case to the jury, said that in his long experience he had never had the misfortune to meet with a case in any respect its wallet. The pri soner was a boy of the age of nine years, a son of Thomas Lloyd, of the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth. The father of the unfortunate deceased was a labourer, named John Jones, residing in the same parish. The boy who was murdered was a mere infant, three years old, and certainly could have injured no one. That the infant died on the 13th of last September would be placed beyond all doubt, and that he died from the effects of external injuries was equally certain. That these inju ries could not have been inflicted by the deceased him self, and that they were not the result of accident was also certain. The child was found in a ditch, with a number of stones lying about him. He had bled pro fusely, and the stones were covered with blood. The jury would have two questions to determine ; first, whe ther the prisoner threw a stone and struek the deceased with it ; and secondly, whether at the time he did so, he had a guilty knowledge that he was doing wrong. Until from circumstances the contrary was made to appear every killing of a fellow creature was accounted by the law to be murder. However, there could scarcely, he would confess, be malice aforethought in a child like the prisoner. Under seven years of age no proof whatever could justify the conviction of a child of felony. Above fourteen a child was subject to the same laws as those of mature age. Between those ages the law said that an infant should be deemed prinui facie incapable of com mitting a crime, unless the contrary should appear. Malice, however, supplied the proof which is requisite, that is the criminal intent. The presumption that the child is incapable may be rebutted by strong and fre quent evidence of its capacity to do a guilty action. There was no proof that the child's body had been hid den in the ditch, but after the child had been missed and a search had been instituted, the prisoner had denied any knowledge of him. Again, while the search for the child was proceeding, and when the people were going in the direction where the body was afterwards found, the prisoner told them that that part of the field had already been searched. Mr. CHILTON then proceeded to call witnesses for the prosecution : John Jones—l live at Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I had a little boy named Daniel Jones, who died on the 13th of September, 1844. He was four years old wanting six weeks. I saw him the day before he died on the boun dary hedge between Coedlaney and my place. He was playing with Evan Lloyd. I saw him next between six and seven o'clock that night in my house. I was not in the house when. he was brought in. He was covered with blood. Hannah Davies—l live at Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I heard that Jones's child was missing. Between four and five in the evening I was searching for him. I saw pri soner at the bar at the top of the field called Pantybro. I found the child. Pantybro is the field I afterwards found him in. It was a large field's breadth from the place where I found the body that I met the prisoner. I asked him if he saw the little boy of Danywaun. He said " Yes." I asked him where be was playing with him a little before dinner. Where did he go to after wards, I said. He said that he had sent him home. He said that the boy went from him to sit by the side of his father's house. I then went with the people to search. Another woman, named Lydia Davis, saw the child first. I saw her when she found him. The child was found in the field of Pantybro-Gellyvelin. That was divided from the one I met the prisoner in by a road. He was all over blood. The blood that was not dry was on the back of his head. It was bleeding then. I saw some stones there. They were white stones ; from l Ilb. to 21b. in weight. I saw about six stones. Some were stained with blood. The stones were lying by the child's side. Lydia Davis carried him home to his mother. I showed Sarah Thomas the place where the child was found. Cross•examined by Mr. V. WILLI/on—The field where I spoke to the prisoner was adjoining the field where the body was found, only divided by a lane. By the COURT—I found the child about seven o'clock. Sarah Thomas—l live at Highgate, in the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I was near the prisoner's father's house on the 13th of September, reaping. I met the prisoner at the bar about half-past six—he was coming out of the field in which the child was found who had received the injury ; it is called Pentybro-Gellyvelin. He was coming out over the stones which filled the gap. There was no gate. I asked him if he had seen the child that was missing. He said " No, I did not." Hannah Davies showed me the spot where the child was found next morning. That was within sight from where I saw prisoner coming over the stones, about ten yards. I met some people looking for the child. Cross-examined—l didlot know how far it was from the gap. She told me ten yards. I showed William Williams where I stood, and where the prisoner came out of the gap. It was here stated by Mr. Chilton that he would take his Lordship's opinion as to whether the statements of the prisoner to a policeman could be received as evidence. His LORDSHIP said that it appeared by the deposition that the first statement made by the prisoner was to the policeman, and he told the prisoner that it would be better for him to tell the truth. Under these circum stances, the admission or confession could not be re ceived. Mr. CHILTON said that he had no further evidence to offer, and h e would therefore decline proceeding to the jury. His LORDSHIP then directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, and the boy was then ordered to be handed over to his parents. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York March 20. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WIGH rmAN.) Thomas Birkenshaw was indicted for having, on the 7th of December, at East Ardsley, feloniously stolen sixty sovereigns, 109 half-sovereigns, and one note of the value of 51., the property of William Fenton. Mr. Ovorend and Mr. Pickering appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner. The prosecutor, an elderly man with a wooden leg, is a carrier, and on the day in question went to Dewsbury with his tilted cart, having his son along with him. Fenton took the money with him for the purpose of de positing it in the Dewsbury Bank. But he arrived at the bank too late; and therefore brought the money back in the cart at night, when the prisoner also was in his company. The prosecutor sat on a low box at the fore part of his cart, keeping the money, which was in a bag, under his thigh. Something being amiss with the har ness, he got over the front of the cart to adjust it, leaving the money where it had been so placed, on the inside of the cart. It was at that time, he said, that his money must have been taken, as he shortly after wards missed it, and there was no means by which it could have fallen out of the cart by accident, the cart being perfectly close all round, and the top of the box on which the money lay being considerably lower than the board in front. The money was never found. To confirm the case against the man at the bar there were witnesses called who hid themselves been several times tried for felony, awl were now in gusi rivadergoing sentences for that crime. One of them had been before tried on a charge of street robbery, and the verdict of the jury was that of guilty, though he escaped on a technical objection. These witnesses detailed at great length the particulars of statements which they had on several occasions heard from the prisoner in the nature of admissions of his guilt. It seemed, from them, that he had been confined in a ward adjoining that in which the witnesses were em ployed at their prison labour, and while they were so engaged the prisoner had several times come to them, entered into conversation respecting the charge against him, and openly related how the robbery was effected ; ia had been, he said, taken from th e car t by hi m , an d afterwards buried in a field over a hedge, at the depth of a yard under ground. These statements, they said, had been communicated by them to an officer, and hence they were brought as witnesses on the present trial. After the speech of Mr. WILKINS, in which he cau tioned the jury as to the danger of convicting upon the strength of testimony so little to be relied on, the jury begged leave to retire. They remained out of Court for several hours, and then returned with a verdict of Acqui ttaL Reboil White was again to have been tried to-day on a second charge of robbery on the highway. He was convicted on Tuesday last, and then sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. The other indictment is for robbing James Ackroyd, at Leeds, on the 2d of Ja nuary, the former charge referring to the 22d February. He was therefore placed in to-day's arraignment, in con sequence of some particulars connected with the case of Frederick Harrison, who was tried yesterday for a si milar offence, and received sentence. It is said that White accuses the other man of being the person who robbed Mr. Richardson, at Barwick-in-Elmet, near Leeds, on the 22d of February. The verdict against White upon that charge appeared, after the evidence, to be satisfactory to those who witnessed the trial ; but it is understood that there are facts in these cases which ren der it proper that the second case against White should be now gone into. . . _ Mr. OVEREND, the prisoner's counsel, applied to the Learned Judge, however, to-day, to have the trial put off until nest assizes. The reason stated was that there were witnesses forthcoming for White who were not now here, but could be brought forward on another occasion, and these were material for his defence. Mr. WILKINS, for the prosecution, observed that he should offer no objection to this course. The prisoner would, of course, be detained in custody in the mean while. The other trial is accordingly postponed till the next assizes. The Crown business concluded to-night. NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Cambridge, March 22. The Courts both opened this morning at ten o'clock. In the Civil Court there were ten common jury causes, and one special jury. The calendar contains the names of fifty prisoners, whose offences may be thus classed : Manslaughter, 1 ; rape, 2 ; arson, 4 ; burglary, 2 ; high way robbery, 4 ; sheep stealing, 1 ; house breaking, 2 ; concealment of birth, 1 ; unnatural offence, 1 ; and the remainder for larcenies. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice PITTESON.) Thowas Bowers, aged 20, was indicted for having un lawfully attempted to steal a bundle, containing clothes, from Ann Hills. The prosecutrix is a schoolmistress at Cottenham, and resides in the house of the Rev. Mr. Frere, the rector. On the 23d of December the prosecutrix left Cottenham to pay her friends residing at Soham a visit, and was on her way towards Landbeach to meet the omnibus run ning from Cambridge to Ely, and when half way between Cottenham and Landbeach, she saw the prisoner in a field by the side of the road, and shortly afterwards he passed her and turned into the gateway of a field, and jest as the prosecutor was passing the gateway he turned out and met her, and seized hold of a bundle containing some clothes which she was carrying in her hand, and endeavoured to pull it forcibly from her ; she resisted, and the prisoner then took hold of one of her hands, held it tight, and put his other hand over her shoulder and threw her down upon the ground, and upon her strug asncdr e a k m a i o n c g k a o d u t i h t e t w knelt i u o p l : a n t I h y e t r o , a a t n h d e lifted n u d p , h g l e i r n g h e a a n d d and then on his hearing the noise of a cart coming to wards the place, he ran away, and the "fair" school mistress was shortly joined by two persons, to whom she related her disagreeable adventure.: The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and hard labour. James Williams and Samuel Who,: were indicted for having feloniously assaulted George Jeffs, and stealing from his person one silver watch. Mr. Naylor appeared for the prosecution. It appeared in evidence that on Sunday evening, the 2d of March, the prosecutor was at the Racehorse pub lic-house at Barnwell, and the prisoners and several other persons were aalsaod W th a e s r g e. aia T g le about public -house, n e a r th e line of th e Ei a n b ag o sa u t etarthn theaclfo- p us a nh s ta t i ke s ss e p v e e a n r , a p Railw a y, After proceeding some little distance along the Newmarket -road, the prisoner Wil liams suddenly came behind him, and laid hold of him by the throat and pulled him backwards and held him down, whilst two other men took his watch from his pocket. On the following day the two prisoners were apprehended, and clearly identified by the prosecutor as being two of the party who had robbed him; the third man, was also capturned, but unfortunately could not be identified. The jury found both prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. Mr. Justice PATTESON, in passing sentence, observed that he held in his hand a letter from the High Con stable of Norwich, in which it was stated that the pri soner Wilson had been committed to gaol on various charges 34 times. . Several parties, accused of very trifling offences, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to different terms of imprisonment. There has been nothing on the civil side to-day of the slightest public interest. The greater part of the day was consumed in trying an action of trespass, which was not finished when the Conn rote. WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Exeier, March 21. This being Good Friday, the Learned Judges attended Divine service in the Cathedral. The Courts, therefore, were not opened for business till one o'clock. CROWN COURT.—(l3efore Mr. Justice ERLE.) Mary Hayes was indicted for having maliciously set fire, on the 29th of January last, to a dwelling-house, with intent to defraud John Pyke. Mr. Kirkwich and Mr. Cornish prosecuted. Th• prisoner was defended by Mr. White. This proved a most singular and extraordinary case in all its details, It appeared that the prisoner was a servant to a person named Lashbrook, who was a farmer renting and occupying a farm belonging to Captain Pyke. On the Monday before the 20th of January last, the farmhouse was on fire. The fire was extinguished. On the following day the house was again on fire, which was again put out. On the Wednesday, the day after, the roof of the house was again seen to be on fire by one of the workmen of Mr. Lashbrook, who was at work at the time in the farm-yard. He mounted a ladder which was standing by the house, and, seeing where the fire was in the roof, he succeeded in putting it out. Whilst thus engaged. he saw the prisoner, through a hole in the ceiling of the room, which had been made the day before, fling a quantity of lighted reed through this hole, under neath the thatched roof, and she told him that he was not to touch it, but let it burn if it would, as her mistress had given orders to that effect. It appeared that the witness did let it burn, and the consequence was that the entire house was consumed. When the prisoner was taken up she admitted that she had set fire to the house, but added that it was by her mistress's express orders, who had said that the sin would lie at her door, and that it was quite right the old house should be burned, as she had lived there thirty years, and nothing had been done to it except nailing up a few boards to the stairs. She also said that she would not care if old Pyke was on the top of it, as he refused to do anything to make them comfortable. Mr. WHITE addressed the jury for the prisoner, con tending that the prisoner had acted under her mistress's orders, without being at all aware of the consequences of the act she was committing. Mr. Justice DILE summed up, telling the jury that a party in the eye of the law are always taken to intend the consequences which his acts were likely to produce. After a long conversation, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The Learned JuDot remarked, as there were very peculiar circumstances in this case, he should not then pass sentence, but consider as to what judgment he ought to pronounce. March 22. CIVIL SIDE. (Before Mr. Justice - 6 0 . LER ID - GE and a Special Jury.) BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. COMMINS V. WILIISFORD. This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover compensation f rom th e d e f en d an t f or a b reac h of pro mise of marriage. The defendant pleaded that he did not promise, with a second plea, which amounted in sub stance to a release. Mr. Crowder, Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Butt, and Mr. Col lier, conducted the plaintiff's case; Mr. Sergeant King lake and Mr. Smith appeared for the defendant. The facts proved on the part of the plaintiff wero shortly as follow:—Both the parties were natives of Tavistoek, in which place the father of the plaintiff officiated as cashier and head clerk in the Tavistoek Bank, whilst the defendant's father had for many years practised as an attorney there. Living in the same country town the young people were of course ac- THE EXECUTION OF JAMES TAPPING. The unfortunate criminal who yesterday expiated in front of the prison of Newgate the crime of which he had been convicted, namely, the murder of Emma Whiter, at Bethnal-green, had all along, we are happy to say,paid the utmost attention to the admonitions of the reverend chaplain, Mr. Davis; but up to the last moment he strenuously denied that he was guilty of tho dead imputed to him, and insisted, with every appearance of sincerity, that the unfortunate girl had herself, in a passion of jealousy, put a termination to her existesee. Nor did the visits of his relatives elicit anything like a confession from him; for, though subdued to a childlike weakness, he still maintained his innocence. To the clergyman who unceasingly attended him he acknow ledged that his career had been a vicious one, but trusted that God would forgive him, as he himself freely forgave all men. His relations attribute the melan choly catastrophe to the pernicious libels contained in the anonymous letters which were sent both to the pri soner and the deceased by some cowardly and malicious scoundrels ; but the unfortunate man himself traces his first error to the circumstance of his frequenting what are popularly called "night concert-rooms." It will be remembered by our readers that it was in returning from one of these places that the quarrel occurred which re sulted in the death of the girl. The prisoner was fully aware that his sentence was not likely to be in any degree commuted, and had in consequence made up his mind to meet his fate with firmness. On this the last morning of his life, he rose about five o'clock, and, having dressed, passed the hours till seven in earnest devotion. He then took breakfast with, as he himself said, " a good appetite," eating a buttered roll and a slice of toast, and drinking two cups of tea, and an equal number of cups of coffee. He was then waited as by Mr. Sheriff Sidney and the Under-Sheriffs, in the condemned cell, where he gave a letter of thanks into the hands of the Under-Sheriffs, and another letter, un sealed, into the hands of the Chaplain, to be given to his relations. We subjoin both of these:— . . . . . " James Tapping returns his grateful thanks to the Governor, the Chaplain, and Sheriffs, to his friends, and the officers of the gaol, for their very kind attention, and, if it meets with the Governor's approbation, he should like his sisters Betsy and Mary to receive his clothes. " JAMES TAPPING, March 23, 1845." The request conveyed in this note will, of course, be at once complied with by Mr. Cope. The other letter is as follows: " My dear Brothers and Sisters,—Receive the last wishes of your unfortunate brother, and God grant yoni may proeper in all your undertakings. Do not think him neglectful, and forgive him as he hopes to be forgiven. I feel greatly f,,r your situation, but I hope and trust that Almighty God will give you all sufficient strength to bear it, is the sincere wish of your unfortunate brother, " JAMES TAPPING." James Tapping, previously to the procession being formed to the scaffold, was asked by Mr. Sheriff Sidney if he wished to say any thing, as some gentle men connected with the daily press were present ? but he answered, " No," and added, "what I have got to say I'll say on the scaffold. Don't refuse me this, as it is my last request." The unfortunate man's arms having been pinioned, the Governor, Mr. Cope, moved from the cell, followed by the Under Sheriffs, by Mr. Sheriff Sidney, the Chaplain reading the service for the dead, and the prisoner, who, with his eyes directed to the ground, trod with as firm a step as if he were the least affected there. The Deputy-Governor and the rest of the persons present brought up the rear. On arriving at the base of the scaffold, the prisoner shook hands and bade farewell to those near him; and then, with a firm step, ascended the ladder, attended by the Chaplain and the Under-Sheriffs. The crowd, which could have numbered no less than 6,000 persons, greeted the ap pearance of the criminal with cheers, waving of hats and handkerchiefs, and other demonstrations, which fur nished the very best of all possible arguments against the publicity of these executions. The unfortunate naan viewed with the most perfect calmness the awful prepa ration's ; and after a few brief words, the Under-Sheriffs retired, and he was left with the Chaplain and the exe cutioner. his last expressions were :—" I acknowledge the justice of my sentence, and hope to be forgiven, as I forgive all men ;" and in another moment he was launched into eternity. It is said that the younger members of the family, who had been wholly supported by the prisoner, will now be thrown upon the parish. The Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ad ministered on Sunday morning at St. Peter's Church, De Beauvoir-town, West Hackney, by the Hon. and Rev. Frederick S. Monckton, after a sermon preached by him, from the four first verses of the 6th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. There were about 25 communicants present, including the Dowager Countess of Galway, the mother of the Rev. Gentleman. POLICE INTELLIGENCE GUILDHALL. .1 0 Two young men, named Huey Cummings an d to Bradley, were placed at the bar upon the charge ing a quantity of sheeting and o th er ar ticles, e l, perty of Thomas Howard. It appeared that the pros e c u t or res id e d in Cot' street, where he carried on b us i ness as a g eneral and the prisoners lived in a narrow court the side of his yard. On the morning of last, day, the back door of his p r e m i ses was f or ced (c o the articles named taken away. The police el f , succeeded in tracing a portion of the property, e n that it had been sold by the prisoners. fai l The prisoners were remanded, in order to a _,,, for the discovery_ of the remainder of the properv' t Ms MARKET NEWS.—(YESTER— ..„, CORN EXCHANGE. Or Since Monday last the arrivals of English „10, Barley, Malt, and Oats, have been only liraitef a i those of Scotch and Irish Oats have somewhat ink sO4 Of all other kinds of Grain the r ece ipt s have bee i s c , Fresh up from Essex, Kent, Li nco l ns hire, as u .„3l) l , bridgeshire, very little Wheat came t o hand, D - 0 0) show of samples was, comparatively s peaking , oo Owing, however, to the announcement of a lage or in the Flour trade—the amount of liabilities bee i g g 0, mated at very little short of 50,0001, 30,0001. be 4 100 this market—considerable effect w as thereby Pl v- so itti upon the Wheat trade, which ruled extremely 1 1, 0 0 4 indeed, fewer sales took pl ace th an f or many we" and last week's prices were with difficulty OP tt° e At the close of the trade a clearatlce was not e byo The quantity of fine Foreign Wheat on offer ws i eet to l means large ; yet it was more than adequate to 01 the fit wants of the buyers. Holders we r e firm, and, i n jp ftl sales concluded, obtained f u ll p r i ces , particula r i : 0 0' selected qualities. Of English Barley the Fh°, o l e rr small ; but that of Foreign, free o f d u ty, proved 1 1, e r bly good. Malting parcels mostly sold at full 01',./1 cies. In other kinds, next to nothing was ti °ifig ;tfil their value was supported. The show of Malt wo rl d , limited, yet the trade with that a rti c l e was in s l e 0 pressed state, at barely last we e k' s fi g ures. The 6 , 1 1), of Oats being on the increase, we have to repe rt uite o inquiry for them. The best Potato samples were q re, dear. Other kinds were the turn lower. Beans, and Flour very inactive, at barely late rates. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. 6 440 Wheat—Essex & Kent, Malt—Chevalier • • • • . '.. ,g Red . Ditto, White .. Norfolk and Lin- Potatoe .• • . ...... . g coin, Red..... 388 43s Youghall and Cori , ~,,,, Ditto, Whitt 4os 47s Black . ..... ~i ~ Irish, Red .. -4 —s —s Cork, White .•• • • : ft , 1 Ditto, White .. .. Rye—Old New. •. • .., .. . • Barley—Grinding ... Malting ...•• • • • • 33s 35s Maple.. ••.•• • • •. . 360 334 1 Chevalier ...... • • 36s —s White .•••• • • • • • "J Malt—Suffolk and Nor- Boilers .•••• • • • • 0 di folk .. .. .. .. .. Brown ....... •• • Kingston and Ware 60s —s Stocktn & Norfolk .-- ~ FOREIGN GRAIN AND FLOUR IN BOND: 3 4,410r0 Wheat—Dantzic.... • . 32s to 36s Beans .. ..... . • ..... . os / 4 Hamburgh Barley Oats—New ....... • Feed ......•• •• •• 15s 17s SMITHFIELD. ,05 0 Since this day se'nnight the importations of .•' d from abroad for our market have not excenot e pp , Oxen and Cows, together with thirty-two ::;ef,e; from Holland. To day we had on offer twea`L a ii Beasts and twenty Sheep. Although a slight colnY;s improvement was noticed in their quality, it ho et . from first-rate; but there was no appearance or . for e demie amongst either the Beasts or Sheep. Th e / 8 5 ' sold heavily at from 141. to 191., the latter I" 0 P IL 17s. per head. The weather having becora e f milder here, as well as in Holland, larg e " d ports may be shortly expected, a s w e laden t 4 great numbers of stock are now r e i tei, most of the shipping ports in that couple, cially at Rotterdam, waiting a conveyance to isSe' The arrivals of Beasts fresh up from our varionagfie,s6 counties were somewhat extensive, for the tilnef o jetl as to number ; but their general quality wa s a rtli ng We much regret to observe, that at least a them were suffering severely from disease ; l e , l eo no previous market-day of the present year hil l ; 0 0 ticed so large a portion of the stock thus 9 ,6 _1 4 show its extent, we may state that upwel""i t 1) 1 7, Beasts and 300 Sheep were left on the readef, fi " to . „ 1 ' impossible, from their lameness, to convey tb e r a metropolis ; while from 20 to 30 Beasts and ',"011" . were carted out of the market to-day alive na". tered, from the same cause : hence, of ce ell ,, l o losses have been sustained by the graziers. Dlitas Beasts left unsold must, we fear, undergo the s " As we have before remarked, the supply of 'h s" good, owing to which the dead markets being to fa; stocked, and the unwillingness of the butchers chase largely during the season of Lent, the ~ :,:s i osm was again exceedingly heavy, and Friday's deP' o4 :l4: i the currencies of 2d per Blbs was barely stlPP e ` 0 0" very highest figure for the best Scots not fir m 3s 10d per 81bs. The primest Beasts were nearl ie ft a y . posed of, but numbers of the inferior breeds _ 01 9 7 , market unsold. Fortunately for most parties, the Poo l of Sheep were rather limited, which caused th e sb°s trade to rule tolerably steady, a t price equal to those obtained on Monday last; the, .p f Downs selling without much difficulty at 4s OE No Lambs came to hand from the Isle of Wign, from other quarters that description of stock, artr r doubt, from the low currencies obtained on Friutlfr u , were rather limited. Down qualities sold slowly , ; 9l 5s 10d to 6s; other breeds, from 5s to 5s 8d P e :, 0 . being about, stationary figures. With Calves e t but moderately supplied, yet the demand for thef l 'ol l ; cially the middling and inferior qualities of Vea 4 0 ,001 4 , a very sluggish state, at barely, in some inatlor,,,, trifle beneath last week's quotations. From Ir e „ n on received 120 Pigs, while from our neighbouring `._;o the supplies were moderate. Neat small Pork° Tr steadily; other kinds of Pigs slowly, at late rate s i of, Bullock droves from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, gi li r btr, bridge comprised about 1,900 Scots and he re per e , while from the northern districts we received 25v„500,, horns; from the western and midland counties, f f refords, Devons, Runts &c.; from other parts u c i , land, 400 of various Creeds ; and from Sea l° Horned and Polled Scots. Per Sibs. to sink the offal. I a , t , 4 1 0 Inferior Beasts .... 2 6 210 Second Second quality ditto. 3 0 3 2 Coarse voo le ditto 4 , 4 „ 4 Prime large Oxen • • 3 4 3 6 Southdown IN hers 4 _, 3 Prime Scots 3 8 310 Ditto u o the vvo° 3 0 4 o Large coarse Calves 310 4 8 Large Hogs ..... 31 0 0) Prime small ditto .. 410 5 0 Small Porkers •• • . 1 6 0 6 Suckling Calves, .18 0 30 0 Quarterodl s 0 Inferior Sheep .... 210 3 6 Laml) °cl : 4 :l . 4. l e . af s l . ll : lY • i'll ' tdt i :t°.l-3. g° 3l ; fig" SUPPLY AT MARKET. Beasts. Sheep. I Calves. 3,001 I 20,300 I Iv o piie f NEV7O.6.TE AND MEADEP7 O— A t e ti eSe Considering the season of Lent, full ave rs 6 to t of country-killed Meat have been received ullecolitiusi markets, since this day se'nnight, in good being han d ' tab s Of Lambs about 600 have come to .e- - to . tit 0 course in addition to the reeeipts given in o , yh terc s to statement below. The supply of Meat sht A jo 3 ,o the metropolis is good. Prime Mutton an" the tro in steady request, at full prices ; otherwise su ppe r inactive, and the quotations are with difficul t y to 5 , 1 At per stone, by the Carcase. S. cl * I 4 s. 0. to s. d. , 2 8 3 a Beef, inferior.... 2 6 28! Mutton, infer ior ' 3 3 3 middling .. • • 210 3 0 midilling•• 3 6 s 4 prime large .. 3 0 3 2 prime " 3 S prime small • • 3 2 3 4 Pork, large ••• • •' 3 10 Veal ••••••• • • • • • • 310 410 small .... Lamb, to EEl'' LO' ARRIVALS DURING Ss. THE 6s. v PAST 1, - -- , A ces P 5 OO Beasts SheeP .7 ..... 70 0 Scotland 15 400 1 00 --- Yorkshire 22 500 0 Norfolk ........................ 8 100 -- 1 00 Suffolk ..... 0 Cambridgeshire ................ 20 120 2 00 10 0 90 3 0 Surrey - ISO Devonshire Wiltshire 30 100 1 00 „......, Other parts .....• ...• • ........„ 25 200 .....„.. 1, /.1 6 430 2 . 130 4.- 1, , Total ••••••• • • • • • • • 163 2,070 600 / Previous week's arrival.. •• .. 328 2,250 .......„... 110 --, so de Difference since oar last BOROUGH AND SPlTALrlx"—witter Very few Potatoes have arrived at the offeriPl',eli i es .„, during the last ten days, yet the supple P ° ri t i l ef these markets are seasonably extensive. command a steady trade at full prices 11" kinds only a moderate business is doing. BOROUGH HOP PIARSIx"". s w p 5 1 5 , 1 ,11 10 We have to report a very limited busines spe' all kinds of Hops, yet prices are, genet-311i supported. go d WOOL MARKET. h a ve The imports of Wool in the past wetiglisl3,l extremely small, yet the quantities of both, ges Foreign, as well as Colonial, offering private'Petive, what extensive. The demand, however, is °' prices are steadily supported. ri'e el‘ io TALLOW. 5; 5 ery We have no alteration in prices to notic e ry tk ee the market is steady. For the autumn deli t he but very little inclination to do business O' 39s for the last three months, sellers. TOW 39s to 40s 6d net cash. COAL MARKET' Prices per ton at the close of the market : „ i r es t „ l ot* 15s 6d ; Buddle's West Hartley, 16s 3d ; CaresiVet 4' 17s; Davison's West Hartley, - 17s ; Hastiug'ss." orcl'i°po4,s": 16s ; Holy-well Main, lis ; Old Pontop , Or°46; heugh, 15s; Pontop Windsor, 15s; Pot 0 0 , I,"j; West Hartley, 17s Wylam, 15s 9d ; EY -4 --slort ° "(i.; j je; 18s 9d ; Gosforth, 18s 9d ; Heaton, 18 8 , 6u .Lbt j Oil , Riddell's, 18s 3d; East Heaton, 185; 1-- 2 ':', - 05 9d; Shotton, 20s fid ; Stewart's, 21s 6d ; Caradoe, 2 0s 6d ; pool, 21s 3d ; Heugh Hall, 18s 6d ; Trimdon, ley, 18s 9d ; Adelaide, 20s 6d ; Evenwood,t liva te r ; Tees, 17s 3d ; Cowpen Hartley, 17s; Derw, T en 0-0 0 16" 16s; Graigola, 21s 6d; Hartley 16s; 0 , 3 , 1 N1e1 , Powell's Duffrvn Steam, 22s 6d ; 'Sidney's .'" Ships arrived, 49. 1 01 r 0 BIRTHS. jO e De go. it On the 18th inst., at Finsbur •-square. A— ~,, o ) isp. , ~,1 of a daughter. tile f l'i On the 15th inst., at Tartar agham RectorP,er, ,c o Hon. and Rev. Francis Clements, of a dalig hL o , 9 4 ,elO On the 18th inst., the lady of Edward Pe te ~,t'o'r Madras Civil Service, of a daughter. eg e " On the 18th inst at Cumberland - te rrace, ~ l , the wife of G. Rainy, Esq., of a son._ . tt, ___------"" P r DIED. 4 . be ll met., )- On the 21st inst., at IS, Great Stuart-str. ,11'1 Alexander Blackwood, Esq. late gr P ''' On the 15th inst., Elizabeth, relict of the f tbe Dando, of Cheapside, aged 82. ;is fill: i On the 17th inst., at Cheltenham, Fn' i r":,,fig' i c " . i nli' erc Leopold E. Dryden, Vicar of Whitnash, 1, A dae l f - i 'at- On the 18th inst., at Halstead, Kent , 'Al r -,,r 5 ",,,1D C. On the 18th inst., at Chipping Norton , ''''' (formerly Downing), aged 67. o f /4 1 ' ff % 0 15 ' 11 ef 0 , e ;et 'lo t" London : Printed and Published by v - No. 112, Strand, P r i n t er , at The Sufi , ere Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, Middlesex, Tuesday, March 25, 1845. et. GRAM Bruns From Terrace Fore Sal ,S r °C a r : e Ic a le p P' ; „ - bitoTTERD. t . '"erY Wednew ANTIVER P 'KY. at Eleven, Stor a i lIA,VRE—Fr ng. OsTEN - D—E ROIJLOGNE C ALAIS—E I ?MlL—Eve] TARMOUTII I 1C1) INIIIJItGi "Ara 2 and 5, a t:),:ir::oo4:riocia,te lv ins:neeeer C erexinu:ii, S eirs:ie T ieiitcn-r, L BIte:, B RIGIITON w teParture, fares, g egent- i • ................ 2.2. ,,,, , ASTI 7.tbe PROPR II i",ern, Bishops e n ., • . Z borrowed by t nof one new 4_ ll in the cons UPOn such : e,..' i c ,oe the monk! 1 , sU notes of the • Londoi The TON. Directors .7 c attle carri( 1 4 7 8 frorn and ti l tealars of the tZ bo ns, and prii • 41 ?Iplication Is . p strongly ;7 1 ) .B,n of the ded f 4 8 , e " , tne at li_ I list, a s the to l e :large or the , . tiONDO no tice Is here Zpave (totem I,nrs si ngstoke, 7 4)0 01. to 1,5( 61 0 applications Cnt, and those S hares, and N -- "erl, aro requo THE LO: Capttal 'William William •Jelin Ch, The James F, lion. W. J• J. Kin John Lai James I? 446 Ra—Sir‘l l et. Ba 1-..ORS—MeS If44,,,,ENTAft. 4 I ..! . •—rcz h a ' ri c ti 4 i ,g• A to tr '` . -!arec 'Y Your 11 Qttr Sci t h , Ittu . 4 : 1 • atit t4,! , F4 con . , th Z,4t. last, stzv a Nlr N AI N ' P gam I"4 t. b Wtll „.Z; 4 3' to