The Sun. — London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

►-~.~. . INTERESTING MEDICAL INVES TIGATION. An important inquest gas held at Putney on the Bth and continued by adjournment to the 14th instant before W. Cat t riEsq., coroner for East Surrey, and a highly respectable jury. The coroner stated that the inqui sition was held in consequence of a letter which he had received from Dr. Cormack, " anxiously requesting" in (miry into the cause of the death of - deceased, Sophia Dallett. Maria Rose Dallett, spinster, sworn—l am sister of the deceased, Sophia Dallett. My father is a tallow chandler. I reside with him as part of his family. My deceased sister would have been fifteen in September. On Sunday last, the 3d instant, at seven or eight, P.M., she was taken with shivering. I was with her at the time in the parlour. No one else was present. She had been poorly from Thursday evening, the Ist instant, but before Thursday was not unwell. On Thursday she had a little simple medicine—pills, which she was in the habit of taking. They are Mr. Farmer's pills, and are sold in boxes as "Farmer's Antibilious Pills." On Sun day, when she had the shivering, I assisted her to un dress, and sent for more medicine to Mr. Farmer. My sisters Elizabeth and Mary Anne went for it. I desired them to say to Mr. Farmer that the deceased had been seized with shivering and felt very sick. [By sick, as subsequently appeared, witness meant nausea and vo• rnitingl Mr. Farmer is not a medical man; he is a chemist. My sisters brought back a powder and a draught, which I received from them. I gave the powder to the deceased, but the draught, in accordance with the directions, I reserved for the morning. I had no know ledge whatever of the nature or parts of the powder. The powder was given at nine o'clock on Sunday evening. She then appeared to be very poorly—by poorly I mean sick and feverish. Site returned the powder ; at least. she vomited freely half an hour after taking it. At this time she had no other symptoms except fever and sick ness. She slept comfortably (luring the night, and took the draught in the morning at half-past seven or eight o'clock. She took it voluntarily. During Monday she was not so well. It was not till six or seven o'clock in the evening that I observed her to be worse. Before this the draught had operated, but only a little. During that day (Monday) she had no symptoms of sickness, but was chilly. She arose from bed, and I assisted her to dress. She left her bedroom, but remained in a room adjoining her bedroom for five or six hours. She took tea to Creakfast; for dinner mutton and mutton broth, and tea in the evening. I concluded that the cause of the medicine not operating more was the powder having been returned. I had no misgivings as to the efficacy of Mr. Farmer's medicines. On Monday night I did not judge there was any necessity for calling in medical ad vice. She was worse and had shivering on Monday at six or seven, P.M. What did you do?—I sent my sister Mary Anne for more medicine to Mr. Farmer. I did not send for any particular medicine. I told my sister to get the medi cine Mr. Farmer thought necessary. My sister returned with a powder, a draught, and a saline mixture. She took the powder immediately, and in two or three hours afterwards one dose of the saline mixture. The second powder was retained. She passed a good night. In the morning of Tuesday she took the draught, which ope rated in about an hour. Did it operate violently or gently?—lt caused neither it violent nor a gentle operation. I now sent for Dr. Corm ack. Did you see any previous necessity for sending for Dr. Cormack?—No. Why did you now send for him?—Because my sister was very low. Did Dr. Cormack come immediately?—lmmediately. Deceased had been sick, and the medicine had operated at the time Dr. C. first saw her. She had not been out of her bed that morning. The calling in of Dr. Cor mack hal no reference to the medicine which had been taken. At first the medicine did not operate violently. It was at nine, A.M on Tuesday (6th instant) that Dr. C. first saw deceased. He took her case in hand, and prescribed. The servant went for the medicine. She brought hack two mixtures. One was labelled, " Half to be taken now, the remainder in two hours." This mixture was taken as directed. The second mixture labelled, " Half in an hour after the other, if the sick ness continued." None of this mixture was taken till the doctor's second visit, at twelve o'clock ; and there never was more than part of it taken, as it was not re quired for the sickness. On the morning of Tuesday she complained of pain in her stomach ; and after taking tea at breakfast time, shortly before Dr. C.'s visit, she was sick, rather violently. The intermissions between the attacks of sickness were short. Dr. C.'s second visit was between twelve and one, I think. We were told by the doctor, at his first visit, that it was probably a low fever, which might continue for some time. No intima tion of present danger was giv en . A t the second visit the doct or ordered hot fomentations and a liniment, to be applied to the lower part of the abdomen, also three pills. The servant fetched the liniment, which was used according to directions. These appli cat i ons were f i rst made at half-past one, and they were continued till half past three. The fomentation was simple hot water, After the fomenting and the use of the liniment she was better. The servant first brought the liniment, and afterwards the pills. The pills were labelled " A pill every night ;" but the verbal directions of the doctor to me, and also of the doctor's assistant to the servant, was " A pill every hour." I sent to inquire how the pills were to be taken, and they were given accordingly— one every hour, the first being taken at ten minutes after four, and the last twenty minutes after six. After the pills she seemed better. She woke up, and, at seven, or a little after seven, took some tea, with a very little toast. She seemed much refreshed and better. The doctor saw her again at eight, or half-past eight, when he sari that she was decidedly better. He sent her some ginger -beer powders, to be taken if she com plained of thirst. I sat up with her. About ten she seemed very drowsy. About four in the morning (Wed nesday) I sent for the doctor. lie came immediately. He ordered some brandy and water, which she took ; afterwards, some white wine. She did not appear to know what she was doing. The doctor wished her to be roused. Sh e was taken out of bed and to the next room. Dr. Wane and Mr. Shilito attended, at the desire of Dr. Cormack, When Dr. Cormack was sent for on this last occasion, he expressed surprise. We had every confi dence in the skill and ability of Dr. Cormack. I could not account fur the stupor ; but the doctor said it might be the liniment. Nothing beyond the result has caused dissatisfaction in the family. It was not expected. I understand that this inquest is held at the request of Dr. ' Cormack. I did not speak to the other medical men as to the cause of the sudden change. I cannot say whether my father would have had an inquest had the doctor not proposed it. The doctor was so quick in proposing an inquest that we had no time to think of it sooner. He is our usual medical attendant. Cross-examined by Dr. Cormack—l told the doctor that the medicine prescribed by Mr. Farmer, had acted as an aperient. The doctor said it had, perhaps, been too searching. I do not recollect informing Dr. Cormack that any of Mr. Farmer's pills had been administered to deceased. Ido nut recollect mentioning the saline mix ture to the doctor. I think I mentioned both powders and both draughts. Do you recollect of mentioning the medicine which deceased had had simply thus—" She has had a powder and a draught from over the way ?"—I do not recollect nay exact words. Dr. Cormack, said, at his first visit, the pain may not be inflammatory, but only griping, from the medicine. Deceased was not always insensible; after Dr. C. came in on the Wednesday morning, she mentioned him by name when roused. I think this was in the passage, but I do not recollect the exact time. She put out her tongue when asked loudly. _ their sister's testimony as to fetching the medicine from Farmer's, and delivering it to their sister Maria. John Farmer, chemist-1 recollect Elizabeth and Mary Anne Dallett calling at my shop on Sunday even ing. I proposed to give them a powder and a draught for the deceased, who was said by them to be fifteen years of age. No particular kind of medicine was asked for. Minutely inquired into the symptoms. The powder consisted of four grains of grey powder, to be taken at bed time. Grey powder is the mildest preparation of mercury. The draught was a common black draught of senna and other ingredients. On Monday evening, Miss Mary Anne Dallett called and stated that the powder had been rejected, from sickness, and the draught had acted only once, and that mildly. She said that the de ceas, d would require more active medicine, and that she had pain. In consequence of this statement, I gave a powder composed of five grains of grey powder and three grains of Dover's powder. I added the Dover's powder that the dose might be retained on the stomach. I gave on this occasion a draught, the same as the former, to be taken in the morning. I also suggested and supplied a simple saline mixture, directing two table spoonfuls to be given if the sickness came on. The quantities of the various medicines which I supplied were the usual quan tities for a person of the age of deceased. I have been in the habit of supplying the family of de ceased with my mild anti-bilious pills. They contain in each pill one grain of blue pill. They are mild pills. I have no ob jection to state of what they are composed. In addi tion to the blue pill, they contain extract of seams ony and the watery extract of aloes. One is an ordinary dose for a person of the age of deceased ; but two are quite safe for one of constipated habit. On Sundae evening I was informed by the sisters of the deceased that the bowels of deceased had not been acted on since Friday, and I was told that she was complaining of head ache, giddiness, sickness, and pain of the stomach. The illness was described as a little bilious attack. Ido not visit patients. Ido not prescribe. I suggest what medi cine should be taken. I did not prescribe for the de ceased ; but I suggested, and dispensed the medicine for her. On Wednesday morning I was asked by some one from Mr. Dallett's to go there. I went. The deceased was unable to walk. She was supported in an upright position. I saw there Dr. Cormack, Mr. Dallett, and his three daughters. From my own knowledge, I have no conception of the cause of death. I asked the medical gentleman the cause of the illness, but got no answer. Cross-examined by Dr. Cormack—When I prescribed for deceased, I made no inquiry as to the state of her pulse. - [oh this answer being given, a juror remarked that it Was not usual when one went to a chemist fur a dose to Bay anything about the pulse.] John Rose Cormack—l am a doctor of medicine, and reside in Putney. I was first called in to the deceased on Tuesday, the sth, at nine in the morning. I received 8 .11 urgent message, and want without losing a moment. I found the deceased in bed. I asked her sister Maria What the symptoms were, and was told that she had been " poorly" for some days. I was told th a t t h e disease set in with shivering. I certainly understood that no medicine of any kind had been given excepting a brown powder on the preceding evening, and a bl ac k dose that morn i ng ; and that these medicines had peen got from " over t h e was ." I as k e d what powder and draught consisted of, and was told that. she supp ose d b ot h to b e common aperient t hetheines. 1 asked the colour of the powder, and was i t9 l 4 that it was brown. I could get no definite or dis " 44 recount of the medicine, excepting that the PcTder was brown, and the draught black. I concluded that both were ordinary aperients; and proceeded to examine the patient for myself. I found the pulse at the wrist feeble and irregular; the heart's action was feeble and irregular. The tongue was loaded, but not parched. She seemed to be in an extremely depressed state. I tiought the pupils were somewhat contracted. I examined into the state of the secretions, and learned that the urine was high coloured and scanty; and that on that morning the discharge from the bowels had been very abundant. I asked if I could see the discharge from the bowels, and was told I could not. I asked if it was thin and watery, or if it had some consistence; I was told that it had some consistence, and was "bad" in appearance and sme'L I thought that this discharge was owing to the operation of the medicine. There was a natural moisture on the skin—perhaps a little more than the natural moisture. What particularly struck me was the extreme depression and the contracted pupils. These symptoms indicated, or rather I should say led me to dread pressure on the brain, such as is seen in the course of continued fever. I learned that the disease had set in some days before with head •ache and shiver. ing. This circumstance, and the state in which I found her, led me to infer that she had been for four or five days, or longer, affected with continued fever of a typhoid character— that is, a low nervous fever which (if the patient lives) runs through a definite course. I inti mated this opinion to tho relatives. Nervous fever of this kind is a very serious disease. In reference to the abdominal pain, which was severe I said "Let us hope that it is only the medicine." I did not convey, or wish to convey, the idea that the disease arose from improper medicine. I had a dread that it might be a severe form of abdominal inflammation, well known to medical men as a dangerous complication of continued fever. In prescribing, my object was to support the powers of life. and to allay the vomiting and purging. I prescribed a mixture to be taken in two doses. (The prescriptions, as written at the time, were produced in court at Dr. C.'s request.) The following is the composition of this mixture. Of the Edinburgh solution of the hydrochlo rate of morphia twelve drops, tincture of orange-peel one drachm (a tea-spoon-full), and of camphor mixture two ounces. The morphia in this mixture may be esti mated as equal to half a grain of opium. I gave so small a quantity of opium on account of the cerebral symptoms. I thought the camphor would be useful as a diffusible stimulant. I thought it would tend to sup • port life. Along with this mixture I sent another one ounce and a half of the creosote mixture of the Edin burgh Pharmacopia. Of this I directed the half to be taken, one hour after t}'e last dose of the other mixture. Creosote is of use in allaying vomiting. The opium was intended to check the discharges, and arrest inflamma tory action, by keeping the intestines in a state of re pose. I left the house, saying that I would return in a few hours, but if required, would be found at home. I went home. I then went down to my dispensary, when I was told that Mr. Dallet'a servant had— The CORONER here stopped witness, saying that what one person told another person was not evidence ; it could not be listened to. Witness continued—My second visit to deceased was between twelve and one. The pulse was improved ; the vomiting was going on ; it had changed its character. I saw a chamber pot about half full, of what at first ap peared to me from the darkness of the room to be urine of a whitish colour. I said to Miss Maria, "I am glad to .;ee she has made so much water ;" and was answered, " She has made no water ; all that has been passed from the bowels." On carefully examining the abdomen with the band, I found that the pain on pressure had mate rially increased since my first visit, and the vomiting and purging, though diminished, still continued, in spite of the remedies. At this visit I directed one part of the creasote mixture to be taken ; none of it had been taken, but both doses of the other mixture had been taken. I was still careful of how I used opium, which, but for the cerebral symptoms, would have been freely resorted to. I was anxious also not to mask the disease. In all the circumstances, I considered that the safest course was to order a stimulating liniment containing same opium, in the form of laudanum, to be applied to the seat of pain. I calculated th it part of this opium would be absorbed. The composition of this liniment was as follows : Spirit of turpentine, 5 drachms ; liniment of the sesquicarbonate of ammonia, of London Pharmacopoeia (the mild harts horn liniment), 5 drachms ; and of laudanum, 2 drachms. A drachm is 60 drops, or in other words, about a tea spoonful. I directed part of this liniment to be applied to the abdomen by means of a piece of flannel, and I di rected that above the flannel, hot water fomentations were to be kept up for two hours. I prescribed three pills to be taken, one every hour, after the liniment had been used for two hours, in the event of the pain, purging, or vomiting remaining. When the liniment was on, and before the pills were commenced, I directed the creasote mixture to be given, should vomiting recur. I said that wine was to be given if she became suddenly faint. I said that I would call again. I did call about eight in the evening. I found a very great apparent improvement in all the symptoms; the pulse i❑ particular was much better, being less rapid, as well as stronger and firmer. I was told that there had been no recent purging, and almost none at all since my pre vious visit. The vomiting had not returned, in conse quence of which the residue of the creasote mixture had not been given. All the pills had been taken as I pre scribed. The last was taken a little after six, I was told. The liniment and fornentations had been employed as I directed. All my instructions had been fully carried out. I stated to the family that I was happy to leave her so much better. Deceased asked if she might have more of the little pills. I said no; they are not required. As the pain was not entirely removed, I said that part of the liniment, with the fermentations, might again be used. I said that I did not see scope for any other medicine than effervescing draughts, should the thirst be urgent; and wine, if required, for faintness. I was told that she had sat up in bed and taken tea with relish, and also a little toast. I thought more favourably of her case than I had done formerly"; but I was still in great anxiety about her. I said so to my assistant. Thinking it not impro bable that I might be called to her during the night, I mentioned her state to Mrs. Cormack, who was not well, . . _ . and might have been alarmed had I been called away to a distance during the night. Mr. I)allett's house is near to mine. I did not anticipate such a change as took place. I was called between four and five in the morning, just at the conclusion of the thunder-storm. I went without delay. I found the deceased in a state of great prostration, apparently listless, and drowsy. The pulse was hardly perceptible at the wrist: the hands were cold ; the extremities of the fingers were blue ; and the lips were livid. I administered about a tablespoonful of brandy, and three or four glasses of wine. I asked it she had been alarmed by the thunder; and was told that she did not seem to have heard it. I examined the pupils; they were much contracted. I endeavoured to converse with her, and was enabled in some degree to do so after she had wine. I at first thought that she was in a state of collapse, which would terminate in death. The good effect of the wine suggested hope. I asked how much of the liniment had been used, and was shown the bottle, which might contain one or two teaspoonfuls out of the twelve. Knowing the extreme sensibility of the Dallett family to medicine of every description, it occurred to me, as just possible, that the stupor and collapse might have arisen from absorption of the opium of the liniment. I had never heard of so small a quantity of laudanum, when so applied, producing such an effect. I thought it my duty, under all the circumstances, to hazard the impu tation of having used improper and dangerous medicine as the only thing which gave the deceased a chance of life, was to take this view of the case, and act on it. I used every exertion to rouse her, by sinapisms, hot water and mustard to the feet, 84c. I now treated the symptoms exactly as I would have treated narcotism from opium. I only conjectured that it might be nar cotism from opium. I explained my treatment to the family, as the exertions to rouse the deceased might otherwise have appeared extraordinary. No imp' ove ment showed itselt. I desired my assistant, who was in attendance with me, to call in Dr. Wane and Mr. Shilito. When Dr. Wane came, I entrusted the case to him for a few minutes, as I was exhausted, and I went to Mr. Shilito's house. He kindly came back with me imme diately to Mr. Dallett's. Both gentlemen then cb operated with me in pursuing the same . line of treat ment, until death took place. Just before Dr. Wane arrived, I gave twenty grains of sulphate of zinc ; it did not act, and he suggested a repetition of the dose, and tickling the fauces. We used the emetics with reference to the symptoms ; and not with reference to my prescriptions. We all co-operated in using the same treatment, till deceased expired between eight and nine A.M. On Wednesday morning, about twenty-three hours from the time at which I was first called in. Everything whi c h I did was d one w i th the v i ew of sav ing the patient's life. The object of my treatment was to prevent death. The treatment was adopted according to the best of my judgment. Cross-examined by a Juror—l would, in similar cir cumstances, adopt similar treatment. I do not regret my treatment. I thi n k my treatment throughout was Judicious. Opi um i s t h e main remedy on inflammatory whichmedical men rely in certa i n forms of abdominalo disease. Th ere i s a great tole ranceopum in such cases. I consider my dose of morphia an extremely minute dose. I also consider the quantity of opium in the three t pills ak only s a m t it' the three h grain, pills very soth enbe con t estimated contained half as a half a grain of opi um , the deceased t 00l only had o ne grain o of internally from me. Sh e h ad laudanum applied ext e rnally. I thyinktwo myteaspexhiontuls exhibition of opium, by me, in this case, very cautious. By the . CORONER—What was th e cause of death ? That question cannot be . answered till we have had as ana t o mical inspection of the dead body. The CORONER ordered Mr. Wane and Shilito to make an inspection, inviting other medical men to be present if they thought proper, and adjourned the inquest to Wednesday, the 14th inst., at ten A.M. saw confirms the correctness of my opinion as to the nature of the disease. (Witness, with permission of the Court, read the following extract from Dr. Watson's work on the Practice of Medicine):—"Now the altera tions I have been describing—the thickening, redness, tumefaction, and ulceration or sloughing of the glands of Peyer, and also of the solitary—are so common in fever, particularly in some epidemics, that many patho logists are of opinion that fever is essentially inflamma tion of these glands and nothing else. But lam sure this is an error." I agree with Dr. Watson in thinking this an error, but the fact that the opinion is entertained shows how common is the symptom. Emma Peto, servant of Mr. Dallett—l went to Dr. Cormack's dispensary to fetch medicine, and received two bottles from his assistant, which I gave hi the same state as I received them to Miss Maria Dallett. I sub sequently received another bottle, and afterwards three pills, which I saw the assistant make up. The label on the pills was one to be taken every night, but as he told me one was to be taken every hour. I re turned to him with the pills, and he changed the label according to his verbal directions. Henry Hicks, dispensing assistant to Dr. Cormack— I was in practice prior to the Act of 1815 as a surgeon, (Witness then produced the prescriptions, which were in Dr. Cormack'a handwriting, and puitively declared that he had dispensed everything with the greatest accuracy.) I am fifty-four years of age, and nearly thirty-five year practising. Daniel Wane, M.D.—I reside at Putney. On Wed nesday, the 7th instant, was called in to Mr. Dallett's a little before seven o'clock in the morning. I found Miss Dallett (the deceased) sitting on a chair in a state of stupor. Dr. Cormack told me that she was probably la bouring under narcotism; that the quantity of medicine that had been administered was very small to produce such an effect. I co-operated with him in his treatment on his representations and suggested an ad litional emetic of tw,taty grains of sulphate of zinc, having been informed that a similar one had been crevicedy administered. Neither of these emetics took effect. From what I was told, I conceived the treatment to be the best that could be adopted. The symptoms were such as might have arisen from an ad ministration of opium. There was a large syncopisni, a mustard application to the ablotnen, and every means was adopted to rouse her. Strong coffee was given to her ; she was loudly spoken to, and moved about the room. Every other means was adopted to rouse her. Dr. Cormack stated that very little opium had been ad ministered internally, and that the symptoms had prin cipally been occasioned, as he supposed, by the external application. After the death, Dr. Cormack spoke of cholera. I have conducted the post num tem examination in the presence of Mr. Shillito, Dr. Cormack, Dr. Wil lis, Dr. Shillitto, Mr. Bushell, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Farmer, and the nurse. The witness here handed in the post molten: examina tion, signed by the different medical gentlemen who at , ended, as follows: POST MORTEM EXAMINATION MADE JULY LOTH. There was nothing remarkable in the external ap pearance. HEAD.—The vessels of dura mater turgid, with free effusion of blood when cut. Very great congestion of the vessels of the pia- meter, and very slight sub arach noid effusion. Consistence of the brain tolerably firm. Less than usual quantity of fluid in the lateral ventricles, and this effusion was bloody. Choroid plexus and suf. face of ventricles congested. The base of the brain was next examined. General congestion of the ♦essels. The encephalon was carefully examined in every part, and presented no further appearance of disease. CllesT.—On opening the left cavity of the chest about two ounces of bloody serum was found ; none in right cavity. General adhesion of the pleura pulmonalis and pleura costalis of right side, of old standing. Cadaveric congestion of posterior part of both lungs. Very little serum in pericardium, which appeared healthy. ABDOMEN.—General distention of the intestines with , as. The small intestines in various parts were of a bright and blotched appearance, which appearance pre sented itself in a more marked degree when the intes tines wet e raised ; adhesions were observed, produced by being recently effused, coagulable lymph. The intestine in one part was coated with coagulable lymph. A small quantity of turbid bloody fluid was found in the lower part of the abdominal cavity. The redness of the small intestines was more remarkable towards the lower por tions. On slitting open the small intestines, a very marked congested red state was found, the result or evi dence of inflammation. The glands of Brunner and of Beyer were remarked of unusual distinctness and size. This unnatural state increased as the great intestine was approached, so that the mucous membrane of the small intestine at this point appeared thickened for ten or twelve inches. The same portion of the small intestine was the seat of several distinct ulcerations. The mucous membrane of the ilco-ccecal valve was much thickened and redened. The muoous membrane of the large intes tines was congested ; the peritoneal coat of the intestines was natural. The stomach was externally of a redish colour ; internally of the same hue. This colour de pended upon congestion of the vessels, and staining of the mucous membrane. From the appearance above described I am of opinion that the cause of death ar,se from peritonitis and in flammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the bowels and congestion of the brain; these were most probably occasioned by fever.—(The Coroner here read the evidence of Dr. Cormack, in reference to the whole case.) Under the condition of peritonitis and inflam mation of the bowels, the use of opium is most judi cious. It is a general mode of treatment in such a case. There was certainly not more than a proper quantity of opium used. lain satisfied, from the facts of the case, that the death was not, in any manner, occasioned by the opium. Ido not conceive that the liniment produced the stupor. I think the treatment was judicious, and such as a skilful person, with an adequate knowledge of his profession, would adopt. It was not a rash treat ment ; it was a cautious exhibition of opium. In his statement, Dr. Cormack said he believed it to be a case of fever, and the appearances have corroborated that opinion. I think the opiate treatment undoubtedly judicious in that stato of abdominal affection. I think the congestion of the brain was an associated condition with the abdominal inflammation. I should not have looked for inflammation of the brain more than conges tion. I have no doubt that the depression was not pro duced by the opium, but by the disease. lam perfectly satisfied that the death was natural, and occasioned by the causes I have before mentioned. Charles Shillito, jun.—l am a surgeon, residing at Putney.—l joined in the post-mortem examination, and from all the circumstances, I am of opinion that the cause of death was peritonitis and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bowels. I think the conges tion of the brain was not occasioned by the opium ; the quantity of opium in every way would not have caused death. lam satisfied that it was wholly a natural death, and I think the views of Dr. Cormack as to its being occasioned by " fever," are correct. I agree with Dr. Wane in his opinions. And I think " that the treatment was judicious, skilful, end cautious, and such as a gentle. man, with an adequate knowledge of his profession, would have adopted." (At this stage of the proceedings several of the jury expressed themselves perfectly satisfied ; but, at Dr. Cormack's request, Dr. Willis, of Barnes, was also exa mined.) Robert Willis, 11. D.—1 attended the post mortem examination, and fully agree with Dr. Wane and Mr. Shillito as to the cause of the death. In my opinion the opium was most judiciously and discreetly used. I think that when Dr. Cormack said the use of opium afforded the only chances she had of recavery, under the opinion that the stupor might have been produced by the affects, I think the " rousing" was judicious, and I am convinced that it had no iniurious effect on the young lady. I think that Dr. Commack was not only authorised but required to use these means, and that he would have done wrong if he had not done so. I nye seen a recent ease,wi thin the last mon th,whpre a partydio d under nearly similar sympt ,ms, who had no opium ex.hibited. knowledge TT hhs cautious, ce loo a ßs n oeo d drN E s th u hßi s c e hpbe briefly i s edf a p, synsmci charged nd and c w a o l I think th a t t h e treatment was j u di c i ous, and e u m ld an have wi tandoapnteadequate nd the jury, stating that there were two questions for their consideration—first, whether the deceased died from natural causes, or whether her death was in any manner occasioned by the treatment adopted; and of the latter, secondly, whether Dr. Cormack' s treatment was such as a medical gentle man, acting with due caution and without culpable rash ness, would have adopted. The jury, after a brief consultation, unanimously found— " That the deceased died a natural death from peri tonitis ; and we are of opinion that the treatment of Dr. Cormack was skilful, judicious, and proper, and such as a medical gentleman with an adequate knowledge of his profession would have adopted." The case excited the deepest interest in tho neigh bourhood, particularly amongst medical ger,tlem.m, many of of whom attended during the progress: of the inquiry. A report having been circulated that Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smiths were amongst this parties likely to contract for the proposed loan of 1,000,0001,, to be raised by the Spanish Government by an issue of Treasury bonds, it is important to mention without delay that the statement is wholly erroneous. Mr. J. A. Smith, who is doubtless the party intended to ha ve been alluded to. has no connexion with the banking-house, and it is, moreover, extremely doubtful even if he, with the consent of the firm to which ho belongs, will ulti mately commit himself to the speculation. The position of Spanish credit is at this moment such as to damage all who may have any voluntary dealings with the Government of that country, and the reputation of Smith, Payne, and Co. for solidity and prudence should at once have prevented the possibility of thei r names being confounded with such a proceeding.—Tin tes. ADELPIII THEATItE.—The one-act burl( .tta just produced at this theatre, called Out on the :Sly, deals mattert hat of h a as g l a o ni ng eso b ni ee e n hu familiar n d 4 to sc a t p h audiences—thatienag twriicthalstag from his wife, upon a fictitious plea, to play incontinent pranks elsewhere, and meeting with her when least ex pected and when most inconvenient. The present illus tration of a dilemma of this kind is, however, no less amusing than those which have gone before, and the audience sanction its repetition every night with great apparent good humour. Mr. Selby, a ready hand in constructing farces of this character, is the author, and upon him also devolves the task of playing the hero. He is well seconded by Mr. Munyard, Mr. Worrell Mr. Redmond Ryan, Mi,s Ellen Ch apl i n, and Mrs. Frank Matthews. Dispatches from the Governor of Canaria, and from the Governors of the other North American Provinces, were received yesterday at the Colonial Office. Dis patches were also received from the G overnor of South Australia. A correspondent states that the ear n i ngs o f three. poflywhat betweenare L te o r n m d e o d al be rlcighQ d ti halfpenny steam steam boat s , Which Adel Phi, Rump 100 per day each. THE SUN: LONDON, THURSDAY_NORNING, JULY 15, 1847. ROTHERFIELD.—Tht hops in this locality are consi dered still to be in a very precarious state. 11-iny , zardens are decidedly in a worse condition since our last report. EYE.—Notwithstanding some of the plantations pre sent a rather unfavourable appearance in this district, in consequence of the honey-dew and vermin, in other grounds the plant appears to be in a very thriving condi tion, throwing out branches and giving indications of a productive crop. TUNBRIDGE.—The bine is strong; there is evidently an improvement since our last account, the weather during the last few days having been very favourable, and the young shoots looking very healthy. UCKFIELD.—The hops in this parish, on many of the low grounds, are still in a very precarious state. Should we have a continuance of this fine warm weather, we may yet get through the blight at some places, and grow a good many hops. The duty is called 155,0001., and some few in favour.—Sussex Advertiser. CORPORATION DUES ON CORN, MALT, tic. The following ar2 the more material and interesting passages of the petition presented to the house of Corn mons, and ordered on Saturday to be printed with the Votes (on motion of Mr. Hume). It is entitled " The humble petition of the undersigned brewers and others oi and near the metropolis," humbly showeth, That a Bill is now pending• '.l your Honourable House to pro vide for the Conser fj,on of the River Thames, &e. That by the said Bill it is proposed that all the powers and authorities, rights, and privileges, which are now vested in, or may be exercised by, her Majesty, in right of the Crown, and by the Mayor and Commonalty of the city of London, by prescription, usage, charter, or Act of Parliament, or otherwise, with regard or relation to the conservancy and the preservation and regulation of the:River Thames, should be vested,in the conservators thereby to be appointed, &c. That the Corporation of the city of London claim to have the power and authority, right and privilege, of levying, and continuing to levy, certain dues on the corn, malt, potatoes, fruit, salt, coals, and other articles of consumption brought into the River Thames, either from parts of this country or from foreign countries. That your petitioners, being brewers in and near the metropolis, arc much interested in the charges and dues imposed by the Corporation of London upon the malt and corn brought into the Thames for their use. That the brewers of London consume annually about seven hundred thousand quarters of malt, nearly one half of which is brought into the Thames. That the dues imposed on such malt are unequally and inequitably levied, and the system adopted is extremely inconvenient and harassing, and tends to the injury of your petitioners and others, and of the corn growers of the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk in particular. Ist. Because corn coming into London by water from those counties is charged with a higher rate of duty than corn coming from the neighbouring counties of Kent, Essex, and Hertfordshire. 2d. Because corn coming from Hertfordshire by way of the River Lea is totally exempt from the Corporation dues. 3d. Because foreign grain, being for the most part delivered in the docks, is chargeable with a compara tively insignificant duty. 4th. Because flour, a manufactured article, whether foreign or British, pays no dues, and is under no incon venient restraints ; while malt, another manufactured article, is subjected to very heavy dues, and unnecessary and harassing restraints. sth. Because the various dues and charges levied by the Corporation on malt coming into the Thames are unnecessarily heavy, and enhance the price of such malt above that which can be brought to London by railway or otherwise than the River Thames. 6th. Because, under the present system of levying the dues, all malt brought into the River Thames in sacks is turned out of the sacks to be meted, and is then put into the sacks again, during which process it suffers a con siderable loss by injury and otherwise, and much ex pense and loss of time is also necessarily incurred. That before any Act is passed relating to the conser vation of the Thames, or the fees and dues received by the Corporation of London, inquiry should be made into the operation of the present system, and a plan based upon equitable and convenient principles adopted instead thereof, by which the injury and inconvenience which your petitioners complain of would be removed, and a great benefit conferred on the mercantile interests generally. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honour able House that a Committee of your Honourable House may be appointed, to inquire into the subject of the fees and dues levied by the Corporation of London on all corn, malt, and other articles of consumption brought into the River Thames either from parts of this country or from foreign countries, with a view to the adoption of a scheme based on more equitable and convenient prin ciples than the present ; and that in the mean time the progress of the above•mentioned Bill now before your Honourable House may be stayed, or that your peti tioners may be heard by themselves, their counsel, solicitors, agents, and witnesses, at the bar of your Hon. House, in support of the allegations herein contained. Signed by— BAROLAY, PERKINS, and Co. Titumart, HANBURY, BUXTON, and CO. CHAItRINGTON, HEAD, and Co. GODING and Co. HENRY MEUX and Co. WHITBREAD and CO. HOARE and Co. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.—On Tuesday the half yearly general meeting of the supporters of this institu tion was held at the office, Trafalgar-square, B. Hawes, Esq., sen., in the chair. From the reports of the com mittee presented by Mr. Charlier, it appeared that the number of cases adjudicated upon since the December meeting was forty. nine, comprising seventy-two persons, of whom six were beyond recovery, and seven were attempted suicides. The number of cases in Hyde Park alone was thirteen, of which twelve were successfully treated, four being attempted suicides. The medals for courage and intrepidity in saving human life were next awarded. Lieutenant Woolridge, of her Majesty's ship Spy, was presented with a silver medal for saving the life of a seaman at Sheerness. Mr. Ralph Bates had a similar reward for saving a boy from drowning in a river in Derbyshire. Lieutenant Hire, of her Majesty's ship Hecht, also had a silver medal for rescuing a man in danger of drowning. Captain Archibald Cameron, who distinguishe d himself so nobl y at t he loss of the Sirius steamer. was honoured with a similar tokeno e f gra titude. Captain Bernardino Camf, who rescu e d the passengers of the Tweed, had a silver medal, and his crew each a bronze medal. Tne last on the list was Police Brown , of Clenmel, who gained a silver s medal. A Tote of thanks to the ohairoatuouchid e d the prOCegain6s. HOP INTELLIGENCE. r BATTLE.—The hop bins - are becoming innumerably - thick with insects, even to the extremity of the branches, t. es heei 1", which may be seen in the most fertil e br oo k s , as we ll as Oa Tuet.-der a court of Alt--e_ii r: transaction of public to siness. . the uplands. The di s ti nct i on g i ven b etween the brook - SMITHFIELD MARKET . and upland is, that some growers have no choice of hod- I A petition was presented from some of the princ i pa l land on their farms, they therefore plant more elevated spots, which are not so congen i a l to t h e i r growth — those , ' salesmen and butchers in Smithfield-market, complaining of the interruption of the business of he markt ton lion pieces generally are the most sickly. The diseases in plants originate in a diff erent way f rom what some days by carts, waggons, &c., and praying that an timer be issued by the court to prevent any future int. rruption farmers and horticulturists represent. Insects are not within the market hours. the cause, but the effect; the cause is atmospherical, and After some conversation upon the subject, it was una at certain temperatures a fermentative and putrefactive nimously agreed to that the thoroughfare thr , ,ugit the effluvia is disengaged, which spontaneously produces market be closed to carts, waggons, &c., from four in minute objects existing in the animal kingdom, and their the morning till twelve in the day on market days, and ravages, when combined with the bad habitude of the that due notice of such arrangement be given by adver plant, hastens its destruction. Some have asserted that the • tisements in the newspapers, as well as by a placard in disease is the potato was caused by insects, but probably, Smithfield. ere long more novel notions may be entertained. The OVERCROWDING OF STEAM- VESSELS. hops at present have a very green colour, though they The master, wardens, and other officers of the Water are so much infested, and if the succulent property of man's Company having appeared to be sworn before the the plant does not get too much exhausted by atmo- court. spheric changes, then, in: well manured and cultivated Alderman COPELAND said he hoped the gentlemen at plantations the animal kingdom wilt not have sufficient the b ar would do all in their power to prevent the steam power to predominate over the vegetable. vessels from admitting more passengers than could be Beewasm—We think the hops have slightly im- sa f e l y conveyed to and from London. He regretted to proved during the past week, particularly those in the be obliged to acknowledge that, notwithstanding th " uplands." There is less vermin among there, and not passing of the bye-laws expressly for the regulation of quite so much honey. The lateral shoot, though net steam-vessels, the appearance of no regulation at all was vigorous, is of good colour. much more apparent than ever. BECKLEY.—The hops in this parish, in some gardens. The LORD MAYOR said he had just noticed the cireum are not so good as last week ; they are more infested stance in a few observations which he had made at the 1 with fly, lice, and honey, and are turning black. In Mansion-house, rather as an appeal to the public, and other gardens they keep in a growing and thriving con- for their protection through their own co-operation, dition. than for any other purpose. lie had been given to un- BREDE.—The hops in this and the neighbouring derstand that the steam-vessels, casting aside all appre parishes are a little improved since last week, and are in hensions as to the effect of the operation of the bye-laws, a growing state, excepting the first year's poling, which admitted passengers until they stood up completely are quite at a stand. The lice are still following the wedged together. young shoots, and the niggers eating them up. There Alderman HUMPHERY said, the overcrowding was not still remains honey-dew in most of the grounds. it all to be w mdered at when the magistrates themselves BRIOHTLING.—The hops in this parish have improved were personally instrumental to that very fact. He had generally since this day week, and certainly are clearer seen some of the gentlemen who considered that the from vermin and boney.de w . Dallington parish is in an steamers were in so much danger of goir , to the bottom, improving state this week. actually forcing their way on board.—(Laughter.) So EASTHOTHLY.—The accounts of the hops in this dis- mnch for the consistency of those who inveighed against trict are various and contradictory ; while some planters alleged nuisances. He was very desirous of preventing affirm that the bine is in a most flourishing state, and danger or inconvenience in adapting rules to the public prom see fair to produce an abundant crop, without any accommodation, but the gentlemen to whom Alderman appearance of vermin, others assert that their planta- Copeland addressed himself possessed no authority- Lions are covered with vermin, with honey-dew dropping capable of being exercised as regarded steam-vessels. rota the leaves, which are curling up and turning black. They were part of a body appointed before any steam and unless an alteration takes place soon, a blight must vessels were thought of, and nothing had taken place inevitably be the consequence. Another fortnight will since the application of steam to navigation to give them .et the matter at rest which parties are correct in their env additional power. As for the bye-laws they were conjecture. ineffective altogether. GARDNER. STREET....-The hops in this neighbourhood The RECORDER said, that steam-vessels were certainly have made but little progress this last week, but are responsible in penalties for receiving more passengers on considered to be improving, though very slowly. board than they were licensed to ears- v. HORSMONDEN.—A decided improvement has taken Alderman COPELAND said, the bye-laws had been made place in many of our plantations during the week, the by the company, confirmed by the court of Aldermen, vermin being nearly all dead. The bines have assumed and sanctioned by the judges. There was nothing else a much healthier hue, and, aided by the hot days and to be done but to carry them into execution, and it was, genial nights, are in a very growing state. We have he considered the duty of the Waterman and Lighter still some grounds that are very foul, and from which men's Company to take measures for giving full effect to we are not likely (unless a change soon takes place) to . hem. He was sure that they had cost the court of Al ;et anything approaching a crop. dermen trouble enough. MAYFIELD.—The hops are in a considerably worse Alderman WILSON was surprised at the difficulty condition than last week, the vermin being more name- which was complained of. The court had tak , n the rous, and the leaves fast falling off. Without a favour- greatest pains to establish a system of regulations cal able change the crop in this locality must fall very short. culated to benefit the steam navigation of the Thames. NEWICR.—Our hops are now in a very precarious they had heard all parties on all sides of the ques- i state ; the gardens that were promising last week have lion, and had agreed to bye-laws which had received much gone off; we have much vermin and honey dew, the necessary judicial sanction. All then that was and unless a decided change take place, we can expect required was, that these bye-laws should be carried but a very slight crop. into effect. NINFrELD.—We have, with the exception of one The LORD MAYOR—The steamers can afford to pay plantation, a considerable increase in vermin, and more the penalties of overloading. honey-dew than last week. There was a heavy fog on Alderman Heatrunnv supposed, if it were in the power Saturday night, and the next day was very sultry; it is of the court of Aldermen to inflict a penalty of 403. for the opinion here that we shall not grow a very large overloading, it would be in their power to inflict 10s. for crop. the same offence. NoRTHIAM.—We are still in a growing and thriving The RECORDER said there seemed to be some misun state, but owing to the immense quantity of vermin with derstanding upon the important bye-law particularly which the greater portion of our grounds are infested, alluded to. By that bye-law a penalty of 40s. was in there remains much doubt as to the probability of a fair flitted for every passenger above the regulated number. crop. COURT OF ALDERMEN. .. f-. ~~ ~~ Alderman WilsoN thought the master and warth ns of the company were bound to employ persons to see that the bye laws were effectually carried out. The Clerk to the Waterman's Company stated to the court, that every one of the convictions for violations of the bye-laws had been appealed against successfully. All of them had been quashed. The conversation ended, after some of the Aldermen stated that the quashing of the convictions ought not to prevent further experiments upon the efficacy of the bye-laws. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR—I wish through the medium of your widely-cir culated journal to inform your numerous readers of the great demand that has recently sprung up in this colony tor gold, which commands a premium of from three to five per cent., therefore, persons emigrating to. or trans mitting funds to South Australia, should bring or send out sovereigns, there being no other channel of remitting cash to this colony that will be found near so advanta geous. Added to which, money may be placed out by way of mortgage on first-rate securities, equal in every respeet to freehold land in Middlesex, at fifteen to twenty per cent. per annum interest; and second-rate securities, such as freehold and leasehold houses, twenty to thirty-five per cent. per annum interes - ; bat on third rate, or inferior securities, money cannot be obtained ; and as no loan societies, money lenders, or pawnbrokers exist in Adelaide, the dreadful loss sustained by persons requiring temporary pecuniary assistance in times of emergency exceeds all belief ; for when money has to be raised in such cases on goods, plate, watches, guns, or any articles of value, they must be sent to the auction rooms, and sacrificed at whatever they will sell for, which is often done at the almost incredible loss of 200 to 1,000 per cent. on the prime cost, for no buyers here, will part with their cash unless they have the prospect of realising immense profits. I have known a buyer at one of these public auctions purchase nails at one farthing per pound weight, and afterwards sell them in his shop at the rate of one shilling per pound. Such are the truly disastrous consequences r!- ing to parties who are obliged to raise funds in their extremity; and I think these facts alone speak volumes of the great absence of money in this colony ; and I know of no quarter of the globe where capital can be employed more beneficially. Copper coin is also very limited, and in great request; and an importation of 4,0001. to 5,0001. sterling, con isting of pennies and halfpennies would prove a great boon to the colonists, and remunerate the importer equal to his most sanguine expectations. But silver coin is in abundance, there being a sufficiency in circulation in the colony. I have no doubt, with the combined influence of ca pital, suitable labour, and shipping, that South Australia will be eventually one of the most valuable colonies of the British Crown. The introduction of money is the first step to wards her advancement, then suitable labour, by which I mean labouring persons adapted to the wants of the colony—such as miners from Cornwall, and some agri cultural labourers from Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex. And to show the scarcity of farm servants, it need only be stated, that bullock drivers employed in driving the bullocks and drays loaded with ore from the mines to Port Adelaide, are receiving one pound sterling per week wages, and their victuals. As to good working miners from Cornwall, they may be sent in any numbers, for such are the vast mineral riches of the colony, that ❑o bounds can be set to the employment required in this department. And, although her agricultural and pastoral prospects are extremely good, they will never require such an influx of labour as is now in demand for working the numerous mines ; as, owing to the paucity of labour, several of the copper mines are only partially worked, and some not worked at all. _ _ her ➢iajesty's Land and Emigration Commis sioners can make no mistake in sending out as emigrants working miners from Cornwall to any extent, as the wants of the colony in this respect are of the most pressing description ; for the working miner of South Australia is, at this time, actually getting paid for his labour five times the amount paid to the working miner of Cornwall. And before I quit the subject of suitable labour required in South Australia, I would not omit stating the great lack of female servants in the colony ; and if two thousand to three thousand young females of the working classes, from fifteen to twenty-five years of age, were sent out here they would obtain situations imme diately, for such is the demand for cooks, nursery maids, laundry-maids, d a i r y- ma id s , an d o th e r domestics they women servants, that they c a n ge t a lmost any g ask, and many of th e set tl ers canno t o btain servants of this description on any te rm s, as the scarcity of female servants r tio v f a o n u t n s d a a t this of h present colony. time is without a parallel since the is shipping, there i ore, wool, other requirement the mineral In conjunction with caital and suiteaxblsetilnagboaurg,rtehaet of the colony, as the corn, gum, bark, and other . want of vessels to take the for a ships are not to be obtaiaed weight of their burdens, narev‘,itwh•hoel awparoyduce merchants' warehouses rehobrdeoakwinelgl heredow for freights. blacksmiths, carpenters, bricklayers, tanners, These descriptions of persons readily ob tainwrTi4hhetsj,ourney and malsters. men trades double what they a gents, engravers, Spitaltields' weavers, 7s. to 10s. per w d o a u y ld fo g r e t t he i i n r work,Engla twldh.ichßi:t nearly double they will get little or no employment, better , stop at home. aa a nn r artists, s had o s a , rdk c lerks,uct much e I am afraid, Sir, I have already extended my letter much too long for insertion in the columns of your valuable newspaper ; but I trust you will pardon me when I state the only motive I have in sending you this communication is to enlighten the British public as to the immense capabilities of this very surprising colony, and to acquaint them with the foregoing facts and in formation, in order that some of your intelligent and wealthy subscribers may turn it to their advantage. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, G. a Adelaide, South Australia, Feb. 5, 1847. FATAL ACCIDUNT AT BLACKFRIARS.—On 11Ion day evening, about half-past eight o'clock, a melancholy and fatal occurrence took place to a youth, apparently about fifteen years of age, off Albion Wharf, Black friars. It appears that he was amusing himself with several others by bathing, and while in the act of swim ming through the second arch on the Surrey side, the current carried him too far out. lie became alarmed, and before assistance could he rendered the tide drifted i him under some coal barges moored off Falcon Wharf, 1 Backside, where he disappeared. An alarm was raised, and intormatim was given to a party of the Thames Police, who were near, and having rowed to the spot they immediately threw the drags in, and used every possible means to secure the body, but unfortunately without avail. At a later period of the evening the body had net been found. 14th JULY.-ADJOURNED INQUEST. Dr. Corinack's examination was continued—l found no abdominal swelling during life. I regarded this as a favourable symptom. I have been practising medicine un my own responsibility for 12 or 13 years. I was one of the physicians of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for two years, and I was previously physician to the Edinburgh Fever Hospital. I resigned this appointment on being appointed to the Infirmary. My medical studies were in Edinburgh, and also abroad. I have had very extensive opportunities of seeing and treating fever cases. Edinburgh is much subject to fever epidemics. I wrote an account of the epidemic which prevailed in 1843. I treated deceased according to the best of my skill, as derived from my experience of fever. It is still my opinion that my first view of the case was correct—that when I first saw deceased she had been for some days labouring under fever. In addition to the symptoms which I formerly stated, I was also guided to this opi nion by the peculiar state or expression of the countenance, which though it cannot well be described, is familiar to all medical men who have had much to do with fever. The facts which I have now and formerly stated, led me to consider the case as one of fever, and to intimate that opinion to the family. I was present `be plat trivriern vamaiwiti9D, and l think MIA I then COURT CIRCULAR. Mr. Charles Buller, Juflgo Advocate General, had an audience of the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace, and submitted to her Majesty the proceedings of some courts-martial. The Queen and Prince Albert left town yesterday afternoon for Osborne, her Majesty's marine residence in the Isle of Wight. Her Majesty and his Royal High ness were in an open carriage-and-four, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Helena, occupied another carriage-and four. The Countess of Mount Edgecumbe, the lion. Miss Murray, Hon. Miss Macdonald, and Major-Gen. Bowles were in an open carriage. The Earl of Morley, Lieut.-Colon e l th e Hon. C. B. Phipps, Colonel Buckley, Lieut.-Colonel Seymour, and Mr. Meyer occupied two carriages and four. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were conducted to their carriage by the Master of the Horse, the Groom of the Stole •to Prince Albert, the Treasurer of the Household, the Vice-Chamberlain, Viscount Carden, Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, and Captain Francis Seymour. The august party left Buckingham Palace at a quarter past two o'clock for the terminus of the South-S1 estein Railway at Nine Elms, and took their departure by a special train. His Roy al Highness Prince Waldemar of Prussia honoured Lord and Lady John Russell with a visit yes terday, at hi s L or d s hi p ' s residence at Richmond. The Prince accompanied Lord John Russell !roc his resi dence in Chpsham-place. His Royal Highness was at tended by Baron de Liner, his Prussian Majesty's Chamberlain, and Counts Oriola and Groeben, Officers of the Prussian Staff. His Excellency the Prussian Minister a n d M a d ame B unsen acco mpanied the illustri ous party fro m t own, an d a se l ec t c ircle had the honour of meeting his Royal Hi g hness. Prince Waldemar and suite partook of a dejeuner and afterwards returned to town. Their Royal IEO.I - messes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended by Lady Augusta Cadogan and Mr. Edm on d Mild inav, honoure d L o rd Foley with their company at di nner , y e ster d ay even ing, at his residence in Grosvenor-s quare . A deputation from the Central Board of Scottish Dis senters, headed by the Rev. Dr. Taylor, of Glasgow, and introduced by the Right Hon. the Secretary at War, had an interview with the Lord President, at the Privy Council Office, yesterday, with reference to the recent minutes of the Committee of Council on Education. The Lord Advocate of Scotland and Mr. Gibson Craig had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an in terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Sir Thomas Freemantle, Chairman of the Customs, had also an interview with the Right ion. Baronet, at his official residence in Downing -street. --- THE NAVIGATION -LAWS. The Select Committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the operation of the navigation laws met yesterday in Committee -room No. 2. There were present Mr. Milner Gibson (Chairman), Me. Ri cardo, Hon. Mr. Liddell, Sir Howard. Douglas, Sir G Clerk, Mr. T. Baring, Alderman Thompson, Mr. Hume, Admiral Dundas, Mr. Lyall, and Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Richmond was recalled and cross-examined by Mr. Ricardo—He considered protection indispensable to the prosperity of British shipping, and he thought the reci procity treaties should be repealed, and matters placed as they were prior to the signing of those treaties. Speaking as a shipowner, he certainly should have no ob jection to see the Prussian trade stopped. Perhaps the exclusion of the French ships would be an inconvenience to the shipowners, and still more to the merchants. But he objected to this line of examination, because he thought these were questions more for the consideration of the Committee than for the witnesses. He was willing to answer any question of fact, but not of hypothesis. As an individual, he should have no objection that all the goods going from England to America should be carried in American ships, and that all goods coming from America to England should be brought in English ships, and he knew then that the b a l ance wou ld b e advantag e of En g l an d t h at t h e be carried out w i t h regar d to a l l greatly in our favour. He thou g ht, upon the who l e, that w as so at present with ocher hm a e t er it pnr w ai co n in l p d sl e; b e sf oh rof,ourli should hbe fact, regard to America and France ; Spain and Italy were fast following the example. At the same time he had no wish to see these extreme opinions carried out. By the Chairman—He did not see why the navigation laws should not apply to iron ships as well as to wood ships. It was true we could at present build iron ships cheaper than in any other country, and that might in duce fort igners to build their iron ships in this country ; but he was satisfied this would only be for a time. It it were proposed to abolish the navigation-laws, and to give the shipowners compensation in money, that might meet his views as a shipowner extremely well, but it would be very injurious to the country at large ; for it would re move ship•building out of the country altogether. The shipowners would then "sell their birthright for a mess of pottage."—( Laughter.) The protection now given by the navigation-laws was so trifling, in consequence of their mutilated state, that any compensation the ship owners might claim for an abrogation of them would be little or nothing. The room was then cleared, and strangers were ex cluded for some time. On our return, Mr. Grieve, working shipwright, was examined by Mr. Liddell—lie had been a shipwright for the last 45 years, and had a general knowledge of the praotice of ship-building in the various yards of London. He was satisfied from what he had seen that foreign shipwrights were not so good or so quick as Englishmen. He little expected ever to have been asked the question, whether English shipwrights received a day's pay for the third of a day's work? Mr. Browning must have been mad at the time when he made such an unfounded statement. If his information was no no more correct on other points than on this, it was worth little. The price - which was paid for shipwright's labour did not exceed 455. to 50s. per ton. ou ll ld y d i\ orrm. Ricardo n — f T or il e a i t g w ne o r u s l , d be two East India s hi ps, the Duke hoef Cornwall, and some small er s hi ps had not pa id t h a t. By Mr. Liddell—Asa proof that English s hi p wri g hts and the Cor oman d el, 600 tons, ha d b ee n overhauled, a ni ll, en s t O io O n tons caulked, shipped, and cop eyed, in five day s . After some other observations ill P u s trative of the activity of English shipwrights, he said he never heard of foreigt. dock yards turning out their work in such quick time. He denied Mr. Browning's statement thst the Ship wrights' Combination advertised their meetings, and he indignantly repudiated that witness's other state ment, that their combination had led to secret assassi nation ; that was the worst and most unfounded of all Mr. Browning's calumni es . He had been connected with th e assoc i ation for tit. e last forty-five years, and had never heard of so much as a common assault arising out of it. He denied also that the shipwrights were un grateful towards their em lo eras When M r. Brown ing said the men h ad been Pune•Yrateful to Mr. Green, the extensive shipowner, the witness (Mr. Grieve) went to that gentleman, for whom he had been working the greater portion of his time, and asked Mr. Green if a th m a y t th w ing was correct. himb I r . . Green tomed round, and stared at him, and ask e d w h o i s Mr. Brown ing? I don't know business, not m i ne. Mr. Henry Gr een. w h o also said h e k n ewnothing about Mr. Browning. For the l as t twenty two yea rs there had been no act on t h e part of t h e s hipwrights to coerce ,Thhee witness es bsehttaeir also mind wa h i i t s ed ow o i n i or intimidate their employers. Their unions partook very much of the nature of benefit societies. He should say, for the last twenty- five years, that the average rate of wages had been about 355, per week ; of late they had been less, and s i n 2 e Christmas he had not himself averaged 21s. per week, and he was sure he had worked as much as half the shipwrights of London. By Mr. Ricardo —H e thought the foreigners could not do as much work as Englishmen. He was not afraid of giving a foreigner one side of a ship and taking the other half himself; but he should be very sorry to see it, for he thought there was enough of shipwrights already. The question had never come before the union whether they would allow foreigners to work here or not. By Mr. Mitchell—The Sliipvvrights Union had at present from 5,0001. to 6,000/. in hand. There had been no material alteration in the rate of wages for the last twenty years. Provisions had not much fallen off, as he would show by a table of his present expenditure. Mr. Mitchell—Are you aware that provisions are higher now than at any time during the last ten years? running into d e bt. Mr. Griev e —l a m going to o nshootwdep that nwoenhtahvoe price been Mr. Ricardo—Then wages do of provisions. Mr. Grieve—We have found that they do not. Mr. Mitchell—And do you sa y that the question was never mooted among you what you would do if the masters reduced your wages? _ Mr. Grieve—We never stirred the question, because wee k, which, allowi 2n n 7o g st. for the cost of living w e never heard t teT i n tention htheawn o a t rt i gh_ t ee h s e raa p tt part Sunderland rt o o f f w t h a e g e m s a hw s t ee e rr r ee s . to reduce the wages. 14s. 6d, a dw p e r or i ri c al e ct 1 rd o ef than g la u b l a o r u il 3,n r , e i b n L e rr o S tt ri th e l d r ne on wages could in Sunderland was be . the rate of living in A Sunderland shipwright paid a d 1 . a year for his house— witness paid 131. A Sunderland shipwright got a ton of coals for is. 6d.—witne ss d p y a o l u London. ontwoao not be ddb eoonn nominallybu reducedt h e eh in wastip cecrso, therefore , artdisafinecde ‘tvhi t h By Mr. Ricanlo— at a low rate of wages'', gad irregularly at a high rate? Mr. Grieve —Certainly not. He knew it was the opinion of some political economists that they ought not deputed by the only to be permitted to live — to the credit of his em ployers he must say, they did not take that view of the case. requested by twenty or thirty of his friends among the shipwrights to attend here and give evidence, in order to rebut the calumnies m w i t: i e c e h then ys,e adjourned understa n understand towill b e Thursdaythe lastnext d a a ) t , Union. lie was not an officebearer of the Union, but he was a member. of .11y 1r. M S r a . m il u ic e a l r l3 l° :ni e n of the Committee's meeting. We understand also, that while strangers were excluded, it was agreed, after on r e rh o e 'cl e ock n , some discussion, to give no opinion of their own upon the subject of the navigation laws, b ut content them selves with reporting the evidence to the House. tphreemEinugtinisohn Mint a p t ri P ce ar o is t 3i3I.AIII4ON7sP.Eer mill', which, at Y lOO per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange or 25.50 ; and the exchange at Paris on Lon don at short being 25 40, it follows that gold is 0.39 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Harnburgh the price of gold is 431: per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3 17s. 100. per ounce for standard told, gives an exchange of 13.8 k; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.9, it follows that gold is 0,35 per cent, dearer in London than in Iltunburgh. memo I.lVf PE R TAT, PAI3 Ll A MEN T. VSE ( . 11'3' CU The SPEAKER tooir (11t 7 S ! 14. ", s . ~..5 . s't,ortly aftAx T wet. E-tate Bill was read a 86.cotri time, nil orderedto be Corr ILI The Report oo Hook's ; Leeds : Free Grammar School Estate was brought op, and afire, d to. The Report on the Exeter, Yeovil, and Do , le - ter Railway and Branches was further considered, ant/ agreed to. l'he London and S gith-Western Railway Bill wile read a third tune and passed. The Lords' Amendments to the following Bills were agreed to :—Great Northern Rsriway (Branch to King's Lynn)—Manchester and Southport Railway and Brancbes—Rathmines Improvement—Steekport Mano• real Tolls and Bridges—Tyne Decks. The Earl or Devon's Estate Bill was road a second time, ar:d ordered to be committed on Friday. Passingham's Estate Bill was also read a soaond time, and ordered to be c ,, mmitted on Friday. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE pres, nt. d a petition from Mr. Robot Own, praying tor tne adoption of some course for the pertnank nt employment of the people of Ireland. Mr. FERRAND presented a petition from Dublin, signed by two archl , aeons, eighteen clergymen, a num her of Protestant peers, and between 2.000 and 3,00') persons, praying that in the Fes( nt oistressed state of Ireland no further gra- is to Maynooth, or assistance to the Roman Catholic religion, shall be given by the Governm-nt. A message from the Lords brought up several Bins which their Lordships had agreed to. NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. R. YORKE wished to know whether the Noble Lord the ..7hief Commissioner of Woods and Forests could distinctly and positively state, without doubt or ambiguity, when the new House of Commons would be ready for the reception of the Members of the House? Lord MORPb.:TfI said that he could not distinctly and positively state, without doubt or ambiguity— (Laughter)—when the new House of Commons would be ready for the receptit nof Members. He was not much in hope that it would be ready for the reception of Members in the next session, but he was in hopes that it would not be delayed much beyond that period. Mr. R. YORKE said that, under these circumstances, he would, on an early day, bring the subject under the consideration of the House. POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. FERRAND wished to know from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, supposing the Poor-law Amendment Bill should come down from the other House with the clause struck out allowing aged couples to be together in union workhouses, h• would propose to reinsert that clause? Sir G. GREY could not answer the question, but assured the Hon. Mpmber that notice should be given to him when the amendments of the Lords would be take* into consideration. Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice of his intention. in another session, on the bringing forward of the Ord nance Estimates, to call the attention of the House to the claims of the family of the late General Shrapnel. COLLIERIES BILL. Mr. T DUNCOMBE moved the second reading of this Bill. He was ready to make y alterations in the measure that the House might think right. Sir G. Gi;EY thought it would be most objecticnable while the subject was under the consideration of the Government, to pass the present Bill. He would there• fore move that the Bill be read a second time that day three months. Mr. WILSON PATTEN trusted that the Hou. Member for Finsbury would not persevere with this Bill in the present session. He should be prepared in another Parliament to support a similar measure if it was brought forward by her Majesty's Government. Mr. HUTT objected to the second reading of the Bill. Mr. WAKLEY thought if the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department would allow the Bill to be read a second time it was probable his Hon. Colleague would make such alterations in the Bill as would be satisfactory to all parties. In voting against the second reading of the Bill Members were declaring that it was not necessary to legislate upon the subject. Mr. LIDDELL did not consider the present Bill necessary, and he should therefore op, ose it. While he did so he begged to sta , e, on the part of the coal owners, that they were as anxious as any persons could be to do all in their power to preserve the lives of their colliers. The Bill, if passed, would be quite inoperative. inasmuch as the clauses were too stringent to be carried into effect. Mr. BERNAL said that although he gave every credit to the good motives which had actuated the Hon. Mem ber for Finsbury, still he could not give his consent to the Bill as it stood, for some of the clauses were altoge- Cher inoperative, and were partly admitted to be so by the Hos. Member himself. However much, therefore, he admired the principle of the Bill, he would recom mend his Hon. Friend to postpone it to another session. Mr. HINDLEY was not prepared to go to the extra ordinary length which the Hon. Member for Finsbury would recommend to the House. He had no objection to any measure which would give protection to human life, but he could not consent to a measure that would be inflicting an injustice upon the coalowners, who were most anxious that the Davy-lamps should be used in the mines, but whose wishes were thwarted by the careless ness of the men themselves. Mr. F ERRAND said that it had been attempted to be denied that gross negligence v, as exhibited in the work ing of collieries, and that many and frightful acci dents had arisen in consequence. It was admitted by the Right Honourable Baronet opposite that the right of inspecting mines should be placed in the hands of the Government, but he said that it was too late in the session to adopt a Bill for the purpose. Were they, because it was late in the session, to permit these accidents still to continue. Let them be assured that if they did so, the people would in the course of the recess, exhibit by some illegal demonstra tion of strength, their sense of the neglect of the Legis ture. He should support his Hon. Friend if he went to a division. gpirvee,n,,nbi-iotnheo accidents Mr. REDHEAD YORKE said that after the distinct furpledge te t lion. in Baron etmines that a nd a m e asu r collieriese should be brought in in the earl y part of next session, he (sir. R. Yorke) was not pr.-pared to give his assent to the Bill of the lion. M em b er for Finsbury. Mr. NEW DEG ATE said it wo u ld be impossible to carry into effect the Bill of the Hon. Member for Fins bury. He would, therefere, rather wait for the measure of the Government, knowing well that in the meantime the Riaht Hon. Bar.(net was possessed of powers, which, it put in practice, would (by a vigilant supervision in the coal districts), go far to prevent the recurrence of future accidents. Mr. FOX MAULE said that little difference of opinion seemed to prevail in the House with respect to the objec:s sought to be attained by the Bill of the Hon. Member for Finsbury, but however praiseworthy the in tention of the Hon. Member, he thought that a Bill of any extensive character, which was intended to affect a great mass of interests, should emanate from the Go vernment. He could not pass over without remark the practice of the Hon. Member for Knaresborough of holding up that House to the masses of the people as being opposed to their interests.—(Hear, hear.) Such a practice he thought far from fair—(lear. hear) — especially when it was considered that in the face of great opposition, the Government had passed the Ten Hours Bill, a measure in which the great body of the people were decidedly interested. Mr. FERRAND—After thirty years' delay it was effected by the pressure from without.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. FOX NIAULE—He would, under all the circum stances, recommend the Hou. Member to withdraw his Bill. Mr. FORSTER said that this Bill was one of the most absurd that had ever been laid upon the table of that House, and he was astonished to find on the back of the Bill, among other names, those of the Hon. Mem ber for Montrose (Mr. llume), and of the Hon. Mem ber for Cockermouth (Mr. Aglionby ). He objected to this mode of giving names, when the probabilitlyus Bill. The Bill was not the Hon. Member l rs, Fi Attorney. none of the Hon. Members had read one fo c r a_ w _ n e a b o s u f ry th .s e . but the Bill of Mr. Roberts, the colliers' up a strike General—(Laughter)—he who had i 0 0001. He would give the allayed after an expendi tureo"iion. Bill his most strenuous oppositi on. all interference between ia th e t o North, which public eiochf above Mr. TRELAWNY opposedemployed, because such invariably the employers and withwages. He could not, a o s ve o 2 nly therefore, led to interferenceot the Bill. give his support to h .131 Mr. BOUVERIE said that however mach he depre cated i some of th e clauses in the Bill, s till h e should feel hi ms elf bound to support the principles of it, and the Hon. Member for Finsbury might therefore count upon his assistance if he went to a division. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that the Bill he had intro duced was intended to protect in some degree the lives of nearly half a million of the most industrious classes in this country, and he thought it might have been, to say the least of it, treated with a little more decency. The Bill had been abused in no measured terms by the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Forster), who had gone out of his way to abuse Mr. Roberts, a gentleman quite as respectable as himself, and by the Hon. Member for Ashton -under-Line, who was asleep at that moment. — (Laughter.) The Hon. Member referred to the report of the Committee formerly appointed to inquire into accidents in mines and collieries ; and quoted trom thew to show, that no time ought to be lost in introducing 11 Bill of this kind. He only asked the House to pa thisss Bill for one year, in the hope that by that time a moretroduced. comprehensive and lasting measure would b © He knew, and was well assurel, that too many of the coal masters did not care a straw for pockets. r t he lives of their workmen, if they filled their own ac breeches cidents were caused t 3 persons employed in Lord HARRY VANE said, , if the wilful neglect of their em pl o yers, they might mines by recover compensation i u t h © He was told that in th e nort h present state of the law. o f England contr ac ts for twelve months were no t e ntered into. Certainly since the late strike the system of entering into such lengthy contracts bad been abolished. As the Government had promised to take the whole subject into considera tion, and to bring in a Bill on the subject next session, he trusted the House would not assent to the second reading of the Bill. Mr. HINDLEY rose to make some observations, but he was called to order. Mr. B. ESCOTT said from 500 to 600 lives were an nually lost in collieries and mines, which showed that an improved system of supervision was necessary.—(Hear.) lie considered, however, that the Hon. Gentleman should strike out the objectionable parts of the Bill, and retain those provisions which the House approved of ; if be did se the Bill might pais into a law this session. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading Against it Majority against the second reading " -53 The Bill is ceinequently lost. 0 ~. ~,J4 r .