The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-21 00:00:00

se against his chiefs—he would not hear ar gthing that made against t he Poor-law Commis goners. He (Mr. Disraeli) thought, and he admitted ther e was a great deal of truth in what the Noble Lord said on that head. But could they then believe that such a man as Mr. Chadwick was still at the board of the poor -law?— (Loud and ironical cheers.) Though the Nob le Lord (John Russell) nodded his head as insinuating tb at to be the case, lie yet could not believe it.—(Renewed cheers,) He hae heard a gentleman who had been a P , oor-law Commissioner, and had a great distaste for family I ionours, himself the father of a head Commissioner—(l - fear and laughter)—say, that Mr. Chadwick was ad: sngerous person—a most dangerous person to the Poor-I. ew Com missioners.—(lronical cheers.) Having heard IV ir. Chad wick denounced by one of the Commissioner s—(Hear gad laughter)—by the father of a head Commit ;goner— (lncreased laughter)—Sir Frankland Lewis ;, having heard him denounced by the Noble Lord, but f 'or whom they might not have had the Andover Union C ommittee or this Bill, he could not believe that he wa s stall at the board.—(Great cheering and laughter.) Ist state secret was he the depositary of that be was stil ls :here re?— (Renewed ironical cheers.) If the Nobl e Lord bad con descended to leave his red box, and g one to the gre e n table with a few plain men like hi ms elf, and there, with pen aid paper, t e ken close notes of evidence, he might have come to a different conclusion. He had h eard that g entleman make statements which hereceived as evidence. But they had heard that ge ntleman characeerised as po'soning the fountains of all truth. If a different spec tade had been presented that night. and if he had seen the Noble Lord rise that night and say that he would tyke upon himself the di. g race an,. the odium of one who, to the extent of his abilities. had served him—if he had done so, although at the moment of dissolution, and on of a general e lection, he (Mr. Disraeli ) would the ha e v e v e a dmired the Noble Lord that night as one who would not desert an old servant at the moment of attack. _(Cheers.) But the Noble Lord was willing to benefit by the services of a man whom he denounced. Yes, the Noble Lord required a scape. goat and a victim; and, he acid, I am obliged to make a Secretary of State with two secretaries, on account of the underhand proceed ings of the secretary of the Poor-law Commis rimers. Yet that man remained at that moment secre tary at the Poor law Commissioners' board--(Cheers.) He knew him but by his works—his works on the sana tory state of the country, and in treating of that subject, the only places he appears to have passed were his own office and the secret recesses of the Cabinet. The House should remember that that Committee was called under very peculiar circumstances. As regarded this Bill, it was to be considered only as a Bill for the re construction of central control, to which they all agreed. Let the House not forget the peculiar circumstances under which this Bill was brought forward. When these charges were made against the members of the Andover Committee, he felt bound to remind the House of the circunistanc .s under which that Committee laboured. His Hon. Friend the Member for Peter bi rough had put into his hand a resolution which was adopted with the joint approbation of the Committee, and which, as it was very brief, he would take the liberty of reading to the House. The Noble Lrd the chair man of that Committee had stated to him personally the reason why he had voted against that resolution, namely that he could not agree in the latter part. The resolu tion stated that the conduct of the Commissioners Messrs. Parker and Day was not in accordance with the statute under which they exercised their functions, and was such as was calculated to shake public con fidence in the administration of the law. That resolution was agreed to by a large majority. As to their conduct being irregular and arbitrary, which referred to a matter of fact. Now, of those Gentlemen who had spoken that evening, not one pretended that their proceedings was not irregular. Whether they were arbitrary, was a matter for the consideration of the Committee, who decided that they were. The Noble Lord, to whom he had referred, agreed, in his opinion. with the Committee on that point, but stated he could not do so with respect to that part of the resolution which asserted that they had not acted in conformity with the statute. But by that statute they were bound to keep records, and the evidence brought before the Committee proved that they had not kept any records, but that a person in his private room conducted the whole business, who, in fact, was only scribbling his own memoranda.—(Hear, bear.) To show that public con fidence was shaken by the administration of the Com missioners, was it necessary for him to bring any evi dence on that subject. That resolution was not, he asserted, an intemperate, but on the contrary, a mode rate resolution, founded upon fact, after duly weighing the evidence before the Committee. No one entering upon that inquiry could help arriv ing at the same conclusion to which the Com mittee had arrived, and no one except by loose as'ertion had challenged that conclusion, or challenged that resolution. He would now say a few words with respect to an individual because he had no friend in that House except himself. That gentleman's name had been brought forward in a most unnecessary and wanton manner. He was not going to support Mr. Day because he happened to be an intimate acquaintance of his. He certainly knew him as a man of attainments and a good scholar, and he knew nothing against him without it was that he was a widower.—(Laughter.) Lord J. RUSSELL—What I said was that he had not a freehold. Mr. DISRAF.LI—Why, the Prime Minister had not a freehold, but they had no means of removing him without telling him the reason. The Noble Lord said himself that no man ought to be dismissed unless he conducted his business in such a manner as was unsatis factory to his employers. Why Mr. Day was dismissed without any reason being assigned, and that not even in an official mariner. The manner in which Mr. Day was appointed was as follows:—He had not a public friend in the world, but he published a pamphlet before the reform of the old law was contemplated, and he reformed his own parish on the principle of the 43d of Elizabeth, he described the reforms which he effected in that pamphlet. Having no public friend, it was the last effort of a desperate man; for every one who ever wrote a pamphlet must admit that no one ever read it. In 1831, when the Government introduced their plan, they were looking out for clever men, who, to use the fashionable language of that Houe, could carry out their syse m, a Noble Lord, resident in the county to which Mr. Day belonged, said there is a distinguished country magistrate who reformed his own parish see to him, he has written a pamphlet. The pamphlet was sent to the Minister, who read it. Mr. Day was sent for, was offered the post, which he accepted, and he became a zealous officer.(Hear hear.) He was sent to that part of the kingdom which was declared wholly and the most incapable of reform, South Wales.—(Hear, hear.) He did reform it. Was it any wonder, however, that he should have become unpopular ? In his labours, how ever, he broke his leg, and when he had recovered, he wrote a note, to say that he was still prepared to resume his labours. In reply to that communica tion, he received a letter, marked private, which advised him as a friend to send in his resignation, Now in all this there was a great deal of hardship and arbi trary conduct. Mr. Day had broken up his establish ment in his county, where, on a moderate income, he supported a large family. He zealously conducted the duties of his office, accomplished what was admitted to be a most difficult task, and received a compound frac ture in the service of Government, yet this was his reward, after all.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Day was accused of unpopularity, which was hardly possible, for him to be otherwise, but Mr. Day brought credentials from every board of guardians which he had been brought into connexion with, all expressing their condo lence with him, and their confidence in him. He (Mr. Disraeli) could not refrain from mentioning these facts. And now, with regard to the Bill itself, looking at it merely in comparison with the present system of control, he was not discos- d to say that it might not be an im provement, it might or it might not ; he, however, would give the Government the advantages of believing that on a vicious system it was an improvement.—(Hear, hear.) And so far as that went, he might be inclined to support it; but looking as he did on this Bill as one meant to perpetuate the system of metropoli tan control, which he believed to be so fatal, so pernici. ous, and which had brought all the evils on the country which had been complained of, be would vote for the amendment of the Hon. Member for Knaresborough. Mr. P. BORTHWICK moved the adjournment of the debate. Lord J. RUSSELL said that he hoped they would finish the debate that night. Mr. FERRAND said, that after the speech which had been made by the Noble Lord, it was most unfair of him to press the measure. The Hon. Member for Finsbury was determined to answer it, and he, for his part, was determined to offer every opposition to her Majesty's Government, iC they attempted so unconstitutionally to press the second reading.—(Hear, and cries of" Oh.") And now, as to a question personal to himself, he desired that the Noble Lord would explain what statements of his were unfounded which he made on Monday last; he al luded especially to those statements which he had made in reference to the manufacturing districts. .He asked the Noble Lord to stand up in his place and state what was the statement he had made. Mr. VILLIERS said he had stated that they took peasants from the agricultural districts, and sold them as slaves in the manufacturing districts. He said also, that they mur d ered ch ild ren i n t h e wor kh ouses . Th ese were two of his misstatements, and the House need wait no longer. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said these two were state ments which he believ e d were unfounded, and did believe them unfounded still ,s He made no a tt ac k on th e Honourable teentlem.a character. But when the G.:lttleinates stateme nts,ls by passion, w h en were so characteris e d t he represented that the poor -law Commissioners deli tad in the murder of chil lren—(Great laughtee)—A was but justified in saying they were unfound e d. Mr. FERRAND denied the statements attributed t o him. He did not say that the C om • i in m urdering children.—(Cries of e Di v id e e l delighted St rangers were or dered to withdraw, when Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, as some Hon. Members wiele d still to speak, and if Hon. Members would not postpone the debate over to-morrow ni g ht, he would Consent to the debate being adjourned. Tha debate was then adjourne d. HERRING FISHERY (S COTLAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. HERITABLE SECURITIES FOR DEBT (SCOT. LAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. BURGAGE TENURE (SCOTLAND) BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. CROWN CHARTERS (SCOTLAND) BILL This Bill was read a third time and passed. PASSENGERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. HAWES moved that the House go into Com mittee on this Bill. It was a very important measure, and should be pa.sed as soon as possible, as it was mainly to protect passengers. ThL Hojs, then went into Committee. Upon Clause 1 being proposed, Lord G. BENTINCK said that at the request of the THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 21, IM7. shipping interest of Liverpool, he would move several , amendments on the Bill, which it would, perha ps, be as well that he should state at once to the Committee. In the first clause he proposed to . move —page 2, line 15, after " tons," insert " barog a space of fourteen superficial feet to each . pe rson. . rage 3, line 7, after "hatchway," insert prov ided with ladders and protected by a compa ni on . hatch fitted with sliding top and side doors." Line 24, after "ship," insert " having a space of fourteen superficial feet." Page 4, line 10, leave out fourteen," and insert " eight." Line 16, leave out "in the said recited Act mentioned," and insert " of one person to every four teen feet, including berths and personal luggage." After clause 5, he propo s e d the i nsert ion of clause C, the object of which was, that the seaworthiness of the ship r should be ascertained by survey. And be it further enacted, That to remove doubts as to the seaworthiness of any vessel about to proceed with passengers, as afore said, the acting government emigr a ti on o ffi cer s h a ll cause such ship to be surveyed by two duly autho rised and responsible surveyors, and if it shall be reported by those persons th a t suc h s hip i s no t in their opinion in a state of re p a i r an d e ffi c iency as would entitle such ship or v ess el to be classed in Lloyd 's Registry of British and Foreign Shipping, JE 1, such ship or vessel shall not be cleared out. Then, after clause C he proposed to add a clause D, providing that in the event of wreck or unseaworthiness, the passengers were t o ha ve another conveyance pro vided for them or to be indemnified. The clause would be as follows :--And be it enacted, that in case any ship carrying passengers on any such voyage as in the said recited Act is mentioned, shall be wrecked or otherwise destroyed. and shall thereby or by any other cause what soever be prevented from landing her passengers at the place they may have respectively contracted to land ; or in case such ship shall put into any port or place in a damaged state, and shall not within a reasonable time be ready to proceed with her passengers on her intended voyage after having been first efficiently repaired, and in all respects put into a sound and seaworthy condition, then and in any of such cases they:shall be provided with a passage by some other equally eligible vessel, to the port or place at which: they respectively may have originally contracted to land ; and in default thereof, within a reasonable time, such passengers respectively shall be entitled to recover by summary process, before any two or more justices of the peace, in like manner as in the said recited Act is provided in the cases of moneys thereby made recoverable, all moneys which shall have been paid by or on account of such pas sengers or any of them, for such passage, from the party to whom the same may have been paid, as from the owner, charterer, or master of such ship; and also such further sum not exceeding 51. in respect of each such passage, as shall in t he o p inion of the jus tices who shall adjudicate on the complaint be a reasonable conpensation for any loss or inconve • nience occasioned to any such passenger, or his or her family, by reason of the loss of such passage. The last was the most important amendment. It was to provide that in all cases where a ship was lost, the owners should return the passage money, or provide the passengers with another passage. Thi s wou ld in volve an additional expense of Is. 6d. per passenger for insurance ; but he was quite sure, with such a guaran tee, the passengers would readily pay that charge. Mr. HAWES objected to assimilate the measurement of English ships with American, as that would have the effect of putting impediments in the way of the emigration now in progress from Ireland and this coun try. He hoped, therefore, his Noble Friend would not I press his amendment. W ith regard to the survey pro posed by the Noble Lord, the present law provided for that, as no ship could convey passengers without a cer tificate of her seaworthiness ; and this, he apprehended, was a sufficient guarantee of security. Under these circumstances, he hoped the House would see that the amendments suggested were unnecessary. He hoped the Noble Lord would allow the Bill to go through Committee, and move again the clauses he might feel it necessary to have inserted on the bri n g in g up of the report. Lord G. BENTINCK said he could not give way on the clauses referring to surveying. He would agree that the Bill should go through Committee, and so much of it be confirmed as did not bear upon the surveying, and on the bringing up of the report, he would more his clauses. `Mr. HUDSON concurred with the Noble Lord in the desirableness of the survey. On clause ten, Sir G. CLERK thought there ought to be some scale of boats adopted in the Bill for the security of passen gers. It mattered not whether they adopted the scale of last year or the year previous, but some scale in propor tion to the passengers ought to be adopted in the Bill. The clauses were agreed to, the Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported on Monday week. The House then resumed, the other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at I'm o o'clock. MARKET NEWS.-(YESTERDAY. EAT MARKETS. SYrrrilmicr.o.—Meadow Hay, 2112 s to 3116 s ; Clover ditto. 3/ lOs to 41168; and Straw, 11 109 to 11 14s per load. Supply good, and trade dull. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 21 14s to 31 18s; Clover ditto, 3/ lOs to 41 14s ; and Straw, 11 12s to 1/ 16s per load. A full average supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow Hay, 21 12s to 31 16s ; Clover ditto, 31 lOs to 51 ; and Straw, 11. lOs to U 14s per boat Trade dull, at barely late rates. _ __ =EAT MARKETS. SOUTHALL, MAT 19.—We had a very brisk trade for each kind of fat stock, and the general quotations advanced quite 4d per Blbs. Beef, from 3s 10d to 5s 2d; Mutton, 4s 6d to 6s 2d ; Lamb, 5s 6d to 6s 4d ; Veal, 4s 4d to 5s 4d; and Pork, 4s to 5s pct. 81bs, to sink the offal. ROMFORD, MAY 19.—There was a very active demand here this morning, at higher rates. Beef, from 3s 8d to 4s 4d; Mutton, 4s 10d to 6s 4d ; Lamb, 5s 81 to 6s 4d ; Veal, 4s 4d to 5s 4d ; and Pork, 4s 4d to 5s per Sibs, to sink the offal. Suckling Calves, 18s to 30s; Quarter-old Store Pigs, I9s to 21s; and Mulch Cows, with their small Calf, 161 to 21/ each. LEWES, MAY 18.—Beef, from 4s to 5s 4d; Mutton, 5s to 6s 4d; Lamb, 5s 8d to 6s 4d; Veal, 4s 4d to ss; and Pork, 4s to 5s per 81bs. A short supply, and a brisk demand. NENVGATE AND LEADENUALL. We had a fair average supply of Meat on offer, yet the general demand was firm, and the quotations had an upward tendency. Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; Mutton, 4s 4d to 5s 4d ; Lamb, 5s 4d to 6s 4d ; Veal, 4s 6d to 5s 4d; and Pork, 48 4d to 5a 4d per Blbs, by the carcase. CORN AVERAGES. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN For the Week ended May 20, 1847, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in Eagland and Wales per Imperial Quarter. WHEAT. I BARLEY.' OATS. ATE. I BEANS. I PEAS. PRICE .. 185 a 2d 52s 7d 32311 d I bBs 7d b4s 7d 553 Od The Duties on Foreign Grain are now suspended. FOUR DAYS OF EPSOM RACES, WITH A PORTRAIT OF Cossaac.—The very extensive publication of Bell's Life in London will commence, at No. 170, Strand, two hours earlier than usual, namely, at ten o'clock on Saturday morn ing, instead of twelve, for this week only. For the fullest and most correct report of Epsom four days' races, with a portrait of the Winner of the Derby, see Bell's Life in London, of May 23.—A sixpence sent to Mr. Clement, jun., 170, Strand, will insure a copy, by return of post, to any part of England, Scotland, or Ireland. The average sale of Bell's Life exceeds 26,000. Belts Life of May 9, which contained the explanatory chart of Newmarket race courser, can be had all this month of May. NEWSVENDEIte BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—Wed nesday the annual meeting of the subscribers to the above institution, founded for the relief of decayed and necessitous newsvenders of the metropolis, took place in the News Ex change, Fleet-street, for the purpose of receiving the report for the past year, and on other matters. Mr. L. Wild having been called upon to preside, in the absence of the president, James Harmer, Esq., said that in consequence of the thin attendance of members' present, owing to its being the Derby day, it had been suggested that it would be better to adjourn to a future day. The meeting would not have been called at all for that day, knowing it was one devoted to pleasure, but they were bound to do so by their rules. Mr. Hutton then moved, and Mr. Hall seconded a resolu tionto the effect that the meeting should be adjourned for a month, which, on being put, was carried. A vote of thanks having been given to the chairman, the meeting adjourned. A DONKEY DEFYING STEAM.—A funny scene occurred on the Taff Vale Railway on Saturday. A donkey got on the line just as a train was passing, and ran down the line pursued by the puffing monster, but the donkey, remem bering that discretion is the better part of valour, ended the chase by jumping aside, kicking up his heels in scorn as the train passed by.—Taunton Courier. Count Torre del Lago and suite arrived at Black wall on Wednesday afternoon by the General Steam Navi gation Company's steam-ship 'Venezuela that left Ostend in the morning. CHEAP STEAM TaAvErAmio.—Wednesday the boats running from London-bridge to Harwich and Ipswich re duced their fares to Is. 6d. for the entire distance. ROBBERIES AND ACCIDENTS AT THE EPSOM RAILWAY TERMINUS ON THE DERBY DAY.—Yesterday, from five o'clock in the morning until half-past two in the afternoon, twenty-four trains of immense length, with near 100,000 persons, left the terminus at London-bridge for Epsom. The crowd was so great during a great portion of the time that many persons were severely injured. One man was forced by the pressure of the mob over the balustrade of the arch where the second and third class passengers were waiting to be admitted, and received several frightful inju ries ; he was conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital. Several females received such injuries from the pressure that they fainted away and were trampled upon, but with a consider able deal of difficulty they were extricated and conveyed in- i sensible to the station, where they received every attention. One gentleman lost his pocket-book with a 301. Bank of England note. Others lost their purses and contents, and when they got inside the terminus they were doomed to be disappointed. The purses were afterwards picked up minus the contents. The scene from eight o'clock until two was almost indescribable, the shrieks of the females were terrific, and the noise and uproar beyond all conception. The price of bread at Brussels for the second fort night of May has undergone a reduction of one centime per kilogramme. BAHIA. STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—Yesterday there was a g enera l mee ti ng o f th e s h are h o ld ers o f thi s concern, at the office in Bucklersbury. Charles Sander son, Es q ., took th e chair. Mr. Kearzey, the solicitor, , aid that, on the 17 t h of December ' last, a resolution was passed for the dissolution of the company, according to settlement, and under the 57th clause a such resolution. The Chairman necessary for confirming the d ee d of time had been lost without r h a a n v in T th h e is ß i r g a z f e il ff s e . regretted that so much second general meeting; nwortunate speculation their remaining property ete T tl he an r y eso sa lu ie tio o n f rarenctdthoersforesight would have was eventually confirmed. has cost the shareholders about 60 involved them considerably more butoidfoi and determination (.::=.? the present of the company. MALT.—An official document, issued on Saturday, s t a t e s that from the 10 th of October, 1845, to th e Ist of t J 1:1 ti tle n e l e do , ut I ht Sy4o6f received, O d : L t t 0 Y b e w r 7 1846, paid on 13,512,024 bushels of tna l t. in the period was 1,818,6041. F rom to the sth of April last, duty had been charged on 27,922,962 bushels of malt. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The Earl of Shaftesbury, Chairman of Committees, took his seat at three o'clock this afternoon, and, after investigating the objects of the under-mentioned unopposed Bills, declared that the preamble of each had been proved : Hartlepool West Harbour and Dock Extension. Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2). Caledonian Railway (Branches from the Clydesdale Junc tion Railway to the Douglas and Lesmahagow Mineral Fields, and to Strathaven). Caledonian (Extension of the Motherwell Branch of the Clydesdale Junction to Auchinheath Mineral Field, with Branches to the Wishaw and Coltness, Canderside, and Hamilton). Caledonian (Branches to Wilsontown, Fauldhottse, Biggar, and Broughton). Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction (Sale to the Eastern Union Railway Company). The following preambles of private Bills were also de clared to be proved : Wyndham's Estate. Mylue's (or M'Nabb's) Estate. Bolton Improvement. Shipowners' Towing Company. Bingley Gas. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP IV. EASTERN COUNTIES (STATION ERTEN- SION AT STRATTOED). The Committee (Viscount Castlereagh, chairman), were engaged all the morning adjusting clauses in this Bill. The clauses having been agreed to, and the preamble passed and ordered to be reported to the House, the Com mittee adjourned to the 7th of June. GROUP VI. WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH AMENDMENT (No. XX). The Committee met this morning at twelve ; Mr. Deedes in the chair. The first witness called was Mr. W. Dennison, carryingon the business of a butcher at Portsmouth. He was purveyor to her Majesty's dockyards at Portsmouth. He was in the habit of killing about forty beasts and a large number of sheep weekly. The market of Salisbury was the one which he considered most preferable for the purchase of cattle. He purchased nearly all his stock at that market. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY appeared for the Earl of Pembroke and other landowners against the Bill. His cross-examina tion of this witness was abruptly terminated by the Chairman stating that his line of evidence was of the most singular and extraordinary nature for a Railway Committee. Mr. J. Knight was then called, who stated that if a railway were made he would notuse it. He would not send his forward ewes or lambs upon any line of railway. The CHAIRMAN said this was really the most anti-rail road evidence that the Committee had yet heard, and hoped that the time of the Committee would not be wasted by further evidence of that nature. , Mr. Jennings was called on to show that there was not sufficient traffic between the west and south-eastern parts of England to warrant the construction of a railway. Mr. T. Chedder, clerk to the poor-law union at Tisbury, stated that an unbroken connexion between Tisbury and Shaftesbury and the clothing districts of the north would be of great service to the districts. Mr. W. Squire, actuary of the savings' bank at Shaftes bury, gave evidence to the effect of the people of Shaftesbury being in favour of the line of the Great Western Railway, as opposed to that of the South-Western Company. Mr. Byrnes, grocer, at Shaftesbury, was called, with a view of showing the traffic which existed between Bristol and Shaftesbury, and the importance of an unbroken line between those places. Mr. Dewey, butter-dealer and insister, of Salisbury ; Mr. White, butter-dealer, of Portsea, Mr. Mealing, dealer in poultry, and also residing at Portsea; gave evidence as to the importance of the market at Salisbury. Mr. Fisher, draper, of Blandford, thought it important to the interests of that town that there should be a line on an un broken gauge between Bristol and Blandford. Other evidence of a similar nature was adduced, and the Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XV. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock. ROYSTON AND WARE. Mr. JAMES opened on behalf of the Eastern Counties Com pany's project for forming a line between Royston and Ware, and stated that beside the necessity for a line between the two places, it was peculiarly necessary as completing a chain of communication through a large district. He had AO ob jection to a Bill for amalgamation, as, in the event of the other preambles being passed, the company would of neces sity be compelled to transfer a great portion of their traffic either to the Hitchin and Royston line, or to the Direct Northern Company. After some inquiries from the Chairman respecting the several interests of the different parties the room was cleared, and on the re-admission of the parties, The Committee declared that the preamble of the Bill had been proved, and thus, with the Bill passed the other day for the line to Foxton, the Eastern Counties have obtained their loop from Royston to Shelford. The clauses were then gone through, and the Bill was ordered to be reported. in Room 12, at twoo'clock, to resume the consideration of the DERETSIIIILE,' smarroansurzz, AND WORCESTERSHIRE JUNCTION, and they shortly afterwards adjourned till three o'clock to morrow. passed under his tramroads, and altered their gradients very much. _ _ .....,.... Mr. N. :Robson corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. . . Mr. Mann, manager of Mr. Dixon's works, deposed as to the damage the intersection would do to the works, in sup port of the previous evidence. Mr. Errington, C. E., followed to a similar effect. This closed Mr. Dixon's case. Mr. AUSTIN replied on behalf of the Corporation of Glasgow. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XLIX. EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW. This Committee met this morning, but after waiting two hours for the Railway Commissioners' report, and finding that it was not forthcoming, adjourned till the Ist June. COMMITTEES on PRIVATE BILLS. LIVERPOOL CORPORATION WATERWORKS BILL. The Committee assembled yesterday morning at 12, in Room 35, and were occupied with evidence on the above Bill, after which they adjourned. REGISTRY of BIRTHS and DEATHS DURING THE WEEK ENDING MAY 15. 1 Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week. Males ... ... ... 512 Males ... ... ... 668 Females ... ... 466 Females ... ... 659 Total. 978 Total ... 1,327 LAW INTELLIGENCE. SHERIFFS' COURT, May 20. (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BuncHELL.) MARSHALL V. LARCHIN ♦ND OTHERS. The plaintiff in this action is a steam-boiler manufacturer, and the defendants are brewers at the Queen's Head Brewery, Ratcliffe-cross. The sum claimed was 10/., the balance of an account for making a steam-chest or boiler. The defendants pleaded that they were not indebted. Mr. Tim mAs stated the case, and ealled witnesses who proved that the chest, which is an addition to the boiler, was to enlarge its capacity; and it was admitted that at first there was a slight leakage from a small crack in the flange by which it was attached to the boiler, This was, ac cording to their opinion, effectually stopped by caulking, and was safe and sound, and might be used at a pressure of 80. Mr. CHARNOCK, for the defendants, said he would prove that the plaintiff had contracted to do the work in such a manner that the boiler and chest should be in good working condition. Mr. H. Larchin, a son of one of the defendants, was called, and proved the contract. They used the engine occasionally, being compelled to do so, their other boiler leaking. They did not consider it safe, although it had never blown up yet. They were afraid to put on the power, they only went to a pressure of about 45, instead of 70 or 80. Mr. Finney, an engineer at Blackwall, considered that the boiler could not be used to above 50Ibs. pressure; if the chest was perfect it world bear 751bs. pressure He did not con sider they could caulk the leak in the flange. Mr. Souter, an engineer, considered that a new rim or flange ought to have been put on ; the leak was at present very trifling, but it might become worse, and then there would be danger. It was now used at a pressure of 44, with a new rim it would bear 80. Mr. THoMAs, in reply, contended that the defendants were liable, as they had used, and contrived to use, the boiler, not considering that it was likely to endanger life or property, and there was nothing in the contract as to the pressure. The defendants also had paid 51. on account. The UNDER-SHERIFF left it to the jury to say whether the plaintiff had performed his part of the contract. The jury gave a verdict for the defendants. GAMES D. PRETTY. This was an action to recover the sum of 91. 4s. the amount of an attorney's bill. The detendant had paid 21. 25., which he contended was sufficient, into Court. It appeared from the evidence that the defendant, who is a licensed victualler, at the Cornwall Arms, Cornwall-road, Lambeth, employed the plaintiff in an action against a per son named Pitman. Mr. CHARNOCK, for the defendant, contended there was no proof of retainer except to " frighten" the person Pitman, and it was generally considered that a letter was a " frightener." Defendant and a Mr. Pelser, who was jointly interested, said they would pay for the letter, but plaintiff said it did not matter, and they had a bottle of wine, and told plaintiff they would not have any law. Subsequently plaintiff said he had issued a writ, after which the defendant knew nothing <f the proceedings which were carried on till the costs amounted to 11/. 14e. 10d., of which 21. 7s. 10d. was taxed off, and it had been elicited that some of the busi ness charged for had not been done. Mr. Pelser was called, and denied that he had given any instructions for the writ, nor did the defendant at any of the meetings spoken of at which the witness was present. A paper was put in but not read, but it was, in fact, a note by way of retainer. Mr. Pelser said he could not say whether the signature to the paper was that of the defendant. Mr. PRENTIS, for the plaintiff, called Mr. Brown, the de fendant's attorney, who said he did not believe it was in defendant's handwriting. A notice had been given to admit the handwriting, but this was refused, and four witnesses were present to speak to their belief that the handwriting was not that of defendant. Mr. Goods also spoke to this effect. Mr. CHARNOCK, for the defendant, said the plaintiff was driven to an extremity when he called some of defendant's witnesses to prove the retainer, and had failed in doing so; and in all probability a forgery had been committed, and Mr. Ganes imposed on. The UNDER-SHERIFF said the plaintiff's clerk had sworn positively that defendant was actually present when Pitman was served with the writ, and detendant said he wished plaintiff to go on as fast as he could. It was for the jury to say whether they could &Tend on that evidence. The jury gave a verdict for plaintiff for 61._45. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. Timm COUR T (Before Mr. Commissioner BuLLocK and Sir J. PIRIE, Bart.) On Wednesday, in order to facilitate the business o the session, a third court was formed in the grand jury. room. William Leonard, aged 30, described as a printer, was indicted for feloniously, with a sharp instrument, cut ting arid wounding Elizabeth Leonard (his own mother) with intent to maim and do her some grievous bodily harm. The prosecutrix, an apparently poor and aged woman, in great distress of mind deposed that the prisoner is her only son. (She was so much affected that she could not go on for some time—indeed she was a most reluc tent witness.) She resumed—My son came to my house on Easter Monday, when he was in a state of in toxication. After a few angry words he kicked over the tea table and broke all the tea-things. I tried to quiet him, but failing, I endeavoured to put him out of the room to prevent threatened further mischief. I held up a hot poker to intimidate him from striking me. He then seized me by the arms, and took up a knife used at his dinner, and tried to stab me in the heart. I begged for mercy, and in raising up my arm to ward off his at tempt to stab, I received a severe cut. He then cut across my fingers, and the blood streamed freely. He then cut me several other times. I telt that my life was in danger, but a policeman, fetched by his sister, put an end to his cruelty. I was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where I remained 10 days a patient. My life was for some time said to be in danger. When sober my boy is kind and dutiful, Drink makes him mad. The prisoner's sister confirmed the statement of their aged mother. The jury pronounced the prisoner Guilty. The young man, with seeming real contrition, ex pressed his regret at the injury he had inflicted on a kind mother whom he tenderly loved. He drank deeply but seldom, and when he did his reason left him, and he knew not what he did. He hoped that the position in which intemperance had placed him would operate as a powerful caution, and he would ever endeavour to abstain from intoxicating drink, and be the comfort of his aged parent and sister. The weeping mother implored the mercy of the Court, and said that her poor child had generally given her a portion of his hard earnings. He would never do so any more. Mr. Commissioner Btn.Lock addressed the prisoner in kind language, and hoped that his present determination would be carried into effect, and that he would abstain from drinking to excess, which brought its thousands to destitution, and its hundreds to exile and untimely death. The offence was of so serious a nature that it could not be entirely passed over; but, in the hope of reformation, the Court adjuoged him to be further imprisoned one calendar month, to be computed from the beginning of the sessions. George Carter, who had been admitted to bail, was in dieted tor assaulting a young girl named Charlotte Wil hams, with intent, &c. The prosecutrix, a very modest-looking, respectable young person, stated to the Court that she spent the evening of the 18th of April at the house of a respect able friend, living in the Vale of Highbury. She left for home in a cab about two o'clock on the morning of the 19th. She alighted at the end of New Commercial street, Whitechapel; while walking in the direction lead ing home the prisoner suddenly came up, and sans ceremonie knocked her down on the pavement, and pro ceeded to beha're in so indecent a manner that we cannot detail it. His intent was only frustrated by a policeman, whom her cries had attracted, coming up and taking him off to the station. The prisoner aggravated his case by setting up a sham defence, which insinuated that the prosecutrix was a common street-walker, and had robbed him of a red silk handkerchief. There appeared every reason to believe that this was a most foul aspersion on her character. Verdict Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to hard labour for three calendar months. George Ball, aged 50, pleaded " Guilty" to a charge like the last, committed on a child under ten years of age. The prisoner implored the mercy of the Court on ac count of his family. The JUDGE said they were to be pitied, because his offence was so heinous. The sentence was, that he be kept to hard labour for twelve calendar months. He had the previous repute of a highly-respectable gentleman. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. T!IE C ASE OF D E S OUZA AND OTHEAS.— C harles S m ith, Emily Anne Smith, otherwise Emily Anne Findlay, otherwise Emily Anne de Souza, Mary Davis, otherwise Sturmer, Ca therine Ham, and Mary Anne Brickler, were arraigned upon an indictment charging them with keeping a disorderly house in the parish of St. Pancras. Brickler, who was out on bail, did not surrender when called upon to tak e h er tr i a l , and her recogn i zances were ac cordingly ordered to be estreated. The principal defend ant, Madame de Souza, pleaded not guilty in the first in stance. The other prisoners did the same. Mr. CLARKSON, who appeared on behalf ,of all the pri soners, said, as he had no doubt the objects of the society were to check vice, they would consider that the fact of the prisoner, commonly known as Madame de Souza, but whose real name was Findlay, having given up the premises named as the nuisance in the present indictment, would answer all the purposes proposed by . a prosecution. As for the other prisoners (with the exception of t he man Smith) they were persons in the menial capacity of cook an e iiarwoman, and it appeared possible that this fact might excite his friend's feelings of compassion towards the m as being most likely to have acted passively and unwittingly. , Mr. BODKIN, on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Young Females, said the matter should receive attention , if the parties were to retract their plea and plead guilty: The circumstances of the case were such as to call for this course. With regard to the man Smith he did not think the evidence as to his being actually engaged in the manage ment of the house sufficiently strong to support the charge against him. The prisoner De Souza at first refused to withdraw her plea of not guilty, but eventually, by the advice of her coun sel, pleaded guilty, and she was ordered to find two sureties in the sum of 501.. and to enter into her own recognizance in the sum of 100/. With respect to Smith he was discharged ; the trial of the other prisoner was pro forma postponed to the next session, and the recognizance of Brickler wa estreated. Mr. CLARKSON stated that the house, No. 4, Grafton street, Fitzroy-square, had been given up to Mr. Wilson, the landlord, and that gentleman was now in court. Mr. Wilson (who occupied a seat on the bench) here stood forward, and said that the home had not as yet been given up to him, nor had he any knowledge whether it was used at present for its former purposes. The Learned ASSISTANT-JUDGE said the Court would take care that any contract of this kind should be carried out to its utmost extent. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. George Gilson, ttdrWei, waslTrought before Sir J. Pirie and Mr. Alderman Hunter, charged with stealing 4/. 25., which had been instrusted to him by his em ployer, a drover named Osborne, residing at Lewisham. Osborne stated that he is accustomed to fetch sheep and lambs from the Great Western Railway, consigned to Mr. Still, a salesman; and by arrangement with the company he paid for the carriage of one lot under the other. The prisoner had been in his employ two years, and on Sunday the money was given to him to pay for the sheep that came up on Thursday. He went to the railway on Sunday evening, but went away again with out taking the sheep and lambs then there, as he ought to have done, first paying the 41.25. for the last lot. He, however, sent another drover, who brought the flock on to Smithfield. Witness heard that he had been seen at the terminus, and was surprised that he did not bring the flock. On hearing that the railway money had not been paid he started off immediately to inquire about it, and met the prisoner in Holborn. The prisoner said he had paid the money, but the clerks wanted to swear him out of it. He made the prisoner go with him to the railway, when be first said he had paid the money to the clerk who usually gives out to the drovers the orders for the delivery of the sheep, but it appeared that gentleman was ill, and only three clerks had been on duty. The prisoner said it was neither of those, but a stranger. As no stranger had been acting as cierk in the office, witness gave him into custody for stealing the money. William Crathorn, a drover in the service of the pro secutor, proved :the delivery of the money to the pri soner about half-past six o'clock on Sunday evening. Richard Powell, a clerk at the terminus, said Mr. Ash down, who usually attends to the delivery of the sheep, being ill, witness gave out the orders on Sunday even ing. The prisoner applied to him for an order for Mr. Still's sheep, and received one. He ought to have paid the money at the time, but he went out without doing so, and, instead of returning for the sheep, sent another man. The prisoner persisted in his story that he had paid the ssoney, Sir J. PIRIE inquired minutely into the mode of doing business at the office, and being satisfied that the money could not have been paid to any but the three clerks the prisoner had seen, and that the prisoner did not pre tend he had paid either of them, committed the prisoner for trial. GROUP XVII. The Committee on this group re-assembled this morning at the usual hour in Room 11; Sir James Buller East in the chair. GREAT NORTHERN (DEVIATIONS BET WEEN LONDON AND GRANTHAM). The clauses on the deviation from Peterborough to Gran tham were, after some alterations, amendments, and addi tions, agreed to. The clause proposed by the Ambergate Company was re , ferred, a slight alteration having been made in it. The Committee then adjourned till to• morrow. GROUP XVIII. GLOUCESTER AND STONEHOUSE BRANCH. This Committee on this group met this morning shortly after twelve o'clock; the Earl of Lincoln in the chair. Mr. HILDYARD stated, that although the Bristol and Glou cester Company felt that they were making a hard bargain, in consenting to make a payment to the Great Western Com pany after they had laid down a line of their own, yet as they felt they had no alternative, they had acceded to the suggestion of the Committee. In acceding to this proposition, how ever, the directors, acting under the advice of Mr. Robert Stephenson, who of course governed them on such points as these, they felt entitled to deduct from their payment the sum which the Great Western would save in wear and tear. It was ultimately agreed that the clauses, which had been prepared, should be submitted to the counsel for the latter company, and that, in the meantime, the case of the oppos ing landowners should be taken, Mr. Helps having a right to sum up after the decision of the two companies. Mr. Hall, a land agent and surveyor, was then called to show the way in which the property of Mr. Niblett, a gen tleman who is now a magistrate, and who has been high sheriff for the county, would be affected. The estate of that gentleman was represented to be a very fine one, and almost within a ring fence. Mr. HILDYARD here interposed with a proffer that the Midland Company would bind themselves by a clause not to go to their limits of deviation. The Noble CHAIRMAN, whose suggestions throughout the inquiry have frequently been of admirable service in clear. ing 4theway, inquired on what principle the Midland Com pany intgnded to proceed in laying down the narrow guage line? To which Mr. HILDTAND replied, that it was proposed to widen the embankment of the present Great Western line. Mr. Brunel stated, that if this were to be done the Mid land Company would have to pull down all their bridges. Mr. Hall said, that if there was to be a separate embank ment the narrow gauge line would come much nearer than it otherwise would do to Mr. Niblett's house. The line, as now laid down, would come within a trifle less than two hundred yards. At present the approach to the house was across the line upon a level, and of course the inconvenience of crossing two lines would be greater than that of crossing one. Mr. MELT'S then continued his examination on the way in which the line would affect the city of Gloucester,particularly in crossing Barton-street, a very considerable thoroughfare on the level, and indeed witness believed that the proposed line could not be made at all unless the loop was also granted, as at present it cut off a considerable suburb of Gloucester, which at the present time is populous, and which has lately been made an ecclesiastical district. __ Mr. HILDYARD then examined generally upon a supposed arrangement between Mr. Niblett and the Midland Company, but it was shown that the conversations had been understood to be without prejudice. Mr. Edmar, a trustee of the Gloucester and Stroud group of roads, stated that the traffic on the roads to be traversed by the railway was very considerable, and that the tolls on those roads were generally let at an annual rental of 650/. the interest of which would be destroyed if the Bill were to be granted. Mr. Jones who holds a considerable quantity of land under Lord Sidmouth and other proprietors, and who is a surveyor for part of these roads, stated that there was a fair of two days' duration held annually in Barton-street and its neigh bourhood, and in Gloucester, at which there was a consi derable concourse of people. There were, besides, two statute or highway fairs, and at the period when they were held there must, of necessity, be considerable delay, if not danger. On re-examination, Mr. Jones stated that he was un aware that there were several crossings in towns, but could not deny that there were two crossings on the level in Southampton, or that there were others in Canterbury, Bir mingham, and other important places. • . . Some other witnesses were examined to show the disad vantage that would be suffered by the crossings on the level at Gloucester, and this closed the case of the landowners, after which the Committee adjourned. The decision cannot be given until the report of the Rail way Commissioners is received, and the time when that will be made is at present uncertain. GROUP XX. The Select Committee appointed to consider the Bills comprised in this group , re-assembled at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Goulburn in the chair. OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVER HAMPTON (CHELTENHAM AND EVE SHAM imams). Mr. MELLOR was engaged the whole of the morning in addressing the Committee on behalf of Mr. Budge, an oppos ing landholder. Mr. WHATELEY replied, and the Committee adjourned. GROUP XXI. The Committee met at the usual hour this morning ; Sir James Graham in the chair. BIRMINGHAM, WOLVEItHAMPTON, AND STOUR VALLEY (No. I). BIRMINGHAM, V7OLVERHILMPTON , AND STOVE V.A.1.1.X.EY (No. II). The Committee was occupied nearly the whole of the day in going through the clauses of these Bills. The whole of the clauses were agreed to, and the Chair man was instructed to report the Bills accordingly to the House. This closed the labours of the Committee. GROUP XXV. T Co o m m in ra i i t t t t e e e e a m dl e . MANCHESTZE, BUXTON, AND M ATLOCK AND MIDLANDS (JUNCTION AND DEVI ATIONS), in conseq uence of the report of the Ra i lway B oar d no t being received, The he c oturantetdliteiltusthueal2hdojuurnien, Room 13, but The Committee o n thin GROUP xxVl.group re-assembled this morning GROUP XXVII. The Committee in this group (Mr7Cardwel," chairman), were engaged all the morning arranging the clauses in The Eastern Counties Railway (Wisbeach to Spalding). The Great Northern Railway (Branches to King's Lynn). The Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Wisbeach to Sut • ton-bridge). The clauses having been agreed to, and all the business of the group disposed of, the Committee broke up. GROUP XXIX. MIDLANDS (BRANCH TO BRATFORD MERE). The Committee met at twelve o'clock. There being no opposition to the branch, evidence was gone into ;no forma, and the preamble wa.s declared to be proved. The Committee then proceeded with the clauses. GROUP XXXIIL The Committee met this morning at twelve. GREAT NORTHERN (EXTENSIONS TO LEEDS AND WAXEFIELD, DEVIA TIONS, d‘c.) The proceedings commenced by Mr. TALBOT, who claimed (and argued his claim at considerable length) to be heard on behalf of the London and North-Western Company, against the proposed extensions of the Great Northern Railway to Leeds and to Wakefield. Mr. M. CHAMBERS appeared as the counsel for Lord Mex• borough, and consented, on the part of his Lordship, to with draw the opposition to the Bill, provided in case of the passing of the Great Northern Railway Bill, that that company should consent to the terms of the agreement entered into between the Leeds and Dewsbury Railway Company and his Lordship. Mr. Sergeant WR&XGHAM contended that Mr. Talbot had no right to appear on the part of the North-Western Com pany, there being no petition of that company referred to the Committee. With respect to the arrangement between the Leeds and Dewsbury Railway with Lord Mexborough, he could only say that he was at present perfectly ignorant of the nature of those arrangements, but he could venture to say, on the part of his clients, that they were perfectly ready to make arrangements that might be considered fair and rea sonable to the parties immediately concerned. Mr. TALBOT, in reply, said that, although by the general rule he admitted that he could not appear without a petition, yet, under the peculiar circumstances of the case he was in titled to appear, there not having been sufficient time to pre pare a petition to the House since the decision of the Com mittee on Saturday last, as to the course they proposed to take with respect to the Bills before them. The room was then ordered to be cleared. The Committee deliberated, and upon the parties being called in, The CHAIRMAN said, the Committee are of opinion that the objection taken by Mr. Talbot is a good one, and must prevail. The Leeds and Dewsbury Railway having sold themselves to the London and North-Western Company, and the Committee having proceeded, ever since they were made aware of that fact, upon the assumption that the London and North-Western parties were really before them, the Com mittee do not think that they can allow the Leeds and Dews bury Railway to turn round and repudiate the London and North-Western Company, and stand in an independent posi tion ; they think the objection, therefore, a valid one. Mr. Sergeant WILKINS then claimed to be heard on behalf of the Manchester and Leeds Railway n as against the Mid land Counties scheme. Mr. TEMPLE objected to such a course. Mr. Sergeant WILKDrs replied, and the Committee again ordered the room to be cleared. Upon the parties being recalled, the Committee decided that they were of opinion that the preamble of the LEEDS CENTRAL STATION BILL was proved, and that the preambles of the remaining Bills referred to the Committee were not proved, viz., the , . Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester (Extension to Water ford, &c.) Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction Railway. Great Northern (Extension to Leeds and Wakefield, &c., and Deviation). The Committee then adjourned until ;Tuesday week, when it is proposed to proceed with the clauses of the Leeds Central Railway Station Bill. GROUP XXXV. EAST LANCASHIRE DEVIATIONS (RAW. STENSTALL COAL BRANCH). The Committee met this morning, Mr. Fitzroy in the chair, when they first took the Rawstenstall Branch, which is merely a short extension, of ten chains lona, of the East Lancashire line, to enable the directors to get at certain va luable beds of coal. There was no opposition to the Bill. GROUP XXXVI. The Committee on — this group re-assembled to-day at the usual hour, in Rosin 14; Mr. Roebuck in the chair. MANCHESTER, AND SOUTHPORT AND BRANCHES. The decision on this line has been postponed till the report from the Railway Board be received. EAST LANCASHIRE (SOUTHPORT BRANCH AND PRESTON EXTENSION). Mr. Meek, C.E., was examined as to the engineering works required on the line. Mr. Nicholson, the director of the company, was also exa mined in favour of the line. Mr. Part, solicitor, was examined in opposition. The decision in this case was also postponed. ST. HELEN'S CANAL AND RAILWAY (WAR RINGTON AND BLELCXBURN BRANCHES). Mr. Sergeant WICANGHAM opened the case on behalf of the promoters of this line. Several witnesses were examined for the line. The case of the opposition will be gone into to-morrow. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at the usual hour. GROUP XXXIX. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Lord Charles Wellesley in the chair. LEEDS AND THIRSX (LEEDS, DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE EXTENSION). Mr. BAYNES opened the case for the promoters of this ex tensive scheme, which is brought forward for the purpose of forming a competing line to the existing York and Newcastle Railway. The line would conamet.ce in junction with the existing Leeds and Thirsk Railway at Ripon, pass through Northallerton, Yarm, Durham, and thence on to Newcastle, forming a shorter and more direct communication between Leeds and these several towns. The line was opposed by the York and Newcastle Com pany, and several shareholders. The remainder of the day was occupied with the general evidence usually adduced in favour of new lines. The Committee then adjourned at four till twelve to morrow. GROUP XLIV. The Committee met this morning at twelve; Mr. B. Deni son in the chair. DUNDEE AND PERTH (ALTERATION AND EXTENSION, AND INCHTURE, POLGU RIZ, AND /NCIIMICRAEL BRANCHES). The preamble of this Bill being unopposed, was, after a formal examination of Mr. Thorns, declared proved. The clauses were then read and agreed to, a clause being in serted, giving the P erth Harbour Com m i s sioners a dispensing power over the sw ing bridge proposed by the raiway com pany over the river. DUNDEE AND NEWTYLE. The report of the Railway Commissioners was made on this Bill this morning, and the preamble was declared proved, and the clauses read. The Committee then adjourned till eleven to-morrow. GROUP XLV. This Committee met this day in Room 16 ; Sir Dennis le Merchant, chairman, and proceeded to take the EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN (ST. AN DREW'S AND NEWBURGH BRANCHES). Traffic evidence was taken in favour of the promoters, and the formal proofs were put in by the secretary of the com papy. This closed the case for - the promoters. Mr. WHATELZY4 Q.C., addressed the Committee for a Mr. !!! , y. of Maydrum, and then called witnesses to prove the Injury to his property if this Bill were sanctioned. Mr. Ross then opened for the Cupar-road trustees, rho were also petitioners against the Bill. The Committee then broke up. GROUP XLVI. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY (No. I). The Committee met at the usual hour, Mr. Sotheran chairman. The CHAIRMAN stated the House would adjourn to-mor row, but that it was the intention of the Committee to sit upon that day, and also that after that day the Committee would not meet again until Tuesday week. The cross-examination of Mr. Miller was then resumed by Mr. Sergeant BELLACIS—The proposed line would take about ten acres of the property of Mr. Miller. The water courses made for the purposes of irrigation were not shown upon the Parliamentary sections. In such parts where the railway would pass below the level of the water courses, there would be no difficulty in carrying the water across the line by means of a syphon ; ample provision was made for these expenses, under the head of contingencies. The radius of the curve at the part in question of the railway was ten chains. The railway would cross upon the level over several of the roads in the neigh bourhood of Mr. Miller's property. Upon the roads pro posed to be crossed on Mr. Miller's property, there was a considerable traffic, chiefly among Mr. Miller's tenants, who were very numerous. He did not anticipate any objection from crossing the roads on the proposed plan. The North British crossed many of the roads by the same mode. Application was then made on the part of the Leith and Granton Railway Company, to cross-examine the witness. After some discussion upon the question" of their locus standi, the room was ordered to be cleared, and the Committee decided that they should not be allowed to be heard. Mr. Merrit, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce at Leith, gave favourable evidence of a similar nature. Mr. Wilson, banker, of Kelso, also gave evidence to the same effect. This closed the case on behalf of the promoters. Mr. Sergeant BELLASLS then addressed the Committee on behalf of Mr. Miller, and contended that a better line could have been fou n d, and one which would not at all have inter fered with the property of his client. At the conclusion of his address, The Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow. XLVII. This Committee met GRO to U -da P y at three o'clock; the Ron. Eliot Yorke in the chair. AIRDR IE AND BATECGATE =NOTION (AMENDMENT AND DEVIATION). The report of the Railway Commissioners on this Bill having been received to-day, on the meeting of the Com mittee the preamble of the Bill was declared to be proved, and the clauses of the Bill gone through and agreed to. This terminated the business of the group. GROUP XLVIII. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock ; Lord Courtenay in the chair. GLASGOW, AIRDRIE, AND DIONIELA.NDS JUNCTION (cowmaxas CENTRAL JUNC. TION A3.T33 CARMYL BRANCHES). The case in opposition to this Bill was resumed. Mr. N. Robson was re-called, an d cross-examined on behalf of the Bill. Th e o bj ect was to , show that Mr. Walker's line would not accommodate the through traffic so well as the Cen tral Junction propos e d. This closed the case for the corporation against the Bill. Mr. Johnston, C.E ., was exa mined, with the obj ec t o f showing that Mr. Dixon's works, in Tradeston, would be considerably injured by th e p ro posed line of railway, which MARLBOROUGH-STREE. Octatia Sarah Moore de Belione Wyatt, residing at No. 3, Duke-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, was charged before Mr. Hardwick with intermarrying with Joseph Koller, her former husband, Henry Wyatt, being still alive. It appeared that in 1839 th• prisoner was married to Mr. Henry Wyatt, the son of Coates Wyatt, the architect, and that about a week after the marriage the prisoner was taken to Boulogne by her husband, under the pretence of being sent to Paris to see her friends. The husband gave her 10/. when she got on the diligence, and then left her; since that time she had neither seen or heard from him. Believing him to be dead, she intermarried with the prosecutor on the 27th of January last, at St. James's Church, Piccadilly. Subse quently the prosecutor received information that her first husband was alive, which induced him to make such in quiries as caused him to give the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said she had not seen her husband since the first week after her marriage, which was seven years ago. She therefore thought she had a perfect right to marry again. Mr. HARDWICK, in order to gain further proofs of the first marriage, remanded the prisoner till Saturday. WESTMINSTER. William Sinnott, the contractor for cleansing the streets of St. Margaret's and St. John's, Westminster, was summoned for neglecting to obey the terms of his contract. The case had been twice adjourned in consequence of defendant being, as it was alleged, from London, and his foreman having yesterday stated that his master had again gone out of town, Mr. Broderip, at the request of Mr. Rogers, who represented the parish authorities, heard the case iu the absence of the defendant, upon proof being given of the service of the summons. William Crow, inspector of pavements, proved that it was the contractor's duty to cleanse the streets once a week, and cart away the rubbish or dirt. On the 4th inst. it was swept together and I ermitted to remain for three days, to the great annoyance of the residents and passengers. It ought to have been removed, and he spoke to defendant's clerk and foreman respecting it repeatedly. Mr. BRODERIP fined the defendant 40s. Richard Hurley, a powerful young Irishman, was brought up for final examination, charged with obtaining a loaf of bread from Mr. Bush, the relievirg officer of the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, under f , lse pretences. Prisoner went to the relieving officer, and representing himself to be in a state of utter destitution, had a loaf of bread given to him. The relieving officer, suspecting that he was an impostor. had him searched, when the sum of 13s. was found upon him. It also turned out that he had told a poor widow, with whom he lodged, that he could not pay his rent, as he was completely des titute. The case had been remanded in order to give the parish an opportunity of seeing whether they could indict with any chance of success ; but, although Mr. Bush yesterday brought a verbal message that they wished the prisoner punished with the utmost rigour the law, he did not state that it was their determination to prosecute. Mr. BRODERIP observed that, owing to some legal diffi culties in the case, it was very doubtful whether a prose cution could be carried on with any chance of success, and he therefore thought the parish authorities had acted advisedly in not taking up the prosecution. - It was much to be regretted, at a time when so much was being done for the prisoner's fellow-countrymen, and when, too, so much distress prevailed amongst the English, that a.person could be found committing a fraud of this de scription. He should recommend, as he was informed that cases of this description were of frequent occurrence, that when casual paupers applied, and it was suspected that they were in possession of sums of money, they should be asked whether they had any objection to be searched, and if they had they should be refused relief, and the relieving officers could then refer them to the magistrate of the district, who would inquire into the matter. Mr. Bush thanked the magistrate for his advice, and said he should certainly act upon it. The prisoner was then discharged. SOUTHWARK. James Morris was brought before Mr. Cot tingham for re-examination, charged with firing a loaded pistol at. Frances Mary Morris, his wife. with intent to kill her. The following additional evidence was adduced : Mrs. Mary Übsdell stated, that she lives in Albion place, Walworth, and that on Friday evening last, white engaged in her back parlour, she heard a loud scream, and in a moment afterwards the complainant rushed into the passage, the street-door being open, and exclaimed that she had been fired at by her husband. She was very much agitated, and the prisoner entered the house a minute afterwards, and on hearing what his wife men tioned, said he did not do anything of the kind, but merely snapped his finger. He tried to prevail upon his wife to leave the house; and threatened to have a police man if she did no*; but she refused, saying that she was afraid he would murder her, and he then left the place. Afterwards a policeman came into the house, aid the complainant then went away. The witness added that she also saw Mrs. Staples, who was with the com plainant, and she also seemed very much alarmed, and spike of the prisoner's having fired a pistol at his wife. In answer to Mr. COTTINGIIAM, the witness said she heard no report of a pistol previously to hearing the scream; that her street-door was open, and that she thought she should have heard the report if a pistol had been discharged. A crowd soon collected near the house, and the prisoner suddenly disappeared in the midst of the confusion that occurred. The prisoner wore a white blouse. She did not see a n y weapon in his possession. The prisoner here exclaimed , that see en what trwinags thehis wife scream he went into the house to her; matter with her, and not exp ecting t that -she would ac cuse him of attempting to shoo he never thought of perpetrating such an act. m to r n : s Staples , hearing who,a l loud d i n scream, a state Mrs. Jane Cox said that she li v es in Albion-place, and she ran to her that on the evening door char , c 1 a pistol at his wife, and she at the same time of alarm, ejacula ted that a young man had just dis e and in sqauwe si pointed out the prisoner as the man who entered Mrs. Übsdell's house, and she (witness) heard him ask his wife whether she was hurt; he afterwards came out, when witness held him, but she afterwards let him go, and, on getting outside the door into the street, he ran away. In reply to Mr. COTTINGRAM, the witness said she heard no report of fire-arms previously to hearing the complainant scream. There was a crowd of persons collected, but no one stopped the prisoner when he ran away. She saw no pistol or weapon of any kind in the prisoner's possession. Elizabeth Roche Stone stated that she also lived near the spot where the alleged occurrence took place, and, on hear i ng a noise, she went to the door and saw the t h h e e r prisoner, r bonnet.isoo ewhoA t thatwas time assertingthe co mplainant, who said she had been fi re d a t, an d that lasttwo wshiototsesshad badho lodged ld in his innocence of having used a pistol; and when the crowd was collecting near the spot he ran away and made his escape. Policeman 37 P stated, that he was called off his beat on tho u evening in q ues ti on, and, on entering Mrs. Übsdells house he saw the complainant, who seemed very much frightened. She told him that her husband had fired a pistol at her; that he had run away, and she implored him to see her home to her father's, in Bridge house-place, in case he should make another attempt to injure her. He (the policeman) did accompany the com plainant and Mrs. Staples, both of whom appeared alarmed and ag it a t e d , and kept looking behind every winute as if they dreaded some injury. lie did not see t;ie ixisoner r.t all oo this oeLqt,ion, nor did he hear the report of any fire-ac ms, although Lie was not far off when the alleged firing took place. The MAGISTRATE called the complainant forward, and, addressing her, said, that having head the witnesses just examined describe that none of them heard the repo . rt of the pistol, he wished to know whether she still persisted in her former statement, namely, that her husband had discharged a pistol at her head?—Tho complainant an swered in the affirmative; and, in reply to further ques tions, she said that she thought it must be a pistol be fired at her, but she did not see it. She saw a flash, and did not think it was produced by the sudden ignition of lucifer matches. She did not go to the station•house to make known the circumstance, she was so agitated, but she mentioned it to her father when she returned home the same night. Mrs. Staples, who it will be recollected was in con' pany with the complainant on the occasion, was al ° examined, and she distinctly said she heard the report of the pistol and saw the flash, and that she previously saw the prisoner pull forth something which she believed to be a weapon of that description. Mr. Gardner stated that the complainant wes,h-19, daughter, and that, when he returned home on Fri d a y night, she immediately informed him that she had been shot at by her husband ; and he lost no time in givi n g the necessary information of the facts at the Ost ia " house. say anything he wished in answer to the chsr li g Mr. COTTINGHAM said, the prisoner was at the complainant was confirmed in her terinsonf head the fact of a deadly weapon being discharges a t ber De" - by his. bas The prisoner—Mr. Gardner, my lathe/4004 t Ole often threatened not to stop until he contrive in prison. This charge is trumped up for tint P a n 't a . era at never fi red a pistol at my wife. I snapped 1 3 1 ut n 'fied beer:Yi:toot her, and that's all; and she and Mrs. Staplestave„ in 7a i r 1 it into an attempt to shoot her. If I bad frea should have attempted to escape after the ict; uvw here no such thing. I followed my wife to the house se a she and her companion ran; and the same right I P es ilt s, up and down Newington-causeway, and, if! were g','4 ~f such an offence, it is not likely that should 1' acted in that way. 101 l 6 ,:sl e did Mr. COTTINGHAM—It is given in evicence tee. • firioeff did run away when you saw matters hemming son tad people beginning to collect near the slot. m e Prisoner—There was a warrant issued Bglu n ' n ot previously, on the complaint of my wife's father; 55 , ; thec O hs wishing to be taken into custody on that precool s'lS" reason I ran away, fearing they would give we : 1 n Ss , to a policeman. I also wrote a letter to my wile thing turday (the day after the alleged offence), des e ': a me that I had not attempted such an act as she Was al o u f ilT a irh n el d cw i o t emr is ep n loa o ign t ua p in r ltt o y b a a m b am le ni. l tte sh d ould have written to he' that she had Ten eil c i eci tbs l note from the prisoner on the day mentioned, a n i ,„ a rar he did not mention in it where he lived, but the e 'Frei' of it being followed, by that means his place • • to donee was ascertained, which led to his being o ' e-- custody. nar y 00 Mr. COTTINGHAM said, that it was extraord i st of person had come forward who had heard the rer lcl o ple pistol on the night in question, although several P were about at the time. A thst Winch, a warrant o ffi cer of this Court, sat- a sse made every inquiry in the neighbourhood, but O s n igbts no person who heard any report of fire-arms they that he also closely examined the spot, in se arch ed t rio weapon, but could find none, and had since sore?' prisoner's lodgings, and was equally unsuccessful' , o f the The prisoner again asserted his charge, and declared it was all a concocted se on bet get him into gaol, so that his wife could carrloso amours the better. He had no pistol on the. nrt y and he never intended to place his own it jeopardy by firing a pistol at her. Mr. COTTINGHAM commented on the evidencetttarlsit siderable length, in the course of which he said t iff present, it was not of such a nature as would ja°_ . „'o ll : in sending the prisoner for trial on so serious 7,m a d sof t sation ; for the complainant and Mrs. Staple s ~a mitted that they never heard a pistol discharg.- esia then, and one of them, in describing the rePe ri ' loci° was like the sudden ignition of three or fe ,ll . r n _r e elill matches. There was no doubt a great deal of .l'A it ao existed between the prisoner and h is w ife's far a cir it was a most unfortunate marriage. Under all on er,,_ ll ,_ cumstances, therefore, he should remand the Pr'' t h e order to give further time to collect evidence.? l i d a pteu magistrate directed that every means should be - for that purpose. THAMES. , ford Henry Ivory and James Smit h were brellg h st ,113; and Mr. Ballantine, charged with stealing a truss ov ir l i i` B, an a sack of oats, the property o f Harman I l em i g. omnibus proprietor in Church lane, Whitenh a t s a been It appeared from the evidence t hat 1107_ months, horse-keeper to the prosecutor for a bo i t l r a t ot r ,i n t 7 s of b a y and in the course of that time re nt On Toes' and oats had been missing from pee, ha horse keep ' dey evening, about nine o'clock, isnot utor., saw the named Lay, in the employ of the prosec fro , prisoner Ivory leave his master's premises wall drr of hay on his shoulders. A few minutes et terr ooe , and while Lay was sitting in the Fir Tree publ e•av,,_ ol) § in Church-lane, he saw the prisoner Smith ps sss with a full sack of oats on his back. He then return o , the stn to the stables and found the loft door open, and on oi e t o tioning what he had seen to Mr. Dell, the pro ; s ecutera stem keeper, he looked over the stables and loft, e n , missed a truss of h a y from the former place, m ad fr: l 7 B the other a sack of oats. The loss of the hay oats having been commu nicated to Mr. Headrike, juue the son o too f the ne o prosecutor, thea h s e rpert r i us e or p nn a ee i r dr e ,l d ayl w otrh i y t o h uag s n e hd y severa l o l c.io p tuei a li t ee t m he en do hear voices within. After waiting four or five rel n ",„"ife Mr. flendriks pulled down the shatters, and Ivory's i n to then admitted the prosecutor's ._on and the Pol ine iaed the parlour, where they found a truss of hal Ps% against the wall. It was of a mixed quality, e. l O t he similar in quality and appearance to the haf_,loloo stable. Ivory on being questioned said , he h ad jje the truss of hay to feed the horses in the morrall' ssta ? was then asked what had become of th e sack: otooesrch and he declared he knew nothing of it. A furtb,erni two was made, and in an upper room the officers fo children of the prosecutor's sacks, on which Ivory's voi were Is ing. The two sack s' were joined togethe.r:_. ;0 t he was a third sack also belonging to the prosecuts r same s pond r e o d o min. appearance, ltcontained a r i l d h handful of a o r f k o s a c u s p , o a ti nt•i t e e n wp r e r o re e : similar to the one full of oats which Lay "w g Bot h P ria soner Smith carrying two hours previous. o__, o „ to soners were then given into custody. On the 7 I ra the station house Smith made his escape, ,He wasY sr e sued, and about a quarter of an hour afterwards Swag ha liceman named Goddard, 16 11, overtook Mass r is e ta b n e c e e, oul an d d re td p d tu isr a re sv: ; 10 , compelled to use h is with prisoner made despera te staff that in the early part v gave a fictitious address, and be re fo s stolen' the evening, and before the hay and oats wert In addition to the above fects, it wa . s shown part ° f lied for . Backchurch-lane, Whitechapel, and Ivory ca es , t the prisoners were together at the Weavers' Ara l ; pot of beer, and asked the landlord to give him crn; for it, at the same time remarking th at he and his c. it s panion had no money. At eleven o'clock t he same olgod when the prisoners were apprehended , 4s . was f°tl.,jo upon one, and 3s. 6d. upon the other , and this man 6-7,. supposed to have been obtained by the sale of the °I/- The prisoners were committed fer trial. John Leonard was charged with having been concern" l ste m al r m . g H a um ba p g hr e i f e e s, off st e ,l e ic f i r t o o m r, t w h h e o L a o p n p d ea on re ll d oc n k n s. company, said the robbery took place on the 26th of the, bruary last. The bag of coffee was abstracted from an Y e p t• of the wool warehouse, where coffee wa s ;, - e 'sel i T n w t o ha m t en, named Pottle and Joiner, who had been sokl e d they were committed itlit,ur turned dl outfor t t h h e at felony a room, were charged at this Court the next daP.„ - e rl, the fact of their • eying stolen the coffee being fully P ur se' vois Of the investigation • the bar, who had, however, mana ged to t he concerned with them, and that person he should el" vi keeP the prisoner at out of the way till yesterday evening, when he wen s; t :iasoll docks for employment, and was recognised as the inv." - for whom the police had been in search. A pe g Richard Metcalf, foreman of the wool warehouse, de to having seen the prisoner engaged with Pottle and a gr. on the day in question, in loading a cart belonging Way. Kenworthy, and in which cart the coffee was taken I .'„' W , 00 11 Richard Wilton, a labourer, also proved W I-I ; s one Joiner hand the ' prisoner the bag of co ff ee, and the P stowed it away. ving see?„ Other witnesses were examined, who sp.oke to hs be daY the prisoner working with Pottle and Joiner t vere endev question, and, after some farther inquiry, he was to perfect the evidence. dorommam••••••=.......1•111•11. 'err with Mr. Acland and Mr. F. Luttrell had an intervl Sir G. Grey yesterday. shir e ' SWiNG.—A farmer near Refford, Nottingharn , 0 having several corn stacks in his farm-yard, has rs ceiVeu anonymous letter stating that unless he thrashes out grain, and puts it into market, it will s be thrashed for hitt' , —de thirdbl enph tae e al t r s e BIRTHS. o f On the 28th of April, at Halifax , Nova Scotia, the w ife Lieutenant Walter Francis Robinson, R.N., of a son. Ae n On the 15th inst., at Chislehurst, Kent, the lady 0. , o Bowden, Esq., of a daughter, who survived her birt h on On e day. the 15th inst., the wife of James Gordon Hacks/0 °124 of her Majesty's Ordnance-office, of a daughter. 1 ,4 6 of On the 16th inst., at Thornbury House, We , ,"4.1 - j ab' Wight, the wife of H. Shinto Douglas, Esq.., 42d YgoYe' —.- lenders, of a son and heir. of or. 13 • On the 16th inst., in Eccleston-street, the l ad), Christie Esq., M.., o a chuhter. On the 17th inst P ., at f Rose-h g ill, Caversham, Oxon, the lAcil of Captain Frederick Cleaveland, R.H.A., of a son._ ofWO On the 17th inst., at Brunswick-square , the w" Ham Hughes Hughes, jun., Esq., of a son. m om On the lit h in Union-street, Southwark, • Barlow, of a daughter. of On the 17th mot., the lady of Barnes Peacock, Ems., , daughter. lady of o t t h l e t l H Bt a ll yn i e n s st cv , a a l t ton ß . e E rn s a g r . d , 0 -s f et, Russell-sq.-4 the MARRIED. r c o* On the 19th of April, at Kingston-on-Tbatnest Wallis Pycroft, F.S.A., of New-inn, Middlese*.4_",. Cordelia Sarah Halford, youngest da u g hter of theWs Red. William Ellis, incumbent of Thames Ditton, Surrey go. On the 18th inst., in Finsbury - sq uare, Mark Georg e 'ji g * mons, Esq., of Herbert-street , New North-road to ar°eigh, . I, ird (laughter of the late Lawrence Lazarus/ EK" L Essex. Dl o f At Whitehall, Jamaica, Charles E rnest, second eon Savery, Esq., aged 20. At Rome, Waiter Baynes, Esq., second son o f the 18" Sir Chrioper Bay , nes, Bart. On th st e 15th inst in South Mall, Cork, J. I. Jones, On the 16th inst., at Mount Radf ord, near Exeter, ±o3"' the relict of the Rev. J. Manning,assOisntatnhte-sulr7gtehonintsot.dnnisßeersgietyntc-s a ged 88. otlrleeeete, HJoohsnpiPtahLillips rater' On the 18th inst., at Pen nin g ton PArSODAget the !le i. ' Lewis Playters Hird. On the 18th inst., at Soho Cottage, St. of Wandsworth, Harriett Bailey D avis, the wife of Ain v• Davis, R.I.P. 1 1 $ Lo.i4on: Printed an 2 Published by MURDO YOITITOI. 0 4 l i„,. r i e doet strand, Printer, at The Sun Oilloe, No. 112. Strand rthleY' . in th e mo of Ow Savoy # in ac County of httddlesez• 1847. S