The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-17 00:00:00

THE MADIAIS. ( Prom the Morning Herald.) Some of our friends may, not unreasonably, have thought us rather backward in the expression of a natural indignation at the supposed death of Francesco Madiai. We have alluded but once to the subject, and then only hypothetically. The truth is, that from the first we entertained a de gree of doubt as to the fact. We knew, indeed, th a t p oor Madiai was in a weak state of health, and that there was no innate improbability in the story. But the rumour reached England in a manner not carrying with it much assurance. A single Paris ournal professed to have seen in a single Turin iournal a statement of Madiai's death. Beyond this brief newspaper paragraph of three lines, coming, too, not from Tuscany, the scene of the transaction, but from Piedmont—beyond this one statement we had not a single word. Since the rumour first reached us we have watched every post with the greatest anxiety, but we have watched in vain. Neither from France, nor Italy, nor Switzerland has a single syllable touching Francesco Madia, reached us for five days past. At last on Saturday we were favoured with the sight of a letter, dated " Nice, Jan. 8," which virtually demolishes the whole story. The writer, an English clergyman, says :-- " I have a letter from Florence last night, giving most comfortable particulars of the continued support and happiness of the sufferers. The Swiss Minister had just returned from a visit to them. He says he never - witnessed such a blessed scene. Francesco, though too ill to read, says his days pass happily in communion with his Saviour. " Arrests continue, and the state of things is very fearful. It is stated that the Grand Duke intends a commutation of the sentence, but no one knows when." We apprehend that, with this evidence before us, the idea of the death of Francesco, as stated on the 3d, must be entirely abandoned. -Bo much the better for the Court of Tuscany •, for, assuredly, there was the near prospect of such a storm, not in England only, but throughout Pro testant Christendom, as would have shaken this petty but bigoted power to its very foundations. Yet, although the crime is not now presented to u s in such hideous colours—although a man of middle age has not actually perished in a dungeon for the crime of reading the Scriptures, can any one, on consideration, say that the real guilt of the Tuscan Government is lessened by the mere fact that Francesco is still alive ? But Francesco and Rosa are known to be in such weak health that their imprisonment en dangers their lives. The rumour, which now proves to be untrue, was so readily credited chiefly because all who knew them felt their existence to be matter of doubt and fear from day to day. All who were concerned in the matter knew this. The Grand Duke himself—his own female relatives, who have visited Rosa in prison —the priests, the public functionaries—all these knew that they were en dangering the lives of their prisoners by keeping them immured in their present weak state of health. Surely, then, it makes little difference in the moral guilt of their conduct, that the event which they knew to be so probable has not yet actually taken place, but that their victims are still alive, still suffering the living death to which they have de liberately consigned them. We believe that Englishmen generally are grow ing impatient of the longer continuance of this enormity. For several months their patience has been kept alive by constant promises and predic tions, that the release of the pri sone rs was near at hand. And still, we perceive, the same game is kept up, and an " intention" is talked of, on the part of the Grand Duke, to grant them some remission of the punishment, soon. it is nearly three months since the English deputation visited Florence, and that deputation was then told, that a relaxation of the sentence might soon be expected. Now, with prisoners guilty of atrocious crimes, or possessing the courage and strength of youth, all this delay might be tolerable. But so intrinsically unjust is the whole proceeding against the Madiais, and so entirely free are they from moral guilt, that the stupid and tedious pertinacity of their persecu tors, with a knowledge of the danger which this pertinacity involves, is creating a feeling, in British bosoms, which will soon break forth into some kind of menacing action. We are assured that the London Protestant Alliance, in summoning a public meeting, to be held in Exeter-hall on the 25th, has, instead of promoting agitation, rather repressed and kept it down. For several weeks past loud calls have been made upon them for some public demonstra tion. London, it has been said, instead of being foremost as usual, has lagged behind in this matter. As many as nine or ten large meetings to protest against the unjust sufferings of the adiais have already been held in various provincial towns. Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, are all in the field. Why does the metropolis hang back ? Thus urged, the resolution has been at last adopted ; and on Tuesday in next week a great assemblage may be airticipated, over which the Lord Mayor has con sented to preside. In another point of view it is high time that this step should be taken. The people, generally somuch alive to cases of oppression, have, in the present instance, been slower than their rulers. Our readers will doubtless understand to what we allude. They have already heard, we are well assured, that more than one crowned head has shown solicitude in this matter, and that the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in his course of senseless cruelty, has not only out raged the feelings of humanity which dwell in the breasts of millions, but has also disregarded those courtesies of high society which in some minds prove a substitute for deeper and nobler principles. As matters stand, princes have done more for the persecuted Florentines than the people. It is now time that the millions began to take their part in this great controversy. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—l forward a letter that I received this morning from Florence, by which you will see that poor Madiai is still alive. I am, however, truly thankful that the in formation concerning his death has called forth two such invaluable articles as those which appeared in the Times yesterday and the day before. I thank you most sin cerely for the very able manner in which you have advo- I cated the cause of the oppressed. Such sober, temperate, and truly Christian articles cannot f a il t o produce a good effect. If they do not abroad, where despotic rulers have been blindfolded by priestcraft so that they cannot " see the things which belong to their peace," I trust that, at least, in this country, the mouths of those may be stopped who, though calling themselves Protestants, have been, for a long time past, playing into the hands of the Pope. Would that the case of the Madiais was the only instance of persecution ! But you will see by the accom panying letter that many others are suffering for con science' sake ; and who can tell how many may be pining away in prison of whom we know nothing ? . But, as you justly observe, a day of retribution must come, when all the deeds of darkness will be brought to light, and God " will make inquisition for blood."—Your obe dient servant, London, January 15. R. H. H. "Florence, Jan. 8. "I have been waiting to write to you day after day in the hopes that I might be able to tell you that the Madiais were free. Alas ! they are still in bonds, al though a week ago we were told that there was no doubt they would soon be at liberty, for the Tuscan Ministers are anxious to get rid of them ; but the Grand Duke, with cruel obstinacy, would not yet allow this, though he said he was prepared to grant them a commutation of their sentence, but would not state when. We saw Rosa on New-Year's-day, and found her in better health and very cheerful, excepting when she spoke of her own unworthiness in not bearing better the trials she had undergone, and rejoicing ra th er th a t s h e was h onoure d to suffer for the cause of Christ. " The inspector had allowed her to give a little treat on New-Year's-d a y to all the female prisoners—r-some pollenta' and a gl ass o f w i ne to each ; and this rare op portunity for the exercise of her generous and compas sionate feelings caused her great pleasure. I will de scribe to you her frightful costume, in which, nevertheless, she looked well and dignified. Her chemise is of coarse material like sailcloth, then she wears a knitted worsted garment, over which is a brown duffle robe such as is worn by the Franciscans. Over all is worn the livery of the prison, i. e., a broad yellow and white striped coarse linen material, the skirt tight as a sack, and on her head she wears a close skull cap of the same fastened by a tape under her chin, no hair being seen. She has coarse hose and great thick shoes. I am not sure that I ever told you, when d escr ibi ng her cell, that h er seat was a round stool like a milking stool, chained to the wall in a cor ner of the room ; and in the opposite corner is a small footstool also chained, so that poor Rosa, when at work upon her stool of repentance, cannot make use of the second small stool to keep her feet from the cold brick floor. She told us that when she was brought from Florence, instead of being at once conveyed to Lucca, they kept her a night and half a day in the common pri son at Pistoja, which she said was a most filthy place, and the food they gave to her was too loathsome to eat. I tell you all this, because I see some English papers speak of the kindness with which they are treated. The officials are as kind as they dare to be. "About 10 days ago M. Colombe, the Swiss minister, chaplain to the Prussian Legation, obtained leave through the King of Prussia to visit once the prisoners. When we saw him on his return he was so much affected that he could not at first speak without great emotion. He said he had never met with any one so completely living above the world as this child of God, Francesco Madiai. He said to M. Colombe that he felt he had done with earthly things, as he believed it was God's will that he should die for His cause, and he had therefore tried not to think of his dear wife and her suf ferings, except when in prayer. He said `this blessed season (Christmas) fills my heart with love to my Saviour, ray friends, and my enemies, for whom I ever pray.' "Persecutions are going on here. Thirty prisoners are now in the Bargello on religious accusations. Guarducci is still there. Another case, similar to the one of last year, has taken place. A Bible reader was taken dan gerously ill ; his doctor (as he was bound to do) gave notice to the priest, who hastened to the bedside of the sick man. The latter thanked him for coming, but said he had no need of his assistance ; that he had, he hoped, made his peace with God, through the alone mediation of Jesus. The priest was furious, and sent off for the police, who now surround the house." POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL.—Iienry Field Wall was charged with embezzling various sums of money belonging to Mr. Deputy Lorkin, of Aldersgate-street, his employer. The prisoner was committed for trial, when Mr. Hud dlestone addressed the magistrate on the subject of bail. Alderman Wire refused to accept bail, and the pri soner, who had set up in opposition to his late employer, was removed to Newgate. WORSHIP-STREET.—George Thomas, and Ellen Carter, well known to the authorities of the Excise and Customs, were charged with unlawfully conveying a large quantity of spirits without a permit. From the evidence of two Excise officers, named Builen and Elmey, it appeared that between six and seven o'clock on the preceding evening their attention was attracted to a horse and cart, in which the woman Carter, the male prisoner, and another man were seated, and which was proceeding through Tabernacle-square. They stopped the cart, at the back of which they discovered a bulky sack containing five large bladders of illicit spirits, which were afterwards found to be upwards of 52 per cent. over proof. Before they had time to effect its seizure, the female prisoner sprang toward them, and commenced trampling on the sack with such hearty good will that she speedily burst three of the bladders, the contents of which completely flooded the cart. The officers proceeded to a notorious rookery at the back of King's-cross, and were steathily approaching one of the houses, when a little urchin, who was stationed at one of the windows, raised a sudden outcry, and disappeared. They made their way as fast as possible to the rear of the house, where they effected an entrance, but found no one in the place. They dis covered a still in full operation, and no less than 150 gallons of molasses wash, together with all the necessary implements and materials for carrying on illicit manu facture on the most extensive scale. Thomas said that he had been offered a shilling to take the sack to Sun-street, Bishopsgate, but he had no idea of its contents. Carter said she knew nothing of the transaction ; she asked the two men to give her a lift, and they accommo dated her. Mr. Hammill said that he had never heard a more im pudent defence than had been set up by the prisoners, and he had no hesitation in inflicting upon them the full penalty of 1001. each, or six months' imprisonment, with the addition of hard labour, in the House of Correction. WESTMINSTER.—MichaeI Callaglien, a man about 50 years of age, was charged with the following desperate attempt on the life of his wife. Mr. Moran, an inspector of the B division, stated that the unfortunate woman was lying at that moment in the Westminster Hospital in the most imminent dan ger. She was suffering under a serve wound in her head, and several fractured ribs. - She was, at the time inquiries were made, just before the sitting of the court, sensible, but the house-surgeon stated that unconscious ness might come on in the next half hour. Ann Toby stated that between ten and eleven o'clock on the previous night she was standing at her own door, in New Pye-street, Westminster, when she saw the prisoner's wife come out of her house, followed by him. He had a large fiat-headed hammer in his hand. He ran after her, up and down the street, during which time she cried " murder" several times. He at last caught her within five or six yards of witness's door, and struck her on the head with the hammer ; he struck her again on the side, and she fell, and soon became insensible. As soon as witness saw her on the ground she went to her, placed her arm under her head, and endeavoured to recover her with water. She spoke two or three words, but then relapsed into a state of insensibility. When witness took her arm away it was covered with blood. The police came, and a truck having been procured, the wounded woman was placed in it, and conveyed to the hospital. J. Johnson, a labouring man, confirmed this account: The prisoner was perfectly sober, but he thought the woman had been drinking. In answer to the charge, the prisoner said that his wife went out and stopped away two or three nights to gether, and had been drunk for years. She was con stantly kicking and tearing about, and calling him all manner of names. 1 Mr. Broderip said he would immediately have gone to the hospital andjtaken the unfortunate woman's deposi tions had he not been informed that the medical gentle man would not allow her to be disturbed, as the act of doing so might be attended with fatal consequences. The charge was of the most serious nature, and should she die from the effects of the injuries, it would affect the prisoner's life. He was remanded for a week. THAMES.—Two constables of the K division, named Wharf and Butler, on duty at Poplar, were charged with having exceded their duty and assaulting a man named Murphy. The defence of the prisoners was that the party, espe cially Murphy, were very disorderly, and Murphy, when ordered to go home, refused to do so. Wharf, conse quently, took him into custody, whereupon the others dragged both him and the constable into the entry of the house where Murphy lodged. Butler, seeing the predicament of his brother officer, went to his assistance, whereupon two women came out of a room, one having a light in one hand and a poker in the other. The light was immediately extinguished, the constables' lamps kicked out, and they were struck several times with a poker. Placed in this trying position, they used their batons in self-defence. Mr. Yardley believed that the men who gave evidence on both sides were the witnesses of truth, but he could not believe the testimony of the women. The circum stance was one deeply to be regretted, and though, strictly speaking, the constable Wharf had acted within the bounds of his duty in retaining in his possession a person whom he had once taken in charge, he would have exercised a much so un d er di scre ti on had he allowed Murphy to go to his home when he had reached it. As to the alleged offer of money by Butler, which was de nied, even if true, it would not have much weight, for it was shown it was intended as a compensation for unin tentional injury, as well as to prevent an unpleasant in vestigation. He must again repeat that it was to be re gretted that Wharf had not shown more forbearance, but as he acted within the strict bounds of duty, the charges against the constables must be dismissed. - There was a cheer amongst the constables who crowded below the bar at the decision, but which was instantly checked by the officers of the court. STAINES.—George Benton, a carpenter, at Staines, was brought up on a remanded charge of burglariausly breaking into and entering the Ashford station between the night and morning of the 7th and Bth of August, 1852, and stealing therefrom a time-piece and 14s. in sil ver and is. in copper moneys, the property of the South- Western Railway Company. The prisoner, who protested his innocence, was fully committed on three distinct charges of felony for trial at the Central Criminal Court. THE HOP DUTIES. —A Parliamentary paper was issued yesterday, showing how often in each year, from 1800 to the present time, the payment of the hop duti es has been deferred, to what periods, and upon what secur ities. It appears that from 1800 to 1818 the payment of the duty was not deferred beyond the time allowed bylaw, 6 months. In 1819, it was deferred until the Ist of Sept., 1820, upon security under bond. In 1820 the payment was deferred upon similar conditions till the Ist of Sept., 1821. In 1821 it was deferred for a more lengthened period, viz., till the 10th of October, 1822. In 1822 the pay ment was deferred in the, first instance till the Ist of September, 1823 ; then it was further postponed till the 18th of October • next, the whole duty was postponed to the Ist of April, 1824 ; and, finally, one-half the duty was remitted, and the payment of the other half deferred till the 30th of November, 1824. In 1823, 1824, anti 1825, there was no extension of the legal credit. The duties for 1826 were allowed to be paid in three instal ments, and those for 1827 in two instalments. In 1828 the payment of one moiety of the duty was postponed to the 10th of October, 1829 ; and the other half of the moiety was further postponed till the Ist of March, 1830. In 1829 there was no extension of credit. One moiety of the duty of 1830 was postponed till the 15th of No vember, 1831. In 1831 the period of credit was ex tended by law ; and in the five following years there was no extension of it ; but in 1837 credit was given for the payment of the first moiety till May, and of the second till November, by direction of the Treasury. In the ten succeeding years, down to 1848, inclusive, there was no extension of credit beyond that sanc tioned by the Treasury directions of 1837. In 1848 the first moiety of the duty, which was payable on the 15th of May, 1849, was postponed to the 15th of October fol lowing ; and the second moiety, payable on the 15th of November, 1849, was postponed till the 15th of Octob er , 1850 ; and further postponed till the 15th of November, following. Since that year down to 1851, the latest period embraced in the return, which was procured by Sir John Shelley, there has been no extension of credit beyond that sanctioned by the Treasury directions, to 'which reference has been made. WHAT IS WEALTH ?—Emigration has of late been prevalent in this our nothern isle. Hundreds have been led away by the golden ignis fatuus. A few, per chance, may realise their golden expectations ; but the greater number will look with sorrow on the day they left their fatherland in pursuit of a glittering and decep tive " Will o' the Wisp," and left all they loved best, to hurry to this modern Ophir. This rushing to the realms of gold carries the mind back to the time when His paniola, in 1503, was invaded by a crowd of adven turers of various kinds, led there by th e h o p e o f enriching themselves suddenly in an island where it was said that gold was to be picked up from the surface of the soil, or easily gathered from the mountain brooks. But we know how fearfully those hidalgos were disap pointed in their more than reasonable expectations. "They fancied," says Las Casas, " that gold was to be collected as easily and readily as fruit from the trees ; and they found too late their fancies were but fancies." To assume that it will happen with the diggers in Australia and California as it did with the diggers from Spain in the early part o the sixteenth century, is by no means a bold assump tion ; for gold is not the true medium of wealth. Were the pyramids of Egypt one mass of gold, it would be valueless till it had been cut into pieces, and distributed over the world. Commerce, manufacture, and trade, are the true sources of wealth, and industry the best road to obtain it. Industry is the true El Dorado ;it yields peace and happiness even while it brings success ; it is the great power that produces the means of sub sistence, sufficiency, wealth, honours, and that real and substantial glory which raises and dignifies it possessor to the height of human greatness. NATAL INTELLIGENCE. On Saturday last we gave two only of the annual Coast-guard promotions. The other officers promoted are Commander Peter Fisher (1841), inspecting com mander of the Folkestone station to the rank of captain ; and Lieutenant W. H. Baker (1815), chief officer of Garrison Point station. APPOINTMENTS. Chaplain.—Rev. Robert Hind, to the Rodney, 92, Portsmouth. Chaplain and Naval Instructor.—Percy Rogers to the Firebrand, steam-frigate, Woolwich. Clerk.—J. W. Colverd, to the Leopard, 14, steam frigate. _ Assistant Engineer.—Henry Polley, to the Blenheim, 58, Portsmouth. TITE MARLBOROUGH 130 SCREW LINE-OF- BATTLE-SHIP. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 15. The launch of the after body of this noble ship took place at 10.30 a.m. tliis day. We had for many days previous given notice of this most interesting and truly national event—an event of much import at the present time, because of the necessity of increasing the tonnage of our " first rates " for the purpose of their receiving the auxiliary power of steam, and to place the ma chinery where the greatest strength of the hull should be commensurate with the required weight of the engines. This great desideratum has been ob tained, and most successfully carried into effect by the talented master shipwright of the Portsmouth dock yard (Mr. Abethell) ; and the great results attending such experiments on the largest man-of-war ever built (the Duke of Wellington) induced the Admiralty to advise that the Marlborough, 120, should undergo the same process. Most faithfully has this been effected. The merit of the launch was in its true simplicity, that simplicity the result of scientific calculation, brought to bear by the zealous co-operation of the officers and artisans of her Majesty's dockyard, and when all felt that an important duty was entrusted to their keeping they acted as one machine. It is no every-day occurrence to view so mighty a fabric gliding down her " ways" as quietly and with as much steadiness as a model exhibition upon a mahogany table. Yet such was the case ; and it made one's blood tingle when this huge pile of oak—measuring at a rough guess some 120 feet in length, by 60 feet in breadth, and 60 feet in height, moved like a mountain, yet noiselessly but surely, to the extent required, We before described that two powerful anchors were buried to the shank, and these each covered with about five tons of iron pig ballast—to these anchors were attached four immense purchases in connection with the " ways," which ex tended the whole length of the ship. Two of the pur chases were overhauled to 17 feet length, the other two to 14 feet ; the purchases were under the direction of that most indefatigable officer, Mr. Harvey, boatswain of the yard, and so nicely had he arranged the lengths, that the strain was exactly equal upon all four purchases at the same moment, and upon this depended the safety of the launch. At 10.30 all was breathless anxiety—a pin might have been heard to fall when the master shipwright (Mr. Abethell) gave the order to " Knock away dogshores." The next instant the noble ship parted company with her fore half and glided majestically to the extent of 17 feet when her purchases brought her up. The boatswain of the yard then gave the word, " Ease away handsomely," when she was lowered another six feet to the end of the balk timbers. The whole of the clever experiment was accomplished from beginning to end in the short space of two minutes. The Marlborough will not only receive this Addition amidships, but a further lengthening, by the stern, of about seven feet more to make it suitable for the screw-propeller. The Russian admiral, who was present, marked his approbation of the skilful operation by clapping his hands most energetically. The example spread, and thence commenced a cheering that came from the very hearts of Englishmen. The Princess Royal, 90, also being converted into a screw-vessel, had her new aft sternpost put up to-day. We have no doubt but that the seven or eight first rates now on the stocks will undergo the same advan tages, for it would be next to madness in the present day to launch a man-of-war without the necessary addition of the screw-propeller. We most heartily congratulate Mr. Abethell on the success that has attended him in this highly-gratifying and great national experiment. The unpropitious state of the weather in the early part of the morning prevented very many persons from witnessing the launch ; but amongst the company we noticed the Lieutenant-Governor (Major-General Simp son), Rear-Admiral Superintendent Fanshawe, C. 8., and a host of officers of both services ; and with the Russian Admiral, the captains and officers of the Russian men-of-war at Spithead, &c. The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell, sailed yesterday afternoon for Plymouth, to undergo a refit. A rumour had prevailed that great ill-will existed between the crew of this ship and that of the Phaeton, 50, Captain Elliot, which left Spithead for Sheerness on Thursday, but to disprove this, the crew of the Ven geance asked permission of Lord Edward Russell to give a cheer for their comrades on board the Phmton as the ratter came under their stern. The permission being granted, they gave a round of three hearty cheers to the Phaiton's people, which the latter returned with a round of nine cheers. This display of good-will was very pleas ingto the officers of the two ships. The Sidon, 22, paddle-steam-frigate, Captain Gold smith, broke her port piston and cylinder bottom last week, in consequence of water getting into the cylinder. This will be repaired by Thursday, when she will be ready for sea again. The Blenheim, 60, screw-guard-ship, Captain W. H. Henderson, C. 8., hauled out of the fitting basin yester day afternoon ready to return to her moorings, having had her defects made good. _ _ The Rodney, 90, Captain Graham, C. 8., is going into dock. She unshipped her rudder yesterday, and sent it to the dockyard for repay. _ _ The Sir Robert Peel, American line-of-packet ship, arrived at the Motherbank yesterday from the Thames on her way to New York. PLYMOUTH, JAN. 16. Her Majesty's steam- vesse l Encounter, - 14, Captain Callaghan, passed off this po r t, going down Chann e l, on Friday. Her Majesty's steam-vessel Vulture, 6, Captain F. H. H. Glasse had her compasses adjusted on Friday by Mr. Thompson, Queen's Harbourmaster. She left yes terday afternoon for Torbay, to take in tow and bring to this port her Majesty's ship Vengeance, which is to be paid and refitted. Her Majesty's steam-guardship Hogue, Captain W. Ramsey, will go out of harbour on Monday, and take a trip round the Eddystone to test her engines and exer cise her crew. The Argus steam-vessel is ordered to the East Indies Wind, southerly, light, heavy rain. SHEERNESS, Jan. 16, 1 P. M. The launch of her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Tri bune, of 30 guns and 300-horse power, did not take place until Friday list, in consequence of the boisterous state of the weather. On the morning of that day pre parations were made for launching, by relieving her from her shores, and letting her rest in her cradle ; im mediately after which the splitting out of her blocks was commenced, until only the eight foremost blocks remained, these blocks being left to be tripped in launching. All the workmen belonging to the yard, except those immediately engaged for the launch, left the yard at one o'clock at noon, and at two o'clock the yard gates were thrown open to the public. By three p.m. several thousand people had availed themselves of ever situation ' eligible to get a sight of the launch. Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy (Commander-in- Chief at the Nore) and family, Captain the Hon. Mon tagu Stopford and family, Mr. Jonathan Aylin (master attendant and family, the family of Mr. Samuel Read, master shipwright, with most of the principal officers of the port and fort were present, including Lieute nant-Colonel England, R.A., and fam il y , also Cap tains Dalton, Dunlop, and Mercer, R.A. The ne cessary arrangements had been made by Mr. Samuel Read, assisted by Mr. Joseph Large, as sistant master shipwright, and the foremen, Messrs. Netherwood and Thornton, for the ceremony of christening the vessel, which was performed by Miss Stopford (daughter of Captain the Hon. Montagu Stop ford). Immediately after the band of the Royal Dock yard Battalion played the national anthem ; Mr. S. Read, the master shipwright, gave orders to " stand by ;" at a given signal, both dogshores were knocked away at the same instant, and this splendid specimen of marine architecture gradually and gracefully glided into the sea, amidst the hearty cheers of thousands of spec tators. The steam-frigate Tribune is of the following dimen sions, viz. : Ft. In. 192 0 Length between the perpendiculars ..• ... Length of keel, for tonnage ... ... 163 51 43 0 Breadth, extreme ... ... •• • • • •• • •• • Breadth, for tonnage ... •• • ... ... 42 6 Breadth, moulded 7.. ..• • • •• • • -••-" ••• 41 10 Depth in hold .... ..• •• •• •- ••• •• 12 11 Burden in tons ... •.. ... 1,570 35 . 94 HOrse-power ..• •.. ... 300 Mr. Charles Pope, assistant master, attended by sea men riggers, was on board the Tribune at the time of her being launched ; 30 of the latter re mained on board under the directions of Mr. Pope , and immediately she was fairly clear of the basin entrance, and to the extent of her hawser, the African and Monkey steam-tug vessels ran up alongside, and at 4.15 p.m. she was towed out of harbour for Woolwich. Mr. W. Barnes, Queen's pilot, of Woolwich, on his arrival here with her Ma jesty's steam-frigate Imperieuse, N . vas ot retaine ri d . by the Captain-Superintendent her e to pil the Tribune to Woolwich, which he has done. The Agamemnon, Captain Sir om as Meaitl?.n get- The The engineers and millwrights havi Th ng succeedd burst which i ting off the nut of the hydraulic-pump tha , prevented their working it, the accident will be repaired afloat, thereby saving the necessity of the ship being docked. Immediately she is ready for sea she will first proceed on a trial trip down the Swin, as the principal parts of her engines have been unconnected during the time she has been under fitment. here. After her trial trip she will anchor at the Nore, be inspected by the Port-Admiral, take in her powder, &c., and proceed to Portsmouth and Plymouth. The screw steam-sloop Miranda, of 14 guns, fitting in the basin, under the s uperintendence of Lieutenant John Seccombe, of her Majesty's screw guardship Horatio, has housed her t o p-ga,ll . .an?nasts, crossed topsailyards and lower yards, and her rigging is now all ready for rattling down: The Rattlesnake, Commander Henry Trollope, is to be out of the shipwrights hands by the 27th inst., and she is to be all ready for sea by the 4th of February next. It has caused some surprise here among naval men that only an assistant-surgeon is appointed to her, taking into consideration her destination. The officers and crew of this vessel are all living on shore in her Majesty's dockyard. The paddlewheel steam-vessel Avon (tender to her Majesty's flagship at Devonport, the Impregnable, 104 guns), in charge of Additional Second-Master Alfred J. Veitch, arrived here yesterday from Devonport, with 83 volun teers for the Agamemnon, Imperieuse, and Barracouta. They are nearly all what are called " long-shore men." It is currently reported that a great number of A.B.'s would have volunteered had they not been informed by some of their old shipmates from this port, recently from the northern and the western ports, that the promised increase of grog and an advance of 7s. per month, which they were told would commence on the Ist of January past, was, as far as the former part was concerned, un true, and no guarantee or hope given for the latter. The Barracouta, Commander George Parker. —A Court of Inquiry was held yesterday on Mr. Charles M. Bal four, clerk of this vessel. The officers who composed the Court were Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, of the Agamemnon • Captain the Hon. S. T. C arneg i e , o f th e lbratio ; and Captain Charles G. E. Patey, of the Amphion. The result of the inquiry is at present un known. A.B.'s volunteering for this vessel and the Amphion are " few and far between." The Waterloo, 120 guns, Captain the Hon. Montagu Stopford.—Lieutenant Thomas H.M. Martin (12th of Oct., 1848) took up his commission to this ship yester day. The following ships' officers and crews were mustered yesterday by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, of the Aga memnon :—The Monarch, 84, guardship of ordinary, Captain Charles Hope ; the Horatio, screw steam guard ship, 24, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie ; the Am phion screw steam-frigate, Captain Charles G. E. Patey ; the Barracouta, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, 6 guns, Com mander George Parker ; and the Rattlesnake, Com mander Henry Trollope. Second-Master Alfred J. Veitch, in charge of her Ma jesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Avon, reports that he passed her Majesty's frigate Phaeton, 50 guns, Captain George Elliot, to the westward of the South Foreland, early yesterday morning. She may therefore be ex pected here this afternoon's tide. The paddle-wheel steam-vessel Myrtle, Master-Com mander William F. Bourchier, left here for Chatham yesterday, and returned again in the evening, with money for public use at this yard, under charge of the Treasury clerk here, Mr. Henry Morgan. WOOLWICH, JAN. 15. A board of naval officers, consisting of Lieutenant Pym, of her Majesty's steam-frigate Firebrand ; Master Commander Henry William Allen, of the Lightning steam-vessel ; and Surgeon Edward D'Auvergne, have been engaged during the whole of the present week in inspecting the preserved meats sent into Deptford Vic tualling-yard. The Cruiser steam-sloop, Commander the Hon. George H. Douglas, will leave Woolwich for Portsmouth about the 22d inst. Lieutenant William Lambard (1848), serving in the Blenheim, 60, screw steam guardship, having been appointed to the Cruiser, he has taken up his commission and joined at Woolwich. The following officers have also joined this steam-sloop :—Lieutenant Thrupp ; Mr. D'Auvergne, surgeon ; Mr. Cleaveland, master ; Mr. Cooper, paymaster ; Mr. Sharpe, mate ; Mr. Walker, clerk ; Mr. Carr, assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Deny, assistant-engineer, Ist class ; Mr. Alcox, assistant engineer, 2d class ; Mr. Stayley, assistant-engineer, 3d class ; Mr. Pitman, midshipman ; Mr. Dickenson, naval cadet ; Mr. Curley, gunner ; Mr. Harvey, boatswain ; and Mr. Grimes, carpenter. The Fearless steam surveying -vessel, Capt. Frederick Bullock, arrived at Sheerness on Friday forenoon from surveying the coast between Beechy Head and Ports mouth, and will come up to Woolwich to be refitted. ROYAL MARINES. The augmentation of this corps to the extent of 1,500 men, in addition to its former strength, took place on Saturday by the following General Order, sent to each of the four divisions :-- "Royal Marine-office, Jan. 14, 1553, " Her Majesty, by order in Council, dated Nov. 27, 1852, has been pleased to direct that 1,500 men be added to the strength of the corps of Royal Marines. "The re-distribution of the corps is therefore as follows, viz. :-102 divisional companies, each company to consist of 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 5 sergeants, 5 cor porals, 3 drummers, and 89 privates ; making a total of 105 in each company. "And 10 artillery companies, each company to con sist of 1 captain, 4 subalterns, 8 sergeants, 7 corporals, 4 bombardiers, 3 drummers, and 145 gunners ; making a total of 172 in each company. "The whole establishment now consists of the follow ing numbers : Divisional companies Artillery companies Staff Total " The weekly general returns of divisions of the 15th inst. to show the above increased establishment. "By command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty." The above augmentation does not add a single officer or non-commissioned officer to the corps, as it is con fined exclusively to the addition of 13 privates to each of the 25 companies at Chatham, to each of the 27 com panies at Portsmouth, to each of the 25 companies at Plymouth, to each of the 25 companies at Woolwich, and 17 gunners to each of the 10 artillery companies at Portsmouth. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of Saturday. ) MANCHESTER, JAN. 14.—Our market exhibits, in the present week, an increase of that cautious spirit to which we referred in our last report, and which imposes an evident restriction upon transactions, and renders the tone of business somewhat less cheerful. In the depart. ment of yarns it is found that the falling off in the de mand for China has caused a slight decline in the value of 16's to 24's water twist ; No. 30's, which had not been influenced by that demand, remaining still firm. In such qualities of mule twist as are usually exported to India, there is some business going on, partly for the continent of Europe. Those counts of warps from which domestics are made (affected by the continued dullness of these cloths are hardly saleable at the rates of a week back. Those numbers of cop twist and pincops that enter into printing cloths, shirtings, and the lower descriptions of jacconets, though less easily sold, are, however, sustained in value by the degree in which these goods are pre-engaged. As regards the department of cloth, the classes last named are quite steady in price ; printing cloths, indeed, are par ticula:rly firm. Domestics are not actually lower ; but the continued absence of demand is producing an accumulation of stock in the hands of manufacturers. p oe so l d e s s , The hh find llans India ad s a o my m e e or h li r ta a wn t tos, b h e ma t t v e oe r y ed d do e n m aep perhaps ah f p o e s g by the approach of th e ma il , w hi c h i s te l egrap h e d rr The dealers, however, w h o are w ith ou t any b u t th e ec a tin s m t barest l o e i s . from Trieste. It was expected that we should commence the new year with a degree of buoyancy which is not experienced. The realisation of that expectation is in terfered with by more than one cause. Although seve ral well-informed Americans are anticipating a large de crease in the receipts of cotton at the ports of the Union, people on this side are influenced by the fact of an excess of 406,800 bales over those of this time last year, with the probability, according to a telegraphic announcement from New Orleans, of Dec. 25, that those figures will be raised to 450,000 next week. The advance of the rate of interest from 2 to 2i per cent. by the Bank of England, though not looked upon with anything like un easiness, is certainly regarded as a precautionary mea sure which merchants may very properly have an eye to, at a time when the appreciation of corn and other produce may still further derange the foreign exchanges; and, indeed, the effect intended is already perceptible in a greater backwardness to o p era te on the part of those who are enga ge d i n a branch of commerce which, like that to India and China, involves the drawing of long dated bills. Th e failure of Messrs. Collman and Stol terfoht tends also.to increase the general caution. BRADFORD, JAN. 13.—Wool.—The inland buying or jobbing from stapler to dealer and broker, re ferred to last week, still continues, and large quanti ties have been bought both of Colonial and En glish, which is necessarily an abstraction of so much weight of wool out of the market, whether on speculation or ship ment, it matters not, Our supply here is less, and a firmness in price is associated with the feeling that wool has not yet seen the top. The very bad weather has not in any way damped the spirits of the buyers, who have as yet shown no symptoms of uneasiness, and anything good is ready sale at prices that cannot at present be realised on yarns. Noils and broker are good to sell, but the advance is yet small compared with combing wools.—Yarn : The continued activity in the wool trade is putting the spinners into a position very unsatisfactory and ruinous, for, since the trade is nearly one of day-by-day delivery, it is necessarily one of contract or order, and unless the orders so taken are immediately covered with a purchase of wool , be fore the orders can be supplied, the advance on wool will have been so great as to leave no margin for spinners' wages ; and the average deliveries now making by the whole trade would not allow one fraction for labour. Pieces : There is a fair amount of business doing, and anything offering from yarns of old orders is good sale, but to cover cost there is no opportunity, and to speak of a brisk demand, which can only be effected at ruinous prices, appears disheartening at the opening of another year.—Bradford Observer. NOTTINGHAM, JAN. 13.—The lace trade, with few ex ceptions, is yet to some extent depressed, especially in the fancy departments, for the produce of which we have the most skilled mechanics in the world ; but ideas as to designs are not furnished them from quar ters whence we ought to look for them, consequently complaints are made that new styles are not brought out so quickly as they should be. Those who make these complaints should remedy the difficulties, as it is mani festly impossible for the small number of designers em ployed to produce new things so fast as the London buyers desires them ; and they of all others are the last to communicate a thought as to anything likely t o tak e with the publi c — t h e i r principal notion seems to be that every time they visit this market for goods they must have them cheaper. To meet this difficulty our advice is, as it has been for years, produce less and let demand come, and not altogether anticipate it, as has been the practice for the last year. Our yarn ma intains its price, and some, who se opinion we respect, think it will be yet higher in price. The hosiery trade continues its wonted state of prosperity, without the remotest chance of a change for the worse for many months to come. The price of hosiery yarn is unaltered.—Nottingliam Tourna. THE ALLEGED MURDER BY POISONING AT HYDE, IN CHESHIRE. The man, Robert Thornely, wh o gave hi mse lf up t o the police of Staleybridge, on the 27th of December, for having aided in the murder of James Brooks, by poison, in February, 1847, has been committed for trial at the next Chester Assizes on the charge, and Harriet Thornely, his wife, has also been committed for having administered the arsenic which produced death. The man's statement, to which he appended his signature, and which he more than once averred to be true when before the magistrates, was as follows :-- "My name is Robert Thornely, a baker. I was mar ried at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, on the 23th May, 1847, to Hannah Brooks. Her former husband, James Brooks, died on the 28th Feb. 1847. I was intimate with her about si x mon th s before f his death. He was a collier, and they occupied a small farm at Godley-hill. Before his death she often talked about putting him away. I always told her that it would be better to leave him than poison him. We spoke of the effects of laudanum and arsenic. I told her that lauda num would produce sleep, and that arsenic would be a very speedy and violent death. She said that she did not care if it produced sudden death. At her request I went to Oldham, and purchased some laudanum, which I gave to her. She told me that she gave it to him, and that it made him sick, and that he threw it up. In about a week afterwards I purchased tbreepennyworth of arsenic, at Sutcliff's, druggist, Staleybridge. I took the arsenic that day to the house at Godley-hill, and gave it to her. The husband died in the following week. She told me that she mixed it up in a pudding for him, and that he eat it. Th a t h er mo th er was on a v i s i t w ith them at the time, and that she was going to eat some of it, but that she took it from her, and gave her some of another pudding. That a portion of the poisoned pud ding was thrown out, and was eaten by the hens belong ing to a neighbouring farmer, named Stott, and three or four of them died. That her husband died in a day or two afterwards. The week after her husband's death she sent for me, and told me about the hens dying. I asked her if she was not afraid. She said not. I told her that I was very much afraid ever since, and could not rest day nor night. She said the only thing that frightened her was the hens dying, as it might lead to some suspicion. I got married to her on the 28th May following. I know that lamin an awkward position as being an accessory. She and her sons have used me badly. They have turned me out, and taken the house in their own name. I have not lived with her since last Staleybridge wakes but one. She shall suffer as well as me. I have lately made a statement to the Ashton police, but they thought it was spit e on my part, and would not interfere. If you do not attend to it I will lay the whole case before the Secretary of State." Mr. Little, the special high constable of Hyde, in whose district the murder was said to have been com mitted, took the man in charge, apprehended the woman, got a magistrate's order to exhume the body, which was interred in Mottram-churchyard, had it taken up, iden tified, and opened. Took great care to prevent any mixture of earth or other substance with the remains. The coffin, with the body in it, was cut in two, just below the abdomen ; the legs were then buried, and the trunk confided to the care of Mr. Alcock, a surgeon in the neighbourhood. The soil was damp, and appeared to be chiefly clay. The coffin was of oak, and saturated with water, and was so rotten that in many places it could be easily broken into bits by the fingers, but it had not fallen in upon the body. The flesh, so far as could be seen, appeared completely decayed ; but the bones retained their natural position, and lay in a dark brown substance of the consistence of soft plaster, which covered the bottom of the coffin to the depth of from one to two inches. The chest, and especially the abdo men, contained a larger quantity of the same substance, but no trace of any internal organ. Mr. Alcock an alysed a portion of the dark brown substance, but found no traces of poison in it; and afterwards the woman was discharged ; but, subsequently, Mr. Alcock, in turning over the whole of the contents of the mug, found some animal tissue undecayed, attached to the right transverse process of one of the lumber vertebra?, and covered with a bright yellow paste. He proceeded to analyse that, and found arsenic enough to account for death. Another portion was sent to Mr. F. C. Calvert, of Manchester, professor of chemistry, who found enough arsenic to cause death in what he analysed. The woman was again apprehended. Evidence was given to show that Thornely had lodged with Brooks when in his employ on the farm ; and that lie had had to leave the house because of his familiarities with Mrs. Brooks ; and numerous circumstances were stated tending to show that a liason had existed between the two during Brooks's life. The following important evidence was given as to the symptoms of the fatal illness of the deceased, by Mrs. Lancashire, who was intimate with the family :- - " I remember deceased coming home on the Saturday previous to his death. I saw him next morning. His wife came into our house, and said he had come home very poorly. He was sat on a chair by the fire. I asked him how he was. He said 'l'm very poorly, Mary.' During the week his wife told me he was very ill, and vomited a deal. On the Friday of that week, the day before h e di e d, I went to his house to assist to , wash some clothes. He came down stairs in his shirt, sat down at th e h ear th s t one very ill-starved. I ' said `How are you ?' He said, Well, Mary, I feel bodily done.' Directly after he began throwing up. I said to his wife, 'Harriet, get him to bed as soon as you can, and get him something warm.' She asked me to make him something. I made him some oatmeal gruel, and put nothing in it but common brown sugar. I gave it to his wife, and she took it to him up stairs. On the fol lowing day Brooks's wife came into our house, about six o'clock in the evening. I asked her how her husband was. She said he was still unwell, and kept throwing up. She said she was going into Hyde to buy some flesh meat. She returned in about an hour, and seemed in a great fright, and said, Oh ! dear Mary, our James is dead, come.' I went with her, got a candle, went up stairs, and looked at him and said, 'He is dead.' He lay straight, and looked as if he had died comfortably." In addition to this, George Brooks, one of the sons of the poisoned man, said—" I had been with my mother and my eldest brother Thomas, in Hyde, when my father died. My mother locked the door when we went to Hyde, and took the key with her ; we left no one in the house but father; we left him in bed poorly. It was getting dusk in the evening when we were away about an hour, and then we all thred got home to gether ; when got in, my mother went to the stairs and shouted, 'James !' No one answered. She then went up stairs, and called James again, and no one answered. She then screamed out, and we screamed too. The statement as to the hens was corroborated by Israel Stoot, who said that, in the winter of 1846-7, he had a number of hens on Godley-hill. One morning he found two of them dead in the hen cote, and another died in about an hour afterwards. He had not observed anything amiss with them the day before, and he believed at the time they had been poisoned. Hannah Cooke, sister of the prisoner Thornely, said : "My brother was transported some years before 1846, and while he was abroad I received letters from him. While he was away Mrs. Brooks came to our house and asked me to let her look at Robert's letter, as she wanted to write to him. I asked her who she would get to write, so as her husband would not get to know. She said she would get a schoolmaster who lived near. She told me at that time she respected my brother, and she would rather have his little finger than her husband's whole body, for my brother was kinder to her than her own husband was." MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE. — One of those lamentable occurrences which have unfortunately too often to be re corded, from the incautious or ignorant administration of medicine, took place in this city on Saturday evening. and of which a very respectable young man, recently re tired from being a partner in a clothing establishment, with the view of emigrating to Australia, there to com mence business, was the victim. He had, we believe, made all the necessary preparations for his change of re sidence. On Saturday last, so far as we have learned, he complained of a slight headache, and having an inti mate friend, a medical student, assistant in an apothe cary's shop in one of the principal streets of the city, he applied to him, and described his complaint, adding that on former occasions he had been relieved from similar suffering by taking a small dose, containing a certain se dative—we believe foxglove—which his friend mixed for him, Immediately after he had taken it, however, some rather doubtful symptoms began to manifest themselves, which were greatly aggravated by walking to his lodgings. The case having assumed an alarming appearance, it was deemed advisable to send the sufferer in a cab to one of the most eminent physicians in the west end, who, we understand, at once pronounced the case hopeless ; and his opinion was speedily verified, for the unfortunate gentleman expired in the course of a few hours there after. That the result is an accident cannot be doubted ; but it becomes a grave question how far parties profess ing to administer potions should entrust the manipula tion of them to half-fledged students of chemistry or of medicine. We have made some inquiry into the matter, and we have been informed that, in small quantity, the drug administered was likely to aid in accomplishing the purpose for which it was intended ; but that, in this particular case, the quantities were so much in excess, as that the wonder is, death did not ensue as quickly as if the patient had swallowed prussic acid. The case is in the hands of the authorities, and a post mortem exami nation has been made. In the delicate circumstances of the case, we have not felt ourselves justified in giving names. We may, however, venture to say that the quantity of the article administered astonishes the pro fession, and proves that the prescriptions of regular prac tioners should be the medium of communication with apothecaries' shops.— Glasgow Constitutional. SUDDEN DEATH.—On Thursday evening, just as the eight o'clock up-train of the North Kent Railway was about to leave Woolwich for London, it was stated that one of the intended passengers had been seized with a fit, and no timd was lost in taking her on the platform, where she was seated, and had every attention paid to her by the station master and the porters, but aid was unavailable as the death rattle was heard in her throat, and she ceased to exist in a few minutes. The body was taken into the waiting-room, and it was subsequently ascertained that her name was Mary Thomas, widow of a Mr. Thomas who died at Gibraltar in October last, while serving as a convict guard there. A subscription had been raised for her at Gibraltar amounting to about 201., and she was permitted to come to this country with her four children in the Firebrand steam-frigate, when that vessel came to Woolwich to be paid off. The deceased had come to Woolwich during the day to take a small shop in Powis-street to enable her to support herself and children, and had t a k en a ticket at - the Dockyard station for New-cross on her way home to Sydenham. THE REPRESENTATION OP GLOUCESTER CITY. _.A public dinner is announced for Wednesday next, at Gloucester, to the two lib era l members for that city, Admiral Berkeley and Mr. W. Price, in celebration of their recent return for Gloucester. THE SHEFFIELD MURDER. EXECUTION OF BARBOUR,. On Friday morning a communication was received by the authorities at York Castle from the. Home-office, in timating that the result of the further investigation into tthe case of James Barbour, at Sheffield, on Wednes day, was such as to preclude Lord Palmerston from ad vising any interference on the part of the Crown with the sentence of the law, which was, therefore, directed to be carried into effect at the expiration of the respite for seven days, received on the 7th instant. The fact that such instructions had been received was communi cated to Barbour, but the intimation produced no visible effect upon him. The letter wi t s read to him, but he said nothing, and maintained his wonted sullenness and obduracy. The Condemned prisoner has never been left alone, another convict and an officer of the prison remaining with him. During a brief absence of the officer, Barbour suggested to his fellow-prisoner a proposal to attempt an escape, but of course such an attempt would have been perfectly futile, as the chimney and windows of the con demned cells are double-barred, and the massive stone walls and iron doors of that dreary abode render the escape of its inmates a physical impossibility. At about seven o'clock on Saturday morning Barbour was removed from the condemned cell to a room on the opposite side of the Castle-yard, and adjoining to the scaffold, in the fixing of which workmen had then been employed for nearly three hours. When it was inti mated to him that he must be so removed he evinced a perfect readiness, rather an anxiety than otherwise, to leave the condemned cell, and to be taken nearer to the scene of his final and fatal doom. The chaplain had an interview with the culprit at ten o'clock, when he told the rev, gentleman that he felt very much distressed on account of his parents. He said, "They will feel my death very much." The chap lain replied, "Yes, no doubt they will ; but it would be a great satisfaction to them provided they knew that you died truly penitent, and had confessed your sins." Bar bour said, " Will you write to my parents ?" The chap lain answered in the affirmative, and Barbour then said, " Well, then, sir, I am guilty ! and nobody had any thing to do with the murder but myself 1" The con demned prisoner then intimated that he felt very much relieved in his mind, and expressed a wish to receive the sacrament, which was administered to him by the chap lain, and from that time forward up to the last moment he continued to pray. After Barbour had received the sacrament he was handed over to the officers whose duty it was to perform the operation of pinioning, whereupon all his fortitude left him ; he became most dreadful nervous and agitated, and this great change in his demeanour increased more and more, until at twelv e o ' c l oc k h e was conducted to the scaffold, when he became perfectly terrified, being only able to ejaculate in trembling accents the sentence, "Lord have mercy upon me !" which he repeated many times. The sufferings of the wretched creature seemed to be of brief duration. During the execution the rain fell in torrents, and the immense roof of umbrellas under which the spectators were sheltered, formed a curious sight. There were not more than half the number of people present, compared with those who witnessed the execution of Waddington. The body of the culprit, as usual, remained suspended until one o'clock, when it was cut down, and in the after part of the day interred in the burial ground of the pri son, adjoining the condemned cell. Barbour will be interred in the same grave which was dug for Wadding ton last week. THE CONVICT KIRWAN. The Dublin , Evening Post says :--"We have learned that the judges who presided at the commission, Mr. Justice Crampton and Baron Greene, when the memo rial on behalf of Kirwan had been presented to them, gave it as their opinion that no grounds existed for a re mission of the capital punishment ; but that subse quently, the late Attorney-General, Mr. Napier, advised Lord Eglinton to exercise the prerogative of mercy, and in consequence the life of Kirwan was spared." The following statement appears in the Dublin Daily Express, from a correspondent. It is apropos of medical evidence :—" Your columns have already detailed how Kirwan, with a party of men whose faces were blackened, tied a Mrs. Boyer hand and foot, while they removed every particle of her house furniture, cash in hand, savings' bank book, and eighty-seven paintings ; at least you have glanced at the facts, which will be found fully detailed in the report of the trial which took place before the Recorder on the 18th of Febrbary, 1837. The most curious feature in that trial, too, is a medical certifi cate obtained by Kirwan, in conjunction with his dupe, Boyer, from one of the most respectable 'practitioners' in Dublin, to the effect that Mrs. Boyer was a fit subject for being placed in a lunatic asylum. This medical evidence' was brought by Kirwan and Boyer to the manager of Swift's Hospital a fortnight after the wretched woman had been abandoned to starvation and nudity by them, and a pair of keepers were duly dispatched to force her from her empty house in Mountjoy-street. Fortunately for her the new police' were just then a few days in existence, and saved her from being consigned to a fate far worse than that which has at length over taken the plunderer of her property. But it will be said, perhaps she was mad.' It certainly would not be strange if she were. But—will it be credited ?—the medical authority' admitted on oath, in open court, that he gave his certificate' without ever having exam ined the woman in any way. He was told by Boyer and Kirwan that she was mad ; he heard she had been in Dr. Gregory's asylum fifteen years before ; and, from the excited manner in which she refused to admit him when he called, late at night (while she at the same time offered to receive him in the morning), he concluded she was mad, and gave the certificate without repeating his visit. It may be added, for the information of those who cannot refer to files of newspapers, that the old simple ton, Boyer, possessed an income of 1601. per annum, which disappeared with him. Is this also entombed at Killeshandra ? It may be added, that Mrs. Boyer de posed that when she and her husband first knew Kirwan he kept a rag-shop in Liffey-street. Whence, then, came the 1,500/. which he is said to have paid over to Boyer ? Or was it merely a transfer from the one breeches-pocke t to the other ?" THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.—The second ballot amongst the uncompleted' shareholders for the rights of choice of allotments on the society's estates, thecommit tee, l , mm and i t_ took olk_ s p t r la e c e e t, on Strand.Saturday,T at the e Society' sßev. p r. Worthington,Office, 33, Nor- Nor folk-street, Knox,tMitaaitnleainadg,h,Cmribebm,hersof executive Holmes, tee, were present. Dr. Worthington presided, and in opening the proceedings congratulated the shareholders present on the prosperous condition of th e society. The soc i e ty commanded an unrivalled p osi t ion, no other a ssociation of a similar nature having in so short a period been so successful. Ile had great pleasure of in stating that they had already b ecome possessed several alt most eligible and va li luable estates • t wo at Putney, in E Surrey; one at Eang, in Middle s • fourth at Hounslow, in the s ame county . and the ex eaxnedcua tive committee were now in treaty for various other estates in different localities. It would be perceived from the scheme of the society that it offered andvery great ad vantages as an investment for which he would venture to say no other y society securityeoiil d exceed. By the scheme adopted, no shareholder would have to wait long for his all otm ' entstrusted that the conservative character of the association * would with their hearty approval. A large and influentialinet body of persons . throughout the country were supporting the association, so that it had every element of success. In conclusion, the reverend chairman intimated that expressing the hope that he should, on many occasion see many faces in that room . Th e ballot was then 8' n ceeded with, and fifty r i g ht s o f choice were drawnprbey shareholders in the counti es o f Middlesex Surrey, Kent, - Bucks, Norfolk, Suffolk, Derby, Somerset, t, and Dorset EXECUTION AT ABERDEEN. —On Thursday, Geor g e * Christie, recently convicted b e f ore the Xigh Courtf Justiciary at Edinburgh of a barbarous double murde near Aberdeen, was executed i n th e l atter city, lie r was quite composed in his latt er moments. On the scaffold he was requested to giv e th e usual signal when ready ; he immediately turned r oun d to Calcraft, the executioner, and said, "Are you rea d y ?" Calcraft plied that he was, on which Christie sa id to the offi t re ; of the magistrates, "JI am quite ready now, gentle el ' s ' and with a deliberate movement of th e arm , m threw wa -a en 'y the napkin. As the drop fell a pi erc i ng shriek froma female voice wa.s heard in the crowd. Th e body was —Among th e number an nPhAeRn X. s * . cut E down NGms rt after ARTISTES Iaangi n rt:t i e: j unsotweoamssmemenbeliendg .innoPnearisesemw to ha ve when the m o cs f ieal foreign aseaso been heard with more favour than our email' Binfield, and his accomplished little party IrYllillan Mr. formances are thus described in a Parisian lv ?se per. journal, which will be seen alro a compliment . to the progress of musical art inEngland : The soirees of the past busy week have brought a new feature into our musical entertainment; iatroduced b field from Lond on , w h o, now here on y Mess rs. Bi n " have been ind uce d t o g i ve a few perfao pleasure t r i p, judging fr om th e en j oyment it evidenT afforded a ances, and, y large circl e compr i s i ng several of the i mo n of our conoscenti, p rom i ses to take rootn Bansst oted, It con sists of a chamber—or family concert, the executants being all members of Mr. B'a own family .Ifamily lof musicians really meriting . th • ---` 1 under the direction of their itt designation, who, father, an accomplished ' artiste, perform the works of the with a facility and finish that give first masters aflowing ease to their performances quite charming to listen to. The pro gramme on the evening we present, comprised selections from Bach, Beethoven were Mendelssohn, and Rossini, the arrangements and accompaniments combined with truly musician -like skill, giving the little orchestra surprising richness and effect. The performers are six ; the instruments two harps, two pianos, a violoncello, and lastly a concertina, the capabilities an powers of which . . but which, with we are clearly yet strangers to in Paris,. the improvements introduced by Wheatstone, is surely one of the most wonderful little instruments for morceaux d'ensemble ever invented. Its effect also in one of the Irish melodies introduced singly by Miss Dmfield was admirable. Four of the party are soloists, all of whom display mas t er l y skill, and both in their separate per-, formances as in the concerted morceaux, we have rarely found executants render so completly the colour, style, and expression of eaeh composer. We may particularly refer to Bach's Fugne, by Mr. W. B. Binfield on the piano, as an instance of this consci entious homage to the intentions fif the great old mas ters—it was perfect. We would add that, for the taste of Paris, a little more of the Italian school, and perhaps some selections from the Fre!acb, would be useful to alternate with the more classics excel:pta of th e i r pro gramme, the taste of London being in this respect un questionably very far in advance of Paris • , except, cf course, among real lovers of the art." COUNTRY MARKETS. ALKEITH, JAN. 13.—The reative weight ont bush D el of th e three prices of wheat were 18st 7 per Ib, 18st f 01 . 1), and 17 s t 01b . Oats, 13st Gib, 12st 31b, an d lOst 6 1 b. Barley, 16 s t Gib, 15st 101 b, and 14st 81b. Peas and bean s, 19st 91b, 19. 3 t 51b, and 17st 111 b. Qrs. Best. Current. Inferior. 6 409 Wheat.....,...,. £2 16 0 £ 2 8 0 £2 2 , 2,050 Oat s ' 12810 0 0 15 918 Barley. 1 13 0 1 8 9 1 5 0 128 Peas and beans 1 18 0 1 17 0 1 12 0 Average of wheat, 2/. 8s 6d. he following are the pricel BEAss. 37s 61 34s In 32s O HADDINGTON, JAL 14.—T. of grain at our market to-day First Second Third WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. 57s Od 33s Od 22s Od 508 lid 31s 3d 20s 8d 46s Od 2" 6d D . 6d , -Sos Total quantity of wheat in market, ff barley oats 7.9 beans .. 4.8 s 757 qrs., 656 sold 796 rs. 781 sold 392 q rs., 292 sol,l 202 qrs., 15 0 sold ,I) .” ABERDEEN, JAN. 14 .—Grain —Old oats, 00s Od to OOs 64 ; 401bs per bushel ; n ew oa t s, 17 s 6d to 18s Od 401bs Pe bushel ; bear, 27s Gd t o 28 s Od , 531b s per bushel ; ba l. „ l , ° f l ; 27s Od to 27s 6d, 53ns per bu s h e l ; w h ea t , re d , 440 °"4 45s Od, 621bs per bushel ; wheat, white. 49s Od to 5 03 u t : 621bs per bushel ; oatm ea l, 14s Od. to 15s Od per boa flour, OOs Od. to 40s Od ner sack. P rov i s i ons —B ee f, per lb; 5d to 6d ; mutton, ditto, 5d t o 6d ; vea l , ditt o, 5d to '. pork, per stone, 3s Od to 3s Gd ; l am b , per lb , Od to Od rabbits, each, Od to Od ; tallow, per stone, 4s Od to Is : potatoes, per peck, Od to Od ; b u tt er, per lb, Os 8d to 0! ~9 t ; eggs, per doz, Os 7d to Os 83 ; h ens, per pa i r, 3s ( l a 6a 3s 6d ; chickens, ditto, 2s Gd. to 2s 9d ; ducks, ditto, urke E;23_, to 3s Od ; ducklings, ditto, Os Od t o O s Od ; t each, 4s Od to 5s Od ; geese, ditto, 3s 641 to 4s 0,1 ; for exportation (present cure), per cwt, OOs to 70s r e ' ditto (summer cured), OOs to OOs Od ; eggs, wholesale Pr i V per dozen, Od to 7d ; 41b loaf, 7d ; 21b oaf, 3d ; iv r "" fine small, Os 041 to 5s 6d ; pork, large, 3 s 6d to 4s 3d. CORK-JAN. 14. Currency. , 28 White wheat 25s 9d to 26s 9d Os Od-20 stori 6 138 Redwheat 24s 6d to 26s 6:1 Ditto 00$ Od to 00s Od 25s Od-20 do. Ditto 00$ Od to 00$ Od 119 Barley l4s Od to 14s 6d Ditto OGs 0 , 11,0 00s Od 14s 4d-1G do. Ditto 00s Od b 00$ Od 7 Bere l3s Od to 13s 3d Os oa. 727 Oats 884 Ditto lOs 5d to lOs 6d lOs ed do. 216 Ditto 10s 64 to Us Od 88 Pigs 3Bs Od to 40s Od 38s Od per cwt. Quantity sold at the highest prices :- 7 barrel. whit° wheat ; ' 5 red ; 35 barley; 3 here oats ; 4 pigs. Quantity of grain and number of pigs sold last week 054. Wheat, 757. Barley, 1,102. Bero, 0. Oats, 5, Pigs, 1,268. PRICES OF BUTTER. CANT. First quality Second quality Third quality Bss Fourth quality Fifth quality 6Bs Sixth quality s6s CURRENCY. 81 3 First quality ............... 8 5 4 Second quality ............ 76s Third qua1ity.......... •.... 659 Fourth quality ............ cgs Fifth quality ............... Sixth qua1ity,........ Return of cattle sold for week ending Jan. 8 Pigs, 507. Sheep, 139. Cows, 107. 18 °a CORR.—Flour- First, 15s 6d to 17s Od ; extra, -s seconds, 14s Od to 15s Od ; households, lOs to 13s Od ; tl ot do, d ; 8s Od to lOs per cwt. Meal—lndian meal, 8s 6d to So oatmeal, lls tolls 6d; wheat meal, lOs 6d to lls 6€l per 6 t l Indian corn, 81 2 s 6d to 8/ 10s Od per ton. Bran, 4115° to Si per ton. H a y—F armers, 30s Od. to 36s Od ; :We; 00s ; dealers, 34s Od t o 40 s Od ; average, Os per ton. Stingßso O 0 Farmers, 20s Od to 29 s Od ; average, 23 s ; dealers, -- to 00s Od ; average, Os. per ton. Broad—Wheaten loaf, to Od ; household ditto, 6d to Od per 41b.—Fresh butter, lld per lb. Eggs, 6s 8d to 6s 10d per hundred. Meat - 7,1t0 h i d to 7d ; mutton, 5d to bid ; veal, 4d to 6d ; pork, Od ; bacon, 6d to 7d ; sausages, 5d per lb.—Fish, Newflloo; land, 114.0 s to 141 Os per ton ; Scotch herrings, 26s t,a . o, Red, do., 30s per brl.—Potatoes, white, 8d to 9d, lid to 12d.—Coals, Newport, 21s; Lydney, 21s ; Od per ton.—Whiskey, 25 0.p., 6s Od per imperial ga u° cAle Hides, market, 22s to 28s ; Salted, 24s to 30s per ew t ,„, , - - skins, 3,f d per lb.—Bangor slates 2/. 17s. 6d to 31. Pc t in - i, per Fleece wool; 15s to 16s , p er s t one . —H emp, 37/. to 4 ".. do. , ton—Timber, Memel, 31. lOs ; red pine, 3/. 10 s ; yell o. r ed, 3/. 10s. per ton ; deals, 161. to 18/. per hundred.-13,00, 71. to 8/. 10s. per ton : —Tall ow , 47 s t o 48 s per c wt. „ ol io, 71. lOs to 01. per ewt.--Tar, Archangel, 19 8 . per brl.—" Peruvian, 101. 10s to W. per ton. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, j N. 15 AN. STOCK EXCHANGE.—Ou r Share M ar k e t c ontinues to e o f cline in quotatio ns , a lth oug h th e t ransac ti ons dai19, 3 ',,1 0 ,5 f o ll ow i ng an average descripti on . Th e a re the C•l c ti st prices :—Caledonian, 33 ; Chester and Holyhead, 23 ;.„ Lancashire, 184 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 81-3.' ' Northern, 16 7-16 ; Li ver p oo l, C ros b y , an d Souillgim, ; London and North-Western, 1221 c. ; ditto, ; p. ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire , ati Midland, 774 ; North British, 9k ; Shrewsbury Chester (Oswestry and Chester), 15 ; • South-Easter n Dover, 241 ' • York and North Midland, 28i ; Blackbuil l '- per cent., 253 ; North Union (A), 264. MANCHESTER, JAN. 15. 40 a rao rto • to d y but prices could not maintain t' . , of business done - a , value at which the opened. The closing sales were •,‘ STOCK EXCITANGE.—Thero W 11.3 an extraordinary Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, !. ' dis. ; Blackburn (No. 1), 7$ ; E as t Anglian, Sl': per Cent. Preference , 3 ; E as t ern Counties East Lancashire, 181 • great Northern, 4j p ' r,, to , Scrip, 9-16 p. ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, ‘82a721,0"- Fifths, 3',i. ; ditto, W.R.U., 2 2 dis. ; London and' pit--; E2a6stePrnre,fald..4 PD.oceMr,id2l3agn.d Railway Western, 123 n. ; Manchester and Birmingham, (C R., 14 ,"'" ' tors), 1 11-16 . p. ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnow" ~,,,,, 2 50 91 : 7 d B i t ; t o s , o nNtehw.. ---- BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 15. ~, 4., hag STOCK EXCHANGE. —The Railway Share Market rice° been generally depressed throughout the w ee k, and kbero of almost every description of stock have fallen. a for , seems to be more doing in, and to be a greater dere° th o Shrewsbury and Birmingham Stock than any other i n dos' part of the country. The following were among the tiorl , mg quotations : Birmingham and Oxford J.,, nue dlei , bailers, 304; Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and l ' i li stoel . Valley,buyers, s 3 el :Ye r ; s , 1 1.0 i ral i li k ; L g o h n a d n i o ii 123 ; Midland, sellers, 79 ; ditto (Birmingham and,-v o %o' buyers, 46—sellers, 48 : Shrewsbury and Bir in ,r lrl ; s ter il a W nd olv N e o r rt ha h m -W pt e o s n t , er iZ soir i bei l: buyers, 67—sellers, 68 ; ditto, London and North- v`i in fotif Guaranteed, buyers, 76—sellers 78 ; Shropshire sa uerh sellers, 2-i dis.; South Staffordlire, buyers, i ; Bs. 9d. dis. t ie BRISTOL, JAN. 15. w ith f: 9 ;7,1; STOCK EXCHANG—The market was flat, pression of prices. Great Westerns changed hand s Vale of Neath, 148. SEABORNE MAILS. post (N signifies that the mails are sent from the Genera' by the night—and Mby the morning —dispatch.] - - --.............. are sent trom the Genera,. - - bythe night—and Mby the morning ---dispatch.] _______../ i Day when Postp From what IV IO in General Port __COU___NTRIES __. _._ i i ll'' AArnmeerriiccaa (byßrit.pack.N 7 4 . L . on .. . d . 0 . 1 .1 .. LiverpoolD iatch:: . Acre America (by United Sts. IalOill: packet) ..........N Tan. 25 ... ... Liverpool ... Jan' 20 : (; :(. y y.al. : y e . 0. st S . oi t : a .oi t oh e sd s .. ... . . . . •. . . : A tpl us lieitx t t i f al L) la vir • Jan' 24 So thamPtnn ampton) .....• • • ..34 20th of each month Southampton " TA -- lf Ditto (via Marseilles N 24th of the month Dover .• -• " —ll. tgit $0 .N 2d of February.... Plymouth .• Tr i ; 12 , Africa (West Coast) .. N 23rd of the month. Plymouth • • ',..%. 1 0 ' : .... :: :. N 1 9th&30th of mon. Dover ~ ...• W a iiy , Brazil . • n'iglUni ••••••• • • • • • N • Daily.. .. . . ... Doyer •••• •• -- we' California .. Wane of Good Hop Buenos Ayres ........M 9th of the month.. ,louthatnpton Ai. 1:10 Cape de Verds . ........ 34 31 9th of the month.. Southampton An r ,„.,1 Constantinople*. : .... . e. : .. Ns : 4 d 4tt h & ti 00 lff7tttill the : o mmf (o)month.. month tthh. .. Southampton sc (z ti hh aarnnipp tt oo n jj j a na a i t I lp i 22266 6 N 7thl7tb27thof mo.. Dover • • • • • • ' la 1 6 0 , Central America ....DI had & 17th of mon. Southampton Ja n ',,, o ,. Channel Isles„ .....N Mon.Wed.&Friday Southampton Tn.: , 1 6 I‘l NI & 17th oemonth •Joutnampton J r al i co ls.' France ........ M & N Twice daily ...... Dover .. ~ .• ..7,: . 29 _ t , Greece* ... .... . „N, ithl7thnthotinon. Dover ...... J.',... i 4 _,, Hamhurgh . : :... ....N Tuesday & Friday London ..... IL O O 7 / ,i i ttn Holland .... ...... „Iti Wednesday & Sat London ••• • • 7 16 o y Honduras ........ N 17th of the month Southampton .! .. 1 1,,,15 Ireland .... .. ..M ge . N Twice daily ...... Holyhead • • "I_7 i. 24 India (viaSontbampt.)lu 20th of themonth.. Southarapto.n. T. _A ArriYoL• India (via Marseilles) N Bth& 24th of month Dover .. • • India (via Cape of Good H0pe).............m 14th of the month.. , mpton Jan. 26 Mauritius ........N 14th of the month.. Southa Mediterranean •(via .. ..b4 20th of tit e 1/1::::::: Southampton Arrive .. t Dover ...... Jan. 13 Ditto (via lklarseilles).N ith& 24th. ofinot Napless 1% 1 1 a e x d e i e i r ° a : : : : : : : : : : : .• I t i l 9 2 t n h d & o 2 f 3 t j 0 1 c f 1 ti n rm ° n ' Dover Ss:e°:nuatttihhhhi a maa n In . : . PIPP : t . ttte: . tin" ! ../ " J .FT : nae l it : '' i . 1 : 26 0 6 Malta * ...... •••• • • N f 30til of . tt c. 0.. onyer ...... Jan. 2 2 •. t 125thofinon. Dover .... .. Jan. 1 Papal States... .. .. . • N :. i ti : :tl: l 7t 9 ll t o b r m 27 o t n h ' Southampton Jan. L. : Peninsula. . . . . • • • • •• ht 2cl & 17th of month 4 outhampton Jan. .I". Tuscany- ........ • -. R, N, . 2d & i7th of month Southampton Arrive d Peon • *.: •••••• • " ' • 31 sthlso2sthof mon, Dover ...... Jan. !2 . . West Indies .. • • • • •• Van Diemen's Land (*on ....,'''. Att-traii,) ••• • " 2'..tt •• • •• • • ....N 50:11.5 - Those made up Australia via the Cape of Good Hope are " - 20 10 ' on the * The mail e ' y f e o r r y alternate , month. on the 2d (f e ,, e u month via southampton and Marseilles are "- and 24th of at present from Singapore. nal P r sailing vessels mails are also made up on the 2d of every alternate ste- The mails to those countries thus marked (1) are cOl l7O "- Frenc h packet to Marseilles. the Cape of Good Hope. BIRTHS. OP A SON. t he On the 9th inst., at Strathallan Castlo, Perthsaa* Viscountess Strathallan, stillborn. F A DAUGHTER. On the 12th inst. , at Mugdrum-honse, the i cr ° ll ' Paterson. Rill ED. n On the 12th inst., at MA St . Jo hn's-church, Farorito "- w ci, Lancashire, William Bibbin, Esq., o f St. john'e-w°oacire .‘ Mary Ann Crompton, thi r d d aughter of the l a t e A Todd, Esq., of Barley. 10 . On the 12th inst., at Derrynoose-church, the Rl', Mr' Stopford, rector of Clongill, youngest son of the la to Bishop of Meath, to Mary Jane Frances, eldes t d°.° of the Rev. C. S. Mangan, rector of Derryneese• %A . ' DIED. On the 14th inst., at Portsmouth, proprietor of the Hampshire Telegraph newsPPer- ,ora Tram On the 11th inst., aged 50, R. Smith, Esq. , of 303, hall, Manchester. • h., o r On the 13th inst., at Albany-street, Edinburg f 0i Marion Rennie, relict of George Rennie, Esq., for ta,ssie, East Lothian. Kirk- 113111 ' On the 9th inst„ John Walley, Esq., _......0i merly of Blackburn, aged 89. W. Harrison, _, r ola/ LONDON : Printed and Published by MI7RD° Ir / 4 9 0 .i1 k of No. 112 , Strand, Printer, at The Sun Oface, ,ty 0 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the co' aiddloox, Monday, January 17,1853. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, 1853.