The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-14 00:00:00

Vtirb X'Zittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.) O'CONNOR V. BRADSHAW. This was an actin brought by Mr. Feargus O'Connor, M.P., for Nottingham, against the proprietor of the . Nottingham Journal, to recover compensation in da ranee, for a libel reflecting upon his character, which . was published in the shape of a hand-bill, and circulated about the town. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, and Messrs. Hatherton and Prentice, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Keating, and Mr. Bagley, for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant WILEINP, in opening the case, said the announcement, that he appeared fur Mr. Feargus O'Con nor, Member of Parliament for Nottingham, would be quite sufficient to satisfy the jury that it behoved a gentleman of his position to be jealous of his reputation, and to take care that he lost no influence in society which.he ought to possess by the misrepresentations of malicioss persons. Mr. O'Connor would fain hate been • spared the necessity of corning before them; for it formed no part of his happiness to be engaged in litigation or in strife, and much as he felt himself called upon to combat many accepted notions in the political world, he would have been spared the necessity of eindicating, on the present occasion, his character, unsullied as it seemed to him,, and as he was sure would appear to them when they lend hi ara the ferns of the case, from a libel which attributed to him some of the worst mo tives which could influence the conduct of any man—a libel which could be actuated by no desire to benefit the public, but which appeared to him (Mr. Wilkins) to be actuated by a wish to harass and annoy Mr. O'Connor. The man who exposed abuses wherever he found them, who encouraged good and condemned oppression and tyranny, was a benefactor to the public; but there was a vast difference between him and the slanderer who wounds to give pain, and is the first, if he possibly can, to prevent the healing of the wound he makes. Now the libel which he would read would show that the writer of it was actuated by two of .the meanest motives which could possibly characterise elle conduct of any man; in, the first place, he appeared to have a love of pelf, his object being by the publication of the libel to increase the circulation of the newspaper of which he was the proprietor; and in the next he wished to vent his spleen on Mr. O'Connor because he happened to entertain political notions different to his own, which, in the eyes of a small men, was a sufficient cause to give expression to his hatred. He was not there as the advocate of Mr. O'Connor's politics ; indeed he had never taken the trouble to ascertain what they were ; but he knew enough to be convinced that they were, generally speaking, unpopular, and found little favour among the more educated portions of the community. Bat, how ever they (the jury) might differ from Mr. O'Connor in his political views, he was satisfied they would not allow any prejudice to enter their minds in respect of them, bu would judge of the case with strict, impartial, and unbounded justice. He should simply content himself by proving the libel, and would leave the defendant to prove the plea of justification which he had put upon the record, and he trusted that the investigation would set Mr. O'Connor right with the world, and put an end to the elands-, hatred, and abuse which parties had directed a;ainst him. If the other side should have the temerity to attempt to justify this slander, he should show that few men were more maligned and misrepresented than Mr. O'Connor, and he would then have no fear as to the result of their verdict. He had an opponent formidable, indeed, well skilled and versed in rhetoric, who had fur a long time been before the world, and whose talents were as great as his integrity and honour were un doubted. But to show that his client did not entertain any doubt as to what the result would be, he invited and preferred investigation. The libel was in the; following terms : " The subscribers of the National Land Company and the admirers of Feargus O'Connor, Esq., M.P. for Nottingham, who has wheedled the people of England out of 1000,0001., with which he has bought estates and conveyed them to his own use and benefit, and all ts ho are desirous to witless the final over throw of this great political impostor, should order the Nottznyham Journal, in which his excessive honesty in connexion with the Land Planethas been. and will cote inue to be, fearlessly exposed. The Natingham Journal is the largest newspaper allowed by law, and is the best vehicle in this county or neighbour. hood fur advertisements, business information, and general news. Delivered everywhere early every Fri day morning. Price only ilid; per annum, in advance, 18c.; credit, 205." Now if ever libel were rendered undignified by the mode in which it was put forward—if ever patriotism was wrapped up in dirty paper—here was a specimen.— (A laugh.) It was nothing more than a libel to render Mr. O'Connor obnoxious to a great many people in the country, and to increase the sale of "the largest paper allowed by law, price fourpence-halfpenny," by accusing him of robbing a number of poor people of 100,0001., and applying it to his own use and benefit. The Learned Counsel concluded by challenging the defendant's Counsel to prove this charge if they dared. The necessary proof of the publication of the libel was then gone into. Mr. ROEBUCK then addressed the jury on the part of the defendant, and artier a few preliminary observations, asked them to consider for what the present case had been brought into a court of justice? His Learned Friend had said that it was to defend the character of a gentleman of high ststion, who at the present moment was so jealous of his honour, and possessed of such nice feeling, that he had occasion to come forward to vindicate himself and his el - a-acter from an atrocious charge and a malig- Beet venting of spleen, hatred, and malice ; and yet all be proved was the publication of the libel. This was a strange proceeeding for a gentleman of such high honour, as he called himself ; but as to his high honour they were left entirely in the dark. They had simply "Feargus O'Connor, Esq., M.P.," on the one land, .and the imputation of " political imposter" on the other, and he took credit to himself for a charac ter so free from blame and so unimpeachable, that he simply laid the libel before them, and said, "consider my harrassed feeling, and reinstate me in that position which I have a right to hold. " Now he (Mr. Roebuck) did not mean to leave him in that position. The defendant in this case was not the real defendant, but the injured persons who had been deprived of their money by Mr. O'Connor. They said, and he would justify the charge, that he had wheedled a large number of poor mechanics out of their hard earnings upon false representations, and had painted pictures of happiness to their imaginations which he must have known to be false. The plaintiff must have been aware at the time that the small pittance which he obtained from their industry under feigned promises was the worst species of imposture that could be devise d. He had not fulfilled one of his promises to those whose money he had wheedled to the extent of 100,0001, but had brought estates with the money, and converted them to his own use. He had been in the habit of addressing infl immatory tirades t r the people, and calling them his children. This r auseoue and repulsive mode c f proceeding had been given publicity to through the columns of the newspaper of which he was the proprietor. In those addresses he professed himself to be in possession of a grand scheme for t fie amelioration a mankind, hut it often happened teat these schemes turned out instead for the personal benefit cf the persons who established them. The de fendant in this action bad charged the plaintiff merely with buying estates for his own use and benefit with the money of other people, and this iv:- cu , ation he was prepared to prove. In one of the plaintiff's addresses when introducing this scheme, he said tnat he Wt 3 ashamed of the condition of the people, and in order to remedy this state of things he proposed that by a small subscription from each member of his assc ciation, the subscribers should all become proprietors of land. A certain quantity of this land was to be a!- lotted to each subscriber, on such terms as to enable him to become a small freeholder, and to live in contentment and happiness. In order, further, to induce the people to join his society he went to the ma nufacturing towns where vast populations wore employed fur many hours during the day in labour, and who by reason of their ignorance of the country were most likely to be worked upon, and he told them that scenes of rural bliss and an actual paradise awaited them if they would enrol themselves members of the society. He described in glowing terms the beauties of the country, the tranquil homesteads, the lowing cat tle, the slumbering pigs, the glorious harvest prospects, and other scenes of contentment and plenty, which were likely to make an impression on the minds of a population long accustomed to a factory atmosphere. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to read extracts from several of the addresses of Mr. O'Connor published in the Northern Star. In those addresses the working people were described as his "deer children," and in one he stated that he would have a bell rung, in order that he might hear his happy children, in their happy homesteads, " d—n the factory bell. The plaintiff constantly urged upon his readers that the present regulations of society were altogether unjust, and that by the malice, cruelty, and injustice of a certain number of people a great mass of mankind had been arbitrarily deprived of their inheritance in the land. To that in heritance ho declared that he was about to restore them. Ile had been enabled during the progress of his wheedling, from 1845 down to the present time, to enrol 70,000 subscribers, who were to pay 2/. 12s. for every two acres ofland, and in return they were to have a cot tage, 151. in money, and capital to purchase the neces sary stock. This at the first blush was a marvellous prum}se. The scheme was, in the first instance, called the scheme,land and, after undergoing several changes of description, was ultimately called the " National Land Company." The 70,000 persons were to have their allot ments in the course of five or six years; but, according to Mr. O'Connor's own s h ow i ng, it would,ha've taken 300 years to effect that object. Now, could it fur a moment be imagined that a Member of the Legislature, in a c rowded community like Nottingham, could impose upon the ignorant and helpless in such a manner? and not be (the Learned Counsel) justifi e d i n terming sUcatis A proceeding as wheedling? In fast, no one had been made a freeholder of land which had been purchased by Lie money of the subscribers but Mr. O'Connor himself, who had caused every estate to be conveyed in his Own name. Bat of the whole number of persons who had been induced to invest their money in the scheme, only a very few had been put upon the land, and the only ad vantage they had gained was that they had to pay a larger rent than it they had hired it elsewhere. Six different estates had been purchased, the whole of them by the proceeds of the subscribers' money. All the legal tights and control were vested in Mr. O'Connor. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins had stated that the jury had nothing to do wit h the politics of Mr, O'Connor ; that this was a transaction between man and man, and that jxlr, O'Connor appeared before the Court as an honest THE and upright man. He (Mr. Roebuck), however, charged him with dishonesty in making promises which he knew never could be fulfilled, and which by his conduct he clearly showed never would be fulfilled. Mr. O'Connor was in the habit of addressing the working-people in the most extra ordinary language. He ceded them "Fustian jackets," " you with blistered hands and unshorn chins," " old guards," &c., and when addressing the printers and others connected with the publication of newspapers, the principles of which were adverse to his own, he called them " dastardly ruffians," " cripples," and other vile epithets. He would prove that the scheme was an illegal one, in point of fact a mere lottery, which ought not to have been registered. The plan of the Land Society having entirely failed, tenants to the number of 227 had been served with notice of ejectment by Mr. O'Connor's solicitor, because they had become unable to pay the rent for the last two years after they had been removed from their homes at a distant part of the country. In conclusion the Learned Gentleman expressed :a hope that the result of this trial would be triumphant to his client, and that the exposure of the scheme consequent upon it would for the future prevent any more money being ex tractA from the pockets of the class who had been termed "blistered hands" and " fustian jackets," and that proof would be given to the world that this man was what the defendant bad called him, an imposter who had wheedled the poor and defencele3s of their earnings. If so society would fJr the future be protectt d from a recurrence of those nefarious schemes. The defendant had made a specific charge, which he now repeated. that Mr. O'Connor having got the money from those people, had applied it to the purchase of estates which he had made over to himself. He would call witnesses before them whose evidence would establish the truth •f all the allegations he had made, and if the jury were sa tisfied of their trustworthiness, they would, he was sure, feel no hesitation in promptly returning their verdict in favour of the defendant. .... Several witnesses, some of whom were tenants upon the estates (purchased by Mr. O'Connor, were examined at some length in support of the defendant's case, but the trial was not concluded when the Court rose, •ad it was adjourned until to-morrow. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the pro prietors of the Great Western Railway was held this afternoon at the London terminus, Paddington; Mr. Charles Russell, chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. _ _ . The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the common seal was affixed to the register of proprietors. The report was then read, from which we make the following extracts:— " The accounts of income and expenditure which have been already circulated among the proprietors scarcely present any remarkable feature for notice, beyond the circumstance that, for the first time in the history of the undertaking, there has been a deficiency in the receipt from passengers, which would be referred to with the grtater regret if the main cause of it had not been manifestly of a temporary character. It appears that the falling off has been greater in proportion with the third class than with other passengers, although each class shows a deficiency. It must not be forgotten that the diminished number of passenger trains, although a measure calculated to save expense to the company, has obviously tended to reduce the number of travellers, from the less trequent opportunity to them of moving, especially for short distances, between intermediate stations. The amount received for passengers is 12,414/. 141.4 d. less than in the corresponding period of 1848. The directors are happy to report that the merchandise busi ness, on the other hand, has increased, and shows a tendency to improve; and there is reason to expect now a revival of the trade in live stock, &c., from the south of Ireland, which had been suspended for two or three years by reason of the famine in that country. The receipts fur merchandise, cattle, and parcels have exceeded, to the extent of 6,098/. 13s. 5d., those of the corresponding period in 1848. The result of the half-year's accounts, after deducting the rents and balance of interest paid (comprising that on the Berks and Hants Extension shares), will leave 196,393/. 9s. 11d. at the disposal of the proprietors. The board and the auditors conjointly recommend that a di vidend of 4 per cent. per annum be declared for the half year, to 31st December last, which will leave over a balance of 39,7031. 9e. 11d. to the credit of the company. The directors retiring at the half-yearly meeting are Samuel Baker, Esq., Charles Russell, Esq., and Charles Wardell, Esq., all residing in London, who have see o rally notified their intention to stand for re-election. It is intended to submit to a special meeting a resolution for converting the paid up shares of the company into stock, to take effect from the Ist July next— a measure approved by the Committee in their report, and recommended, as well by economy in the registration department, as by convenience to the proprietors holding several denominations of shares. The purchase of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway, which would be submitted to the special meet ing, attains the object of reducing the expenditure by abolishing a separate board of directors and office estab lishment; it simplifies the:control and management, by placing the nndertaking under the exclusive chorge of Great Western directors; while it does not in any way directly or indirectly increase the liabilities, or affect the pecuniary rights of proprietors in either company. That has been scrupulously attended to in the terms of agree ment, to be laid before the meeting. The conditions of payment will secure to the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey mouth Company the permanent annuity of four per cent., per annum, to which each holder of those shares is entitled, with a contingent benefit, whenever the Great Western shareholders may be receiving more than 8 per cent., per annum, on their shares, as originally provided for, and therefore still maintained in the new contract. The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway requires the most prudent and careful consideration of the board, who are anxious to perform every duty which the law enjoins; but they are bound scrupulously; to ascertain their powers, as well as the relative rights and privileges of all parties interested in both undertakings. The works of those rail ways which are intended to be completed, and which are not likely to be affected by any pending agreements with other companies, will be carried on without inzermission, in order to render the outlay pro ductive; and it is proposed to convene a special meeting within a few weeks, to consider and determine the mode of raising capital for the payment of that expenditure, as well as for the liabilities of the company." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re port, observed that as the report and the report of the committee of shareholders who bad recently investi gated the affairs of the company, which had been in the hands of the proprietors for some time, it was un necessary for him to detain the meeting with any lengthened remarks. Every facility had been af forded the committee for presecuting their inqui ries, and every book, paper, or account rererring either to the past or the present, had been unreservedly placed before them; and so satisfied were they of the manner in which the accounts were kept, that one of them had made the forcible remark that the accounts audited themselves. The committee recommended that the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth line ought not to be constructed beyond Frome, at least for the present; but the directors still thought that the line ought to extend to Radstock, to enable them to open up the mines of Somer set. The South Wales line they considered ought not to extend beyond Swansea, and the directors were now negeciating with that company on the subject. With regard to the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton lines, the committee re commended that they should be prosecuted to comple tion with the utmost dispatch; and with the view of effecting that object the direction was now nego tiating for the abandonment of the duplicate ralis and stations on these lines, which had been contemplated and authorised by Parliament. The shareholders were no doubt aware that the Board of Trade had recently called upon this company to com plete the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line; but the questions relating to that undertaking were so numerous and complicated, that the directors were seeking the best legal advice they could obtain on the subject, and by that advice they would be guided in the future steps and proceedings they should adopt. The committee re commended varicus changes in the internal management of the concern, and he could promise them that these sug gestions should hare the best attention of the directors. Besides the report of the committee the shareholders now had the security of an efficient audit, which had been conducted by the auditors, aided by an efficient public accountant, and the shareholders might rely upon the accuracy and truth of their accounts. Having made a passing allusion to the Audit Bill introduced last session by Lord Monteagle, and supported by the Government, and ultimately withdrawn at the request of the railway interest. He went on to observe that since then a committee of chairmen had been agitating the question of credit, and when the difficulties that that committee had :to contend with in arriving at the views of their constituents, he maintained, in reply to a 56,000 applications sent out by this company to their shareholders to know whether or no they were favourable to a Government audit, they could only obtain 600 ansuers. Other companies were no less unsuccessful, and under those circum sthtaencesuudtehrestandiog Committee thatthe was dissolved, matterw upon d taken up by the shareholders themselves. With regard to the report of the directors he had no remark to make upon it, except to remind the shareholders that they were still able to pay th e i r usua l d i v i dend of four per cent., and carry a large balance to the reserved fund. Every attention would be paid in fu ture to the recommendation of the committee to econo mise, and the shareholders might always rely upon the officers and directors of the company b develope and in crease the traffic. Mr. McLLINGS, M.P., disapproved of that part of the report of the Committee of Investigation which recommended the reduction of the salaries of the officers of the Company. If he owed his suc cese in life to anything it was to the circum stance of his having always received the services off fficient assistants, and paid for them liberally, and he hoped the shareholders would not allow the directors to reduce the salaries of their hard-working clerks and servants, to put some paltry few shillings per annum into the pockets c f the shareholders. Mr. W. WILLIAMS, one of the committer, justified the recommendations, observing that free trade had so far reduced the necessaries of life, that their officers could well afford to submit to the proposed reduction, not of their salaries, but of :their number. He suggested the propriety of the meeting considering the recommendation of the committee to reduce the number of directors. It was much better to have a small well paid efficient board than a numerous one, where many efit it s hr.e m mw e lo m Lr b tk e siu r , s gwaeud were merely y f o e rnamental and always led by M.P., also oppos w ed . any reduction in the salaries, Let the directors revise the duties but not re- S UN, duce the remuneration of their officers who had served i them well and long. Mr. WITHERS, of Liverpool, supported the recom mendation of the committee, and seemed to think that the salaries ought to be regulated by the di►idends the shareholders received. The shareholders had suffered, and so ought the servants. Reduce the salaries now, he said, and if the affairs of the company were improved by the extra exertions of their officers, he was sure neither the directors nor the proprietors would object to an in crease in their remuneration. The CHAIRMAN explained that it was intended to assimulate the pay of the servants of the Great Western to that of other lines of similar magnitude and extent, but it was intended not to reduce the salaries, but only to diminish the number of officers, and thus increase the duties of those who wore retained, Mr. Sanders, the secretary, had set an example to the other higher officers of the company, by voluntarily offering to reduce his salary from 2,0001. to 1,5001. per annum. Major COURT pointed out that the surplus of the past half-year's income only amounted to 21,0001. since the amount mentioned in the report included the balance of the previous half year. lie proposed that they should amalgamate with the South Wales Company in terms to be agreed upon. Mr. LAIVRANCL complained of the silence of the directors on the subject of a recommendation contained in the report of the committee, that the law expenses should be reduced, and the bills of their solicitors, both past and present should be taxed. The CHAIRMAN said the Bills since 1845 were now undergoing taxation. Mr. LAWRANCE said he understood one of the soli citors was a defaulter to the company, and he should be glad to know what the amount of defalcation was? The CHAIRMAN replied between 45,0001. and 46,0001., which was paid to the party fom time to time for the purchase of land, but arrangements had been made with the partners of the defaulter which might reduce the amount, although the liability of the partners was a question entirely of law. They were in hopes no loss would result to the company. Mr. JOHNSON asked what lines they were likely to open this year? The CHAIRMAN said the directors expected to open the Wilts line to Frome and the Oxford line to Banbury, one a distance of twenty-four and the other a distance of twenty-five miles. Mr. Ilimmusa wished to know what money was paid as law expenses for 1845. The CHAIRMAN Could not say, but a proprietor in formed him that the amount was 154,466/. Mr. SMITH said some time ago the cost of works and liabilities were estimated at 15,500,000 L, and now it ap peared that they were 17,292,0001. How did the dif ference arise. Mr. WITHERS, one of the committee, said the amount included the whole of their subscriptions to other lines, amounting to upwards of 1,800,0001. The estimate had been taken at the extreme figure, but on certain con tingencies it would be greatly reduced. The estimate certainly could not be exceeded, but most likely would be reduced. _ _ Mr. Goat, of Bath, did not think the company was in a position to divide 4/. per cent. In about twelve months the capital upon which they would have to di ♦ide would be increased 2,000,0001, and he very much questioned the prudnce of dividing so much as 41. per cent. now they would have shortly to go into the market. to raise, 9,009,0004, and if they depreciated the value of their property by dividing the profits to the maximum extent, they would inevitably suffer from the increased interest they would have to pay for money. He sug gested, therefore, that they should divide 31. instead of 41. per cent. Mr. WITHERS contenped that this company was in the fortunate position of being able to offer every secu rity for any money it might have to borrow, even at the rate of 51 per cent. Tl; sty bad yet to open 100 miles of additional line, besides their subscriptions to other companies; and as they were in a position to give not only security to the bondholders, but to carry a large balance to the credit of the shareholders, he saw no difficulty in the way of dividing 41. per cent. Mr. HEMMING wished to know if any movement was going on to bring about a reduction of railway rating. The CHAIRMAN said a Committee was sitting upon the subject, and they hoped to introduce a Bill into Par liament to amend the law of rating in the course of the present session. Mr. JONES attributed the depression of their shares to the heavy guarantee they had given to the South Wales company, and had no hope of restoring the prosperity of the (line unless there was an entire refor mation in its government. One director was a director in five other companies, —another in three, and another in nine; while, by a return he held in his hand, he saw that one din ctor had subscribed 135,000/. to wards other lines disconnected with this, another 115,000/, and another 504,0001. The CHAIRMAN said they had subscribed to other lines and become directors under Act of Parliament as the representatives of the Great Western. After some further discussion the motion for the adop tion of the report was agreed to, the report of the com mittee of investigation adopted, the dividend declared payable on an early day, and the retiring directors re elected. This closed the business of the general meeting. The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special meeting, and on the motion of the chairman, agreed to resolutions in accordance with the recommen dations contained in ~the report, not, however, until alter considerable discussion. A committee was also appointed to confer with the com mittee of other companies on the subject of an Audit Bill. The report of the committee of investigation was also fully discussed, and thanks voted to the Tarions members of the committee, as well as to the chairman and directers. The meeting then broke up after a protracted sitting, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The half-yearly ordinary meeting of this company was held to-day, in the Easton station, at half-past one, Sir Henry Vernon, chairman of the board cf direc tors, in the chair. The secretary, Mr. E. WATLIN. proceeded to read the report and balance-sheet, which were afterwards adopted and approved of. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by a Di- RECTOR, Major-General Mclnnes and Mr. Caster were reappointed auditors of the company. Mr. CAPRON moved that a committee of the share holders should be appointed to confer with the commit tee of the London and North Western Railway en the subject of establishing a railway audit independent of Government, which was carried unanimously. The meeting was then made special to consider the draft of a Bill proposed to be introduced into the next session, to enable the company to make an alteration in the line at Oxford. The Sec retary read the draft of the Bill, which, after a few remarks, was approved by a motion of the meeting pro posed by the Chairman and seconded by Mr. Mangle., M.P. The meeting then terminated with a rote of thanks to the Chairman. TATTERSALL'S—TIIIS EVENING Six o'CLocK. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 10 to 1 agst Chandler 10 to 1 agat Vain Elope 20 to I agat Victim 25 to 1 agst Vengeance 30 to 1 agst Tipperary Boy 30 to I agat Maid of Athens 40 to 1 apt Rainbow METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 5 to 1 agst Cheerkd 18 to 1 agst Dough 25 to 1 agst Sir Gilbert 25 to 1 agst Baatinado 30 to 1 agst Ellorslie CHESTER CUP. 12 to 1 apt Glauc• 20 to 1 agst Whim colt 25 to 1 agst Peep•o'-Day Boy 30 to I jagst John Comer 33 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn 66 to 1 agat Vesta DERBY. 8 to 1 agat Ghillie Callum 10 to 1 agst Bolingbroke 14 to 1 agat The Nigger IS to 1 agat Voltigeur 35 to 1 agst Mayors 50 to 1 agst Deicoon NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 10 to 1 agat Cheerful—taken 10 to 1 agst any other IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. 4,,,The Earl of HARROWBY presented a petition against Sunday trading. The Earl of CLARE presented a :petition from tome union in Ireland, praying for aid to discharge their liabilities. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a pe tition from some pima lin Durham, praying for a better observance of the Sabbath. DOLLY'S BRAE. _ _ The Marquis of LONDONDERRY also wished to put a question to the Noble Lord on the subject of the motion of which he had given no tice respecting the Dolly's Brao affair. No dis cussion in the House would be productive of I good, it would only be calculated to keep up a feeling of bitter hostility in Ireland, more especially when brought forward by a great party leader in that House. If the Noble Lord had any practical object in view, such as moving a vote of censure on the Govern ment, it might be feasible to bring it forward. but if he bad no practical object in view, he (the Marquis of Londonderry) deprecated the discussion of the subject. The thing had gone by, and the proposed discussion could only produce bad feeling, more especially as there bad been an agitation set on foot in that country for the reduction of rent. He thought it would be better that the Noble Lord should withdraw his motion. IRISH POOR LAW UNION. The Earl of LUCAN rose to move for a nominal re turn of the poor-law unions in Ireland, where the affairs have been administered by r aid guardians, and stating the periods of such administration; also, return of the amount of the debts, claims , and liabilities against each of these unions when the administration by paid guardians commenced and terminated. Unless some arrangement were mad* for the payment of the debts contracted by paid guardians in the distressed parishes in Ireland, the relief ck the poor would become LONDON, THURSDAY impossible. It would be most unfair to impose upon the elected guardians the payment of the debts contracted by paid guardians, and he hoped the Noble Marquis would give him an assurance that such should not be the case. He hoped that he might be enabled to indnce her Majesty's Government to give their attention to the system of vice.guardians in Ireland. No system could have worked in a worse manner; it enabled three com missioners to send out two vice guardians to any union to levy rates without the consent of any elected guardians to any amount. It was a system of tyranny, and of profusion, and of abuse. (LIFT SPEARING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before Four o'clock. BRIGHTON PAVILION BILL. Sir G. It. PECHELL presented a petition from the Inhabitants of Bri,thton, numerously signed, in favour of the Brighton Pavilion Bill. ABERDEEN RAILWAY BILL. Captain FORDYCE moved that it be an instruction to the Committee t 3 which the Aberdeen Railway Bill way be referred, that they have leave t i divide the said 13111 into two Bills, if they shall think fit. Mr. ED WARD ELLICE object( d to the motion on the ground that the preposition for dividing the Bill into two Bills would entail uanece3sary and grievous expense on the inhabitants. Captain FORDYCE nareed to withdraw his motion, not haling anticipated any opposition to it. PRIVATE BILLS. The following Bills Isere read a second time and or dered to be committed:— Brighton Improvement, purchase of Royal Pavillion and grounds, and amendment of existing Acts Bill. Liverpool Docks Bill. On the motion of Mr. COWAN the second reading of the Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction Railway and Glasgow College Lands Bill was postponed until after Easter. - SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE. Sir JAMES DUKE presented a petition from a place in Kincardineshire praying for a cessation of Sunday labour in the Post-office ; also a petition from a person named James, employed in the Post-office, to the same effect, and suggesting some improvements in that estab lishment; also a petition from a person named Samuel Gordon, of Dublin, praying that the House would invest a portion of the national capital in the Irish Encumbered Estates Commission. ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATE DUTY. An How. MEMBER presented a petition from Arundel praying for a remission of the stamp duty on attorney a' certificates. SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE. Mr. EWART piesanted: petitions from Lichfield, Reading, Yarmouth, and other places, praying for a cessation of Sunday labour in the Post office. Mr. COWAN presented similar petitions from Perth and several places in Edinburghshire. Mr. PLIIMPTRE presented a similar petition from Ramsgate. Mr. E. B. DENISON presented several petitions from places in the West Riding of Yorkshire to the same effect COUNTY COURTS. Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition from Lin coln praying for an extension of the jurisdiction of County CoertF. ADVERTISEMENT DUTY. Mr. MILNER GIBSON presented a petition from Mr. Joseph Alfred Novelle, the publisher of the Musical Times, complaining of the advertisement duty. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. - - _ Mr. BROTHERTON presented petitions from places in Lancashire praying for the establishment of county financial boards. Colonel THOMPSON also presented petitions to the same effect from certain other places in Lancashire. SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE. Sir EDWARD BUXTON presented a petition from a place in Suffolk, praying for a cessation of Sunday labour in the Poet-office. Mr. HENLEY presented a petition from a place in Oxfordshire to the same effect. NATIONAL LAND SOCIETY. Mr. HENLEY presented a petition from a place in Oxfordshire, praying the House to institute inquiries into a society called the National Land Society, and to adjust the affairs of that society in the best manner which the House might think fit. SUNDAY LABOUR. _ _ Mr. PORTAL and Mr. presented petitions against the transmission of letters on Sunday. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. Mr. HORSMAN gate notice that on this day fort night he should move fir a Committee to inquire into the circumstances relating to the dismissal of the late Secretary to the Ecclesiastical Commission. TENURE OF LAND (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. SADLEIR gave notice that on this day fort night ho should move for a Committee to inquire into the grievances conneeted with the present tenure of land in Ireland. Mr. lIUME gate notice that he should postpone the motion which stood in his name on the paper until this day fortnight, COPYHOLDS. Mr. AGLIONBfgave notice that on this day fort night he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to effect the compulsory enfranchisement of copyholdr. EVICTIONS IN IRELAND. Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that tc-morrow be would put a question to the Secretary fur Ireland relative to the inquests which had beep held in the poor•law unions in the west of Ireland, and in which verdicts of dea h from want bad been recorded. THE OFFICE OF LORD-LIEUTENANT IN IRELAND. Mr. HUME postponed his motion for an ad dress to her Majesty, praying her Ma• jesty to inquire into the expediency of maintaining the office of Lord-Lieutenant in Ireland. SEWERS. Mr. FUME moved for a return showing the financial state of each district of sewers within the present juris diction; the amount of rates that were uncollected; rh . e amount of balance in hand (if any), also d e bts and lia bilities (if any) on each district, at the time they were superseded by the Act 11 and 12 Vic., c. 112, intituled the " Metropolitan Sewers Act:" And, account of all rates made since that period; showing the rental, the amount of rate, and at what rate; also, the amount received from rates, contributions, and other sources, and how the same has been expended, u n d er di st i nct an d separate heads of works, establishment, contingent expenses, &c., up to the 31st day of December 1849, stating the titles of the several Acts of Parliament under which the Com missioners act.—A greed ti'. GUARDS OF HONOUR AND ESCORTS. Major BLACKALL moved for r e t urns o f th e names i of all o ffi cers serving n Ireland during the late visit of her Majesty to that country, who were employed either in firing salutes or upon guards of honour and escorts vice in each rank respectively ; di st i ngu i s hi ng t h e num b er in attendance upen her Majesty, th e i r ran k , per i o d o f ser of years employed on home or foreign service, and the number of years upon lull or half-pay; and of the names of all officers who received p romot i on by brevet on the occasion of her Majesty's late visit to Ireland, their rank, period of service in each rank respectively, dis tinguishing the number of years employed en home or foreign service, and the number of years upon full and half-pay.—Agreed to. ARMY PENSIONERS. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition from out-pen sioners of Chelsea Hospital, residing at Bath, praying that the deductions which bad been made in their pay, owing to the Bill pasted by the Secretary at War in 1847, might be returned to them. COURTS OF LAW AND EQUITY. Mr. HENLEY asked the Hon. Member for Kilmar nock whether it was his intention to move this sesvioa for a renewal of the Committee on courts of law and equity. Mr. BOUVERIE said it was not his present intention to move for that Committee, but he thought it desirable that it should be re-appointed. ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUES. Mr. SPOONER asked the Secretary for the Home Department t ak en on ecclesiatical r evenue s would be laid on the table of th e H ouse. Sir G. GREwyhensaid the de h e e vi ba n i ce only j ust got the report, which , and he wou ld make qu c i h ry had been tbe la e id vid u e p n o o n e. the table i hi about KILRUSH UNION. Mr. MONSELL begged to ask the Secr e t ar y f or question accountsrespecting the Kil rush Un i on. from Kilrush, stat i ng H lr o elan h d a receivedad that the number of deaths in November, 1849, was fifteen, and in the month of February the number had increased to 150. He begged to ask whe ther out-door relief was stopped at two separate parts of the union, and whether the accounts of the deaths in the union to which ho had referred were correct? Sir WM. SOMERVILLE thought his Honourable Friend could best obtain the information he wanted by asking for papers. He (Sir William Somerville) thought it best to give no specific answers to his Honourable Friend's questions, lest those answers might not prove correct. The situation of the unfor tunate :union of Kilrush was notorious. It was un doubtedly true, that the mortality in the union had greatly increased within the last few weeks ; but such an occurrence was not an unusual one, and it would be impossible for hiss to say to what that increase in the deaths was owing. POOR-LAW RETURNS. Mr. DISRAELI gave notice that to-morrow he should ask a question of the President of the Poor-law Board as to when the returns would be made. WALTHAM FOREST. In answer to a question from Lord DUNCAN, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said ho had just received a setter by which he was informed that the report of the Commissioners of the Waltham Forest would be in the hands of the Lords of the Treasury. MEDICAL OFFICERS—ORDER OF THE BATH. Sir DE LACY EVANS role to ask the First Lord of the Treasury the result of the consideration of Go vernment, promised during last session, respecting the conferring of the Military class of the Order of the Bath on medical officers, who may have been present, and proved deserving in important naval and military ac tions ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL :aid that the question had been for some time under the consideration (ff . the Com mander-in• Chief, and he had made up his mind on the subject ; butit was necessary that his recommendations should be reconsidered by the Government bef)re they were published. ELECTORAL DIVISIONS (IRELAND). In answer to a question from Mr. HERBERT, Sir WM. SOMERVILLE said that there ceitsinly were causes which rendered it necessary that there should be some delay in the formation of some of the electoral divisions in Ireland. PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS. EIVART then moved fur leave to bring in a Bill fug► eu4bling town•counoils to establish pablio libraries and museums.' No country,'he said, was so inadequately provided with public libraries as our own, and in this assertion he was supported by the unanimous resolution of the Select Committee which was:appointed last year, every Member c f which agreed in the propriety of the motion he was about to submit to the House. London was the only great capital in Europe which had not the advantage of public libraries, and this circumstance had been complained of as long ago as the days of Gibbon. Since then the British !Museum had been established, which certainly had conferred great advantages upon the people, both in the metropolis and the country, but still London was deficient in those sources of informa tion and instruction which were given to the people by rin Ras of public libraries; in the capitals of Paris, Dresden, and Florence. On the continent the rule of accessibility to these institutions was universal, and all who had travelled through continental cities knew that they could resort to them unquestioned and with perfect ease. Our chief manufacturing towns, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Sheffield, were in the same unfortunate condition, and for the want of the luxury of public libraries, to which all could resort, the literature of this country hal greatly suffered. If the peop!e were supplied with public libraries they might depend upon the people educating themselyo=. He was ashamed, and yet happy, to say that America had made far greater prc - ,sesti than we had done, for every state had a public library which Aas sup ported by the state, and was easily accessible. firs Hon. Friend, the Member for Manchester, when 1 he brought forward his motion on the subject, would enunciate the advantages which resulted to the United States from their liberation of the taxes upon knowledge, and the immense advantages which the Americans 1 enjoyed through having a ready access to public I libraries. For these reasons he was instructed by the Committee to take the liberty of introducing this Bill to the consideration of the House, and the House had a right, therefore, to expect from him an explicit statement or its provisions. A few years ago he and his Honourable Friend the Member for Pon tefract, at the request of a considerable num ber of persons, introduced s Bill enabling town councils to establish museums, which was carried under Sir Robert Peel's Administration, and had since given considerable satisfaction. Now he thought it better that that Bill should be consolidated with this (the li braries) Bill, thus enabling town councils to establish libraries and museums together. In point of fact, he proposed to begin, as it were, de novo. The Museums Bill empowered town councils to raise a rate not exceed ing a halfpenny in the pound, which should be applied to establishing museums, and in this Bill he adopted that provision. In the next place, it enabled town councils to purchase land for libraries and museums, and vested the property of such buildings in themselves. The Mu seums Bill restricted the power of establishing museums to towns and boroughs whose in habitants exceeded 10,000, but the committee thought it better to throw the power open to all towns, and ac cordingly the Bill did so. In the next place the Museums Bill enabled town councils to levy Id. upon each person who was admitted to the museum; but as that provision acted as an impediment to the carrying out of the plan, it was proposed by this Bill to repeal it, and and allow the public to be admitted gratuitously both to the museum and the library. That was strictly the nature of the Bill he had now the honour of laying be fore the House. It did not give town councils any power of purchasing books, because it was thought bet ter to leave the books to be supplied by donations and such like means. He might be asked who the people were the Bill professed to benefit? Well, and a very proper question that would be. His answer to it was simply this, namely, the Bill bas been anticipated by many towns. In some places they had anticipated the law, and established libraries as well as mu seums. In Warrington a public library had been established for some time, and he was told that it had succeded exceedingly well. He held in his hand the last report of the managing committe-, which represented it to be in a very flourishing condition. Then, again, last year a similar institution was established in Salford, and although it had not been in operation six months, it contained upwards of 5,000 volumes, which had been presented to it,while from Birmingham and Sheffield de putations had been sent up to wait upon Government, and urge them to support the Bill. In Ireland it was also desired, and if he had time he could multiply in stances where attempts had been made to anticipate this measure, but he felt he had said enough to in duce the House to allori him to introduce it. If he should have the satisfaction of carrying this mea sure, he could assure the House that in sanctioning it they would receive the gratitude of the great body of the people. It was the abject of the Bill that the insti tutions which it sought to establish, popular as they were in their object, should be popular in their origin— that they might be founded by the people, sustained by tits people, and enjoyed by the people. With these ob servations, he begged to move for leave to bring in a Bill to enable t awn councils to establish public libraries and museums.—(Cheers.) Mr. BROTHERTON seconded the motion. Leave was then elven to bring in the Bill. MINISTERS' MONEY IN IRELAND. Mr. WILLIAM FAGAN presented a petition nu merously signed from Cork against Ministers' Money. The Hors. GENTLEMAN then rose to move for a Com mittee of the whole House, to take into consideration the law relating to the rate or tax called " Ministers' Money," in Ireland, with the view to the repeal of so much thereof as relates to the said rive or tax; and fur ther to take into consideration the Act 3 and 4 Will. IY., c. 114, called " The Church Temporalities Act," for the purpose of amending the same so as to provide thereby a substitute out of the revenues of the Ecclesi astical Commissioners as a provision for the Protes tant Ministers in certain corporate towns in Ire land, in lieu of the annual sums now re ceived by them, under and by virtue of the Act 17 and 18 Charles 11., cap. 7. The Honourable Member stated as a reason for his motion, that the tax called Ministers' Money pressed with great severity upon the poorer classes of the Roman Catholic popula tion in the large towns of Ireland, particu larly in Dublin, Cork, Clonmel, Kinsale, and Water ford, and led to the lamentable and end less sectarian rancour among the Irish people. He thought that the least that the Catholic population of those towns could ask from the Government was that they should be freed from this odious impost. Last year he had endeavoured to show that a substitute could be easily provided from the funds of the Ecclesiastical Com mission. On that occasion the Right Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary bad moved the previous question, which he took as a proof, that he (the Right Hon. Baronet) ac knowledged the justice of his sentiments. In a private interview which he had had with the Right Hon. Baronet, he had understood him to be favourable to his project: and in addition to this, he argued from the late visit of her Majesty to Ireland, that the Government were desir ous of relieving the known grievances of that country. It was in this stage of the question, that he (Mr. Fagan) came forward to provide a substitute for this tax. On the death of the principal bishops the income of the Ecclesiastical Commission in Ireland would be increased by the sum of 13,500/., making a total income of 300.0001., and he submitted that it would be of advantage to the Commission to encourage the purchase of perpetuities; and in other ways to relieve the people of this impost He proposed that the sale of perpetuities should be ap plied as income till the revenue of the Ecclesiastical Com . - mision should be increased. He had prepared a the House would allow him to bring it in. to meet the dif ficulty of the case, which measure he thought with the advance of 30,0001 would obviate every difficulty. There was no such thing as Ministers' money in Eng land, and he did not see why the Catholics of Ireland should be burthened with it. He deprecated the neces sity of their coming there year after year to put an end to so miserable a tax of 15,000/. a year, while the Protestant Church were in possession of almost all the best lands of Ireland. The Hon. and Learned Member concluded by moving the resolution of which he had given notice. Sir G. GREY regretted that as the circumstances of the case were at the present moment is the same condition as they were last year when the Honour , able Gentleman brought forward his motion, he must pursue the same course that he did then, and move the previous question. While he admitted the candid and open manner in which the Hon. Gentleman bad brought forward the question, he doubted the policy and efficacy of his doing so. Mr. POWER deprecated the tax of minister's money, because at present it fell entirely upon the poorer class of the Catholic artisans, and its object was to support those who put forth doctrines which they did not believe. (LEFT SPEAKING.) LAW INTELLIGENCE. JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL, Feb. 13. The members of the court present were— Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, Lord Langdale, the Right Hon. Sir Stephen Lushington, the Right Hon. T. Pemberton Leigh, and the Right Hon. Sir Edw. Ryan. ♦NUND LAL SING DEO V. MAITARAJA DIIERAJ GARROOD. _ __..._ Mr. Turner, Mr. Forsyth, and Mr.,..Maule ap. peared for the appellant; Mr. Loftus 1% ;gram, Mr. E. J. Lloyd, and Mr. E. F. Moore conducted the case for the respondent. Thisnc i l which whole of occupied yesterday, the wasattention of the Cu resu med this morning. The appeal arose out of a disput e d Council appeal, near ly claim to the district of Kasaep . er, a portion of the Rajaship of Pacheet, situated in the Presidency of Bengal. It seemed that the tract of territory in dis pute had been granted by an ancestor of the respon dent to the appellant's father for life. The question therefore at issue between the parties involved the right of the respondent, who is the present Raja of was barred by lapse o f the Pacheet,clam i to co r . e t s h u e m r e es t p h o e n t d e e r n ri t tory ' On the part of the appella n t, it was contended that time. In support of the respondent's case itwas submitted that the disputed territory formed part of the Raja ship of Pacheet, and that according to the law appli cable to this case, the R4,aship was indivisable. The appellant alleged that lie was entitled to hold the ter ritory by inheritance. It was submitted, however, on the other hand, that the appellant's father only de rived a provision for life, and that it was not compe • tent for any former Raja to bind his successors by a permanent grant of territory belonging to the Raja ship; and that, therefore, if any such grant had been made by the former Raja in favour of the appellant's father, the same would not be binding upon the re isipreoninn e te u r t e . st l in 'h t e he a t p e p r e r l i l t a n n ry t's , hfaatvhinerg, died,who thhaeddoisntlryieat was clearly rssumable by, and reverted to, by the respondent. The arguments, which occupied the whole of the sittings to-day, haring concluded, the judgment was deferred. COURT OF EXCHEQUER,Feb.I3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) THE QUEEN ON THE PROSECUTION OF KAUDSLAY V. LOWE. Throughout the inquiry the main stress appeared to be placed upon the patent of Mr. Bramah as em bracing all that the defendant's specification went to ; but the last witness who was examined for the prose cution stated that the two propositions which it con tained with reference to the wings of a windmill and the fly of a smoke-jack was so utterly incon gruous as to be incapable of being applied in com bination. Sir F. THESIGER (a consultation having taken place between the learned counsel on both sides) said that the case had now arrived at that point when he felt that he might be warranted in withdrawing from any further proceedings under the sci. fa. lie felt that there was a sufficiency of doubt to justify his Learned Friend and himself in consenting to a verdict being taken for the defendant on all the counts. The ATTORNEY'. GENERAL said that this was the first Bci. fa. which had come on in that court, and he might add at the same time, that it was the first occasion where a defendant had obtained real justice under such a proceeding. The verdict was then entered for the defendant, thus establishing the validity of his patent. SECONDARIES' COURT, Feb. 13. (Bef ire Mr. Secondary POTTER.) WARD V. PRITCHARD. This was an action brought on a guarantee. Defen dant suffered judgment to go by default. It appeared that the plaintiff hal advanced 1501. to the defendant and others on their entering into a guarantee for the repay ment of the amount, and also effecting a policy of in surance, and keeping up the payments thereon. The Learned SECONDARY held that, as the deed was set forth in the declaration, and defo , ulant had, by not pleading, admitted the breach, the production of the deed was sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to a verdict. Verdict for the amount claimed, and interest at 5 per cent. The parties in the other cases not being in attendance th• jury were discharged. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Thomas Almond, of 7, Ellis-square, Wel worth road, was brought up for final examination, before Mr. Alderman Finnic, charged with breaking open a cupboard in the office of his master, and stealing five 101. notes and five sovereigns. The prisoner was committed for trial ; and the de positions being made out and read over he was con veyed to Newgate, bail being refused. A gentleman attended at the justice-room and called the attention of the Alderman to a subject which he considered of the greatest importance to the public, and one of a very serious nature. He stated that, in passing along Alderagate-street, he was induced to purchase a spon ge from one of the street hawkers. It was wrapped up in paper, but he shortly found that not only the paper but his black kid gloves were burnt by something poisonous. On examining the sponge he found that it had been saturated with ox alic acid or some similar deadly poison. Now, had it happened that this sponge had been used fur filter ing water, the consequences would have been fatal to those drinking its; and it was under these circum stances he felt it his duty to come and make the pre sent statement publicly, so that others might be placed on their guard against purchasing in the street. The ALDERMAN said that the public had been cautioned on the subject, and he wondered complain ant was not aware of it; but as he had been duped in this way, it seemed necessary to repeat the caution. However cheap free trade had made many article, sponge was not so reduced in value that a gentleman could expect to buy a ss. sponge for 4d. The gentleman said the man teased him to pur chase, and thinking it might be useful, and aware that it was at its full size by being (as he thought) soaked in water, he bought it without considering the fair value of such a thing. Mr. Alderman WiLsox observed that sponges hawked about in this way were always bleached and swelled, either by saturatio❑ in vitriol and water or some other violent poison. The gentleman said his object was merely to guard the public against being poisoned, and he was much obliged to the Alderman for his attention to his re marks. BOW• STREET. George Milner, an assistant to Mr. Daws, ehyrnist and druggist, of 24, Abbey-road, St. John's-wood , was charged with stealing a letter containing a half sovereign and a florin. Mr. Peacock, solicitor to the Post-office, conducted , the prosecution. The prisoner, a young man of respectable family, lived in the house of his employer at a salary of 101. a year, and assisted in the business of the shop, which is also a receiving-house for the letters of the district. The frequency of complaints respecting the loss of cash•letters posted at the shop, induced the Post office authorities to authorise one of their presidents (Mr. Sculthorpe) to test the honesty of the ser vants employed in the district, which was done in the usual mode, namely, by placing marked coins in letters, and watching their course through the Post effice from the time of being posted. The letter in question was posted before nine o'clock in the morn ing at the shop of Mr. Daws, and contained a half sovereign and a florin (both previously marked by Mr. Sculthorpe). It should have arrived at the General Post-office at eleven o'clock, but was not found among the forty-five letters collected at the re ceiving -house, and forwarded in the Paddington bag. On examining the bill registering the number of letters in the collection, it was observed that the mis sing letter was not accounted for in the certificate; upon which Mr. Sculthorpe, accompanied by Peake, the constable, proceeded to the shop of Mr. Daws, to make inquiries respecting it. The prisoner was pre sent, and admitted that he made up the letters, and that the figures in the bill were his own. Mr. Scul thorpe then directed Peake to search him, and identi fied the marked half-sovereign among the money taken from his pockets. In a pocket-book, also found upon the prisoner, they discovered the letter which Mr. Sculthorpe had written, and the seal of which was still unbroken. The prisoner, who said nothing in expla nation of these circumstances, was then taken into custody. Mr. Sculthorpe produced his letter as it was found in the prisoner's pocket-hook, and examined it in court. One of the sides of the envelope had been loosened, and tl'e half-sovereign abstracted ' • after which the envelope had b een aga i n secured by gum. The florin was left in the letter. The prisoner made no answer to the charge. Mr. HENRY committed him for trial. It transpired that a letter was received for the prisoner in the course of the day from a servant girl, who expressed her willingness to accept his protection, and requested that her lodgings might be out of town. TV 0 RSHIP-STREET. A gentleman, whose name did not transpire, but who described himself as a surgeon, residing at Ixworth, in Suffolk, applied to Mr. Hammil for his advice and assistance under the following circum stances:— The applicant stated, that about a month since he was a passenger in one of the trains from Bury upon the Eastern Counties Railway, accompanied by Captain Lloyd, a friend of his ,when, upon reaching Mark's Tey, the next station beyond Colchester, an elegantly dressed woman, who bad an infant with her, entered the carriage with a tottering step, and apparently in a state of extreme illness and debility, and explained to them that she had been previously travelling in a first-class carriage, where she was quite alone, but that, feeling greatly indisposed, she had been induced to change her place for one in another carriage, where there were other passengers. He (the applicant) introduced himself to her as a surgeon, and tendered his professional services, if she required them ; but the lady declined his offer on the ground that her illness was solely attributable to her being unaccustomed to the fatigue of travelling, and she appeared to have rallied considerably by the time the train reached the Shoreditch terminus, where he again offered his services, but she told him that they were quite un necessary, as her carriage and servant ought to be waiting for her outside, and requested him to take charge of the child for a few minutes while she ascertained whether they had arrived. The lady then hastily descended the steps leading from the plat form, leaving with him and the captain her child and a small trunk, which he at the time supposed con tained her luggage ; but after waiting for more than an hour the lady did not again make her appearance, and from that time to the present he bad neither seen nor heard anything of her. After making numerous inquiries, in the hope of gaining some trace of her, but unavailingly, he conveyed the infant, which was a female child two months old, to the house of a private friend of his in town, and on taking off its clothes they discovered attached to the inside of its dress a letter containing two 10/.-notes, and convey ing a brief intimation that the infant was the offspring of persons of the highest respectability, who would continue to contribute all that was requi.site to insure its comfort and proper maintenance, upon being addressed by advertisement in the papers to that effect, and that the little charge would be ultimately reclaimed by its parents. The infant had ever since remained under the care of the friends with whom he bad first placed it, but he had since received letters upon the subject, one of which was from another private friend of his, who was most anxious to adopt the child ; and in proof of his being actuated by anything but a mercenary feeling, he was desirous that the money which had been led on its account should be deposited in some savings -bank for its future benefit. This benevolent proposal, however, he was restrained from acceding to, in consequence of a second communica tion having reached him from some gentleman in I),.vonshire, who made a peremptory claim of the child and the property atached to it, alleging that he was cinpowen-d to do so by its own mother, althoug h he produced nothing satisfactory in authentication of his assumed authority, and threatened bits, in the event o f hi s re f usa l to accede to the demand, to adopt legal proceedings against him for its jai mediate restoration. Under these circutostances, 1)3 was totally at a loss how to act, as his only object 'Os to release himself from the responsibility so sing yierly imposed upon him in a manlier which would be joint l Y conducive to his own safety and the interests o f the infant, and he was therefore induced to come to this court to obtain the opinion of the magistrate as to thet most advisable course to be pursued. The 3PPli csn d described the contents of the box which accompsme the infant as exclusively consisting of w earing 3 r d parel of a tast e f u l an d expensive description, nil, adapted for a female child ; and having exprose d ? 15 ,1 on d e conviction that the i n f ant ' s mo th er was 3 m woman, from the circu ms t ance o f hi s noticing "th e upon her fi nger , an d th a t a portion of , 5 clothing, though s till i n exce ll en t condition, Is:a slightly worn in various places, added, that he h been subjected to great expense, trouble. and ann° , 3 . l d . ance, from the u n pl easan t position in vvbic h he h` been placed, and h a d b een compelled to come up e trY pressly to town, leavi ng hi s pa ti en t s in the cu un the wholly unattended to, that he might be put ° h i m way of adopting some measure by which this to harassing affair mi g ht b e b roug ht to a satisfactorf conclusion. A reef Mr. Ilareattm, said that it was certainly singular and unusual application, and he exceedingly that he could not render the gentlembat any effectual assistance; but he would sugges t t be the best course for the applicant to pursue w ould. _ to place the infant in the hands of the officers of to d s parish in whose district it had been abandoned, an s they, he had no doubt, would take such steps s d would release him from all further responsibility, snho very probably lead to the discovery of the pers °llw ia had abandoned the child to the care of strangers such an unnatural manner. • ed- The applicant thanked the magistrate for his regret exceedingly vice and quitted th e court ; b ut i t vas pretty d e n t feat from his ma nner th a t h e was d i s i nc li n ed to A t " . the suggestion thrown out by the Bench. THE COUNTRX MARKET S ; Air NEWCASTLE CORN MAILKET, FES. 12. —We haA MARKETS; supply of wheat from the f armers , b ut t h e a rrivals c o ' . w ith were light. Factors held firmly for an advance of I° ' l i t tle which the holders would nut comp l y , an d i n conseque n f, e er ed. business was done. Barley, oa t s , an d ot h er ar ticles no s NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKWT, FEL 12,--Th fre art large supply of cattle of good qtality, but trade 3111, an esld' remains unsold. Sheep trade a c ti ve , an d the nurn 4 l,63 t s bited all cleared off. Beasts 800, s h eep 4,000. ne e " ,` Si 6d mutton, 5d to d. in l b. EDINBURGH MEAL 6 MARKET, Fit.l2.—There pr l, B olbo meal market to-day 23 sacks oatmeal, each w eigbing, lo imperial, whereof 21 sold th us : l at ll 5 s 03, 0 atl 10' and 11 at 11 4s Od ; aver age p r i ce o f t h e w h c l e 114 a gu i , l l . o olo l 5 sacks flour, whereof 2 sold at 28 5 , an d 3at 253• ";/4 1 , 6( l ' pot-barley, whereof 15 so ld th us : -1 at 1 ! 5 s Od, 1 at ' 1 at 1145 Od, and 12 at 1/ 25 Od. 12.; 4 EDINBURGH HAY AND S TRA W M ARK ET, . —. 1, 0 01 Supplies of all kinds still continue large. Oat stra w, ,:: 6d t• to Os 6d per kemple of 16 s t ones tron • wheat ditto, `T o d ref Cd ; barley ditto, Is 6d to Gs 6cl. hay, from 83 t° stone. r 51 50 DALKEITH MEAL MARK ET , F EB . 11.—There the bags oatmeal, 20 of barleymeal, an d 5 o f pot-barle l $ O lO l day's market ; sales ready ; top price of oatmeal sag° d on week; second and inferior qualities 3d to 6d per bag barleymeal same as last week; pot -b ar l ey i s per bag uPibirci, Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. First Second Oa imperial .. 23s 6,1 22s 3d 02, 01 Barleymeal, per ditto ... 16a 61 16s 3d ' 01 Peasemeal —s Od Od (34 Flour ... ... Pot barley ... _ s od 1 OJ — 5 Od I 'e. COAL MARKE Bate'a West Hartley 15s 6d Buddle's W. Hartley 15s 9d Carr's Hartley East Adairs Main l4B Od Hasting's Hartley lss 9d Holywell ......... 16s 6d North Percy Hartley lss 6d New Tanfield lss Od Ord's Redheugh Ravensworth'sW.Hart Iss 6d ranfield Moor Butes l4s 6d Townley l6s Od West Hartley West Adairs 14s OA Wylam Wall's End, &c. - Buraton Killingworth 171 3d Gosforth . Marton Hilda l6s 9d Killingworth l7B 6d Percy ••• I —s Od ... 22s Od. 9a T.—YE idTHISDAT• . leS :Walker ............ 19 lA. Lambton Primrose ''' 17s 6d L I Z; i ..................... .............. 1 1 i g g a „` l , Hatton .... ............... 19 , PI Haswell .................. os 9 , ! Jonstssohns .......... 18 , 61 Lambton ............. : 17s Ir a Lumley ................ 1811 v a Russell's Hatton ••'''' j9s `,.;d Stewart's ............... Os v od 'aradoc ..... .. •••"*".. 19 0 'assop.. .... ...• ........ les ,d ox's Hartlepool ...s v o Kellse ...............••••'; 14 6 Whitworth ............ .• 1 713 d Cownden Tees ••• .... ri o i , South Durham ••••• 19 6 4 Tees ................ .'" 15s v g ' d 'Sidney'sDerwe Hartley nt wate li a.r.tl. e. .3 1 l6sl , Ships at market, RAILWAY Bti Ant. NIARK - " - BRISTOL, FEB. 13. ; s in 3iii ; STOCK EXCILANGE.--The market still cont.! , u I mo Oa-i. mate, and little b us i ness h as been transac ted. 15 %. alteration in prices was—Great Western, Quarter', itl STOCK EXCIIANLGI : . E_R our Stock Ex c h ange to-da , and the t e ndency ° t the ITlAULlittFlexwbuls3iness was d f o r n i lees has been downwar4s, the market c losing heavily casobirs quotations. The transactions were as follow : LiT,sters, and Yorkshire, Fifths, 7 5 / 14 dis. London and North- )11°,00, 112—Ditto, New Quarters, 1/. is. 3d. c• P.--Ditto,!'dol, l'3 c. p.—Ditto, Quarters (C) 11. 185. 9d. c. p.---31,, 4), Halves, 24 C. di s . S out h-EL tern and Dover ("' 61. 6s. 3d.—Dutch Rhenish, 6 dis. MANCHESTER, Fyn. 13. to' dAP STOCK EXCIIASIGE.—Th.s market was very hearY...3,o- and prices lower. The tr a n sac ti on s were as follow. rre cashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 7% dis.—Caledonian'o3---' ference, 7 13-16 p.—London and North-Western', r., Ditto, Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (0, 1 pitt°' Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Ei g hths, ' ..- dis."' Preference, 7 3 4 North Staffordshire, 10 9.16 l l ' South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4), Scrip, 6% c. BIRMINGHAM, Fro. 13. .JAP STOCK EXCHANOB.—The share ma rket tO so was du ll„, c The only transacti ons were—Alidland (Birming,ha..- ,/, le- Derby), 20 Birmingham % Shrewsbury and ( AP 1 9d. dis. a 1 1 11 ii:Ellpi lerfs-osvgi oltttilibrillidiS, Kn G ot n t l i ris i lly, F ~ 1 lth ol but ti - -- n o on, .." DR eY, drove on from W.N.W , expe cted , °L oa ship, much damage. LUNCHES ON T WEAR.—TheSu n after' gaiter hb et maker, ti L fi l builders h,: a nd r o e t htheror emulous7 a, li E o f the - ' I L i s 1 r' s h - 0 111 d e r ti ll 1 3 : 118 T isto T .: h eb e on s t lo h o e p sp B u r r i n tis l d i u :i n g wi s o g o s ti o s his h i p and r o sa d u u gn c ad t i i et o er n ri as continually' st e l y nsh : ia l pi 1 y ins b t i h i) ; a o ' 0 t ru evor 11 . T4e . re is everlastingnidy of sir into water—seeking, as our friend& th ° ,l o , n i l liners periphrastically, if not philosophically e';on s 'a native element." Only on Monday last, Roge r e ll a ° ,,, Wilkinson, and Briggs and Candlish, a nd li s n g o e- Naseby, and the veteran Laing, were ships into the Wear; and it comforts us to /6 tons, Mr. Lsing's splendid barque, the Talavara, " o we: classed at Lloyd's A 1, 13 years, has found e Pt in big in Mr. David Dunbar, who had once c roche t •g to head a . „Ari (new happily expelled) that shipping Ras ' .., the doge.—Gateshead Observer. Tlg Li * i PROCBEDINGS OF TIIB BOARD Or .-- todilY -11 Among the Parliamentary papers issued on T° o f the an extract from the minutes of the proceedings' icing General Board of Health. It consists of the f, ° b l e e core" t r rnh e ie s sa ) h l i u oean ti le u trh n s o i f — orrt l vi T ur h qjs a u, t ra i is t n h ag as been established by ' eori fi g which kas been confirmedgbiennteosruebtlbsp,eriunmeceni a t ns :f f leg _ fascie under the metropolitan sanitary coenn3issi°nofjoion adopted by the Legislature as a fuyidapmleeinnqt usl of the Public Health Act, and which, so fs i r es, e r Board has pr ocee d e d w i t h i ts own investigsr:° , till pears to be equa lly app li ca bl e t o the Ine te°P°. rsb eill t the works f or su p p l y i ng t h e pu bli c with we t n e g eive ll ., be under the same public jurisdiction or ° 3ll- c i r sini e ei s urface 0 ° with works of drainage, paving and sc hen That, apart from the merits of any particular at ions is new water-works, and pending further investig prin' to the practical means of applying the forer v i e e sfon t t e i ciplo to the metropolis, it is inexpedient to II „ D rift' investment of fresh capital in the same field 01 e"be t i ,'" it is probable that the new works will be" t sh ° e' s ;et purchased, and there can be no security that e rea be applicable to the arrangements that nisi be b ,fter recommended." A algae The twwbee [ ni A utys u a iv years ' t e T n f st s u t firo m re r E ti fsnh suffering .] A lady - 11 1 . S o uth , a letter bny t Wales alludesin Holloway, by the o f traordinary cures of asthma affected in that co ign' Is , tha t er loet Professor use ll 01 i o o iv f a n y Holloway, Pillseli. it o gi y o ,: efoul; of these invaluable pills, and to one case in l'a rt ir '`l whe , s i ' t of a lady residing near a hill named she " Ratorbie';, d ificulti d .. having for twenty years been affected with gr e y iiebro t n breathing, and unable in consequence to bear 0 0 5 her *ld ertion, at last used this remedy, and is now, t? rh g ill." - " S : 0 1 expression, able to run up to the top of that big", b ij o hn ,- ' by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway'l J 3" 244, Strand London. —.....•''_--- Of BIRTHS , ve ya.., On the 12th just ,at Brighton, the Lady Ag e il j' verb a th ed ?Jr& J° One 6th inst., at Wormley-house, Herter Dodson, of a son. to ern, On the Bth inst., at Hamilton. street, Camden- Lovell Phillips, of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Ilalstead, Essex , the Wife of the nel'. Duncan Fraser, of a son. O. I°Dirl- On the 11th inst., at Upper Tulse - hil l, Mrs. A. son, of a son. George, !ate JamesgisborP On the 12th • .o ir ungest son of Henry Pierce Bolle, I%Sq'' O. o f tb e 'mt., at St. Gecrge-the-alartyr, 131°°/ Per Be ord-square. to Rebekah, youngest daughter, epir . la q, A / of Graceehurch-street auo `-' ham-road . ' On 7th ED the inst ,at Leamington, t Lad.,' amp' Margare , . t or bell, widow of the . late Vice • ' Patrlcit (-, Admiral t..tr bell, G.R. I ' ttoo l ' On the 7th inst., at Glasgow, J Barnsell le ernes EN., Commander, Royal Navy. a I ` slb- On the 7th • ' l urt. at forrington, Devon, Catherin be O n wife of J 1 ' n ojel lomphres, .E-q On the 9th inst., at Farlingtou, near Portsmouth, '-' Howard, o Esq., aged 78. Wood -1 the 9th • inst , at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Richard A. ward,l' ~ sq., of Penning, Essex, aged 46. Tho mas , On the 10th inst., at North-end, Fulham, Ge°rge C ommander, aged 68 ~.,., f On the 10th .. . - ' • tor• r' ,. ' ° in aged 79, Joseph Podding • Ca b m er7ll-green. ---- ga of London •P ' - -- -- 0 YOU- ',./ _ 0 . , nnted and Published by 1111WID ,„ o . 1 , ; IN • 112, Strand, Printer a The &' n Otie , cv sy 04 Stra • Strand, in the Precinct of the St* 'll t'l - till VOY. Kiddleues, Thuraciay, February 14, 185 0 . Davies i: aMAR en. , , t 4