The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

IM PERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 20. SMALL TENEMENTS RATING BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. BAINES did not agree with the Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down. At present a great many cottages were let upon the supposition that the tenant was to be exempt from the payment of the rates, and, upon the faith of that representation, the landlord always succeeded in getting higher rent. Now the poor mtt r a did not benefit by it, but there was no doubt that the general public did. What was proposed to be done by this Bill had not yet been dis tinctly conveyed to the House. It was no compul sory .measure rendering all owners liable to be rated, but simply permissive, and in his opinion the Bill did not go far enough. By Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act power was given to vestries to exempt the tenants of small occupations, varying from 201. down to 6/. per annum, from the rates, and imposing them upon the landlord, and what this Bill proposed to do was to get rid of the minimum. On looking at the Bill, however, he saw that the power was confined to two-thirds of the vestry—that was two-thirds of the vestry must consent to the provisions of the Bill being put in force before the mode of rating could be changed, but he thought the matter ought simply to be left with the majority. It bad been said this rating the owners of small tenements in Liverpool had proved a failure. Now, he did not know the circumstances of this parti cular case; but, since the local Act passed, many other towns had applied for similar Bills, and in Kiddermin ster the experiment had been most successful.—(Hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON had heard, with great satisfac tion, what had been said by the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, and it was decidedly his inten tion to give his support to the second reading of this Bill. Ever since he had been in Parliament ta Bill relating to small tenements;_ and a Bill on the subject of the highways had been an nually introduced, but he hoped now both those ques tions were likely to be disposed of.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the rating of small tenements at present there was a great inequality and great injustice, and he was glad therefore that this Bill had been introduced, but it ought to be made compulsory and not permissive. _The vestry was the last body to whom he would entrust the carrying out of such a measure as this, and as Par liament was now convinced of the necessity of a change in law, why not make the Bill compulsory at once 2— (Hear, hear.) Another suggestion he would make for its improvement was that the compounding Clause which had been found to work well should be in troduced into it, but all these things were matters of detail' which could be disposed of in Comiaiittee.—(Hear.) Stir GEORGE PECHELL had always voted against a measure of this description, but now he thought there was good reason for giving his support to the Hon. Gentleman opposite, who certainly deserved great credit for having introduced it.— (Hear , hear.) Mr. ROBERT PALMER said it was the desire of every landed proprietor to provide comfortable dwellings for the poor, and to a certain extent the provisions of this Bill -were now in operation. He could see no reason therefore for opposing it. (Hear, hear.) He did not mean to offer any further opposition to the measure; bat he must say when the Bill went into Corns mittee, it would be his endeavour to insert a clause to provide that a man shall not pay rates upon any greater sum than he paid rent. There was a growing opinion in the country in favour of this mea sure, though he could not help considering that it was intended to'operate as an ex post facto mea sure, to bring a certain class of persons within the obli gation to pay rates who had hitherto escaped. SHAFTO ADAIR supported the Bill. He thought that the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman with regard to the making the receiver of the rent chargeable with the rate was a reasonable one. Passing over the difficulties which existed in the country in regard to property of this description, he would refer to a case which had come within his knowledge, showing the ex ceeding hardship that arose to the poor in these cases. He held in his hand a statement having reference to the county of Cambridge, showing that in the year ending M:chaelmes, 1846, a sum of about 453/. was in arrear from the occupiers of certain small tenements. They were summoned for the rates before the magistrates, distress warrants were issued against them, and the consequence was, that the occupiers were put to about 781. for expenses, or about 17/. per cent. on the amount of the rates. Now, a case of that hardship would nut have occurred had the rates been levied on the landowners inste al of the occupiers. Mr. DFEDES supported the Bill. His experience was, that it very often happened that it was not the poor industrious man who was exempted by the over seers ; but it commonly turned out that the people so exempted were men of idle and irregular habits ; and further, when the cases came before the petty sessions to be confirmed as the law required, they should be with the concurrence of the overseers, upon investigation it frequently turned out that the reason that they could not pay the rates was, that they paid so exorbitant a rent for the very houses for which they were assessed. r. SLANEY said, instead of the Bill being likely to be prejudicial to the working classes, be thought it would be highly beneficial to them. It frequently occurred in places where the working classes were receiving good wages, a specula tive builder came and ran up a number of small miserable cottages, and thus brought in a fresh inundation of paupers, who became competi tors in the labour market with the independent labourers, and brought down their wages. Such a system as that, instead of being a benefit to the labouring classes, was a positive evil - to them. He did not - sly he wished to interfere with such building specula tions, but he asked the House not to give a bonus to them. The owner of small tenements in large towns and their suburbs was invariably the man who resisted all sanitary measures, or such as tended to ame liorate the condition of the poor. This Bill would ten to put a stop t) the selfishness of the landlord class, and therefore it had his cordial support. Mr. AGLIONBY thought that unless they supported this Bill they would be making a great mistake. He had always had the greatest confidence in the Hon. Member for Hull, who gave his assistance to this Bill, and unless they carried it through they would be, in his opinion, taking a great step towards reducing the fran chise.—(Hear.) Mr. BAINES said that the question of the franchise ought in such a matter as this to be left totally untouched, and read an extract from the Reform Act to show that the franchise was not affected by a refusal of the Bill. He should, therefore, vote against the Bill.—(Hear.) Mr. REYNOLDS said that there was evidently a mis apprehension respecting this Bill. It proposed to exempt certain buildings from the poor -rate, and the principle adopted seemed to be to exempt such buildings as were used for the purpose of getting a living. He had taken the opinion of eminent counsel upon the effect of the Bill, and that was entirely against its working utility.— (Hear, hear.) He bad himself been rated for a counting house, and yet his vote had been impeached simply be cause it did not look like a counting-house. He had in quired, on - taking the place, whether any rates were due, and was told there were not; and he was shown the books, by which anch appeared to be the case. But, after all, it turned out that this acknowledgment was only what they called in Ireland a paper receipt—(Laughter)—and con sequently his vote was impeached.—(Hear, hear.) It might seem somewhat impertinent in him to speak upon a Bill which only affected England and Wales, but Hon. Members on both sides of the House, who were only English Members, had continually interfered in the at fairs of Ireland, and had spoken as if they meant o minister to all their social diseases on the other side of the water.—(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) He did mot complain of such quack doctoring. On the contrary, he felt much obliged to them for it, and was only anxious that they should not, by the adoption of this Bill, reduce the franchise. It might not affect the rural districts, but by taking the small tenements in cor porate towns out of the rate-book they would be cutting eff a large and very useful class from their political pri vileges.—(" Hear, hear, and cries of "Divide, divide.") Mr. BRIGHT said that he had received a long and very valuable communication from a body of persons who were deeply interested in the security and extension of the franchise, and from that it appeared that the throwing the payment of the rates into the hands of the landlords would have the, effect of greatly reducing the number of persons at present en titled to vote for Members of Parliament.—(Hear.) As far as it was connected with rates this Bill would give great facility to the collectors, but that was no rea son why this measure should be hurried through the House, which would lead to such &treat extent of dis franchisement. He should wish to know from the Go rrnment whether, r the House consented to the second reeding of the Bill, and if any suggestions for the ob viating of this objection should be proposed in Com mittee, the Government would oppose those amend ments? Sir G. GREY would b. very sorry to give counte nance to any measure which would have the effect of de priving any man unjustly of his franchise.—(Hear.) Mr. HENLEY would support the second reading o f the Bill, if it were persevered in, on tlas principle that this Bill would allow each neighbourhood to adapt the measure to its own energies. He certainly agreed with the Hon. Member for Berkshire, that the House was beginning to alter the incidents of taxation in a way that would affect the poor. Mt. HASTIE having replied, Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a division took place, when there appeared— For the second reading Against it Majority —lBo The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed. BENEFICES IN PLURALITY BILL. Mr. FREWEN, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said ke should not detain the House at any length, since a return which was obtained last year by the Hon. Member for Montrose made out a strong case in its favour. That return showed that subsequently to the passing , of the last Act on this subject no less than 189 clergy men had ;been presented to two livings, and he there fore called upon the House to affirm the principle of this Bill, and declare the existing law was not sufficiently stringent. He had no objection to ke teegyinan enjoying two livings that adjoined each other, and where the populations were small. This Bill he introduced Tat session, but there was no time for passing it, and hey taken the earliest opportunity of re viving it this year. Since it had been brought in he had received many communications from different parts of the country pointing out the abuses that existed under / Isstsl Afi present system, and the necessity there was for a tring,ent law upon the subject. 4 41 f --"r.-....-• ' v• - e LANEY asked if the Bill was prospective or to ~" , / 7 'i'.7:l - 7 ,e . ..2 ei;ye. ---. 1 ::X WEN said it was prospective. " --1 - 1. %-qc, ).,v,ki, • GREY was understood to say it was his wish 7 z 4 11 . ,!,: zua titat tf.nrc the Bill went i nto C omm ittee some little •e s'-eee , • hstu I ld elapse, i n or d er to ena bl e him to consider and -- 4, , ' ..,,, , .. ,: t .._ ___ ,, i , - NI- 0 mahue certain alterations which he intended to suggest in Committee. Sir ROBERT INGLIS said, with respect to the desi rableness of having a resident clergyman in all cases, he hoped and believed that there could be no difference of opinion. He knew a case where six different benefices were held by the same individual, and the aggregate income of the whole did not amount to 3501., the sum which the Hon. Member for Montrose had estimated should be the minimum stipend of a clergyman to enable him efficiently to discharge his duties. He wished to know how far her Majesty's Government would hold themselves prepared to adopt the principle of this Bill before allowing it to go to a Committee. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was desirable to make further restrictions on the holding of pluralities. He had it in contemplation himself to introduce a Bill on the subject, and therefore it was that a postponement of the present Bill going into Committee was asked. Mr. HORSMAN said the principle of our constitu tion was opposed to all pluralities and sinecures in the State ; still more did he conceive it necessary to apply that rule to the Church. As regards the measure be fore the House, although he considered it a great im provement on the law as it now existed, he should like to see the principle carried to its full extent, that they should allow no sinecure in the Church, and should give to every parish its resident teacher. He should recom mend, where there were two contiguous parishes ex tremely small, they should be united into one, so as not to maintain more than one incumbent, and so as to preclude the possibility of there being only one service on Sundays in each parish. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY thought, if the Government had it in contemplation to introduce a measure on this subject, it was but an idle waste of time to go on dis cussing the present Bill, and he should recommend the Hon. Gentleman who bad it in charge to withdraw or postpone it. Captain JONES was of opinion that the Bill would not be answerable to Ireland at all. Mr. FREWEN thought the Bill should be made more stringent than it was. The Bill was then read a second time without a divi sion. LARCENY SUMMARY JURISDICTION BILL. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON moved the second reading of this Bill. One object of the Bill was to extend the provisions of the Juvenile Offenders' Act. It would be in the recollection of the House that, when he first in troduced that Bill, he drew the distinction a at 16 years of age, but in the Select Committee on the Bill the Com mittee though he was carrying the distinction too far. Altwin, were acquainted with the working of this criminal portion of the law, were aware that all offences committed by persons under 16 years were always lightly dealt with. The only change, then, which he desired to effect, was to reduce the age from 16 to 14. The only other part of the Bill in which he was particularly interested was one to which he begged to call the particular attention of his Hoe. and Learned Friend the Solicitor-General. His Hon. and Learned Friend would recollect that at the beginning of last session the subject of punishment for small offences had been largely discussed, and that it was then agreed that—without interfering with the sacred trust of preserving the trial by jury—it would be better to reduce these offences by immediate punish ment. It was acknowledged on all hands that the course of prosecution which is now followed was in every way detrimental to the public interests.—(Hear.) He would deprecate the opposition proposed by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. MeCullagh), believing that if he looked into the reports he would find that the objections which he entertained were all ob viated in the details cf the measure.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted also that the Government would offer no opposi tion to the Bill; for they should recollect that this Bill was simply in accordance with the Juvenile Offenders' Bill, and merely carried out that Bill to a further extent. They ought not to punish the counties in the way of expense for the prosecution of small offences. He bad himself had ,great experience in the investigation 4 small offences in th© coal districts, and he had found that, in the neighbourhood of Dudley, the criminality of coal-heavers frequently went unpunished from the expenses likely to be incurred by a prosecu tion. Ile did not hesitat3 to say that the coal-owners frequently lost several tons a-week, whereas, had there been a summary moans of conviction, some cf those offences would not have passed unpunished, and the evil would soon have been concluded. It had been ascer tained that although the counties were allowed 401, for each prosecution, the real expenses were only 20s. for each case. On these grounds he trusted that there would be no opposition to the second reading. iII'CULLAGH said that he should withdraw his opposition for the present, but should certainly take the souse cf the House upon the Bill when it was sent down for Committee. He had a great objection to the extension of the jurisdiction of the magistrates in crimi nal case-. Affera few words from Sir J. PAKINGTON, 111r.:MILNES said he could not understand the reasons on which the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. M'Cullagh) opposed this Bill. He could not find from his experience that they could draw any line between criminals of the ages of 14 and 16, and he thought the extension which was proposed in this Bill would be very salutory. His only objection to this Bill was that it was not summary enough, and his experience went to show that the more summary the punishment for such juvenile offenders, the better it would be. Mr. NAPIER had received communications from Ire land which showed that such a measure as this was ab solutely necessary. In many cases he believed the imprisonment which some criminals underwent before their trial occurred was a much greater punishment than the offence deserved. The Learned Gentleman read some extracts from returns, which he had received from Ireland. in which it was stited that many persons coma ittrd for petty offences stealing articles of the value of a few pence, were often discharged at 30 and 60 miles fcom home. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL fully agreed with the principle of this Bill. The only difficulty be saw in it was to fix the sum. He had received as many recommendations to fix the sum at 51., as at one shilling. This Bill would put an end to many anomalies which it was intolerable should remain on the statute book. For instance, a boy who stole an apple from a tree could be summarily punished, but if another boy stele au apple from under the tree he was obliged to bs committed. He should support the Bill. Mr. PACKE thought there was no objection to ex tending the jurisdiction to 16 instead of 14 years of age. He quite agreed with the Learned Attorney-General as to the anomalies cf the law relating to petty larceny, but he did not think this Bill met the difficulty. The Bill, therefore, ought to be relbrred to a Select Committee. Offences ought to be placed upon a clear and defined level, and until that was done they were only doing mischief by legislating on the matter. The difficulty in the way of this Bill would arise in this way:—lt gave the magis trates power to adjudicate summarily in the case of petty offences committed by adults and old offenders, who, in some districts unknown, might often be dealt with under the provisions of this Bill, when if they were tried by a jury, transportation would ha their punishment. While, therefore, he approved of the Bill as far as it related to children, he doubted the expediency of opening the door to the escape of offenders by extending it to adults. Mr. ROBERT PALMER supported the measure, knowing from experience that many trumpery cases were sent to trial under the existing law which ought to be summarily disposed of. He trusted, too, that it would be extended to Ireland. It appeared to him that, with respect to that part of the Bill which extended sum mary jurisdiction over persons of sixteen instead of four teen years of age, he saw no objection to that. He be lieved that many petty offences were overlooked in con sequence of the expense and trouble of going before a more formidable tribunal than two magistrates. That was an evil which this Bill would tend to correct. Mr. HENLEY had very considerable doubt with respect to the Bill after what had fallen from the At torney-General. It was quite clear that a very adroit distinction had been adopted by the Hon. Member for Droitwich between grand and petty larceny. It was quite clear they were commencing a system of doing away with trial by jury. That was a very grave matter, but it was one which might be discussed hereafter, and the Hon. Gentleman opposite would act prudently if he did now divide the House. With regard to the age of the children that was a very different question. The reason for the introduction of the Juvenile Offenders' Bill was to prevent the contamination of young persons in gaol hefore they were tried. So far as that went he entirely con curred. He thought sixteen was a very proper age to which to extend the summary jurisdiction. He thought there would be some possible inconvenience in the work ing of other parts of the Bill. As to the inconvenience of turning a man out of gaol, as was suggested by the Hon. Member for Dublin, that inconvenience would exist just as much with respect to a man committed summarily as if committed by a jury. Mr. P. MILES was of opinion that a great necessity existed for the adoption of some such measure as this. He said, that from his experience as a chairman of a quarter sessions, lasting over a period of sixteen years, He was sorry that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman would not take the division on the second reading of this Bill, because they were all acquainted with the details, and the longer it was delayed the greater would be the injury to the country. Mr. VIVIAN said that his name was at the back of the;Bill, and he only wished to say that the expenses which had been found to press so heavily on the counties would be greatly relieved by the operation of this Bill. That which now cost 124 lOs. would be reduced to 21. The Bill was then read a second time without a division. RACE -RENT second RELIEF BILL. TENANTS the motion being put fur th readthigL On of this Bill, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that he did not wish to oppose the second reading. but he hoped that measures would be taken to prevent the expenses from falling upon the counties. After a few words from Mr. SOTHERON, Sir H. HALFORD advised that the whole burden should not be laid on landed property alone, an opinion in which Mr. Spooner coincided, and suggesting .that the Bill should be deferred, but in the meantime the expense should be thrown on the Consolidated Fund. Mr. SPOONER agreed with his Hon. Friend in his opinion of this Bill. He should, however, advise that the Bill shculd be postponed. He did nctirsee why the landed interest should bear the expenses of lunatic asy lums. He thought that the evils which caused lunacy were found much oftener in crowded towns than in the agricultural districts. After a few words from Sir G. GREY, Mr. HUME thought, that if the principle of the Hon. Gentleman opposite was carried out, that the poor rates and country-rates should be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. He thought that no expenditure ought to be thrown upon the Consolidated Fund unless the Government had the sole superintendence of it; the Consolidated Fund had quite sufficient to bear at present. He protested against such doctrincs being broached in the House at this time. • Mr. HENLEY thought that the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, if he carried out his principle, would vote for these charges being transferred to the Consolidated Fund. Not a single farthing could.be laid out on asylums unless the sanction of the Secretary of State had been previously obtained. Mr. HUME said that the Secretary of State had nothing to do with the details of the plans, but only had to see that they were adequate. Mr. NEWDEGATE said thelSecretary of State had power to control the plans and elevations of both lunatic asylums and prisons. Sir G. GREY said the approval of the plans no doubt. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed. EXPORTS. On the motion of Mr. HASTIE an account was ordered, of the declared value of the various articles of British prodace and manufactures exported to the British West India Colonies, for the years ending the sth day of January, 1840 and 1849, with the rate of duty on each article in the colonies; and of the quantities of the principal articles of the growth and manufacture of the British West In dia Colonies imported into the United Kingdom ; and of the quantities cleared for home consumption, and the rate of duty charged on each article, with the Gazette average price of sugar for the year ending on the sth day of January, 1848; also, the number of ship, dis tinguishing British and foreign, with their tonnage, that have entered and cleared for the British West India Colonies from the United Kingdom, during the same period ; similar ac count fJr the East India Company's territories and Ceylon ; similar account for China ; similar account for the Mauritius; similar account for the British North American Colonies ; similar account for New South Wales and the Australian Colonies ; similar account for the United States of America; simi lar account for Cuba; similar account for the Brazils; and similar accounts for Mexico and the other ports of South America. Returns of ports or creeks in the United Kingdom approved of by the Hon. the Board of Customs, for the warehousing in bond of tea, coffee, sugar, wines, spirits, and tobacco. Of the amount of the above-mentioned goods i❑ pounds and gallons ware housed at each port, for the year ending the sth day of April, 1849, distinguishing the quanities of those ware housed directly imported into such ports, with the quantities removed under bond from the ports of importation, together with the number of duty-paid entries made at each port during the above period : and, of the amount of Customs duty received in the United Kingdom for the year ending the sth day of April, 1849, showing the payments made for services specially connected with the collection of the revenue, together with payments made for services not specially connected with the collection of the revenue. The remaining orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned. YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BER- WICK RAILWAY. A meeting of London shareholders of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern, prelimi nary to the general meeting which will be held on the 7th of March next at York. Mr. Alderman SIDNEY, M.P., was unanimously elected to take the chair. He thought ho was a most improper person to preside at the meeting, because he viewed the plan which he understood was to be propounded to-day with disfavour ; but if they wished him to continue in the chair after this declaration he would endeavour to discharge his duties fairly and im partially. He had no preference shares, but was a holder of original and of extension stock. He had been de puted, however, to attend on behalf of his brother, who had a large interest in the preference shares, the stock to which the present meeting, he believed, had reference. A short discussion then took place as to the propriety of Mr. Sidney presiding, and it was ultimately agreed that he shout.] continue in the chair. Mr. N. CLARK wished to know by what authority the meeting, had been convened. An advertisement had ap peared in the newspapers, signed by a Mr. Douglass, who signed himself manager, pro tern.; and, without meaning any discourtesy to that gentleman, he would also ask by whose authority he had been nominated? Mr. DotronAss said that he had been called upon by a large body of shareholders in the 81. preference shares to take up the matter with respect to which this meeting had been called, and in conjunction with one or two proprietors he had issued the advertisement simply to enable the shareholders to have an opportunity of con suiting together. The committee, which was self-con stituted, represented about 300,000 shares, the greater portion of which were preference shares; and the object they had in view was to get the directors to appoint a committee to take into consideration this pre ference stock, and to see if the million and a half of money which they now had, and might employ in a profitless undertaking, could not be employed for the relief of oue class of shareholders without injuring any other class. The meeting was simply one for an ex change of feelings and sentiments among the London shareholders oa a matter of finance, by which it was proposed that the preference shareholders might be re lieved. The report of the committee of shareholders was then read. It stated that the question before the meeting involved the interests of nearly half the proprietary of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, and a ca pital amounting to nearly four millions, upon the raising and applying of which the prosperity or otherwise of the company would depend. The object which the com mittee had in ♦iew was to ascertain if some Om could not be devised for giving a real value to the preference shares instead of holding, as they did at present, a value at the mercy of a call, and they sub mitted two propositions by which they considered the company could, by exercising the whole flits avail able powers, he enabled to make this stock worth keep ing as an investment. The committee had obtained the co-operation of stock and extension shareholders, who held 6,532 shares, and preference shareholders who held as many as 18,822 shares, and thus supported they wrote to the directors requesting their consent to the appointment of a committee at the next general meeting, to ascertain whether the holders of preference shares could not be relieved from the present liability without injury to any other class of shareholders; but, in reply, the directors had stated that it was too late to make the meeting oa the 27th instant available fJr the appointment of such a committee. The report concluded by soliciting the co-operation of the shareholders, and expressing a hope that the directors would apply all the available capital for so profitable a purpose as paying off the Great North of England shareholders, and not expend it, to the ruin of the company, upon unprofitable branches. On the conclusion of reading the report, Mr. JAMES DURHAM moved:—"That this meeting, after having heard the report of the committee, considers it very desirable that, at the next half-yearly meeting of share holders, a committee should be elected, to consult with the directors, and ascertain if any plan can be devised fur converting the preference shares into thirds, with out injury to the other class of shareholders." Mr. ASTON seconded the motion. Mr. CLARK opposed the motion, because it had origi nated with a sectional portion of the proprietors, alias the preference shareholders. The report, he thought, was calculated to do the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway a great deal of mischief, and he should there fore give his decided vote against its reception. One section of the shareholders had no right to release themselves from liabilities at the expense of others, who were more numerous and bad a greater stake in the com pany. By such a proceeding the proprietors at large would be greatly injured, and they should recollect that they were just on the eve of receiving a report from the directors after a most important and elaborate inquiry into their affairs, and whir..;n, no doubt, would put them in a better position to know iu what way the whole of the shareholders might be benefited. fle concluded by moving an amendment to the effect the,', as the present movemer ~i appeared to emanate wholly from a sectional part of the shareholders, and was designed for the benefit of t:ne preference share holders, the meeting declined to interfere in the matter, , and that the meeting should t h en adjourn. The amendment was serAnded by Lieutenant-Colonel HOWARD; and, after a grief discussion, was carried by , a majority of three--th e numbers being for the amend ment 28, and for t i ne original motion 25. The business accordingly terminated, and, after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated. STATE OF TRADE. (From th e Manchester Guardian.) MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—TIIO buyers continue to stand resolutely aloof from business, expecting that the want of demand will cause such a subsidence of prices as shall render it safe, in their estimation, to renew their operations in yarns and goods. Under these circumstances, the sales of the day have been of very inconsiderable amount; and, although the general absence of stocks, of any consequence, enables both spinners and manufacturers to maintain a degree of firmness which appears remarkable after a comparative suspension of business for several weeks, yet those who are out of contrast, or on the point of being so, are so desirous of avoiding any accumulation of stock, as to become in creasingly disposed to meet the ideas of the buyers. The latter have not attempted to test the market: as a rule, however, they have succeeded in making their very limited assortments somewhat under the rates of the latter end of last week. There is a good deal of difference in the views entertained by various parties as to the course which prices may now take; some producers expecting that the decline which has already taken place will speedily stimulate demand, — others thinking that such cannot be the case without a still further giving way : the consequence is a very marked irregularity in the quotations for almost all descriptions of cloth and yarn. We stated in our last that there was a movement among the makers of coarse and of stout goods in this town, to relieve themselves, in some degree, from loas, by diminishing their production. A meeting was held yesterday, when, with the exception of two firms, all, those manufacturers Gf this class, who purchase their yarns, came to a deter mination to work their establishment only forty hours a-week. This resolution applies to 6,000 to 7,000 looms, and will lessen the weekly consumption of cotton to the extent of something like 120,000 lbs. The instant effect ' has been a concession in the price of coarse yarns, and en attempt at an agreement among the spinners of such yarns to follow the course taken by the manufacturers. ROCHDALE, .MONDAY.—To-day we have had a very good demand for kersey a and coarse goods, and the business transacted in flume's has been much tho same as that of last week. The wool market continues firm at former prices. HUDDERSFIELD TUESDAY.—Our market rem a i ns at present much in the same state as we reported last week; the deliveries to order have been on a large scale but the supply in the market has been very limited. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—There is more stillness just now in the worsted trade, and the merchants are shy of giving orders, appearing to be anxious to watch the present position of the yarn market, which is also more quiet than it has been. The spinners are still full cf old contracts ; but the export houses do not give out new orders freely, and seem disposed to wait till the commencement of the regular shipping zesvon. Wool is somewhat inactive ; and, if anything, rather easier. LEEDS, TIIESDAY.—Although the market has been rather quiet to-day, still a steady business continues to be done to order, and prices are very firm. There is rather more doing in the warehouses for the home trade, and the shipping houses are pretty brisk. FRANCE. The Director-General of the Customs has notified to his subordinates that, henceforth French and English packet-boats plying between England and France (those of commerce as well as those of the Post-office), shall be authorised to convey patterns and packages of merchandise of a weight not exceed ing 6 kilogrammes 25 decagrammes, without, as heretofore, thereby subjecting them to the payment of extra tonnage dues. The Governor of Senegal, in a dispatch to the Minister of Marine, dated the 16th October, gives an account of an expedition against a chief named Sou rake, and others, for having stopped and pillaged some French boats, and raised the pretension of compelling every one who might pass through their villages to pay a tax. The expedition resulted in the destruction of two villages of Lannel, and in the restitution of the pillaged things. This exploit had caused a great impression on the neighbouring populations, and a chief, the Almamy of the Fouta, who had shown some hostility to the French, hastened to make offers of peace. Al though the expedition took place in the bad season, in a temperature of from 35 deg. to 40 deg., and in an unwholesome climate, the French not only lost no men, but had not even one sick—an unexampled cir cumstance. SPAIN. The .Heraldo of Madrid of the 14th, referring to reports that were eurrent, and to observations thereon in the Opposition press, declares positively that there is not the slightest foundation that her Majesty's interesting position had caused her to intimate that she could not continue to discharge the duties of royalty, and that a regency would consequently be necessary. No such delicate question, says the Heraldo, had ever been raised. GERMANY. A letter from Frankfort of the 13th says :—" All Germany resembles a camp. The National Assembly of Frankfort bad decreed that the governments should carry the armed Germanic force up to nine hundred thousand men : the Princes who had refused to obey the resolutions of the Assembly have executed this with great zeal. The consequence is that it is not Austria alone which has imposing forces under arms, but all other countries of Germany, especially Prussia and Bavaria, have the same." " Austria and Prussia," says a letter from Frank fort, "are in negotiation for a prolongation of the powers of the Central Federal Commission of Ger many, which were fixed to expire on Ist May." The Prince of Prussia, who is at present staying at Frankfort, had a narrow escape a few nights ago ; he fell asleep and forgot to extinguish his light, whereby his bed curtains caught fire. He was awoke by the flames, and was rescued by his valet-de chambre, who sustained some slight injuries. The Prussian Government has ordered that all public functionaries shall take the oath of fidelity to the constitution. According to the Berlin correspondent of the Inde pendance of Brussels, who writes on the 15th, the Prussian Government does not now think of conclud ing peace with Denmark, but is only anxious to es tablish a provisional government in the Duchies which shall be more satisfactory than that which now exists. The Assembly of States of Brunswick, on the 15th, unanimously resolved to pass to the order of the day on a communication from the Government relative to the Convention between Austria and Prussia, for the establishment of a Central Federal Commission for Germany. ITALY. The Nazionale of Florence states that on the 9th the Corso at Rome was suddenly invaded by a proces sion of persons, crying " Vivo la Ilepub!ica ! (that day being the anniversary of the proclamation of the Roman Republic), and that, before the police and mi litary force could arrest them, they disappeared as suddenly as they had come. When night came, the Corso being still filled with citiatans, soldiers, and sbirri, tricoloured Bengal fire was let off on all sides. The military wanted to stop the seditious fires, but the people prevented them. Some French officers were heard to say, " The Romans celebrate the anniversary of their Republic." GREECE. The overland mail from Malta, with dates from that island to February 13, brings no later intelli gence from Greece, as the French mail from Athens, due on the 11th, had not made its ap pearance, owing, no doubt, to the very boiste rous weather which has generally prevailed through out the Mediterranean. The Corfu Mail, announces that the British have not taken possession of Cervi and Sapienza ; these islands did not form part and parcel of the pending claim. Some Greek merchant vessels, detained at Patras by British cruisers, had been carried into Corfu. Fresh tidings have reached us of the French fleet having left Smyrna for the Piraeus, and been blown back to the Darda nelles. The steamer Germania has arrived at Trieste with dates from Athens to the Bth, S yra 6th, Corfu 10th, Constantinople 2d inst., and Damascus 17th ult. The situation of Greece was the same as by the last accounts. The British vessels had seized about 30 small craft at Spezia, Hydra, and Syra. The embargo extended as far as Galaxida. The people were h i ghly exasperated against the English, and an outbreak was appre hended. A few small coasters had been allowed to leave Syra, but two Greek b r i gant i nes, which were in that port, laden with corn, and bou n d respective ly mina. The anniversary of the arrival of King to Otho Leghorn i n Greece and h a Tr ieste,dbeen celebrated e had been taken to Sala lebrated with unusual en thusiasm. The French squadron was s till anc h ore d in the waters of . Mytilene. It i s b e li eve d t h e G ree k corvette Ludov ic was there too. A French vessel was stationed at Smyrna. The Austrian schooner Fenice, which was believed to be lost, had ar rived at Tenedos. Two Greek schooners had been brought to Corfu. The conduct of England towards Greece had produced an. unfavourable impression. A supplement to the Offic i al Journal of Corfu of the sth publishes two notes of Sir T. Wyse to the Lord High Commissioner, which the latter had communicated to the Senate of Corfu. They are written in the same spirit as the official document s already published on the Anglo-Greek question. A. letter from Trieste states that, in consequence of the blockade of the coast of Greece by the English, the Austrian Government had directed that sixty vessels, which were about to leave Trieste, should remain in the roadstead.. TURKEY The Constantinople journals of th e 2d state t h at t h e greatest tranquillity continues to r e i gn t h roug h ou t the Ottoman empire. A . letter f rom Damascus, of the 17th, complains of th e ptolerance o f th e G overnor of that city towards Christians and Israelites. Among other facts, it says that M. Alf re d de Kremer, who has come to Syria, on a scientific mission from the Academy of Vienna, has been formally refused permission by the Governor to examine cert a i n ma nuscripts and archaeological relics, notwithstanding a letter of recommendation from the Visier, and the most pressing remonstrances of the Austrian Consul. TRADITION OF AN OLD HOD:SE AT Irswwicn.— This very singular mansion is situated in a s t reet in Ipswich, formerly u se d a s, and still named, the Butter market. In 1573 it was sold to R. Sparrowe (son and heir of John Sparrowe, of Somersham), one of the Penmen of Ipswich. It h as a l ways been occupied since by one of his descendants down to the present owner and occu pier, John Eddowes Sparrow, a respected solicitor " The interior of this singular structure," says Mr. Wodderspoon, i n his "Historic Sites of Suffolk," "con tains several extremely fine rooms. T he dining-ro om i s closely panelled in d ar k oa k, carved in a manner which would d o honour creen to the great genius of Grinling Gibbous. The fire-place, furnishing capacious chimney corners, exhibits the finest parts of the carver's skill in wreaths of vine and pendant fruits. Late in the last century a sing u l ar di scover y was made in the upper story, namely, a concealed loft, without doubt forming the roof of a chapel, the body of which existed in a room immediately beneath. The existence of this apartment was disco vere d by the merest accident, th e connexion between the loft being separated by a built-up wall. Time and damp, however, displacing a portion of the plaster, the light of day found its way through the cranny, and t h e p l ace was di scovere d. The arched timbers of a s li g h t l y ornamen t e d r oof exist within it; and at the ti me o f i ts b e i ng opene d th e fl oor was strewe d with wooden angels, and such figures as usually serve to decorate a Catholic oratory." There exists a tradition that Charles 11. was concealed in this hidden part cf the chapel, during one of his many attempts to escape after the battle of Worcester. The tradition is countenanced by the family having in their possession portraits of his father, mother, and grandfather, a half-length of him self, presented by him, and more especially by a mina ture and locket of Charles, and a miniature of Mrs. Lane, also Builder. presented by the king to the family.—The AN UNPLEASANT RESULT.-At a railway station in this district, on Wednesday, an exciseman discovered a " grey it, took a drink, expecting the contents to be whisky, hen" hidden in a basket of fish, and, uncorkin g but got a mouthful of—cod-liver oil ! Hope it did him, good.—Gateshe a d Observer. Mr. Francis Galtonabouth Africa) had an Lierview yesterday with Earl Grey. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Feb. 20. Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Mr. Justice' ERLE and a Common Jury.) EBEL V. THE BARON VON ANDLAII. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Bell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., and Mr. flogging for the defendant. The plaintiff in this action, Joseph Ebel, was a fo reigner, who had lived as footman in the service of the defendant, the Baron von Andlau. The latter was for merly aide-de-camp to the Duke of Brunswick, but now kept a school for young gentlemen at Gothic House, Clapham. The plaintiff and in forma pauperis, and brought the action, which was in trespass, to recover da mages from the defendant for causing him to be arrested on an unfounded charge of felony, and taken before a magistrate. It appeared from the evidence given by the plaintiff's witnesses, that the plaintiff had applied to the defendant for employment, and referred for his character to a shoemaker named Laubachet, carrying on business in the Burlington-arcade. The defendant called upon this person, and then wrote to the plaintiff recommending him to call on the Duke of Brunswick, who wanted a valet. The plaintiff called upon the Duke of Brunswick as requested, but was not engaged by the Duke. Shortly afterwards the defendant engaged the plaintiff as his own footman, but he had not been there more than two or three months when the defendant dismissed him from his service on suspicion of stealing a sausage from the parlour cupboard. The plate having been examined, a portion of it was missed, and the defendant a day or two afterwards gave the plaintiff into custody on suspicion of stealing eight silver furks and ten silver spoons. The plaintiff was then taken by the policeman, who was in plain clothes, to the station-house, where the defendant, who accompanied them, made and signed the charge. The parties then proceeded to the Lambeth Police-court, where Mr. Norton was sitting; and, on the case being stated, the magistrate remanded the plaintiff, in order that an opportunity might be afforded of tracing the property. The plaintiff was liberated on his own recog nizanees to appear, and having appeared, and there being no evidence against him, he was discharged by the sit ting magistrate. The defence set up by the defendant was in substance that there were certain suspicious circumstances in the defendant's conduct while in the house, which reasonably led the plaintiff to suspect that the defendant, who had charge of the plate, had stolen the missing portion, and several witnesses were called in support of this defence. Mr. Justice ERLE baying summed up the evidence, The jury, after a few minutes' consideration, gave a verdict for the plaintiff, with 101. damages. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Feb. 20. (Sittings at Guildhall bef Ire Mr. Justice TALFOURD and Special Juries.) HOYLE V. ENTHOVEN. In this case Mr. Watson, Q.C., Mr. Sergeant Channell, and Mr. Denman were counsel for the plaintiff; and Mr. Serjeant Byles and Mr. Bovill for the defendant. This was an action by the plaintiff to recover from the defendant the interest upon seven bonds or promis sory notes of the company of the Copper Miners of Eng land, under the common seal of that corporation, made payable to the defendant on order, and by him endorsed to the plaintiff. There were also counts for money bad and received and money lent, to recover back the prin ciple. The bonds or notes were in the form of promis sory notes. bearing date of the 15th of July, 1845, for the sum of 500/. each, payable on the 15th of July. 1850, bearing interest, in the meantime, at the rate of 5 per cent., payable half-yearly. It appeared that the defendant was the Governor of the Company of Copper Miners of England, and was also the holder of a large number of the notes of this company. According to the evidence of Mr. Cunliffe, the banker, who was on terms of the greatest intimacy with the de fendant, Mr. Cunliffe had been repeatedly applied to by the defendant to take some of the notes of this company, which he invariably refused ; but in August, 1845, Mr. Cunliffe having at the time 3.5001. in his possession on behalf of the plaintiff for investment, in an interview with the def,ndant upon the subject of these notes, told the defendant that ho had this sum to invest, and had no objection to lend it to the defendant upon having the bonds as collateral security; to this the defendant con sented, and he then, in the presence of Mr. Cunliffe, in serted his own name in the body of the seven bonds, and afterwards endorsed them and handed them to the wit ness. Upon being cross-examined, this witness admitted that the defendant had banked with Messrs. Cunliffe, Roger, and Co. for more than twenty years, and on the 20th of August, 1845, had deposited in their bank the sum of 20,0001, at 21 per cent. interest, payable at a week's notice. On the sth of August was an entry in the defendant's pass-book crediting with the sum of 3,5001., seven bonds, Copper Miners' Company; and there was also an entry in the plaintiff's pass-book of the same date debiting them with the sum of 3,5001., seven bonds, Copper Miners' Company. The defendant at this time had also a balance of from 7,0001. to 10,0001. at Messrs. Barelay'e. Mr. Sergeant BYLES took several objections to the bonds upon the ground that they were in the nature of agreements and ought to be stamped accordingly. The Learned JUDGE overruled the objections. A nolle prosequi was entered by the plaintiff as to the special counts, subject to an objection by Mr. Sergeant Byles that it could not be done at this stage of the cause. Mr. Sergeant BYLES then addressed the jury on behalf of the defendant upon the common counts, and suggested the improbability of the defendant receiving this money as a loan to himself, when, on the 12th of August, he had paid into Messrs. Cunliffe and Co.'s bank the sum of 20,0001., and had also a large balance at Messrs. Barclay's. The Learned JUDGE then summed up, leaving it to the jury to say whether this was an absolute purchase from Enthoven, or whether the money was lent to him, and the bonds were given as collateral security; also, whether if it were a lean the principal was to be payable upon request, or in default of the payment of interest. The jury found that the money was lent to the de fendant as a loan to him, and became payable on defenit being made in the payment of interest. The verdict was therefore for the plaintiff for 3, 500/. and interest, amount ing to 3,893/. 15s. Mr. Sergeant BYLES then presented a bill of excep tions, upon the question of the stamps and otherpoints. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Feb. 20. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant Judge.) THE ARGYLL ROOMS. At the sitting of the Court, Mr. PARRY said he had to make an application on behalf of some parties against whom two indictments were' pending in this Court, in which they were charged with keeping as a " disorderly house" an establishment in the Iparish of St. James's, well known as the " Argyll Rooms." That application was, .that the trial of these indictments might n o t t a k e place in this Court till after an indictment which w as now awaiting trial in the Court of Queen's Bench h a d been disposed of by that tribunal. There was not the slightest distinction between the indictments in this Court and the one in the Court of Queen's Bench. No new circumstances had arisen to justify these latter pro ceedings, and, in point of fact, all the indictments were for one and the same offence. The attorney for the de fendants in his affidavit stated that the proceedings were taken solely to harass the defendants, and, if possible, to ruin them with expenses. The expenses they had incurred had been very great, and he would ask the Court whether it would sanction the proceedings of the prosecutor, one Thomas Stowell, an informer, whose only object in taking thorn was to involve expense, and to harass and annoy the parties? The Learned JUDGE wished to know whether there was not an affidavit, in which the prosecutor swore there were grave matters of law involved, upon which it was desirable to obtain the decision of the highest criminal tribunal in the land? Stowell said be bad sworn no such affidavit. Mr. PARRY would undertake to furnish the Court with the affidavit in a very short time if the Court would allow him to renew the application. If Stowell had anything to say in reference to the defendants, he hoped the Court would direct that it should be by affidavit, so that the defendants might be enabled to prosecute him for perjury should he state anything that was false. The COURT then named two o'clock for a renewal of the application, and at that hour Mr. PARRY handed in thejaffidavit, and repeated his application, contending that whatever legal wrong the defendants had done by keeping this establishment, they had done no moral wrong; that the Legislature ought to interpose and protect free subjects from the perse cutions of common informers, especially in such mat ters as these, and that nothing could be more fair, rea sonable, and proper than the application he made on their behalf. Mr. CLARKSON opposed the application, the object of which was that the defendants might keep the place open until after the decision of a higher court had been ob tained, and the object of the prosecutorin opposing it was, that if the parties were tried in the ordinary course and convicted, the place might be shut up until that de cision were given. The Learned JUDGE said he considered the question 8 0 i n o e n o O f f in t huehighest inp o t a r n i b c u e n , n and a u s n e n u e c p e o e n s a w ry h . ic h I f t h t h e deci par ties chose, they could remove the indictment to the Central Criminal Court, and such a course would be at• tended with very little delay. It was known that he entertained some strong opinions as to the applicability of the law under which these proceedings in were taken to the present state of society; but, though his private opinions would not operate upon him telling a jury what the law actually was, that might be an additional reason why the case should be removed to another tri bunal. He had from the first considered that this ease ought to be tried by the highest tribunal in the land; and he should, therefire, order the trial of :the indict ment in this court to be postponed until further appli cation. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Joseph Solomon, of Little Britain, again appeared be fore Sir Peter Laurie and Mr. Alderman Hunter to answer the charge of committing a rape on his father's servant. Mr. Robinson, the solicitor, who appeared on behalf of the girl at the two previous examinations, also attended to-day, and Mr. Lewis defended Solomon. Mr. Lonsdale, solicitor, said that he attended on be half of one of the brothers of the girl, and wished for a remand, as she had been taken away, and her friends were most anxious to know where she was. He under stood that a sum of 50/. had been given to the girl not to proceed further in tho case. After the last examina tion on Friday the girl went to her lodgings, and re mained there until Monday, when her sister and Mrs. Bradshaw took her away, saying that she was her guar dian. He was alp() informed that the money had been paid at Mr. Robinson's office. Mr. Robinson—l deny that any money wan reeeived at my office; sod all I know of the trawv.etten is that I called At her place of abode and found she was gone. I am not acquainted with the fact that any money has been given to the girl. Mr. Lewis said that Mr. Solomon was most anxious that the fullest inquiry should be made into the case, and if a sum of money had been given, his client ought not to be answerable for the conduct of his friends, fur there was an old saying of " Save me from my friends," and Mr. Solomon's case might show that he was in the position to make a similar exclamation. The bail taken for his appearance on the last occasion was small, being only himself in 801., and two sureties of 401., and had he been guilty, seeing the punishment before him, he would have forfeited his recognizances and not attended. Again, if he was guilty, it would have been a most un wise thing to give the girl in custody on a charge of felony; but the fact was (as he was instructed), the girl never mentioned the assault upon her until aft::r she was in custody. The Chief Clerk—l must disabuse your mind on that subject; for the evidence is, that she was not given into custody until after she had complained of the ill-treat ment she had received. Sir P. LAURIE—I have read the case carefully in the newspapers, and a more disgusting remark made by the prisoner's mother I cannot Conceive, when she said to the girl, " Well, I suppose he did not kilt you." My experience has proved to me that females are the great deceivers of their own sex. Mr. Robinson said that it was rather extraordinary that the brothers never moved in tho matter until they were told some money had ben given to the girl. Mr. Lonsdale—ln explanation, I must say that the brother, who is in service, only first saw Vie report in the Sunday papers, and ho then became anxious to g,,t the girl back, and not allow any compromise, whatever the amount offered might be. Mr. Lewis—Well, I appear to be the middle man in the squabble (Laughter) but I must repeat that Mr. Solomon is most anxious to court the fullest inquiry; and he should like to heir what Webb, the officer, had to say. Henry Webb said that he asked the girl's sister where she was, and she said that she had been very honour ably remunerated, and had gone into the country. She further said that since it had been set afloat that money had been paid, her brother had come and demanded it, and kicked up a row. Mn Lonsdale said there were four brothers, but he only appeared for one to prosecute the case. One of the brothers here stepped forward, and denied being the one who called at Mr. Bradshaw's, and de manded the money. He only wished to know where his sister was. Bradshaw said ho was not the brother who called to ask how the case was settled. Ile told him (the ether brother) how it stood, and that the girl had received some compensation. Sir PETER LAURIE—Where is the girl? Bradshaw— I don't know. Sir PETER LAURIE—Did the girl say what money she received? Bradshaw—l can't say. Sir PETER LAURIE—Yes you can. Bradshaw—l believe it was 501. Sir PETER LAURIE—Where is your wife now? Brad shaw—She is away because she should not be annoyed by her brother, who wanted to get the money. Sir PETER LAURIE—But where is she? You surely must know. Bradshaw—l do not know where she has gone. Sir PETER LAURIE—WeII, I shall remand the case, as the charge is one of an aggravated nature • and where, most likely, chlorcform has been used. die then re manded the case until Tuesday next, and increased the bail, requiring Mr. Solomon to enter into his recogni zance of 2001., and two sureties of 1001. each. Mr. Lewis hoped that at the next examination some tangible charge would be made out. Sir PETER LAURIE said he should remand the case from time to time until the girl was forthcoming. The required bail was entered into, and Mr. Solomon left the court with his friends. MARYLEBOIVE. An extraordinary degree of interest was excited at this court, in consequence of its having become known that a woman named Elizabeth Higgins, the wifd of a wheelwright, living at 33, Little Carlisle•street, Port man-market, wns about to undergo an examination be fore Mr. Broughton, on the heinous charge of having attempted to murder her three children, of the respec tive ages of seven years, five years, and seven months, by drowning, and to terminate her own existence by the same means. Ann West, 32, Orcas-street, Paddington, deposed that on Monday evening last, at a quarter to seven o'clock, as she was coming up the Bloomfield-road, adjoining the Regent's Canal, she saw the prisoner on the towing-path with the baby in her arms, and the other two children by her side; she lowered the baby gently into the water, in order, no doubt, to avoid the noise which a splash would have caused; and upon witness observing this, by looking between some palings, she instantly gave an alarm. The prisoner then put ano th er c hild i nto t h e canal in the same way, and having done that she went in herself, dragging the third child in with her. Mr. BROUGHTON—Did the water appear to be deep? Witness—Very deep, sir; they all went down, and pre sently afterwards rose again to the surface. Mr. BROUGHTON—Did y ou h ear any scream i ng f rom either of them? Witness—One of the children cried out "Father," and another " Help." A man came running towards me, and I said to him, " For God's sake, master, make haste, for there is a woman and her children drowning." He pulled off his coat and hat, and was going to jump in, when another young man plunged head foremost into the water, and being a good swimmer he fortunately succeeded in rescuing the prisoner and her family from a watery grave. Mr. BROUGHTON—In what condition were they when they were got out? Witness—The prisoner eas very faint and incapable of uttering a word, and the poor dear infant was much convulsed; and at the doctor's to whom they had been taken and properly attended to, the first expression used by the prisoner, as soon as she was in some measure restored, was, " What has become of my dear children?" I had her baby in my arms, and when she saw it she burst into tears. John Rollins, a painter, living at No. 6, Devonshire street, Lisson-grove, stated, that hearing loud cries for aisiJance he hastened to the spot , and divesting himself of his upper clothing, at once plunged into the canal, on the surface of which he perceived four p er s ons floatin g in the middle of the water, the depth of which was very considerable. He laid hold of and brought out the pri soner and two children, and just as he handed them to some persons on the bank, a boat came along, which prevented him at the moment from seeking for the other child. As soon, however, as it passed by, h . e again swam out, in order to find the remaining one, if possi ble, and was in the act of swimming bac k again, being of opinion that the case was hopeless , when his foot struck against something, and on his putting his hand down as low as he could he seized hold of the other child by its clothes and got it oat. It was then to all appearance dead. James Boyle, who received some of the unfortunate parties from the hands of Rollin, corroborated a great portion of his (Rollins's) evidence. Bates, 162 D, said that he saw the prisoner with her infant and eldest child upon the bank. The latter said, " There was three of us; there's another in the water.' Witness thought when he first beheld the prisoner that life was extinct. Ife afterwards heard the prisoner say to Mrs. West, " What a foolish woman you were to give the alarm, for I wish that I and my dear children had all gone to heaven, as I have lived so wretched a life with my husband." The husband (who sat by the side of the bar) had in his arms one of the children, five years old, and who was so miraculously saved. Mr. Sturt and Mr. Hamby, surgeons, were examined, and they deposed to the dangerous condition in which the prisoner and two of her children were when brought to them in a cab. Inspector Wiggins, of the D division, was sworn, and he said, the first time I saw the prisoner was at half past ten yesterday morning, at the Paddington workhouse, when I called there to see if she was in a fit state to be brought up here. I found her in bed, and asked her how she felt after what had occurred ; she then observed that it was all through her husband's bad conduct that she threw herselt and children into the water. I said, " Does he beat you ?" and she replied, " Very frequently, and for no other reason that I had no dinner provided for him at times when he came home. He earns 275. a week, and out of that he gives me the odd 7s. to keep house and find every thing; the 20s. he spends entirely upon himself ; he comes home drunk, pulls me out of bed, and beats me, saying that he would be the death of me, and that it should not be a sudden but a lingering death. I have also been afraid that he would poison me, and I thought I and my children might as well die at once as not." I this morning went down to the workhouse and brought her up to this court in a cab. The prisoner had no questions to put to either of the witnesses, and repeated that her husband's neglect and ill-treatment had brought her into all the trouble. At the time of her attempting to drown herself and children her mind was in such a state that she knew not what she was about. Mr. BROUGHTON remarked impressively and feelingly upon the heinous nature of the crime alleged against the prisoner, and said that he was bound to send her for trial; she would be brought up again next Wednesday, when, after the depositions had been taken down in duo form and read over by Mr. Fell, the chief clerk, she would be committed. She was then placed in a cell by Mitchell, the goaler, who took care that she was properly watched; and at five o'clock she was conveyed to the House of Detention, Clerkenwell. The children will, for the present, be taken care of in the workhouse. The magistrate praised highly the conduct of the wit ness Rollins, and said he hoped he would be hand somely rewarded by the Royal Humane Society. He also considered that much credit was due to Mrs. West for her exertions in this very distressing and heart rending case. WORSHIP-STREET. Alexander Lovey, a working gunsmith, was placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with cutting and wounding his wife, Charlotte Lovey, with intent to murder her, Samuel Taylor, street-keeper of Whitechapel, stated that, while on duty in High-street, between six and seven o'clock on the preceding evening, he saw a gen tleman advancing towards him, supporting a woman, who was grasping the right side of her neck with her hands, through the fingers of which the blood was streaming down upon her clothes, which were completely saturated. On questioning her as to the cause of the injury, she told him that it had been inflicted by her husband; and he, therefore, immediately directed Ser geant Barnes, who was passing at the time, to proceed to the house she indicated and take him into custody, whilst the witness procured a cab, in which the wounded woman was removed to the hospital. A lad named John Wooleott stated that he had been for . fonr years in the service of the prisoner, w ho lived arid ihat and wife had lived upon very unhappy terms for a consider able time pest. An altercation Qf as serious description ensued between them on the preceding morn ing, at the termination of which the prisoner's wife sharpened a small table-knife, with the expressed intention of cutting her own throat, but was dissuaded from it by her hus band, who took the knife from her, and she soon after wards left the hou7e. On her return home in the even ing. the prisoner told her that he hoped they would live more comfortably together in future, and went out for some wine, with which he came back, and after partaking of a portion of it, she apprised him that she had been to the Thames Police-court, to obtain a warrant ligation him, end that she intended to renew her application on the following morning. The prisoner, who Was cooking someting the fire, and had a knife in his hand, upon that became much excited, and stantly stabbed her in the neck, with the exelamatioe that she meant to swear his life away. The wif started from the chair on which she was sitting, the blood r ptai ours ' ing profanely from her throat. and rushed down s screaming e• Murder," and witness followed her iota the street, where a gentleman caught her in his arms she was in the act of falling, and assisted her to a stn; goon's in the neighbourhood, who directed h er /nal° removal to the hospital. The witness added that the wife was a very sober and well-conducted woman, but Out the prisoner himself was addicted to very intereP e rate habits, though perfectly sober at the tim e the cc currence took place. .Sergeant Barnes, 16 11, stated that upon reaching the prtstiner's het e, hie found him sitting at a table, cuttlnq a slice of bread, and taking his tea in the most cotnP°s l meaner; anti upon apprising charge ageinst him, anal ;hat he must take him into cos ' tm tody for cutting his wife's throat, he replied that no him of the nature to knew all about it. and that he had done it with the 1 01 ', he then held in his hand. Witness immediately tooth possession of the weapon, the handle of which was m i t e stained with blood, and with whicb, also, the floor of oft he and stairs were widely marked, and th e P ris°l3er was then coveyed to the station-house. 1, ! mita A certificate from the house-surgeon cf the ec-n was then produced, stating that the injured women divided received an incised wound in the neck, which had divl the gullet, together with numerous severe bruises about the head, and that her life was in imminent danger. 0 . Mr. BAsimenr, thereupon directed the sergeant to pc o coed back to the hospital and ascertain if her con take were such as to render his attendance necessa r y to l re her deposition, and the officer having return ed and be ported that the woma n m i g ht n ot survive the dtiY,,, . 1 ,, e Magiatrate, accompanied by theprisoner and 3,1 r. v the first clerk, repaired at onee to the institution: fgeb: took down her statement to the following effect s ner, had keen married about eighteen years to the 1 018 ; - , e , and in consequence of his frequent acts of ill -115 ;Pd; which were repeated with great violence on the preecrt ing morning, she proceeded to the Thames Police -e to take out a warrant for his apprehension. °a = each' ing home in:the evening the prisoner asked be r h - he she had been, and on communicating to him i t4 el l , hail done, the prisoner uttered an angry exe- -- n / t *OO and at the same moment she felt a sbarP se e against the right side of her neck, from which the bloodld gushed out, although she felt no pain, and she ° M a e ,: d e * him rapidly withdraw his hand, in which he g ra 'a r t : small tablet-knife. She then rushed into th e e o n's, where she was assisted by two gentlemen to a su rs-° rde, but had no distinct recollection of anything after until she found herself in the hospital." A de' The prisoner, who appeared much dejected , an— re clined offering any defence, was then ordered to' he t he manded for a week, to afford time for ascertaining result of the injuries his wife had sustained. THE COUNTRY MARKE TS ' - 11Clan g6 TAVERPOOL, FEB. 19.—There is rather a better e te e ton e at this day's market than for some time past, and a ur.yi'Thiririog generally prevailed. Holders of wheat bnd flour are r e q so d an advance on last week's prices, which shakes busin, In the sales up to the present time are consequently hoiteesds other articles a retail business only doing at former rar s NEWCASTLE CORN MARKET, FEB. 19.—W e ba,-id° wttb moderate supply of wheat this morning. Factors " ,, e „ ' note d ' more firmness, but no advance on Saturday ' s ' rates can Trade dull for all articles. changed. p ly Of Barley, oats, and other grain NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, FEB. 19.—T he suP• orie rs fat cattle moderate, trade more active, and rather bettor r o for obtained. The sheep market to-day has been better th a off , some months past ; the number exhibited soon cleared Beasts 610, sheep 3,500. Beef, 4s Od to 5s 9,1 ; to 6id. LEEDS, FEB. 19.—We have a moderate arrival of 1 14 5 Wheat is of slow sale ; prices without alteration Irate Friday Wheat rates. Barley steady. For beans and peas the dein limited. Oats and other articles as before. • tl O EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET, FEB. 19.—There w ere OP meal market to-day 31 sacks oatmeal, each weigh in gias 6d ' imperial, which sold thus : - 2 at 115 s, 18 at 1143, 8 at' u . 12t h. and 3 at 113 s Od ; average price of the whole 1/ 311 00 1 solc 4 sacks flour, whereof 2 sold at 28s, and 2 at 250' W hereof mutton, .1. barleymeal, which sold at 203. 10 sacks pot-barley, Od 2it 8 sold thus :-1 at 11 5s Od, lat 11 3s 6d, lat 11 35 1/ 2s Od, and 3 at 1/ is 6d. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET, A'" . trot , Oat straw, from 65 6d to 9s Od per kemple of 16 ,too°'6, 6d• wheat ditto, 8s Od to 8s 6d; barley ditto, 6s Od to Hay, from 8d to - 10 d per stone. rec• 155 Ay DALKEITH MEAL MARKET, FEB. 18.—There v4-aruet; bags oatmeal, and 15 of barleymeal at this daY 3 , sales dull ; oatmeal down on the first and second t i t, was° from Gd to 3d per bag ; the parcel sold at 20s per sac inferior quality ; the barleymeal unsold. Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. I First ••• ••• imperial .. 123 s Ad A Thirda Sccon.. op , v. 2 2 s , 0 0 ad Barleymeal, per ditto —s Od --- Peasemeal —s Od „`"*A Flour ... . —s Od ." - ' 45 Pot barley ... —s Od 14.q a ; Coax, FEB. 18.—Flour — First 12 s Od to 13 0 l e seconds, 103 6d to 12s ; h ouse h o ld s 9 s to 10 3 d t° - Cd; ; wb el " per cwt. Oatmeal 10s to 10s 6d; Indian meal 7s t, ( 1,, 78 ; 35$ P er ... f e t°l2. meal, 10s to 00s Od per cwt. Indian corn 1300 9 ,°`,""05• ase l 7. o Bran 3/ 12s 6d to 3! 1 bsper ton. Ha Farmers Pst;°o - ; dealers 32s to 40s Od; avers y e - 37s per t • llsOd to 26s Od ; average 21 ; dealer: ° , 2 7, s od :I t : 611; average 28s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6( tyl _ household loaf bd to bid per 41b. Fresh butte r? coi l< 10d per lb. Eggs -4s 10d to 5s Od per hundred. , Newport 15 s ; L y d ne y 17s ; Landor e 15s ; 8e 0 . !, r 0 7, 1 Culm 145 per ton. Tallow 40 s Od to 00s r Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon . od —Beef 4d to 6d ; mutton 4d to 6d ; very bel Od ; pork 4d t o Od ; bacon 6d to lid ; sausag 0 4 001 lb. Hops 131 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 312 s 6 ( 1 to vr r ea!: ton. Bark—Barbary 715 s to 815 s; Valonia 141 to 0 1 ; r ,toye d 71 ss; English 01 per ton. Fleece Wool 10s to 120 Pep; r e . . t Hemp 32/ to 001 per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 1 65 1. ° 11 1 , g r o ditto 20s to 22s per barrel ; Newfoundland 9/ Os 1 1 cp 2d y; ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton; deals, first ( 1 1 „ t 7 i to second quality, 16s per 100. Hides—Market 1 °7, 1 salted 13s to 20s per cwt ; calf skins 2d to •-"boauv t i, Potatoes, white 7d to 9d; Minions 12d to 13 d ;,, f eks 4- Peruvian, 111 lOs ; Icb a b oe , 91 per ton; " 19s per barrel. COAL MARK E . Carr's Hartley lss 6d East Adairs Main... l3s 6d Hasting's Hartley 153 9d Holywell 163 9d New Tanfield lss Od Old Tanfield Ord's Redheugh RavenswortlfsW.Hart 15s 6d ranfield Moor Butes l4s 6d West Wvlam Windsor - 's Pontop..., L—YEsTERDAY. 19° Haswell .................. l 6 a . J onasso h ns ..... . ...... 185 pd Russell's Hetton •••''" ' 64 Stewart's ............ . 1 7, lieugh Hall ••• 1 15 6c ; South Kelloe ............ )178 South Hartlepoo l ..... 140 9 ,.a Whitworth ............ 3 6 3 0. Maelean's Tees ......... 1/0 South Durham ......... j9O Tees ................ 0, Hartley .......... 19 9 0 Sidney 's Hartley • , it ifit. Ships at marker, -.• Wall's End, &e. - Brown's ... lss 6(1 iletton m orning fine new iron screw-steamer was launched fr°/1:01./0.; building-yard of Mesrs. T. and W. Pim, of this n - cb et) . We believe she is the largest steamer ever 1 011 ,,, at this port, and in model and appearatou), ,rt , go e inferior to none. She has been built NI. for tl l Miles Sloman Esq., merchant of Hanaburgb, ' she is Hamburgh and New York passenger trade. oi l e d named the Helena Sloman and is to be I°P - bur the screw, with 120-horse power. ' She is 71 , ° t ni ld s ia t ,. l den, 210 fort long, a n d 2 7 f ee t b rea d. .1.11 2 - -- „ e asir after the launch a large party of both ladies soup to' gmeethn e a r ss i e n m h b o l n ed ou a r t o t t la t e h ß e ßoyal Hootel , and break& - CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.---- DSO I,ift-. the Week ended Feb. 17, 1850:—C- and fl• to, 9 ' °l. 1,0701. 14s. Id.; Mold, 1191. 75. 10d.; otea ln-b°6 ent.—dull Packetirroc fa 4s. Od.—Total, 1,2831. ss. I Id. it Vis es [ADVERTISEMENT ] —An obstinate S-1 1 : 1 , •,,g, 0 1 ,, cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.--Mr. r'°":,"-orbat*" of Broad-street, Bath, suffered for many years 1510 a t hat 04. disease, which affected his hands to such a d e g ts'e ess• °, e 6 months together he was unable to work at his WW l ' a Ws . li d for t he consulted nearly all the faculty of the place, a, ~t ed for,. in t. time used the Bath waters, which are 0 eeleu, r ; c oinP"'".,A cure of cutaneous disorders, but the virulence of ,t".„ ta iee,'7,o remained unabated. He then tried Holloway's u l i s i bs" A Pills, which have so effectually cured him that be so id bL 4 , return_ of the malady for more than two years. o at, """ Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's I :s tablisb Strand, London. ___----bz , lat'a BIRTHS. CAI Cr e° ' On the 14th inst., the wife of Captain ' ..-. la dy of the of H. M. 80th Regiment, of a daughter. jel., On the 16th lest ,at St. Augustine's, Rug '' t he la dy of J. B. Bowden, Esq., of a son and heir. On the 17th inst., at Hope-hall, near If3s ' H. Edwards, Esq., 111.P_, of a daughter. adt oodet 1 .. 8 d -r° ~naobs, On the 17th inst., at Bridge - house, Haml o-3 jolan .--- the alleviating influence of chloroform , M rs. - jun., of a son. ~ 1r Of 0 "7 Vl' On the 18th inst ., at Blandford, Mrs. W. us: w ife ° no O w n e I T . e E l s B q t , h o i f ns a t. B , on a . t Clapham-common, the usef On the loth inst., in Cromer-street, B runswick-s4Mrs. Bullen, of a daughter. ------- c - li,urcg sq ., g . ,; f t On the 18th inst ,at St d . AlgEanry.lebone h fli ch li ri Skinner, second son of the late George lie nnljl ' daug hter of East Brent, Somersetshire, to Anna gar's, the late Mr. Clifford, of Tunbridge -wells. Ge llll/1' At St. George's, Stonehouse, William Edw. U elll3 o - d fle till i; Esq., Lieutenant R.N. third son of the late Edrd e u tsine , oni.Y Gennys, Esq., of Whitleigh-house, Devon, to Jos l - ' child of the late Colonel Browne, 13ombay Army 0 0 no n ny th , e 13th inst., at BDlliEdford Castle, Char Esq., aged 59. iel Thota v Conolly, r of t h° On the 16th inst., at Cambridge, Louisa, dough° in tli° Rev. John Lewis, rector of Ingatestone and Riveuliell, county of Essex. e f„,,cis, the Ott the 17th inst. at the vicarage Biddenham, -''''..„ An Rev, Thomas S. Gri'mshawe, A. 111 , ;ice'. of 13iddene'173, ge`' late rector of Burton Latimer, No.rthatuptonshire, e, i, ore , On the 17th inst., in Charlotte -street, Begat' Michael S. Parnther, Esq., aged 73. , „ *0 late On the 18th inst. at Retnegate, Jane, uaughter °I . Captain William Clark, of that place. J, Cler ic ' On the 16th inst., at Dalston-terrace, aged E.`" Esq., formerly of the 4th (or King's Own) eginle"ssionarl On the 16th inst , the Rev. Horace Winbolt, late lut. to the Jews, and honorary British Chaplain at BeY„.. lobo On the pagedst., at Brightling, Susses, tbe,,S, spoVe B. Hayley, g 69, rector and prebendary 0 1 ' parish for 46 years. ( f-r,:::,, L-ndon: Prilted ard. robliF,'oo,l by 1a11r.,,P, r;o'-',O). j r,O ic o. 11, 6 trhiid, Printer, at rite SUA Oile,,n'tga of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. in tue v. bliddifigern ThttflidaYl YObrilitri 21, 166°' THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1850.