The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-19 00:00:00

dressed the House, that the subject was one of very great importance, and they would be satisfied to know, from two papers which he had just laid upon the table, that the subject had not escaped the attention of her Ma jesty's Government. They would find in them that the views which had been so ably put forward by the Noble Lord were concurred in by the Government, and that they intended to bring forward a measure bearing especially upon juvenile offenders. Accordingly a Bill would be brought in for the purpose of effecting a reform in the criminal law, which all seemed to admit was so much wanted. The great difficulty which attended the present system, and which prevented them from attaining such results as in France was, that the boys, if sent out of prison, must necessarily be par doned. Lord BROUGHAM observed that they were sent back to prison if they misconducted themselves. Earl GREY—Exactly so. If they misconducted themselves in France they were sent back to prison, but in this country there was no power of that kind—they had no ether resource but to turn them out. That was a great difficulty, which at present existed, and to remedy which the Bill pro posed was intended. Further, their L)rdships would ob • serve, from the minutes of council on the subject of education, it was proposed to establish a penal school in London, to which were to be sent, not only juvenile offenders, but vagrants also. The whole subject also of transportation had been under consideration, and in deed, he might say, that the measure proposed had extended as far almost as the abolition of that punish ment. The Bill of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary, which was laid on the table, would fully explain the system, and the details which it gave of those transports who had been sent to Norfolk Island, were such as would make their Lordships shudder. He thought it right to make these observations in conse quence of what had fallen from the Noble and Learned Lord with respect to the reformation of the criminal law. The subject should continue to have the most serious attention of the Government. Lord BROUGHAM explained, that by the Ist and 2d of Victoria, the institutions alluded to by the Noble Earl were constituted in the way mentioned by him. Captain Maconochie who deserved much praise for his exertions, proposed that the nature of the punishment should not be by time, but by the conduct of the pri soner, that he should receive marks for good conduct, and that, after obtaining a certain number, ho should be set at liberty. Mr. Hill's plan was not so efficient, but jet it was a very good one. Att er t h e conv i c ti on of a uvenile offender (Mr. Hill is the Recorder of Nor wich) lie sent for the parents, guardians, or master of the boy, :and after having obtained a pledge that they would watch over his future conduct, he set him free, after the imposition of a fine, or merely an admonition. He had adopted this plan for four or five years, with wonderful effect, as they had seldom been brought before him again, as appeared to have been the case at Liverpool. Of course he (Mr. Hill) could not tell whether or not they had gone elsewhere and committed like offences. The subject then dropped. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Earl GREY laid a dispatch on the table from the Governme n t o f Nova Scotia. stating that the Assembly had voted 1,000/. for th e r e li e f o f the destitute poor in Ireland and in the Highlands of Scotland. He (Earl Grey) was sure their Lordships would rejoice at this proof of the interest manifested by that Assembly in the welfare of their fellow-subjects at home.—(Hear, hear.) KAFIR WAR. The NOBLE EARL also laid papers on the table on this tsubject. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. There being only twenty-seven Members present at four o'clock, the House was adjourned. THE ~N O HOUSE" LAST NIGHT. The following Members were present when the House was Counted out (27) : Mr. Thornely Sir A. Hay Sir C. Napier Sir R. Inglis Mr. Greene Major Macnamara Dr. Bowring Captain Layard Mr. R. Currie Mr. Brotherton Mr. M. Forster Mr. Barnard Mr. Munt z Mr. C. O'Brien Mr. Stansfield Mr. B. Escott ➢lr. Plumptre Mr. Grimsditch Mr. Spooner Mr. S. Crawford Mr. W. Patten Captain Lindsay Mr. Finch Mr. M. Milnes Mr. R. Trevor Lord Sandon Sir John Hope. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Vites and Proceedinos of the House of Commons.) NOTICES GIVEN AT THE 'PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. THU RSDAY, FEB. 18. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a second time : MONDAY, FEB. 22. Lynn and Ely (Lynn and \Vormegay Navigation). Lynn and Ely (Deviation and Lynn Docks). Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Amendment and Deviation. Portadown and Dungannon. Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster Junction (Maabrough to Doncaster). WIDNESDAT, FEB. 24. Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Amal- gamation. Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Branch to Wisbech Harbour and Wisbech Harbour Improvement). Eastern Counties (Hertford to Hitchin). Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Wisbech to Satton Bridge, icc ); TitURSDAY, FED. 25. St. Helen's Canal and Railway (Warrington and Blackbrook Branches, &c.) Great Northern (Branches to Sleaford). Great Northern (Extension to Leeds and Wakefield, Deviation of Methley Branch of Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway). Great Northern (Purchase of Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junction, &c.) nOTEST AGAINST THE « BILL FOR THE TEMPORARY RELIEF OF DESTI TUTE PERSONS IN IRELAND." 1. Because this Bill is bawd on the principle, that it is the duty of a Government to provide food for the people, and I consider this principle false in theory, and as leading to injustice and disastrous consequences if attempted in practice. It is false in theory, as being, in the natural state of things, utterly impracticable; the Government having no store of food wherewith to supply the people, or funds for providing the same. In practice, it leads to injustice and disastrous consequences, because such funds can be obtained only by taxation; and if the taxes are levied (as they ought and profess to be) equally on all, the whole will be taxed, and supply the wants of a part: the consequence of which must be, that some persons on the verge of destitution will be thus reduced to the same state as those whom they are taxed to relieve, and that those who by prudence and industry have raised them selves out of the reach of want will be taxed for the relief of the improvident and idle. 2. Because it is dangerous for a Government to take any step which is calculated to instil into the minds of the people the belief, that they need not rely on their own exertions for their well-being, and a hope that if they omit to take proper care of themselves, it will relieve their necessities and gratuitously support them. 3. Because the Irish people are of a temperament pe culiarly likely to be misled. 4. Because experience, both in Ireland and in Eng land under the old administration of the poor-laws, proves that the attempt io provide gratuitously for the needy is in its result dangerous to property and to the independence and well-being of the people, and injurious to none more than to those very persons whose benefit is thereby sought; by superseding the necessity, and thus repressing the energy of their own exertions to keep themselves ; by diverting them from those resources 'which the pressure of want would disclose; and, above all, by teaching them to rely on external aid, which, as it cannot be efficient in extent, or permanent in duration, will finally leave them disappointed and discontented, and more destitute and helpless than before. 5. Because I fear that if this measure be adopted it will necessarily lead to other measures of a similar na ture, and that though some present relief may be given to existing misery and destitution, it will load hereafter to an alarming increase of the evils thus temporarily mitigated; and that, therefore, though feelings of the most praiseworthy and benevolent character prompt its adoption, prudence, reason, and true wisdom would re ject it. 6. Because charity is a proper motive fur the private conduct of individuals, but justice the paramount duty of a Government; and because charity to some on the part of the latter work out present injustice to others, and ultimately evil to all. RADNOR. PARSNIP SEED. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR—Will you allow me to suggest to the holders of kitchen-gardens, or field-gardens, the advantage of sowing this year an increased quantity of parsnip seed. Tho plant is hardy, the root highly nutritious, and the culture inexpen sive, while as a crop the produce is greater than that from an equal breadth of potato ground. It would be well, also. to plant more than the usual number of roots for augmenting the supply of seed for the next year. As an edible, I feel sure the root will ere long be much more highly appreciated than it now is.—l am, Sir, yours, Lee., S. London, Feb. 16, 1847. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. FOSTER V. IRELAND. Sir,—ln this case the plaintiff brought his action to recover the sum of 101/. 10s., for his services as an architect and surveyor, in and about his superintending the building of some houses at Walworth for the de fendant; to which the defendant pleaded a sett off to the amount of 68L 2s. 6d. for goods sold and delivered, and a tender of 15/. before the actio❑ was commenced, and alas pail that 13/. into Court. The jury gave a verdict for the defendant, and not as was stated, for the plaintiff. Yours, very obediently, EDWARD GOVETT, Defendant's Attorney. 7, Red Lion-square, Feb. 18, 1847. CITY OF WESTMINSTER LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND MECHANICS' brs - rirrrtosr.—A dramatic reading of Othello was given at this Institution last night, by Mr. J. Russell, the comedian. To delineate the fine, open, manly character of Othello, the very soul of honour, insidiously un dermined by a cunning fiend in human form, and by contrast to display the knave lag() in such guise that he shall be esteemed a bluff, hearty, jovial campaigner, and still render his villany consistent, is a task requiring no ordinary his trionic skill. Mr. Russell, however, secured mid held the attention of his audience to the mournful close of the tragedy, and his efforts to gratify them were warmly applauded. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a General Meeting yesterday, et their office, in Whitehall place. The Marquis Ina 1T arrived at Farranee's Hotel, Upper litlgrave-street, from their Bea t, Ki nmount Annan, Isl. B. )0 per' b cow' THE SUN M. SOYER'S SOUP FOR THE POOR. 7'o THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In returning my most sincere thanks for the benevolent intentions which prompt you to publish so speedily my letter of the 10th inst.. relating to my new kitchen and soup for the poor, in your valuable journal, I beg your insertion of the two following receipts, which, if closely followed, would confer an immediate benefit, not only on the poor, and various charitable in stitutions, but also to the labouring population of the United Kingdom. I much regret the delay that has taken place since the publication of my former letter, which has unavoidably occurred, the time being con sumed in experiments which I have made with various kinds of farinaceous ingredients, produced and imported into this country; and likewise with some of the im mense varieties of vegetables, cultivated with so much success in this favoured soil; but which, generally speak ing, are not sufficiently appreciated, or used to the greatest advantage by the industrions classes. My intention is, with your kind permission, not only to publish the receipt for one kind of soup, but for five or six ; the whole, however, being made upon the same principle as the first, to save any confusion in the mak ing, hoping they may prove advantageous, by giving a change in food which acts as generously on the digestive of gaps as a change of air does on the convalescent, and likewise to prevent the rise in price of any particular articles; for, should the soup be approved of, and be come a chief article of consumption for a certain time, such a receipt would be quite useless in some parts of the country, where the ingredients could not be obtained. My sincere devotion to this important cause being, to take every possible advantage of every kind of nutritious substances, animal and vegetable, and fish, and to con vert them, by study and judgment, into a wholesome and cheap aliment for the million. Several hundreds of letters I have already received upon the subject have induced me to give immediate pub licity to the two following receipts, which I consider quite correct. Having thus stated my impressions upon this all-important subject, I now give you the result of my first economical study to produce a cheap and whole some soup : _ THE RECEIPT FOR Sour No. 1. I first put one ounce of dripping into a saucepan (ca pable of holding two gallons of water), with a quarter of a pound of leg of beef without bones, cut into square pieces about half an inch, and two middling sized onions, peeled and sliced. 1 then set the saucepan over a coal fire, and stirred the contents round for a few minutes with a wooden (or iron) spoon until fried lightly brown. I had then ready washed the peeling of two turnips, fif teen green leaves or tops of celery, and the green part of two leeks (the whole of which, I must observe are always thrown away). Having cut the above vegetables into small nieces, I threw them into the saucepan with the other ingredients, stirring them occasionally over the fire for another ten minutes ; then added half a pound of common flour (any farinaceous substance would do), and half a pound of pearl barley, mixing all well together. I then added two gallons of water, seasoned with three ounces of salt, and a quarter of an ounce of brown sugar, stirred occasionally until boiling, and allowed it to simmer very gently for three hours, at the end of which time I found the barley perfectly tender. The above soup has been tasted by numerous noblemen, Members of Parliament, and several la3ies, who have lately visited my kitchen department, and who have considered it very good and nourishing. The cost, at full price, was as follows : Quarter of a pound of leg of beef, at 4d. per lb ld Two ounces of dripping fat, at 4d. per lb Oi Two onions and other vegetables 1 Half a pound of flour, seconds, at lid. per lb Oi Half a pound of pearl barley, at 3d. per lb Three ounces of salt and half an ounce of brown sugar... 0% Fuel Two gallons of water This soup will keep several days, when made as above described. The above expenses mako it come to three farthings per quart in Loudon ; but us almost everything can be had at much less cost in the country, the price of this soup will be still more reduced. In that case a little ad ditional meat might be used, and by giving away a small portion of bread or biscuit, better support would be given to the poor at a trifling cost, and no one it is to be hoped, hereafter would hear of the dreadful calamity of starvation. THE RECEIPT FOR THE Sour No. 2. This can be made cheaper and in less time. Proceed as Receipt No. 1 explains (as regards the fat, meat, onions, and the other vegetables), but add one quart of water upon the whole, which you let boil twenty minutes, stirring now and then to prevent burning ; or else, if convenient, set it by the side of the fire, and add one pound of maize, mix well together, and fill the stew-pan with six quarts of water ; season as above ; let it simmer one hour, skim lightly , and it is then ready for use. If a large quantity is to be made, say 100 gallons, any kind of vessel now in use, such as copper or cast iron, will do, have ready a spatula, or a piece of board the shape of a cricket-bat, about six inches wide, tapering towards the top as a handle (which must be from one foot and a half to two feet above the surface of the ves sel), to stir with; the fire being well lighted, take twelve pounds of solid meat, or eighteen pounds with the bones (legs or clods of beef, with a portion of cow heels, is excellent for the purpose, but any kind of edible meat from beef to doe venison will do), cut it in pieces about . one inch square, put three po un d s and a half of fat; in case there should be difficulties to procure the fat, put in one gallon of water instead; then you have ready twelve pounds of onions, lightly peeled and cut in slices, and 241bs. of vegetables of any kind, mixed (such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, leeks, celery, cabbages, savoys, sorel, spinach, mangold wurzel, swedes, and Jerusalem artichoke, all cut in a slanting direction, which facilitates greatly the cooking), with the meat into the copper left stewing about one hour, stirring -the whole contents until the moisture is nearly gone, which will depend entirely on the fire; then add enough water to cover the whole, which you let boil ten minutes; then add 251bs. of flour, and mix it well together; then add thirty pounds of either barley or rice, season with nine pounds of salt and three pounds of brown sugar; after wards fill the copper with water, and boil the whole con tents for two hours or more, until the barley or rice is quite tender, the soup is then ready for use. In case either the barley or rice did not produce the thickness required (as those ingredients may differ in quality), then add, if too thin, a few pounds of flour or oatmeal, previously mixed with cold water, to make it in a liquid paste, and pour it in when boiling, about twenty minutes before serving it out. But the proper thickness is easily ascertained when the soup hangs lightly on the back of the spatula or ladle. One . hundred gallons of this soup will cost under 11. Respecting my plan of kitchens for the poor, I am happy to inform you, Mr. Editor, that my subscription, which is only of a few days' date, has met with the greatest encouragement by benevolent contributors, the list of which will shortly be published. I have been able al ready to begin one of those kitchens on a small scale, where from forty to fifty gallons of soup can be easily made, and quickly distributed to 200 or 300 poor, in an ordinary sized London house. As soon as it is in practice, this simple plan will be marle public through the press; therefore, any private application becomes unnecessary, as it would prevent my carrying the plan into effect. A correct drawing of my large plan for making and supplying 20,000 persons, in four hours, is also in a very forward state. With high consideration, I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obliged and humble servant, A. SOY ER. Reform Club, Feb. 17, 1847. REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. (From the Mizrh-lane Rzpress.) . . . In our comments on the position of the wheat trade last week we expressed a doubt whether the depression which then prevailed would be of long continuance; but, though we were prepared to expect a rally, we scarcely thought it would come so soon as it has. The animated tone which business has again assumed has, no doubt, been partly occasioned by the extreme severity of the weather experienced during the last eight days; this, however, cannot be regarded as the primary cause. The periodical intervals of dulness and animation which have succeeded to each other at different times during the past four or five months have almost in every in stance been the result of a temporary lull and a subse quent revival of the Irish demand; and to the latter the sudden rise which prices have again undergone must be traced. As has been the case on all former occasions this season, the first impetus to the upward movement had its origin at Liverpool. Several Irish buyers visited that port on Monday, and purchases of American flour were then made privately at 40s. per barrel. On the following day the market was numerously attended, and large sales of the last-named article were effected at 41s. 6d. to 425. per barrel, whilst inferior sorts of wheat were taken for the same destination at prices 4d. to 6d. per 701 b., or 2s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. per quarter above those current on that day se'nnight. Indian corn, which had previously been neglected, was likewise in much re quest, ek wa th s e pa id excite- for cargoesan e d los fr e om at 6 h E a s n . d. to the week established on all articles ; wheat was then quoted 3d. Later n s . p i e n r ment increased, and on Friday a further advance was to 4d. per 701 b., flour Is. 6d. rr barrel, and Indian 1 day. Th e con ti nue d d ra i n on our stocks to supp y the corn Is. per 4801 b. higher than on the preceding market wants of the sister isle, and the unusually large con sumption of breadatuffs in all parts of the United King dom, have already caused wheat to become somewhat scarce, and though we differ from some authorities, on whose judgment we generally place great reliance, we cannot come to any other conclusion than that the stocks of wheat a t present in the country are smaller t h an in ordinary years at the corresponding period. With this conviction, and with the prospect of having to ship largely to Ireland for several months to come, whilst no effective supplies from abroad can be looked for till April, we can discover nothing in the position of affairs to lead us to anticipate low, or even moderately low, prices ; on the contrary, a further rise appears to us far more probable. In giving this opinion, we wish our remarks to be understood as applying only to the next two months ; a f ter t h at period new elements will come into play, of which no thi ng can at pre sent be known. The supplies of barley, which a few weeks ago were liberal at the markets in those counties where this grain is most extensively grown, have all e once fallen off materially, and we think it will not be long before the discovery will he made that the crop of this gr in has turned out quite a.; ih.ficient as repre sented at harvest .time. The mahsterm, as a body, are certainly far from well. stocked ; and having duriug Ithe week come forward more freely us buyers, the supplies have proved inadequate to the demand, and prices have advanced about 2s. per quarter all over the kingdom. Oats, on the °dier hand, have not as yet re portion of the recent decline, whi c h may e l j o e 7:•! r ctli:nL, ,,,,lcd ft , by tl.c t-cuii..aly obsessed iu their consumption. The comparatively low price of hay has caused that article to be used more extensively than usual ; other substitutes have also been largely em ployed. But notwithstanding all these shifts, oats are m ev a id n e d n e t o lb m t a in nd o w l h p e r n ob t a h b e il s i e v ed ri d s e e: b m e e c n o e m e i s ng the v i e r ry val s u ca e r w ce ill By our advices from Scotland we learn that the wea ther had not been so severe there as with us. W h eat and barley advanced on Wednes da y , both at Edinbur g h and Glasgow, leir, oats were not dearer at either place. From Ireland the accounts are of precisely the same character as before. Thu want and m iser y prevailing are described as fearful ; and though a deficiency in the means for conveying supplies into the interior had caused an accumulation of stock at the . sea-port towns, with the re-opening of the inland navigation, which ., had been partially closed by ice , t he stores at Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, would , it was ex p ected, be s p eedil y emptied. The extreme severity of the frost experienced on this side of the Channel has also closed many of our wa t erc ourses, and prevented supplies of grain from the interior being sent down to the ports on the coast. It is, therefore, probable that t he arrivals will, for a time at least, be short. During the week now about to terminate, the receipts of wheat coastwise into London have amounted to only 872 quarters, and the quantity brought forward at Mark lane by land carriage samples from the home counties has been equally small. On Wednesday the show on the Essex and Kent stands was quite trifling ; there was scarcely anything fresh up, and the few parcels left over from previous supplies were easily placed at rates 9. to 2s. per quarter above those current in the eons mencement of the week. On Friday the millers mani fested an increased desire to add to their stocks ; and factors having very little to offer, demanded, and suc ceeded in obtaining, a further advance of Is. per quarter. Foreign wheat, which has for some time been compara tively neglected, has again excited attention this week. On Wednesday several parcels changed hands, on terms at least Is. per quarter above those previously obtainable and since then holders have further raised their preten sions; good red Baltic, as well as the inferior sorts, such as Odessa, Danube, &e., being held about 2s. per quarter higher at the close than the commencement of the week. This rise has been mainly caused by a renewed demand for meal to ship to Ireland; and, had not the scarcity of vessels, and the high rate of freights, tended to throw difficulties in the way of business, the transactions would probably have been extensive. Town-manufactured flour has been taken rather slowly, the bakers still continuing to act on the reserve; the millers have, however, remained firm, and the bar gains closed have been at full terms. Ship flour being worth more in the northern markets than here, the supply into London has been small, and prices have rather tended upwards. For American the demand has undergone a decided improvement, and rather large pur chases have been made at a rise of Is. to 2s. per barrel on the lowest rates of last week. Barley of home growth has come very sparingly to hand, nor have the receipts from foreign countries been of any importance. The maltsters, who have for some weeks held off; have been compelled by their pressing wants to purchase somewhat more freely of late; and, though business has not been brisk, sellers have expe rienced no difficulty in realising an enhancement of ls. to 2s. per quarter on the best, and ls. on secondary qualities. The panic produced in the barley trade by the admission of sugar into breweries and distilleries seems to have passed over; and, unless much larger sup plies reach us shortly, there is some chance of this grain rising again to pretty nearly the same from which it receded a fortnight or three weeks ago. The operations in malt have been of a retail character; the stocks of the article being, however, very short, and the supplies having been small, higher rates have been insisted on and obtained. The total quantity of oats which has entered the port of London during the week ending Saturday evening has amounted to only 11,144 quarters; whereof 3,103 quar ters are from our own coast, 101 quarters from Scotland, 7,039 quarters from Ireland , and 904 q uarters from abroad. The usual consumption of th e metro p o l is and its suburbs at this period of the year, when Parliament is sitting, and London is consequently full, is estimated at from 20,000 to 25,000 quarters per week; whereas the receipts from the beginning of the year, being rather over seven weeks, have amounted to only 45,254 quarters. It follows, therefore, that all parties are at the present moment verb bare of stocks ; and though there can be no doubt that the high value of the article has led to great economy in the consumption, still we believe that prices must undergo a further enhancement. On Wednesday business was very dull at Mark-lane, the factors generally asking somewhat enhanced terms, which buyers refused to pay ; since then the inquiry has not improved, and it has been impossible to realise over Monday's currency even for fine corn. The recent fall in the value of beans has not led to any increase in the inquiry, and sales have proceeded slowly at the reduced terms current in the commence ment of the week. Maple and hog peas have likewise moved off rather tardily at preview prices, but a rise of Is. to 2s. has taken place in quotations of white boilers since Monday. Floating cargoes of Indian corn, particularly those close at hand, have been eagerly bought on Irish account, and nearly as high prices have been realised as at the period when the greatest extent of excitement prevailed. By the packet-ship Queen of the West we have New York advices of the 23d of January, and accounts from other parts of the United States of corresponding dates. The weather had been, and was then still severe, and the inland navigation was still closed by ice. The exports of flour had not been so large in January as the preceding month, owing partly to the high rate of freight to Europe; still upwards of 86,000 barrels of flour, 103,000 bushels of wheat, 242,000 bushels of Indian corn, 24,000 bushels of rye, 39,000 bushels of barley, and 16,000 bushels of oats, had been shipped from New York between the Ist and 19th of January. Freight to London was then 17d. to 18d. per bushel for wheat, and 4s. 6d. to ss. per barrel for flour. The price of flour had rather tended upwards during the preceding week, and good brands of Geenessee were then held at 5 dolls. 62ic. to 5 dolls. 69c. per barrel. The arrival of the Hibernia was anxiously looked for, and in the absence of news from Europe neither sellers nor buyers h a d man if es t e d much disposition to enter into extensive operations. The return of severe weather thr ea t ens aga i n to in terrupt business6D cdopt continental ohnooalrn6yt nesi.:ston.changed daht theaehd therea psbn p rde .ddi o ecus nern t a , si s sptn t ; h b dgt u , Ahh t tnghdwoe subsequentlyoeadedkvdi e; c a e s l a bo f o r f o u the regular communication with th e nort h ern 5 l n t a has s g at ss r beeeha a c h dn prices other ; fo r sorts the fine thr a h a dd i ge brought rh o m a ud i bh e et c 1 c pro portionate os somewhat dull, owing to the less encouraging tone of the English letters. The weather was then wet, and the damp state of the atmosphere h a d caused most of the wheat to come to hand in indifferent condition. A vessel had been chartered to load wheat to Liverpool at 4s. 6d. per quarter. At the Lower Baltic ports a little reaction appears to have taken place, in consequence of the fall which oc curred in the British markets towards the close of last month. From Rostock we learn, under date of February the 4th, that the demand for wheat had suddenly fallen off materially, but that holders had nevertheless remained firm, declining to sell below 655. per quarter free on board. The inquiry for barley had likewise become slow there, and 355. per quarter was then an extreme price. At Stettin stocks are stated to be very small, and little effect had consequently been produced by the somewhat dull tone of the English advices ; in the absence, how ever, of foreign orders the operations in both wheat and spring corn had been on a restricted scale. At Hamburg, on the 9th inst., wheat was decidedly dull of sale, and there were offers from outports at prices Is. to Is. 6d. per quarter below the rates previously de manded ; for parcels on the spot very nearly former terms had been insisted on. The accounts from the Mediterranean arc interesting. A letter from Marseilles of the 6th inst. informs us that wheat, after having fallen some 6s. per quarter the pre ceding week, had again rallied, and that prices were then within about If. per hectolitre of the highest point. This reaction had been caused by a rumoured country demand. Marianopoli had brought equal to 695. per quarter, which wac as high a price as that description of wheat had brought at any former period. From Genoa we learn, under date of February 2, that the Government had issued a decree levying four livres per cantar, or 3s. 6d. per cwt. duty, on the export of rice the growth of Piedmont. DARING ROBBERY IN EDIN BURGH. It is with regret that we have to record another of those daring outrages which have of late been the dis grace of our city. On Thursday night, about twelve o'clock, a gentleman who resides in Broughton-place was knocked down on his way home, in the lane which branches off from the east side of Elder-street, and robbed of his watch and five pounds. He was felled to o t the e et g h r e o r u n i u d s t a r t u o m n e c u e t , b a y n d a r y e i o m l e a n i a t e b d l o e w u w t i h t e h s a t r b e l e ud t g f or eon, a considerable time in a stat e o f insensibility, while the ruffians searched his person and ca rri e d off his watch and money.fallen his I I e assailantsrece l received being determined severalseve tomake sure reblows after he reof had f him. Ile is still confined to bed with dreadful contu sions on the head and face, and has no recollection of anything that t oo k ero occurred, e x tre place after receiving the blow. Within these f our or five weeks n o l ess th an fi ve rob beries, attended w i t h personal mei violence, more or less while not more than two of the guilty person s h ave b een apprehended, and these only suspicion.donangus , have v e It t is y doubtful if o will follow. Ther e cannot be a more l ame n u econviction t a h le proof of the insecurity of our streets of the police, from whatever cause,anc/ of the inadequacy the inhabitants. It was only about a or the protecti o n of month gen tleman in Broughton-place was robbed while opening since a his own door, about half-past ten o'clock, and nearly throat, from which, we understand, ho isby ffians on hi s choked by the violent gripe of theru reco vered, having been for some days hardly means speak. Another ro bber y of the sam e kind y wa :ble to com mitted in Elm-row. A you n g man was, isearly ab•ut the same time, knocked down and ro bbed in the . Lo thian-road, between e leven and twelve o'clock, while the robbery in St. John-street occurred about ten o'clock, the Cauongate being at the time crowded with people. It thus appears that it is not safe to venture into the streets at night. These robberies and outrages were perpetrated, not at any untimely hour, but mostly before twelve o'clock, when it never was before thought unsafe to walk the streets. But a great change has taken place ; ruffianism is on the increase, end thieves ap pear to be constlntly prowling ab eft watching the streets on the oatlook for pleader. The pi 4we, it is clear. afford no security, while from the undetected robb,;l les the guilty cleave security and encouragement to commit fresh crimes. The frequency of these out rages calls for iacreased vigilance, and a more efficient body of night watchmen ; and they ought to be obtained at whatever exir2nse ; for protection. like everything 1 else, must be paid for. It is uei.die 3 s to 61' kik, aio price, for we cannot have the article without paying fo r rt.—Edinbur g h Courant. COMPANY. Yesterday the usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the Great Western Railway, was held at the station in Paddington, Charles Russell, Esq., M.P., in the chair. After the usual formalities had been gone through, The CFIAIRMAN rose and said, that it was impossible for the directors to give the proprietors so much infor mation at a February meeting, as they could at one in August, for now they were entering upon their Parliamentary campaign, while in August they had usually arrived at its close. He was in hopes that their Parliamentary course in the present session might have been rendered somewhat easy by an amic a bl e arrangement with the London and North Western Company. At their last meeting, in the month of December, he st zted fully the nature of the negotiation which had been going on with that company, but, subsequently, certain statements and observations imposed upon the directors the necessity of issuing a full and detailed report upon the subject. To that report the only reply that was made was a short note, from Mr. Creed addressed to the editor of the Times. In that note, Mr. Creed declared that he was instructed to state, that the London and North Western Company were still as desirous as ever that some arrangement should be come to with the Great Western Company. He (Mr. Russell) was at Brighton on the 26th December, the day upon which that letter appeared in the Times, but so anxious was he to construe it into an invitation to renew the negotiation, that he wrote a note to Mr. Glyn, proposing that Mr. Saunders and Mr. Swift should take up the matter where it began, with a view of establishing peace between the two companies. The result of that note was an agree ment between Mr. Glyn and himself, to the effect that Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Swift should have full power to conclude such arrangements between the two companies, as should be considered beneficial to the interests of the company they respectively represented. He was sorry to say, however, that the arrangement never reached to the extent of a meeting between Mr. Swift and Mr. Saunders ; for Mr. Swift, in the first instance, insisted upon preliminary concessions which the directors of the Great Western Company could not consistently make, It was not his intention to go fully into the correspondence which had taken place on the subject, but the real substantial and insuperable obstacle to the arrangement was the possession by the London and North-Western Company of the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham and Wolverhampton lines. Notwithstanding the triumph of the Great Western Company last Session, the London and North Western company appeared determined to at tempt to exclude the Great Western and the broad gauge from Birmin:ham. They wished to hold the Oxford line jointly with its proprietors, or, failing in that, to purchase it altogether. It was im possible for the Great Western Company to accede to joint possession, because that would be in direct viola tion of their pledges to the public and their promises to Parliament. He then alluded to the singular offer the London and North Western had made for the Oxford line. At the meeting of the Oxford proprietary, which took place in Birmingham on the 30th of October, the directors of that line were au thorised to negotiate with the Great Western for the sale of their line ; the consequence was, meetings between deputations of the two companies, and after the preliminaries had been agreed upon, the bargain was made and the line agreed to be conceded, as was c t well known t o th e G reat W estern C ompany. The terms were consid ere d j ust , y e t at a meet i ng o f the co s therm confirmed by , ih mouthpieceo acts of ts the of Bir mingham and O x f or d proprietors on the 4th of De • comber, Mr. sa M id te ha M d ozhleeyen nfi , a London and No rt h W es t ern Company, and what he then the London and North Western Company, said he saw no reason why the London and North Western Company should, in the face of all the facts, make an offer for that which they had already pur chased.—(Cheers.) Under influences, about which he would not stop to inquire, a new set of proprietors were invited to combine to set aside that which had been done by a previous proprietary, who were fully com petent to do what they had done. A new set of directors were to be forced on the management, in order to repudiatea solemn agreement, and, in the event of failing in that purpose, to embarrass and prevent its accomplishment.—(Cheers.) Those attempts would recoil on the authors.—(A cry of "So they ought 1") The agreement required no further act of the proprietors, no further sanction of Parliament.— (Cheers.) The agreement with the Birmingham, Dud ley, and Wolverhampton, was also completed, with the single exception that it required the sanction of Parlia ment.—(Hear, hear, and applause.) He regretted that their efforts to effect an amicable arrangement with the London and North Western Railway Company had thus failed. What that company had to give them, except peaceable possession of their purchase, he was at a loss to understand. What they had to give the London and North Western Railway Company was an assurance that they would not extend the broad guage beyond certain limits to be defined between the two companies. It was for the London and North Western Company to determine the value of this concession. It was for them to consider the wisdom of seeking to recover the loss they had practically sustained in the last session of Parliament, or whether they would be content with speculating upon the future.—(hear, hear.) They had chosen the former alternative as the more wise and ad vantageous for themselves ; but he was far from being sure that they had not chosen the alternative most advantageous to the Great Western Company.—(Cheers.) The Great Western Company were prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of peace, but he knew an opinion was entertained by many of their proprietors, men possessing largo stakes in the company, that it would be much better for them to remain as they were, and extend the broad gunge into every available direction.— (Cheers.) He readily turned from that subject to take a glance at their internal position. It was highly gra tifying for him to perceive that their receipts were increasing, while their expenditure was diminishing.— (Cheers.) The number of miles run by their engines in 1845 was 240,000, while in 1846 the number was 346,000. (Hear, hear.) Yet with this increase of mileage there had been no increase of expendittulraet. —(Cheers.) He was glad to say too, .1 they had reduced the number of their assistantbengtmbees, and thus had they not only attained economy,utmy. had attained additional security. It would be r e e re me a bered that at their last meeting two auditor s were were pointed to investigate the accounts. Those auditors r almo nt, b ' Mr. W. Croswaithe, of Liverp sa 001, and Mr. tj of London, two gentlemen of t h e highest respectability those and experience, and he was glad to Y ts were gentlemen had reported that the a ccounts highly satisfactory, and therefore upon a v er y improved, clear, and simple principle—(Cheers) —that was a suffi cient answer to all the newspaper calumnies, n ot to men tion the imputations of fraud w hi c h had been wantonly thrown out. In concl us i on , he thanked the proprietors, and awarded that mee d o f pra i se to the officers of the company for the dili gence an d ca re they 1154 bestowed upon the affairs of the company. read the t- It stated that Mr. SAUNDERS then which re had the financial accounts and tabular statement, made been published a n d c i rcu l ate d, wo uld have already working of would known to the prop r i e t ors , t h e result of the enable their line duri ng th e l ast h a lf y ea r, which dividend of them to declare at this meeting the usual eraffle, four per cent for that time. With respect to th t iod of it might be observed, that in the corresponding p en er ed end 1845, precisely the same length of line was opened that the worked over by this company as in 1846 , a s nd the ton comparison in the number of passengers , of the nage of goods, was a perfectly fair criterion of and in crease conveyed over identically the same railway.; indcated this review of the business of the company most satisfactorily th e f ea tures of progressiee trade,ut of 1845, when it was remembered that the excitmoeliog 1 cen with the numberless schemes and the try the almost Se quent thereon, was thus contrasted with tire cessation of such speculative Movements during the _ had_ d been at latter part of 1846. The increase in 1846 iz. 92,528 for the the rate of 503 passengers per diem, 3v976 to ns of goods. half-year, with au additional t r ade o 2 218 , 855/. 19s. 7d., the The dire now disposable for recommended that ba did dend of four p er cent. 31st of Decem be declared for the half-year ending the tof March, to the bar, 1846, payable on or after the ls , a books when they proprietors registered on the comp _y awnhich dividend would were closed en the Bth instant, _ leave a balance of amount to 211,002/. 4s. 9d., d credit of the next 7,8531. 14s. 10d. to be carried to the eneral meetings half-year's account. Si nc e the special g of this company were hel d on the 6th Nov ember and 4th December last, the direct ors ha d, i n pursuance of the resolutions common seal reso l u tions of the proprietors, a ffixed th executed separate of the company, and otherwiseared to carry out the deeds, which had beenPgaPilway, and the purchase of lease of the South Wales doeford Railway, as well as that of the Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway. the Birmingham, ofthe Act for incorporating the Bir mingham provisions Oxford Railway, which conferred 'powers mingliam and with the sanction of a general meet ing,on that company, line to the Great Western Railway to sell their t hat the rates and tolls of this company required . ed to scale s should be re , a not exceeding company that of the Binningrn ba and Ox or ai d`li 'lwa yAct, before the purchase could finall • etake conseq uently, and in order to carry into effect the pur chase o f that line , bad entered into convenant by suc h the Birmingham and Oxford Railway deed, with pany, revision made b pany, to ha ve such y Parliament, for which purpo se an Act was now before the Legis lature,the same low scaleof and as maximum submitted ra t e s which was to by th e L on d on an d North-Western Railway Company last year, in order to obtain the amalgamation of the Grand Junct i on with the London by . the Gre a t W and Birmin g h am R a i lway C o mpany was no w offered made applicable Rail way Company , and was tobe applicable to all traffic over the Great Western line, whether from ex i st i ng or new railways, the re could be no doubt that the Act would pass into a law, on account of the public benefits to,be derived from that reduction of rates, upon which the purchase of tho Birmingham and Oxford Railway by this Company, would have its entire and unqualified effect under the provisions of the existing Act. The directors, in conjunction with the Bristol and Exeter and the South Devon Railway Companies, had entered into a conditional arrangement for affording some aid to the establishment of docks at Plymouth, a measure which they considered would be very service able to the traffic of the line. The sum agreed to he subscribed by thi- company was 7,500/. A Bill for the consolidati,), an d improvement of the Weymout h Haeheur Trust wile before Parliame n t, in which power was given to the Greet Western, and the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth C ompan i es , to assi,t the Commissioners in raising funds by their guarantee, to an amount not exceeding 40,0001. The Creetneater, in moving its adoption, announced the intention of the company for the future to discon tinue the depreciation fund. 'rue huuourable proprietor thought a statement of their liabilities ought to be sent forth to the world ; for he believed the pu blic enter- LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, All. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY tained considerable misapprehension on the subject, and the consequence was, that their stock was unnaturally depreciated. His proposal gave rise to a very lengthened discus sion ; but the matter was eventually set at rest by The CHAIRMAN stating that the information demanded would be found in his last half-yearly speech. Mr. SAUNDERS (the secretary) declared that if such a statement were to be put forward, it would only lead to misapprehension, for while they could state positively, and were freely prepared to disclose their liabilities, they must, in justice to themselves, place on the other side of the accounts what they considered would be the probable returns of their engagements. The report was then adopted. The dividend having been declared, the retiring directors were re-elected. A vote of confidence in the directors, and approving of their proceedings in the matter of the Birmingham and Oxford line, was proposed and carried unanimously. The meeting terminated, after the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF commON PLEAS, Feb.lB. ;Sittings at Nisi Prins, before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury). HOPWOOD V. THORN. Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., Mr. Edwin James, and Mr. Lush, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Talfourd end Mr. Atherton for the defendant. In this case both the plaintiff and the defendant were Independent ministers, the plaintiff being the minister of the Independent chapel at Thatcham, and the de fendant an Independent minister residing at Winchester. The action was a joint action for slander and libel, the declaration containing counts for both. The slanders complained of were various statements made by the de fendant, to persons of his congregation mad others, at Thatcham, that the plaintiff hiving, before his entry into the ministry, carried on business as a draper at Southampton, in partnership with a person named Pinhorn, had, on his withdrawal from the partnership, taken out large sums from the concern, mere than he was entitled to do; and upon this statement used the words that the plaintiff was " unworthy the name of a gentleman, a minister, or an honest man," and that " no person would let him get into a pulpit anywhere, so bad was his character." There were other words declared on, that the defendant " had called the plaintiff a rogue, awl he could prove it by the books at Southampton that he had cheated Mr. Pinhorn of 2,0001." The libels complained of were contained in a series of letters, one of l which was to a Mr. Hunt, and two to the Rev. 31/%1 Ainslie, Dissenting minister, and secretary to the Con gregationul Board of Education, residing in London, which stated "that Mr. Hunt had been to Southampton and found all true;" there were other statements similar to the above. This correspondence was of great length. To prove the libels and slanders, Mr. Edward Hunt, surveyor, residing at Thatcham, was called. He stated that the plaintiff called upon him on Janury 7, 1845, and made a statement of something ' which a Mrs.Burfield had told him. On the following Sun day the plaintiff made a statement from the pulpit, re ferring to the accusations made against him, demanding an investigation, and defying proof of the charges made. The plaintiff also asked for an appointment of mutual friends to consider the matter. The witness was the friend alluded to to be appointed. He afterwards met the defendant at Mrs. Burfield's house, where a conver sation about the matter took place, and there were sub sequent meetings of the parties at Mrs. Burfield's house, and the defendant expressed himself anxious to have a public meeting, and there was a public meeting subse quently held, on the 18th of March; that meeting was held at the Independent chapel at Thatcham, both plaintiff and defendant being present. Statements were there made by the defendant, which he had before heard him make at Mrs. Burfield's house. The defendant read a long statement of accounts between Pinhorn and the plaintiff, theresultbeing that the plaintiff had taken 6,000/. out of the concern, and had only put into it 1,2651.; and that the plaintiff had drawn out 2,0001. more than be ought to have done, which equity would compel him to repay, and that these accounts were taken from the books of the business. The defendant afterwards told witness that the plaintiff's name " stunk in South ampton ;" that he had looked into the law of libel, and could not be made liable for what he said. Edward Pinnock, a member of the plaintiff's congre gation, deposed that the defendant and two Misses Bur field called upon him and made similar statements to the above, and said that " Mr. Hopwood would not be able to hold up his head in Thatcham pulpit or in any other." The Learned JUDGE observed, that this was certainly a very novel proceeding in this court. When a sentence was pronounced, it was sent to the bishop of the diocese in which the benefice was situated, who took means to enforce obedience to the decree, and was, in point of fact, the ecclesiastical sheriff. On him devolved the duty of levying the sequestration, and taking care that the divine offices were performed. A sequestrator was appointed, whose duty it was to make a return to the registrar of what had been done, thus assimilating the practice to that pursued in courts of common law. If a sheriff could not make a levy, he must make a return to the Court, and resort would then be had to other means. If the Bishop of Chichester had certified that he had appointed a se questrator, that Mr. Hurst had refused to pay, and that he (the bishop) was unable to enforce the sentence, the monition now prayed for might have been granted; but the Court could not direct it to issue on the present ap plication. This was a case of non-payment rather than of receiving the profits of the living. He must, there fore, refuse the motion. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S-THURSDAY. A very flat afternoon, and no change of any moment in either of the races now in betting. The Chester Cup transactions were few in number, and without the slight est public interest. The same remark may be applied to the other handicaps, while on the Derby the only horse backed for any money was Epirote, on whom several hundreds were laid out at 9 and 10 to 1. The Horn of Chase was baeked at 28 to 1 in hundreds, and afterwards at 25 to 1 ; Bedlam once at 2,000 to 30, and frequently at 1,000 to 20. Will-o'-the Wisp for about 100/, at 1,000 to 15, and 2,000 to 35 ; and Bingham for 401. at 50 to 1. 800 to 100 was laid agst Van Tromp, the taker giving six sovereigns for the bet. Closing prices. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 10 to 1 agat Lord Orford's Footstool—taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Devil-me-care—taken 100 even on the field agst ten It was for this race, not the Metropolitan, in which he is not engaged, that Brocardo was scratched on Monday. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. Nothing done. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STA&ES. 6 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham—taken 800 even on the field agst Planet, Glentilt, and Conyng ham CRIMPER CUP. 20 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mendicant 25 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's The Lamb 28 to 1 agat Mr. Herbert's Antler 30 to 1 agst. Mr. Wilson's Punch 2000 to 60 agat Mr. Mostyn's Camera Obscura—taken 1000 to 25 agat Mr. Minor's Duke of Richmond—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Fletch 1000 to 20 asst Mr. Skerrett's Intrepid—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Sir Tatton Sykes—takenand afterwards offered 50 to 1 agst Mr. Heaeeltine's Fitzallen 1000 to 15 agst Captain Pettat's Newcourt 1000 to 15 agat Lord Eglinton's Doleful—taken 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt—t. and aft. off. 4000 to 40 agst Mr. R. G. Mostyn's Premier (4 yrs)—taken 4000 to 50 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Doleful—taken 2000 to 25 agst Mr. A. W. Hill's Sweatmeat—taken 800 to 100 agst the three-year-olds—taken DX11131% 9 to 2 agst Kent's lot 15 to 2 agst Lord Eglinton'sVan Tromp 10 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Epirote—taken freely 12 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet 22 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Glentilt—taken 25 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham 25 to 1 agst Mr. Irwiu's Horn of Chase 40 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Lunedale 40 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Liberator 50 to 1 agst Mr. Worley's Old Port 50 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Bedlam—taken 50 to 1 agst Col. Anson's Bingham—taken 2000 to 35 agst Mr. A. W. Hill's Will o' the Wisp—taken Any odds against Christopher, who is reported to be amiss. OARS. 15 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Miami 16 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Nerissa 20 to I agst Captain Harcourt's Ellerdals SALE AT TArrEasALL's.—The following horses were sold on Monday :—Buttress, 4 yrs, 250 guineas —Chamois. 4 yrs, 51 guineas —Wild Roe, 37 guineas —and Emmeline, 26 guineas—and the steeple chaser Vanguard, 110 guineas. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CEASE. The following scratchings are complete as regards town, but are only up to post time at Liverpool on Wed nesday evening : Switcher. Firefly. The Page. Sabine. Gazeley. Palmerston. Eagle. Gay (conditionally). Jack. Mameluke. Sparta. Tea-pot. Tamworth. Fanny Elssler. Jeu d'Esprit. Indian Prince. Terrier. Sacrifice. COURT CIRCULAR. It appeared, from the evidence of another witness (Mrs. Arnold), that great excitement existed in the village about this gossip, and that the plaintiff had put it to the vote to expel Mrs. Burfield from the congrega tion till the statements against him were withdrawn. John Carter, jun., deposed to being present at the meeting at Thatcham chapel on the 18th of March, when Mr. Hopwood said,—" Where are my accusers ?" To which Mr. Thorn replied,—" I am your ac cuser." Mr. Hopwood said,—" I hear that you have been calling me a rogue in the village." To which Mr. Thorn replied,—" Stay a while and I will prove you one." Mr. Thorn then read many letters and a long statement of figures. After this, Mr. Hopwood said, " Now you have made my character look so black, if you can prove what you have stated I will be 1001. to any charity ; and, if not, you shall be 1001." Mr. Thorn refused ; as also to go to Southampton to examine the books, "as it had taken him a week to examine them already." At this period of the meeting some one said, "We want our dinners ; look at the time !" and the meeting broke up. The Rev. Mr. Ainslie, a Dissenting minister, residing near the Regent's Park, was then called—He had known the plaintiff and his character for many years. He knew of his being in business at Southampton. He had heard of these reports, and went down to Thatcham in 1845, and called on the defendant with a view of inquiring into the matter. He entered into a correspondence with Mr. Thorn. [Various letters were then put in, and proved by the witness, some of them containing the libellous matter complained of.] On his cross-examination, it appeared that he had gone to see Mr. Pinhorn, and that Mr. Pinhorn said, "He had no charge to mako against Mr. Hopwood ;" but he admitted that he had made statements of com plaint to Mr. Thorn against Mr. Hopwood. The Learned JUDGE thought statements made regard ing the plaintiff, relating to his former trade, and not re lating to his present calling as a minister, not actionable. Mr. Sergeant TALYOURD then addressed the jury for the defendant. He regretted that the present charge should have been brought. He regretted that those whose profession it was to compose differences should have resorted to such a course. He thought it a cir cumstance to be regretted when persona were brought up in trade, and lived to man's estate before entering a profession, and bad a background of life to look upon which unfitted them for their profession. There might be exceptions in instances of great talent or enthusiasm; but the plaintiff was not such an instance. The results of the present trial, if against his client, must be lamentable, and he could not, therefore, but regret that a more private tribunal had no t b een resorted to for settling this difference. The Learned Sergeant than went at great length, and with much eloquence, through the evidence. His LORDSHIP summed up, and the jury found a ver dict for the plaintiff—Damages, 250/. The cause occupied the whole day, and was not over until nearly 7 o'clock in the evening. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 18. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Sir F. PoLLocs, Chief Baron.) PELL v. JONES. Mr. llumfrey and Mr. Mellor were counsel for th• plaintiff ; Mr. Sergeant Allen and Mr. Gray appeared for the defendant. This was an action brought to recover damages from the defendant for the breach of a contract alleged to have been entered into by him to transfer his interest in certain shares in the Leicester and Bedford Railway Company, which had not been ratified by any legisla tive enactment. It appears that 40 shares having been allotted to the defendant in the above company, he was not able to pay the deposit thereon, and being about to quit England, he authorised Mr. George Pell, the nephew of the plaintiff, who had advanced the money to pay the deposit, to sell the shares when he could realise a small sum by them. The shares were after wards sold to the plaintiff at a premium of IL; but when the defendant was called on to ratify the transaction by handing over the scrip certificates, he repudiated the transaction, the shares being then at a premium of 41. The action was afterwards brought by the plaintiff, who contended now that he was entitled to re cover the highest value of the shares after the sale and before the action was brought. On the part of the de fendant it was argued that the action could not be sus tained, as the authority ought to have been in writing, and no shares had ever issued, but only scrip; and by the Joint-Stock Companies Act no legal transfer could be made of any interest in any such scheme till after the act of incorporation had been obtained, which had not been done. The CHIEF BARON reserved the points raised by the Learned Sergeant ou the part of the defendant, and left the question of damages contingently to the jury, by whom they were assessed at 501. ARCHES' COURT. Feb. 18. (Before Sir 11. J. FUST.) THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE PROMOTED Br TROWER v. HURST, CLERK. This was originally a cause of office, promoted under the directions of the Lord Bishop of Chichester, against the Rev. Mr. Hurst, rector of Thackham, Sussex, for highly immoral conduct. The usual proceedings having been taken, the Court pronounced the articles brought in against the reverend gentleman proved, and sus pended him ab officio et beseficio for the space of three years, condemned him in the costs, and directed that the suspension should continue until the customary certificate of good conduct was lodged in the court. That decree was duly . transmitted to se Consistory Court of Chichester, to impound the profits of the bene fice. Sequestration issued to Mr. Butler, who entered into an arrangement with Mr. Hurst, by which he was allowed to continue in possession of the glebe land, on condition that he paid a rent-charge. The rev. gentle man also occupied other land, on which there was a sum of 791. due for tithes under the Commutation Act. Repeated applications had been made to him for the payment of the moneys due, but he had failed to comply with them. Dr. HAGGARD (with whom Was Dr. Myron]) con tended that the non-payment of these sums, inasmuch as they constituted a part of the emolumonts of the living, was adisobedienee of the sentence of the Court, and he now prayed the Court to issue a monition against Mr. Hurst to show cause why he should not be pronounced in contmipt. In other cases where there had tren a disobedience of the sentence, not as regarded the profits of the living, but in continuing to discharge ministerial duties, that had been the course pursued; The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Mar chioness of Douro, Hon. Miss Paget, Earl of Morton, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and Captain the lion. A. H. Gordon, honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, and Sir George Couper, also honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence last evening. Count Alexander Mensdorff left Buckingham Palace at half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning for South ampton, en route, to Portugal. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen yesterday morning. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice took their accustomed walks and rides yesterday, in the gar dens of Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester House. Her_ Majesty's Commissioners for considering the state of the - several Bishopricks in England and * . ales, with reference to the Foundation of new Bishopricks, held their first meeting yesterday, at the official resi dence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing street. Mr. Archibald Cuninghame had an inter►iew with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office. The Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements, held a meeting yesterday at the Office of her Majesty's Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place. There were present Viscount Morpeth, the Lord Mayor, the Right Hon. J. C. Herries, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon, Lord Colborne, Mr. Hope, the Hon. C. A. Gore, and Mr. Milne. Mr. Gibson Craig, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Strutt, yesterday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways, in Great George -street. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, FEBAUAET IS. STOCK Exonanoz.—The sines are—Great Western Quarters, 30 p. —Ditto, Fifths, 99—London and York, Registered, 3s. 9d. p.—Man cheater and Southampton, % dis.—Midland, New, 35%—Ditto, New, 3% p.—Shropshire Union, Ti die. —York and North Midland, Pre ference, 10 p. LIVERPOOL, FEBRUARY 18. STOCK EXCKANGE.—The sales are—Chester and Birkenhead, 201. Shares, 4 dis. ex div.—East Lancashire, New, 24, p.—Ditto, New Scrip, 1% p.—London and North-Western, 190—Ditto, Quarters (Grand Junction), 20►4 p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 574 p.— Ditto, Halves, (late L. and B ), 5 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire date Great Grimsby and Sheffield), 4% dis.—Midland, 121 ex div.—Ditto, 401. Shares, 554 ex div.—Ditto, New, 3% p.—New castle and Carlisle, 11254—North British, New, % p.—Preston and Wyre, Halves (A), 44 p.—York and North Midland, Preference, 10 p.—Lluddsomileld Canal and Railway, 32—Ditto, 454 p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 254 dis.—Ditto, Preference, I% p.—Scottish Central, 7 p.— Ambergate and Eastern Junction, Is. 3d. p.—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, I Is. 3d. p.—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 9%—East Lincolnshire 2% p.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, % p.—Great Northern (Nos. I to 103,000), 14 p.— Ditto (Nos. 108,001 and upwards), % p.—London and Tork, p.—North Staffordshire, 3% p.— Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, 13s. 9 die.—Trent Valley, Midland, and Grand Junction, % p.—West Riding Union, 365. 3d. p.—Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 2% p.—North Staffordshire and Churnet Valley Junc tion, 31s. 3d. p.—South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole, 6s. 3d. p. MANCHESTER, FEBRUARY 18. STOCK Exastatior.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, % p.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 14 IL —Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 9% p.—East Lancashire, 24 c. p.--Ditto New (scrip), 1 Y-16 p.—East Lincolnshire, 2% p.— Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, % p.—Great Northern (Direct Northern) Scrip,Regd., p.—Ditto (London and York) Scrip, Regd., 3-16 p.—lluddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, 454 p. —Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester, 84 p.—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, % p.—Manchester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Extension), p.—Manchester, Sheffield, end Lincolnshire (Grimsby), 201. Shares, 1% dis.—Ditto (late Sheffield and Lincoln shire), 1 dis.—Manchester and Southampton, % dis.—Midland, 501. Shares, 434 c. p.—North Staffordshire, 7-16 p.—North Staffordshire and Churnet Valley Junction, 1% p.—Northern Counties Union, dis.—Oldham Alliance, % p.—West Riding Union, 1% p.—Wharl dale, % dis. LEEDS, FIIIRCAIIT 18. STOCK EXCHAPOZ.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, Is. 64. c. p.—East Lancashire, 24 p.—Ditto, Blackburn and Prestos, 24 p.—Ditto, New, 21. 3e. 94. p.—Ditto, New Scrip, 275. 6d. p.—East and West Yorkshire, Is. p.—East Lincolnshire, 2X p. —Great Northern (late Londos and York), ss. p.—lludderstleld and Manchester, Thirds, 1% p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 2% dls.—Ditto, New, 13s. 6d. din.—Ditto, Preference, 275. p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Mid land, 10s. dis.—Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, 12s. 6d. din.—Halton and Driftleld Junction, 235. p.—Manchester and Leeds, Halves (late llud. ant Sher.), 4 p.—Ditto, 321. Shares (late Extensions), 2N p.—Ditto, Extension (late \Vak. P. and G.), 54j c. p.—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland. 15s. p.—Midland, New, 5 p.—Ditto, Preference, 3 p.—North Brtish, Thirds, 545. p. —Ditto, Quarters (late Carlisle Branch), 43e. 6d. p.—Ditto, Exten sion (scrip), 14s. 6d. p.—North Staffordshire, 3% n. p.—North- Western, 9s. 6d. p.—South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole, 4s. p.—West Riding Union, 365. p.—Wherfdale Junction, 6s. c. die. HULL, Frsausut I. STOCK Excuarma.—The sales are—Forth British, 35—Ditto• Quarters, 87s. 9d.—Ditto, Extensions (scrip), 158. tid. p.—Black burn, Clitheroe, dis.— East Lancashire, New Scrip, 265. 3d. p.—Great Northern (London and York), 236—Malton and Drittield Junction, 1% p. SHEFFIELD, FEBRUARY 18. Srocx Exclawas.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, York Ex tension, 14s. p.-Great Northern (late London and York), Reg., p.-Walton and Driffield Junction, 235. 6d. p.-Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire (201 -hares), 285. dis.-Ditto (Sheffield and Lincoln), 21s. din.-Midland (Sheffield and Rotherham), 335( - Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland % dis.-South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole, M p. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, FLasuasy 18. STOCE EXCRANGE.-The sales are-Leeds and Bradford, 45 p.- Newcastle and Carlisle, New 13 p.-Northern Counties Union, 11,4 dis.-North British, 1 0 M p.-I)itto, 'Thirds, 525. 9d. $.--Ditto, Quarters, 2% p.-Ditto, Extension, 158. 6d. p.-York and Newcastle, Extensions, p. EDINBURGH, FEnsuART 17. STO4M. EXCIIANGE.-The sales aro-Ayr and Galloway, 465.- Direct Northern (scrip), 555.-Dundeo and Arbroath, 461.-Ditto, New, No. 2, 30-Ditto, New, No. 3, 51.-Dundee and Perth, 33 M - Ditto, New, 18 4,‘ -East of Fife, 665.-East Lothian Central, 445. -Edinburgh and Bsthgate, 5 1 4 -Elndburgh, Leith, and Granton, New Quarters, 16s. 3d. p.-Edinburgh and Northern, New, 735. -Ditto, Newport, *6 -Ditto, ditto, New, 505.-Great Northern (late Direct Northern), 755. 6d.-North British, 3514 Ditto, Halves, 16% -Dltto, Quarters, 875. 6d.-Ditto, New, Quarters (scrip), 28s. -Ditto, Thirds, 755.-Ditto, Fifths, 71.-Scottish Midland, 2*4-- Stirlleg and Dunfermline, 755.-Direct Bombay and Madras, 33. 9d. -East Indian, Bs. 6d. GLASGOW, FEBRUARY 17. tirocK Exciter:mt.—The sales are—Caledonlan,New, 473. 6d.-- Direct Northern scrip, 535. 6d.—Dundee and Arbroath, 4414—Ditt o, New, No. 3. 3 3.—Ditto, New, No. 3, 51.—Dundee aoci Perth, 331 Dunblane, Donne, and Callender, 30s.—East of Fife. 62ts 6 d.—East Indian, 9s. —East Lothian Central, 42 6 d.—Etlinburgh anti Perth, Now, 141.-01a.scow, Kilmarnock, and .k..vr, Halves, No. 2,9/. 2s. Glasgow and Garnkirk, 39/.—KibnartfoQk t 0,,; Ayr Direct, 425. Gil. —Scottish Central, 21% —York and Newcastle, Preference, Si. I Gs. 6d. PROVISIONS FROINI TU UNITED STATES. - The Sheridan, from New York, and London, Salem, Peter Patrick. and Ohuda, from Orleans, winch were reported at Li verpool on the 17th inst., bring 1,867 bushels and 421 bags of wheat, 3,763 barrels of flour, 18,902 bushels and 15,873 bags of Indian oorn, and 890 packages of Indian corn mea " I could in this manner take you through the thirty or more cottages that we visited, but they, without ex ception, were alike—the dead and the d 3 ing in each ; and I could tell you more of the truth of the heart rending scene were I to mention the lamentations and bitter cries of each of these poor creatures on the threshold of death. Never in my life have I seen such wholesale misery, nor could I have thought it so com plete. lam convinced in that district it is not in human power to stay the evil : it may be to alleviate it ; but this must be by a good organized system, and the supply chiefly gratuitous. I am of opinion a number of naval surgeons should be employed, having under their orders a number of men—who might be selected from the lists of pensioners (if they could be highly re commended)—to have charge of certain districts, not only dispensing medicine where it may be required, but also food, on an order of the relief committee, to any person in their district. The pensioner or two who might be under each surgeon would , not only assist in visiting, but in conveying the food and medicines, etc., for the poor; and by being strangers to the localities, having no friends, would do this duty without par tiality. The surgeons should act with the relief commit tees, but independent of them. A board of health is also now wanted, as it cannot be expected but a pestilence will rage when the mass of these bodies decompose. They have ceased to put them into coffins, or to have the funeral service performed, and they merely lay them a few inches under the soil. " All that I have stated above I have seen with mine own eyes, and can vouch for the truth of. And I feel I cannot convey by words the impression left on my mind of this awful state of things. " I could tell you, also, of that which I could vouch for the truth of, but which I did not see myself, such as bodies half eaten by the rats ; of two dogs last Wednes day being shot by Mr. O'Callaghan whilst tearing a body to pieces,- of his mother-in-law stopping a poor woman and asking her what she had on her back, and being replied it was her son, telling her she would smother it • but the Door emaciated woman sa id it was dead already, and she was going to dig a hole in the churchyard for it. " These are things which are of every-day occurrence. " I trust you will pardon my having troubled you with this, and taken up so much of your time. I have given the counterpart of it to Sir Hugh Pigot ; but thinking you might like to have it, has induced me to send it to you. I enclose one of Dr. Traill's letters : every word I can answer for the truth of. . . " Pardon this hasty scrawl. " Believe me, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, " J. CRAUFORD CAFFIN. " P.S. There have been two or three post-mortem examinations of these who have died, and they find that the inner membrane of the stomach turns into a whit© mucous, as if nature 'had supported herself upon herself, until exhaustion of all the humours of the system had taken place. DESTITUTION 'IN . IRILL 'AND. The following is a copy ofn letter from ` .t, - cmuniiider Caflin, R.N., commanding !tier ' idajesty's;sto,44loop Scourge, dated Feb. 15, 1847: '- • I (PRINA.TE.) ,t My dear Sir,—Having, in the course of-.4n4 ni; its duty (of discharging a cargo Of meal,--&e;) gt , 4 been brought into direct contact 'with' the t prevails there and in its neighbourhood, I venture to lay before you (feeling assured it would interest yorr in their behalf) that which I had occular demonstra tion of. --- ;inthe village of Schull three-fourths of the inhabi tants you meet carry the tale of woe in their features and persons, as they are reduced to mere skeletons, the men in particular, all their physical power wasted away; they have all become beggars. " In landing the meal, &c., they used all the cunning they possessed to avoid detection in cutting open the mouths of the bags, and purloining the contents, and it required great watchfulness to prevent it. " Having a great desire to see with mine own eyes some of the misery which was said to exist, Dr. Trail), the rector of Schull, offered to drive me to a portion of his parish. I found there was no need to take me beyond the village to show me the horrors of famine in its worst features. I had read in the papers letters and accounts of this state of things, but I thought they must be highly coloured, to attract sympathy ; but I there saw the reality of the whole—no exaggeration, for it does not admit of it—famine exists to a fearful degree, with all its horrors! Fever has sprung up, consequent upon the wretchedness; and swellings of limbs and body, and diarrhoea, from the want of nourishment, are everywhere to be found. Dr. Train's parish is twenty-one miles in extent, containing about 18,000 souls, with not more than half a dozen gentlemen in the whole of it. He drove me about five or six miles; but we commenced our visits before leaving the village, and in no house that I entered was there not to be found the dead or dying; in particularising two or three, they may be taken as the picture of the whole—there was no picking or choosing, but we took them just as they came. " The first which I shall mention was a cabin rather above the ordinary 'ones in appearanee and comfort ; in it were three young women, and one young man and three children, alt crouched over a fire, and the pi c t ures of misery. Dr. Traill asked after the father, upon which one of the girls opened a door leading into another cabin, and there were the father and mother in bed, the father the most wretched picture of starvation possible to con ceive, a skeleton with life, his power of speech gone ! the mother but a little better, her cries for mercy and food were heartrending ; it was sheer destitution which had brought them to this. They had been well to do in the world, with their cow and a few sheep, and potato ground ; their crops failed, and their cattle were stolen, although, anticipating this, they had taken their cow and sheep into the cabin with them every night, but they were stolen in the day time. The son had worked on the roads and earned his eii.htpence per day, but this could not keep the family, and he, from work and insuf ficiency of food, is laid up, and will soon be as bad as his father. They had nothing to eat in the house, and I could see no hope for any one of them. _ " In another Cabin we went into, a mother and her daughter were there; the daughter emaciated, and lying against the wall; the mother naked, upon some straw on the ground, with a rug over her, a most distressing ob ject of misery; she writhed about and bared her limbs in order to show us her state of exhaustion. She had wasted away until nothing but the skin covered the bons; he cann( t have survived to this time. " Another that I entered had, indeed, the appearance of wretchedness without, but its inside was misery. Dr. Traill, on putting his head inside the hole which an swered for a door, said, Well, Phillis, how is your mother to-day?' He having been with her the day be fore, was replied —' Oh, sir, is it you? mother is dead!' and there, fearful reality, was the daughter, a skeleton herself, crouched and crying over the lifeless body of her mother, which was on the floor, cramped up as she had died, with her rags and her cloak about her, by the side of a few embers of peat. " In the next cabin were three young children belong ing to the daughter, whose husband had run away from her, all pictures of death. The poor creature said she did not know what to do with the corpse, she had no means of getting it removed, and she was too exhausted to remove it herself. This cabin was about three miles from the rectory. "In another cabin, the door of which was stopped with dung, was a poor woman whom we had taken by sur prise, as she roused up evidently much astonished. She burst into tears upon seeing the doctor, and said she had not been able to sleep since the corpse of the woman had lain in her bed. This was a poor creature who was passing this miserable cabin, and asked the old woman to allow her to rest herself for a few moments. She had lain down, but never rose again. She died in an hour or so, from sheer exhaustion. The body had remained in this hovel of six feet square, with the poor old woman, for four days ; she could not get anybody to remove it. She said she trusted her sins were pan. doned. She bad prayed earnestly for forgiveness. She had been a wicked sinner, but God was merciful, and her Saviour was all-sufficient. She thought she could die, and longed to depart and be at peace, and she bad blocked up the door that she might not be disturbed. She had some money—a trifle—by her ; but living four or five miles from the village, she could not get any food. She had asked her neighbours' children to buy her some, but they were too much taken up with themselves. She could not rise up, and could just manage to kneel. She had nothing to eat in her miserable hole, and I should fear must be dead ere this. POLYPHONY. Mr. Love, the celebrated Pol)phonist, on Wednesday evening entertained a numerous and respectable audience at Crosby Hall, Biahopsgato-street, by the exhibition of his extraordinary feats of ventriloquism and polyphony. The pieces selected for the exhibition of his talents were "A Voyage to Hamburgh" and "A Christmas Party in the Olden Time." In the former piece the characters, selected from the miscellaneous group of deck and cabin passengers of the steamer, were of the most amusing description, and their c<lloquial peculiarities admirably hit off. In the latter piece the transformations were most rapid and successful, and called forth at each change the cheers and hearty laughter of t ke ce a r l!li t e o nfe , The performer changed from " a military o„fti servir.g lad," from the serving West India enutong a to . , fashionable and lady was trans mutedgentleman," from that pe , rso T nage loquaeihus young lady.' , s uarnn old resolved gentleman,"herse into into " a servant ," "n old the servant whi oiLn in and, finally, the old gentleman into the talented an amusing lecturer himself. The curious power of ventriloquism was most ex cellently shown in a conversation between Mr. Love and an imaginary bricklayer, who was supposed to he on the roof of the building. The deception was most perfect, sad the " oral perspective" of distance (as the lecturer r y d e n fi e n x e t d . w ~,,T d h n e e performance sda y and w is cor diallyan- nouncede recommend any person w i s hi ng styled it) for most repetitionelea to spend a pleasant evening to avail themselves of the opportunity of witneesing Love's entertainments of polyphony. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—T EAS AT WHOLESALE PRiclis 2, BECXLERSBURY, CHEAPSIDE.—FamiIies w h os e consumption is l arge , ' and study economy, will derive considerable a d vantage at this establishment. One uni form price is affixed, by which the purchaser of a single pound can obtain it on the same terms as the trade. Black Tea 2s. Bd., 35., 3s. 4d, 3s. Bd., 45., 4s. 4d., ss. Green 3s. 4d., 3s. Bd., 45. 4s. 4d., 55., 65., 7s. Coffee. 9d., I od., I s ., ls. 2C31., Is. 4d., 15. 6d., Is. Sd. One pound sent tree to any part of town. Orders from the country f irwarded the same day; and when the quaotity is for 61h. weight (tea only), the carriage is paid to any part of EugIand.—MANSELL and Co. wholesale tea dealers, 2, Bueklersbury, Cheapside. DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last nine persons left Bideford in the omnibus for Torrington, most of them for the purpose of attending the market at the latter place. On pae,ing :to quay at Bidrford the horse took fright and plunged into the sea, when, dreadful to relate, eight out of the nine were drowned, the tide being up at the time. The driver of the vehicle was saved. W. O' le t° ra ti °ll It th e I.l o°- II for ,t 5 the .~