The Sun. — London, England, 1857-01-27 00:00:00

Zbirb IBbttion SUN OFPT E, Seven lock. NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.—(This Day.) The following appointment was made at the Admiralty this afternoon : Master—Cornelius T. A. Noddall, to the Victory. REWARD FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES. The Board of Admiralty, in consideration of the meritorious services frequently rendered by lieute nants employed as Admiralty agents on board contract steam vesseis, have determined to award an annual promotion to the rank of Commander on Reserved half-pay if any lieutenant should be recommended by the officer conducting the packet service at Southampton on the ground of general good or special service. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY—(This Day.) (Before Mr. Commixaioner Fonblanque.) IN BR GODDARD.—THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK. This was a meeting for choice of assignees in the case of this bankrupt, who was described as of London-wall, Old Jewry, Fenchurch street, and Alderegate, provision mordant. The bankrupt is one of the unfortunate share holders of the Royal British Bank, and came before the court in consequence of proceedings taken against him in respect of his liabilities on account of the bank. From the preliminary statement by Mr. J. D. Fowell, the accountant, of Basinghall-street, it appears that the trade debts only amount to 160/. ; and the assets are—good debts, 100/. ; cash at banker's, 7501. ; stock, &c., 9001- Bankrupt bad held 12 old and 24 new shares, and had been called on by the official manager for 751. per share, and by the official assignee for 501. per share. A long argument ensued as to the right of a judgment creditor against the bank to prove ; but his Honour ultimately adjourned it, and said that no doubt the question would be settled in the superior courts at Westminster. As signees were chosen. LONDON GAZETTE—( his Evening.) WAR OFFICE, JAN. 21. The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the appointment of the Right Hon. the Earl of St. Ger mans, C. 8., to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Divi sion of the First Class, or Knights Grand Cross, of the Most Hon. Order of the Bath ; and of Col. His Serene Highness Prince William Augustus Edward of Saxe- Weimar, Grenadier Guards, to be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions of the said Most Hon. Order. WHITEHALL, JAN. 2G. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. George Rogers, M.A.,to the Vicarage of Gedney, in the county and diocese f Lincoln, void by the death of the Rev. Thomas Sweet Estcott. WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, JAN. 27. let Regiment of Dragoons—Lieutenant William Edmund Curtis has been permitted to retire from the service by the sale of his commission ; Walter Balfe, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, in succession to Lieutenant Curtis, who re tires. 9th Regiment of Foot—Ensign John H a y cro ft B o lt on t o be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Sealy, who retires ; James Lewis Bradshaw, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Bolton. _ 14th Foot—Brevet-Colonel Peter Farquharson, from half-pay, Unattached, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Bre vet-Colonel Barlow, who exchanges; Major Ralph Budd to be Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase, vice Farquharson, who retires ; Brevet Major William Coamo Trevor to be Major, by purchase, vice Budd; Lieutenant H. H. A`Court Inglefield to be Captain, by purchase, vice O'Toole, who retires ; Captain Martin Petrie, from half-pay 14th Foot, to be Captain, vice Inglefield, placed upon half pay; Lieut. Richard Hussey Vivian to be Captain, by purchase, vice Newman, who retires ; Captain Frederick Smythe, from half-pay, 14th Foot, to be Captain, vice Vivian, placed on half-pay; Lieutenant John Ecklin Matthews to be Cap tain,by purchase, vice Trevor. 231 'Fjot —Liet;tenant James Williamson to be Instruc tor of Musketry. 28th Foot—Lieutenant William F. Richards has been permitted to resign his Commission. 38th Foot—Lieutenant Arthur William Barron, from the Ist West India Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Fitz Gerald, who exchanges 51st Foot—Assistant-Surgeon Patrickßilgonr, from the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Campbell, who ex changes. . 57th Foot—The first Christian name of Brevet-Major Forsyth, is Garrard, and not George, as stated in the Gazette of the 26th nit. 60th Foot—Ensign and Adjutant George Charles Kelly to have the rank of Lieutenant ; Ensign Charles Yarworth Jones, to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice T. S. Richardson, deceased ; Ensig n Frederick Augustus Camp bell, from the 54th F oo t, t o be Ensign, without purchase, vice Jones, promoted. 67th Foot —Major John W. Thomas, from the 77th Foot, to be Major, vice Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Deverell, who exchanges. 77th Foot—Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Josephus Deverell, from the 67th Foot, to be Major, vice Thomas, who exchange a ; Ensign Edward Standish Baker, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Simpson, who retires. 89th Foot—Acting Assistant-Surgeon James ;;on oyman, M. 8., to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Wiles, resigned. Rifle Brigade —Assistant-Surgeon Christopher Thomp son, M. 8., trom the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Lougheed, appointed to the Royal Artillery. Ist West India Regiment—Brevet-Colonel Philip Hill, from half-pay Unattached, to be Major, vice Robeson, promoted, without purchase, to an Unattached Lieutenant- Colonelcy ; Captain William John Chamberlayne to be Major, by purchase, vice Hill, who retires ; Lieutenant C. Lionel J. Fitz Gerald, from the 38th Foot, to be Lieut., vice Barron, who exchanges. UNATTACHED. Lieutenant John Rawlinson Cuthbert, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Captain, by pnrchaae. DEPOT BATTALION. Lieutenant Ernest Augustna Hawker, from Palpnaater 21st Foot, to be Paymaster. HOSPITAL STAFF. • Assistant-Surgeon John Campbell, 141. D., from 51st Foot, to be Assistant• Surgeon, vice Kilgour, who ex changes. BREVET, The undermentioned °Wear having completed three years' actual service on the 13th Dec., 1R.56, in tho rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, to be promcted to bo Colonel in the Army, under the Royal Warrant, 6th alt., 1854 : Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Riky, 48th Foot. Quartermaster John Nowlan, retired on half-pay of the 62d Foot, to have the honorary rank of Captain, under the Royal Warrant of 17th December, 1855. TO BE MAJOR IN THE ARMY. Capt. Edward Iliude, 65th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. ME3loTUNDUlf.—Brevet-Major Win. Jonathan Clarke, upon half•pay as a Captain Unattached, has been per emitted to retire from the Service, by the sale of his Com mission, he being about to become a Settler at the Cape of Good Hope. Erratum in the Gazette of Jan. 16—For 2d West India Regiment, Lieutenant Charles Henry Theodora Bruce de Ruvignes, from the 21st Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Hartford, who exchanges, read, 31 West India Regiment, Lieutenant Charles Henry Theodore Bruce de Ruvignes, from the 21st Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Hartford, who exchanges. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT. 2d Regiment (Light Infantry) of West York Militia— Lieutenant John Travis Thornton Daesbery to be Captain, 1 vice Price resigned ; Lieutenant Lloyd Salisbury Baxen dale to be Captain, vice Stanhope resigned. Queen's Own Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—Cornet the Lord Ashley to be Lieutenant, vice Templer, resigned; Rupert Pennefather Featherstonhangh, Gent., to be Cor net, vice the Lord Ashley, promoted. Lanarkshire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—Major Alex. Macdonald Lockhart to be Lieut.-Colonel Comman dant, vice William Lockhart, deceased ; Capt. Archibald Gerard to be Major, vice Alexander Macdonald Lockhart, promoted. WHITEHALL, JAN. 24. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas William Tahourdin Cooke, of Wokingbain, in the county of Berke, Gentleman, to be a Commissioner to admiaister oaths in the High Court of Chancery in England. BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED. Henry Ermanni Fellinger, flour merchant, Regent square. BANKRUPTS. Joseph Low, commission agent,' Broad-street. buildings, to surrender, Feb. 6at two, and March 10 at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Alderman burY ; King and George, King-street, Chsapside. Whitaker Riley, calico printer, Manchester, Feb. 9, and March 9 0 , m a c t ia t , welve, at the Manchester District . . C a o t urt. and sl;ipmariL assi gnee, eh Manchester ; Sale, Wortnin, on, .ester.. Feb. 6 John Gladston e ironfounder, Liverpool, and March 5, at elev en, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, L ive Liverpool. rpool ; Fra n ci s an d Almond, William Ridley Carr and Henry Frederick Scott, iron manufacturers, Wallsend. Feb. 16, at twelve, and March 18, at eleven, at the Newcastl Baker, official assign e- upon District Court. Neweastle-upon-Ty ne ee, Ne wcastle-upon-Tyne Chater, Maximilian Low, merchant, Broad -street -buildings, City, Feb. 6, at twiao,eea:adofliMeair,tclhamlsOi, assignee, one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. King and George, King-street, Cho:parte AllergaanburY William White, miller, Shadwell, Middlesex Feb 6, at one, and March at twelve, at the Cann 'of Ba n k- Thom . rupt. Lee, official assignee, Aldermanbury •31 artin, s, and Collams, Mincing-lane. Thomas Laidler, coke-burner, Jarrow, Darbam, Feb. 6, at, one, and March 18, at twelve, at the Newcastle District Obnrt. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-upon-ryre ;T. and W. Chater, Newcastle-upon - Tyne • Richard Davis, ship broker, Cardiff, Feb. 9, and March 10, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. .Mfiller, official assignee, Bristol ; Bevan and Girling, Bristol., Frederick Lawson Banks, and Robert Dawson, brewers, Sheffield, Feb. 7, an d Marc h 21, at ten, at the Leeds Dia • riot Court. Brewin, official assignee, Sheffield ; Patteson, ieffield. Edward Von Dadelszden, metal broker, Liverpool, Feb. 11 and March 9, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Dodge, Liverpool. Thomas Lane, japanner, late of Birmingham, now of Wilton-lodge, New-road, Hammersmith, Feb. 7, at half past eleven, and Feb. 26, at ten, at the Birmingham Dis trict Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; James, Birmingham. James Wootton, builder, Oxford-street, Leicestc a., Feb. 10 and March 3,at h-lf-past ten, at the Birmingh.?.m Dis trict Court. Harris, official assignee, Notingham.:; Stone and Paget, Leicester; James, Birmingham. Andrew Phillips. licensed victualle r , Ca' übrid Feb. '5, at eleven, and March 5, at one, at t h e C ourt 01' v ' Bank ruptcy. B ell, official assignee, Coleman-str set-buildings ; Laurence, Cork-street, Burlington. gardens. John Atkinson, builder. Queen's-g ardens, and! West bourne-grove, Bayswater, Feb. 11, at two, 0 ad Mar :la 10 HE__ OUK, LONDON, TURaDAY JA.,N VARY at twelve, at the Court of Bankraptcy. Graham, official assignee ; Sidney:, Smith, and Son, Barnard's-inn, Holborn. John Ochse, dealer in china and jewellery, Basinghall . street, City, Feb. 6, at half-past twelve, and March 13, at at half-past eleven, at the Coart of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; J. and S. ! Solomon, Finsbury-place. John Bunton Cooper and Henry Banton Cooper, pawn brokers, late of Bentley-place, Kingeland-road, Feb. 7 and March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Aldermanbury; Foord, Pinner's-hall, Old Broad-street. Thomas Cook, boot and shoe maker, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, Feb. 5. at half-past eleven, and March 5, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman street-buildings; Jones, Colcheater. James Martin and Markwick, builders, Upper North street, and Round Hill-park, Brighton, Feb. 6, at half-past twelve, and March 16, at twelve, at the Court of Bank rupty. Nicholson, official assignee, Basing - nail-street ; May, Russell-square; Reade, Brighton. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATION. James Calder, draper, Brechin ; creditors meet Feb. 5, at twelve, in the Commercial Hotel, Brechin. THE LA W OF LIBEL. (.Prom the Times. ) The case of " Davilion v. Duncan," which occurs in our law report of last Saturday, resusci tates a question wh.ich we had hoped had long since been at its final rest. It appears that thore exists at Hartlepool a small local parliament, ha ving large powers over that busy borough. We have not read the statute tinder which they act, but, judging from their title, " The West Hartlepool Improvement Com miisioners" can probably pull down anybody's house, or pull up anybody's sewer, or stop up any body's road. That they can impose taxes upon all the property in Hartlepool appears upon the face of the proceedings ; and, even if this were the sole amount of their power, it might appear to justify some curiosity in the inhabitants of this town as to what the Commissioners were saying, and. what they were likely to do. To satisfy this very natural curiosity on the part of the people of Hartlepool, the local newspapers published reports of the meet ings of the Hartlepool Commissioners ; and so it happened that no man's souse was pulled down in Hartlepool, and no man's sewer was pulled up, and no man's rates were doubled, without those coming events duly casting their shadows before. This happy state of things continued for some time, but these Improvement Commissioners, quite natu rally,—for it is the nature of Commissioners so to do,—got into a squabble with a neighbouring power. Collectively they passed some strong reso lutions, and individually they used fierce words— words unpleasant to the ear of an absent gentle man. The absent gentleman was indignant that such harsh things should be said of him, and he looked about for somebody to punish. Rapidly singling out his victim, he brought his action, not against Mr. Commissioner A. or Mr. Commissioner 8., but against the local newspaper which had re ported what they said. The proceeding was very much the sane as if a man should see by the aid of a looking-glass that some one was shaking his fist and making other insulting gestures at him behind his back, but should straightway, instead of turning round and knocking down his adversary, raise his walking-stick and demolish the looking-glass. However, the action was brought, and the defen dant pleaded that the report was a fair report of the proceedings at a public meeting, and that the report was without malice. To this plea the plain tiff demurred ; that is to say, he admitted (for the purpose of the action) that the facts were true, but denied that they amounted to a defence. The Court of Queen's Beach, without hearing argu ment,—for the running conversation between the defendant's counsel and the Court cannot be called an argument,—and without taking any time to consider the point, decided that the plaintiff's de murrer was good, or, in other words, that there is no protection for a fair report of the proceedings of a public body. Now, we very respectfully represent to the Court of Queen's Bench that this case of " Davison v. Duncan" deserved a little more time and attention than it received at their hands. The principle in volved in it is certainly not less important than the principle involved in that great commercial case wherein the Courts have just confessedly miscar ried. The judgment in " Davison v. Duncan " should not have been given without grave delibera tion upon patiently heard argument. We venture to predict that whenever some case similar to this shall be fully argued and well considered this judg • ment will be thought to be but doubtful law. We will give our reasons for this opinion, and they shall be strictly such as lawyers should listen to. At the end of the last century the press was an outlaw. A newspaper was'a thing held in equal hatred and terror by the Bench. It was an esta blished principle of law that it had no privileges, and judpes authoritatively ruled that " it was no part of the duty of the editor of a newspaper to report judicial proceedings ; he was a volunteer, and did so at his own risk." We should not carry the attention of the reader with us if we were to deduce through the various cases the gradual changes in the spirit of judicial decisions upon this important point. Gradually, and step by step, the exigencies of the public won from the Courts a reluctant assent to the proposition that a fair and bona fide report of judicial proceedings was as much protected as the character of a servant, or an answer to an inquiry made by one man of business of another. At present the law, so far as it respects judicial proceedings, is indisputable. We will refer to some of the later cases. Lord Campbell, in " Andrews v. Chapman," reported in the third volume of " Carrington and Kirwan's Reports," told the jury that " by the law of England a fair account of what takes place in a court of justice may be published," and that the privilege of pub lishing reports of proceedings iu courts of justice is " a valuable privilege for the public." Mr. Justice Coleridge, in the case of " Smith v. Smith," re ported in the second volume of " Carrington and Kirwan's Reports," directed the jury thus :—" If this libel is a correct account of proceedings in a court, of justice, you ought to dud a verdict for the defendant." In the case of "Hoare v. Silverlock," reported in the ninth volume of the " Common Bench Reports," Chief Justice Wilde and all the Puisne Judges of that court solemnly decided that a report of proceedings iu a court of justice was a protected publication. " I think it impossible," said Mr. Justice Maule, "at this day to say that a fair account of proceedings in a court of justice not being ex parte, but in the hearing of both sides, is not generally speaking, a justifiable publication." Now, we presume that these decisions and those which preceded them to the same effect depend upon some principle. A decision which has no principle to authorise it is valueless. Lord Camden has told us, iu stronger language than we should care to use upon our unaided authority, that the discretion of judges, unguided by principle, is no better than caprice. We find a principle active iu all these cases, and recognised-in several of them. In " Flint v. Pike," reported in the fourth volume of " Barnwell and Cresswelrs Reports," it is thus enounced :—" The publication should be for the purpose of giving the public information which it is fit and proper for them to receive." In Sir J. Campbell's elaborate argument in the case of " Stockdale v. Hansard" a host of authorities are cited by that very learned and careful Attorney- General to prove his proposition that "publications for the good of the community have been held pri vileged ; ' and in Lord Campbell's own Libel Act the same principle is recognised in that it is made part of the averment of the plea given by that sta tute " that it was for the public benefit that the said matters charged should be published." Now, if this be the principle upon which reports of judicial proceedings are protected, we ask con fidently, what public advantage can arise from a report of judicial proceedings which does not equally arise from a report of the proceedings of public bodies which have the power of taxation in their hands ? What interest have the public in knowing the issue in the case of " Nokes v. Styles" which they have not in knowing whether their houses are to be pulled down or whether their taxes are to be trebled ? The immunity as to judicial proceedings cannot be an isolated exception ; for it must then have depended upon some statute. It must proceed from some ge neral principle, and that general principle is the public go ,d. Wherever that principle leads the decision of the Courts, in common sense and in sound law (which we are told is the perfection of common sense), ought to follow. There is as much difference between the old case in the " Modern Reports," wherein it was held that to print a writ of prohibition was a libel, and the decision in " Hoare v. Silverlock," which we have mentioned, as there is between the decision in the case "Davison v. Duncan" and that which the convenience of modern society demands. In truth, a newspaper report is but an expan sion of the area through which a voice can travel. The reporter does no more than give to the absent to read what those present have beard. If there is guilt in the speech—adest qui fecit, to punish the reporter is as insensate as it would be to punish the audience. We ask no impunity for malice, no protection for partiality, no amnesty for gross neg ligence occasioning private wrong ; but we think we are entitled to demand that important public duties, the discharge of which is absolutely neces sary to the every-day business of society, should not expose the Press to constant persecution and wanton annoyance. It is said that " hard cases make bad law." Perhaps there may have been something in the facts of this case which may have .ed. the Court to some inference adverse to the de fendant. If so, it was the plaintiff's fault that he placed his case in such a form before the Court that the malice or bona fides of the report could not he tried. This little-considered judgment, however, affects all alike—it is burning down a forest to destroy one bad tree. (Prom the Morning Chronicle.) The anomalous conditions under which Englishmen hold their much-pannted " liberty of the press" are curi ously exemplified by a trial r eported i n our co l umns on Saturday. The case originated in the country, where the action waa first tried, and the sentence then pronouncel was brought up to the Court of Queen's Bench upon de murrer, in order that Lord Campbell and other judges of that court sitting in banco might decide a certain point of law. With the special details of the case we are thent fore unacquainted, nor are they material. What was left for the Court of Queen's Bench to decide, and which on Saturday that tribunal decided in the negative, involved simply the question whether a newspaper is justified in publishing a fair report of the proceedings at any public meeting, without incurring legal liability for any state ents calculated to damage private individuals, which might be promulgated at that meeting... Lord Campbell ruled that no such right existed, and we are bound to believe that, as the law now stands, his decision is unimpugnable. Whatever a journalist may print, therefore, when reporting the speeches at a public meeting, he must publish suo periculo. If the speaker has hazard e d a lib e ll ous statement— s id to be libellous in legal acceptation there is no neces sity that it should be false—the newspaper in which his speech is reproduced becomes liable to action for libel, justas if the assertion complained of had been promulgated upon its own authority or emanaoed from its own writers. Li the case before ua it seems that at a public meeting of the Hartlepool Improvement Commissioners some thing was said calculated to lacerate the feelings or damage the interests of the plaintiff, whose name is Duncan. These sayings were printed in the general report of proceeding-, by a local journal, the Durham and County Advertiser, and thereupan Mr. Duncan, leaving the original author of the libel untouched, su far as appears, brought his action against the journal, which merely reproduced it among other toerticulars of what transpired at the meeting, In itself the libel, as Lord Campbell acknowledged, " was very mild ;" yet his lordship passed judgment against the defendant, ac companying his sentence with the folio .ving expoe6 of the law as it now stands in relation to the question . "Uneer the existing law a fair account of what took place in a court of justice was privileged. This was a most beneficial provision, because the public bad a great interest in knowing what passed there under the con trol of the judge. The inconvenience wLich arose from allowing such a privilege was infinitesimally small compared with the benefit which it conferred ; but as yet the privilege bad not been extended generally to public meetings. He was not aware that tha doctrine that the same privilege applied to public meetings had, until now, ever been contendel for in a court of justice, and it certainly would, if established, extend the privilege to an alarming width, and be did not think it could be sanctioned without some guards to protect private cha racter. If the plea were good, a fair account of what took place at any public meeting migA lawfully be pub lished, whatever injury it cnigl t do to the private cha racter of individuals. To lay down such a doctrine would be most alarming, for many things might be said at a meeting very injurious to the character of private individuals, and the mere fact of the meeting having been a public one, and of the proceedings being fairly reported, would exonerate the printer cr publisher of the journal in which th,, report appeared. In what situation would the calumniated man be ? The falseness of the accusation would be no ground for an action, and he would have no opportunity of redeeming his charac ter." Following up tho principle thus enunciated, Mr. Justice Coleridge observed that the privilege accorded in regard to courts of justice was fouuded upon the fact that "the injury done ti individuals was small as com pared with the immense good its exercise conferred upon the public." In addition to this quality—which, after all, is merely an accident—appertaining to the reports of proceedings before a judicial tribunal—there is the theo retical difference between the two cases, that in the law court both parties are nominally present—defendants as well as assailants—and that no ex parte statement can be made without leaving opportunity for a full and instant answer. In the public meeting this opportunity is net always allowed Attacks m'ey be made against absent individuals, or, even if they were present, there may be no time or possibili . y fur explanations. Therefore, it is urged, the r , port of speeches at a meeting must be sub jected to a different law, and restrained within narrower bounds of licence, than the accounts published of argu ments and evidence produced in the course of trials be fore a legal tribunal. This allegation sounds well no doubt, and is particu larly suited for the atmosphere of a law court. But it breaks down most deplorably upon closer examination. In the first place, it is utterly false that no libellous statement can be promulgated in the course of a legal suit except in the presence of the inculpated party, and with full opportunity afforded him for reply. The very contrary is the fact. Seldom does any action of moment ripen to deci-ion, either before a criminal or civil tri bunal, without involving the most atrocious insnuations against many persons who are either absent or defence less. What defence—what means of r.plication—for example, has the witness in any suit against the vile calumnies which counsel " on the other side" are sure to suggest when attempting to damage his evidence In a whole class of cases again---the actions for trim. unfurtunate party whose character is chiefly at stake, and upon whom the advocates engaged upon one side, and sometimes upon b tb, endea vours to concentrate the heaviest inculpation, Is by the law itself sternly forbidden from saying a word, or having a word said, in her behalf. These are among the atrocities of our legal system. Is there anything that can transpire at a public meeting which can be—we will not say worse—but anything like so bad? We may not question the maw as laid down by the Chief Justice All that can be said is, that the law must be altered. Upon his own principle, that a "small injury to individuals" should be risked in order to secure an " immense good to the public," the fearful penalty under which the journalist must now prepare his report of a public meeting cannot be allowed to con tinue. Any etateweut made at such a meeting is promulgated in the presence of the " public," and the newspaper report does but somewhat widen the circle of publicity. The responsibility for the libel—if libel there be—should rest with the first author, and not with the innocent agent who happens to put it into type. Otherwise the chief purpose and use of public meetings will be wholly destroyed. In the great majority of cases these gatherings are held to inves tigate charges of neglect or criminality—to give a voice to comp aints, and expose either the wrongdoin g s of in dividuals, or the groundlessness of the accusations by which wrongdoing is charged against them. All these purpos-Js require the promulgation of statements which, taken by themselves, the I —v would consider libellous. Yet if it is to the interest of the public that these meetings should be held and these purposes fulfilled, it must like wise be useful to afford the proceedings all possible publicity. Even the accused or " libelled" parties would be benefited. None but the guilty could be damaged, or are like'y to complain. As for the possible case in which the journalist himself may be instigated by malicious motives, the question then, no doubt, assumes a different aspect. But this is a fact susceptible of distinct proof— and may at all times be safely lett to the jury. ninepence "short of its legal term in April twelvemonth, a new act will be required ; and it once such an act is before the house, who knows what insidious arrange ments may not creep in ? It is better, they insinuate, to leave things as they are. With this recoininendation we will venture to declare that the public are in no hu mour to agree. The Disraelite Oppo•ition are quite ready to lead the attack on the Ministerial position if any resistance is offered. But when public opinion is once roused to the extent and depth of its present agitation the people of England need never be in want of leaders. If the question related to a branch of permanent re ceipt, there might be a better excuse for reluctance to part with it. Other taxes might be pointed out caus ing injury to commerce and industry, or which the Ila• tion would be very glad to escape, and the alternative would then lie between exemption from one impost or an. other. But in the pre , eni case no offer of that kind is pos sible. Whether or not, the income tax will drop to sd. some twelve months hence. The whole gain to the Go vernment is, therefore, limited to a sum of about 9 mil lions, which they would receive this year, and never again, and to obtain which the country. must be left suf fering under an intolerable burden until April, 1858, and smarting, besides, from the sense of injustice and broken faith practised upon them by her Majesty's Mi nisters. Oa so temporary a foundation it is evident that no new adjustment of taxation is possible, and the millions will be extracted from the pockets of the tax• payers without hope of reimbursement in any shape. It is a naked act of spoliation, which nothing short of some well proved case of State necessity can justify. Between the public and the Government the prize con tended for in this crude lump of nine millions. This money cannot be considered revenue in any sense of the word. It passes once into the Treasury, but never again. It is like the contribution levied by a invading general from some captured city. The Government can build no future system of finance upon it. The receipt is spe cial, and must be devotes to a special purpose if it is to be usefully or sensibly expended. Now does any such special purpose exist I Are there any particular de mands, or " final payments" to be met during the next financial year, which will require to bo stopped by some immediate appliance, arid are not likely to recur here after) Can the Chancellor of the - Exchequer show that he wants for the year 1857-8 nearly ten millions more than he is likely to require in 1858-9 ? In such. contin gency only can the cow inuar.ce of the income tax for the ensuing year be endured. Yet when pushed to the utter m9st to make up some decent reply to the deputation on Friday last, Sir Cornewall Lewis could mention but one demand of this character— nprnely, the two millions of Exchequer Bantle which will fall due in the course of a few months. He fo,rgot at the same time to mention that even if the income tax subsided to the lower scale in April many millions would still accrue frem the collection of past assessmen: - s—far more than sufficient to meet the calls upon the Bonds, or any other war bills that may remain outstanding. In fact, the entire half-year's charge at the full rates will still remain due for the service of the year commencing in April next, so that the revenue wit! practically enj.)y the benefit of the war impost until October. MeArtime, the income tax movement grows and spreads. Every day accounts arrive of great meetings in every district of the United Kingdom, at which re. solutions are invariably carried denouncing the longer continuance of the war tariff, accompanied in the great majority of instances by a demand for the entire abo lition of the impost; On the ground of good faith there can be- no question of the course wtiich Government should adopt, unless excused by the plea of a necessity which they cannot chow to exist. Unless their finan cial arrangements evince more extravagance or more unskilful husbandry than we are trilling to believe, no difficulty need be experienced in immediately reverting to the status quo ante. This justice the public are entitled to demand, and if they should fail to obtain it at the hands of her Majesty's present Ministers there is every probability of their applying "over the way." • ROYAL FLIRTATIONS : A LEAF FROM SPANISH HISTORY. (FROM MONARCHS RETIRED FROM BUSINESS. BY DR With the accessi on of C D° ha li r A l N es .) . Louisa, IV , Maria and Manuel Godoy com mence d to reign. The king was little more than what Louis XVI. had styled him, a mere cipher. There aas a man, however, who was almost as much in the way of the unprincipled lovers as the late king himself—viz., the Minister Floridablanca. He in curred the especial hatred of Manuel Godoy and the. Queen, by energetically opposing her attempts to ag grandise .the former. His last stand was made against the proposal of the Queen that Charles IV. should con fer an estate on Godoy, and at the same time create him Duke de la Alcudia, and a Grandee of Spain. Florida blanca implored the King not to yield to this, and ob tained the royal consent to refer the matter to the Cortes of Castile, which body was to pronounce on the legality of settling crown lands on a subject. Florida bla,,ca wrote to the President of the Council, Count Cifuentes, a letter, the object of which was to procure an answer that should save the King's honour and avoid public scandal. Unfortunately the Ceuet died soon slier receiving the dispatch, which was discovered among his meta and secretly transmitted to the Queen. That lady's talents for intrigue were forthwith set in successful action. All was accoomplished .or Godoy that she could desire ; and the two together devoted themselves to the destruction of Floridablanca. This object was not long of accomplishment. Private and public crimes were laid to the charge of the Minister. He had counselled his master to j lin the European coalition against Republican France, and he bad been mixed up in some di,creditab!e matters of finance and private scandal. He was pro pounced guilty of embaz ement to a vast extent, and was only releaser! from confinement in the fortress of Pampeluna, to be a prisoner at I .ree in his melt • town of Murcia. Charles IV. appointed Count de Aranda to the vacant post of Minister. The policy was " peace with France ;" but at the end of seven mouths Godoy was Prime Minister of Spain (1792) watt was dec , ared with France, and disasters succeeded each other, with one ex ception, so rapidly, that to save Spain from becoming the prey of the French Republicans, Godoy patched up that treaty of Basle, for successfully negotiating which he re ceived the title of the Prince of the Peace, and was given precedence of every nobleman in Spain, save the Princes of the Blood. From this time, Charles IV. esteemed Gudoy more warmly than, even the Queen herself did. His gratitude for his escape from ruin was unbounded ; and though Godoy was, to all intents and purposes, king in Spain, and his administration was far from being either weak or injudicious, Charles could not too profusely ac knowledge the lucky escape which Spain had had from being absorbed by French Repeblicanisin. The next step is the greatness of Godoy was to make him a member of the royal family by marriage. Nothing was more easy, or more ardently desired by the Queen. She had not only marked with feelings of jealous anguish the attachment of Godoy to a young lacy from Malaga, named Tudo, but hearing that the couple were at supper together, in one of the apartments of the palace where the court was temporarily residing, she suddenly brought the King upon the imprudent pair, to contemplate a sight which was a scandal if the parties were unmarried, and a base act of ingratitude to the Queen if they were married. Godoy being free, the Queen speedily arranged a marriage between him and the King's cousin. She was a very plain lady, but then she was a descendant of Louis XIV.; and by the union, Godoy was placed at too great a height to be expected to stoop to official duties. A Prince of the Peace who had no responsible vocation, and was burdened with a consort for whom he had no regard, was exactly what the Qaeen required. The Prince gave up - the ad ministration of public affairs, and devoted himself to the service of his royal mistress. Under thie. system, Charles remained, a cipher, but his wife interfered in every de partment of the State. She was eager to promote her own parasites without respect to their merits. When the Minster Jovellan , s roughly refused to accede to her demand of a prebendal stall for a favourite who had never been at a university, the Queen asked, "At what uni • versity have you been yourself 7" Jovellanos replied, "At Salamanca." "Ah I" said the Queen, "what a pity they forgot to teach you manners " The court intrigues of this period became daily more scandalous, but the King was the only person who was not in the secret. They were sometimes directed against Godoy himself, whom Charles IV. now loved as a child, of whom the Queen became frantically jealous. She sought his ruin, repented the act, pardoned the unfaithful • lover, and plunged into projects of revenge on discovering fresh proofs of his treason. Godoy contrived to defeat all his enemies. He was as active as the lightest gentleman in a Spanish comedy ; and, indeed, there was something of the old licentious comedy in all that was going on. When Godoy became volage, the Queen piqued him by selecting new fav C ourites, whose downfall it was his object to ac complish. It'was said that the King slept through the whole comedy ; but non omnibus do , miebat—he was awake without being able to comprehend. There was one Mello, a poor Guardsman, whom the Queen's favour had raised to dishonourable pre-eminence. One day, as the whole royal family, with Godoy, were on the balcony of the Prado, Mello rude by in great baste. "I wonder how it is,", said the foolish K'ng, " that such a fellow can keep such flue horses." "The reason is," said Godoy, • "that the fellow is himself kept by an ugly old woman, whose name," he added, looking at the Queen, " whose name I cannot just now remember." Over this and all other rivals Godoy finally triumphed. Some were impri soned, some were sentinto exile. Meanwhile, Spain was• under the heels of -the worthless favourite, the worthless queen, and their creatures. The King slept on, except when he wasOutshooting. 'McQueen pulled Span down into an abyss of ruin. The union of Spain and France was then effected in order to destroy England (on the part of France), to subjugate Spain. The day of Trafal gar, however, brought the final destruction of the mari time po ever of Spain ; and after the fleet was annihilated, Godoy was raised to the ancient and obsolete office of Lord High Admiral. The appointment was an epigram in action. Still Charles IV. continued well content with matters domestic and foreign. An anecdote has been told to show the unparalleled simplicity of this un kingly King. Therein it is said that the Duke de lin fautado " was once, with other Grandees, in attendance on the King, when his Majesty, being in high gossip log humour, entered into a somewhat gay coeversation on the lair sex. He descanted at Rome length on fickle ness and caprice, and laughed at the dangers of hus bands in these southern climates. Having had hie fill of merriment on the topic of jealousy, he con cluded with an 'air of triu mp h , ' We crowned heads, however, have this c hi e f advantage above others, that our honour, as they ca ll i t, is safe ; for supposing that queens were as m uc h b ent on mischief assome of their sex, where could they find kings and emperors to ffrt with—eh ?'" Such a King was an easy tool in the hands of designing and ambitious men. The court of Spain became a stage, on which was played eue of the most bustling and ignoble of dramas. The heir-appa rent, Ferdinand, plotted against his parents ; .Gocloy ooppired against both; the Xing and (Olen .were AA COURSE OF EXCHANGE.-TUTS DAY. Amsterdam.... 11 14 1 4 Gibraltar ...... •••• • • • • Ditto, three months .. 11 17% Leghorn .... •• .• 29 47 Rotterdam •• •• •• •• •• 11 17% Genoa 000000 •••••• •• •• 75 Antwerp •••••••••• • • • • 25 30 Milan •••••••• • • .• • • •• - Hambargh ............ 13 6% Naples •• •• ..... ....... 434 Alto= •• ••••••.. •• •• •• Palermo •• • • Paris • • .... 25 22% Messina . 129% Ditto, three months .. 25 65 Lisbon .. Marseilles •••••••••• • •• 25 65 soi.••••• ••• •••••••• • • • • •• • • bl s Bourdeaux ............ Rio Janeiro ..... .•• .• Frankfort-on-Maine •• .. 119 Buenos Ayres.. •• . • .... Berlin .. •• .. •... •.• • •• New York,6o days' sight Vienna.. .. .• •... .., 10 38 Philadelphia ... ... Trieste•• •• •• •• •• 10 40 PRICES 0/ BULLICN, P 25 05. Petersburg 37% Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 9 Madrid . 49 ►4 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 u 0 Cadiz •••.••••• • • • • •• 491 Mexican Dollars •• •OD 0 0 0 Barcelona ~.... • • I New Dollars 0 0 0 Seville_ I Silver in bars .. 00 0 POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Jan. 26. MANSION-HOUSE —Henry Stein, an Italian, was charged with bavicg stolen a handkerchief. A person who was pagsing along King William-street, on Saturday, saw the prisoner take the handkerchief out of a gentleman's pocket, and put it into his own. The prisoner—Yes, I took it, as I had not eaten a bit for several days, and was almost starved. Alderman Hale—Yon have been here before, for something of the same kind. Prisoner—Yes, I did it before for the same reason. Alderman Hale—You must go to hard labour for three months for this offence. Prisoner—l hope the work won't be hard. Alderman Hale—lt will. Prisoner—l'd rather you'd send me home to Rome, but, if you wish, I'll go to prison, and I hope you will send me home when you have punished me. CLERKENWELL.—A great number of mechanics, labourers, and others, assembled in the front of this court to seek the advice and assistance of Mr. C ,rrie, in consequence of their having been refu9ed relief by the parish authorities of Islington. The complaining parties had formed part of a large meeting yesterday in Smith field of unemployed artisans, &c., after which they pro ceeded in strong bodies to the parishes of Clerkenwell and Islington to seek relief, where their numbers caused some alarm. George Bent, a man of respectable appearance, said he, with a Mr. Kendall, was there, in the absence of Mr. IVlachea,th, to represent the aggrieved unemployed. He (Bent) resided in George-street, Bsgnigge-wale-road, St. Pancras. Mr. Currie directed that those who wished to com plain should be admitted into the court, when a rush was made, and it was instantly crowded to excess. Bent said they had applied to Islingto❑ parish, and were refused relief, but some were relieved at Clerken well. They applied to his worship fur advice to get relief and assistance in a legal and peaceable way. Mr. Kendall, a decorative painter, said he was unemployed four and five days a week. He had a wile and tbree children, and they were starving. They applied with others to Islington parish, and were told they could not be relieved except from 9 Lo 12 o'clock in the forenoon. Hugh Pierc4, a joiner, of 12, Caledonian-street, Is lington, said he was not in actual distress, hut he did not know how soon he might be. He came as the re. presentative of those who were unemployed ; because, if such things continued, they would lead to a revolution in the country. Henry Hunt, a painter and glazier, of R,►soman-street North, said he was out of work, with a wife and three children. He had not a morsel of food at home, nor money to procure it, or he would not apply to the parish. He applied to the parish of Islington, and was refused relief. Mr. Corrie—Yours is a case that I can practically deal with. IR there any other case here ? A Voice—Yes, sir, 600 here, and as many more out side the court. Other statements of an equally painful nature were made. Mr. Corrie ordered an officer to go instantly and re quest the immediate attendance at the court of one of the parish officers of Islington. Mr. Hicks, a relieving officer. attended just before the closing of the court with Mr. Bayliss, the chief niher. Mr. Currie suggested that the applicants should be properly attended to and relieved, according to their necessities. Mr. Hicks said be would attend instantly to the most urgent. The applicants then left the court to go to the work house. WORSHIP-STREET. James Wallbey, alias Phil lip, alias the Countryman, 20 rears of age, well dre-sed, and &scribing himself as a polisher, was charged before Mr. D'Eyncourt with stealing two gold watches, value 271., from the shop window of a jeweller and watchmaker, named Wagstaff, in Brown's-lane, Spitalfields. , . The prosecutor's wife proved that while sitting in a parlour at the rear of their shop, about 11 o'clock on Saturday night last, she heard a sudden smash ofglass, and running forward, perceived the prisoner out-ide with one hand through a large broken pane of the win dow ; he ran off with the property named, which she now identified ; both watches were much damaged. Geo. Baker, a wheelwright, deposed that at the hour named he heard repeated cries of " Stop thief," and a loud clamour of feet. Prisoner dented by him at the ton of his speed in Montague-street. Witness doubled back and pursued, finally catching him in his arms. Prisoner then said, " Let me go, it's all right." Wit ness replied, " Yes, it is all right, now." Prisoner strug gled, in vain declaring it was only a lark, but was finally given into the hands of a constable. Williamson, H division, was on duty and also heard the cry ; he caught the first man who was running ; the prisoner quickly followed, and then the crowd who came up said the thief had escaped. Witness let go his capture and pursued the prisoner, whom he found strug gling with Baker. Two other witnemes, named Motile and James, were heard in evidence ; the former seeing prisoner throw away one watch, and Janes picking up the other on the spot where the accused was taken. Watts, of the N division, said he knew the prisoner, who had been convicted of a watch robbery some time back, and received two years' imprisonment ; he was an old hand. Mr. D ; Eyncourt remanded him for depositions. CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILL:NG DAY.—MONDAY, Jan. 26 —Admissions on payment, 387; ditto, by season tickets, 79 ; total, 4d6. STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES IN THE WEST INDIES. As much as 27,913/. was paid in the year ended March to stipendiary magistrates in the West Indies. .. - From Oregon we learn that hostilities bad occurred at Puget Sound between the United States' steamer Massa chusetts and the ladia,ns. After 27 Indians bad been killed and 21 wounded they gave in. The steamer lost only one man. The New York Tinzes complains that one of the fashionable eccentricities of the day which have sprung from the rapid intercourse that has been established be- tween Europe and the United States is eating English mutton. No dinner is now considered perfect without a saddle or a leg of English mutton, brought by the last steamer. English mutton ie not only served at all the restaurants and public hotels, but at the tables of private houses. THE IRON DISCOVERIES AT SEEND. The disco veries of iron in the neighbourhood of Seend, Wiltshire, go on, and several furnaces are about to be erected at once. Various persons are testifying their belief in the value of these discoveries by offering fabulous prices for land at Seend and the neighbourhood. The Duke of Somerset and the trustees of the late Mr. Ludlow Bruges own about half the land at Seend where the richest ore is found, and the Duke's agent is collecting the best information that can be obtained in reference to tbe extent and value of the iron which has been discoveried. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —lloilo way's Ointment and Pal s for tbe Cure of Erysipelas in the Legs.--Mr. Knight, chemist of Alton, informed Professor Holloway that Mrs. Elizabeth Othen, of Binstead, had been suffering for more than twelve months with erysipelas in the leg, and could get no relief whatever, notwithstanding that she bad persisted in the use of a great variety of remedies. However, at this juncture she had rec mrse to Hollo way's ointment and pills, which afforded her speedy re lief, and ultimately effected a sound and permanent cure These remedies are strongly recommended for all dis eases of the ' , kin, impurity of the Wood, and scorbutic affections.—Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244, _, Strand, London, and 80,Malden-lane, New York ; by A. Stainpa Muir, Malt a . Constantinople ; E. gaidicy, Smyrna ; and E. [Anvsarisammvr.l—Amon the numerous extraordinary cures without m e di c i ne of Indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous , B an il d ions pe , b a i n li d ty Lf e v r e e r e c t o ed mp b l y ain D t u s, p C a o n . 0 g y h , s , Asthma, Consumpti on delicious health -restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, the follow ing are not the least remarkable • Cure No. 47,121. —" 34 iss cure of extreme nervousness, iniedlragte? Walthamc Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing V' ross llerts : a near L iverPoo B l 4ll, cu r.e of ten years' ion, gathering, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure Ncr e 4 Yeoman, Gateacre, —" Miss Elizabeth dyspepsia and all the horrors of nervous No. 3,90(3. Thirteen indigestion, and years' cough,' ll.ll tahility." Cure general debility have been removed ,D u Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabica Food.—JAmss Poarza, Athol-street, t Supported by testimonials from the Professors cele brated -s 'Perth. Chemistry Dr. Andrew tire ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Harvey of Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer ; Ingram ; Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Caste ; - Thomas Kin.g, and many other respectable stuart; whose health has been restored by it, atter aii other persons, Major-Gen. me ans of cure had failed. For further particulars re-poet. in; this invaluable food our readers are referred to Du B arry ' s *advertisement in another part of this pacer. REDUCTION Oil THE INCOME TAX. ( From the Morning Chronicle.) While the Finance Nlimster withholds any pledges, and suggests every difficulty, respecting the reduction of the income tax, her Majesty's Opposition ara lees scru pulous. The arrangement which Mr. Disiaali and his adherents are determined to demand from the Govern ment, and willing to B rant if themselves entrusted with the responetbilitiev of office, is distinctly announced by the weekly ore,an of that party. Tne terms of that ar rangement may be very simply described. They involve an application to domestic finance of teat con rivance so often suggested during the war as a solutien to political difficulties—a return to the status fuo ante. Let the interlude of war, they propose, be effaced from our financial system, so far, at all events, as the income and property tax is concerned. So long as war lasted, the exceptional demands on our national purse led to a sudden inflation of this, among sundry other less obnoxi ous imposts. Now that peace is restored, we may revert to our former position, not only by reducing the tariff of the tax to the figure et which it stood when war interposed, but by resuming the process of successive reductions and ultimate extinction, which was interrupted is March, 1854. This resumption of anterior engagements is to be de manded on the plain grounds of Ministerial and Perlia mentery honesty. The Legielature, as our contemporary observes, is " bland to insist on faith being kept with the public. The whole scheme of taxation in 1853, estie cially as regards the additional taxes imposed"—videlicet the Succession Duty—" was based upon the assumption that the Income Tax Abolition Act was a reality, and that its stipulations would be observed. Whatever m./ be the financial schemes of the Administration in the coming session, the Opposition is in our opinion bound to insist on faith being kept with the public, on the condi tions of the statute of 1853 being complied with, awl on the reduction of the income tax to sd. in toe pound, from the let of April next, with its entire extinction three years subsequently." The position in vehicle the tax was left by Mr. Glad stone's act, passed in 1853, presents the following fea tures. In the natural order of things the tax imposed would have expired before the end of that year, but the right hon. gentleman, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, having on hand some extensive reductions of Customs and Excise duties, proposed to prolong the income tax at the existing tariff, and even to extend the area of its incidence, for two years more—after which period the rate of charge was to be reduced until the whole tax dwindled to nothing by 1860. At the same time, the series of he suggested a new i m p o st, belonging to direct taxes, in the shape of a duty on succeg loons to real proper:y. From this latter source he expected to obt a i n u l t imately a revenue of two mil lions per a n n um , though the full productiveness of the duty would not be developed for some years ; while another three-quarters of a million was anticipated from en extension of the income tax at a tariff of 51 in the pound to incomes between 1001. and 1501. These propositions were all accepted by the House. Duties on soap, tea, stamps, and some assessed taxes were either removed or abolished, at an estimated sacri fice of about 31 miliions of revenue, and about enough to replace the loss was obtained by the taxes we have already mentioned, helped out by an additional excise on British spirits. The actual result teas thee, the net income of the Exchequer increased more than a million, the sum accruing in the year ending December 31, 1852, being 53,210,0001., and in the following year, before any " war taxes" were thought of, 54,430,000/. A he Al seven years' lease was thus obtained for the income tax, but upon exhaustive terms. If noaeng had interrupted the execution of the act of '53, the tariff would have sunk in April, 1855, to 6d. in the pound ; in April, 1857—the coming April—to 5d.; and have expired alto gether in April, 1860, when Terminable Annuities to the amount of 2,146,0001. a-year will drop ie. The provisions of this act are suspended merely, not superseded, by the measures enacted during the war. The grants of a double tax first, and afterwards of an additional 21. in the pound, were passed by temporary statutes, whose powers cease in "one year after the ra tification of a treaty of peace have been exchanged." If Parliament said not a word, therefore, and the Govern ment held by their quibble to the uttermost, the tax will collapse in April, 1858, from 16d. to sd. If the quibhle is abandoned, this reduction would take place next April, and in either contingency the impost would expire in 1860, unless home new act can be extracted from the Legislature givin g it a more protracted existence. Some Ministerial organs have take n advanta g e of this circumstance, an d a tte o pt to stifle the present movement by recommending the public to do no thing, for fear of doing harm. Quieta ne movere is their maxim. To curtail the existence of the " war 1 8 8 V. deceiving as they were deceived ; the whole of these per- ; sonagos were the bumble slaves of Napoleon, and the Emperor of the French looked upon all with scarcely dissembled scorn, while he prepared the way for placing his brother Joseph on the throne of the imbecile Charles. The latter, alarmed by the aspect of affairs, both domes tic and foreign, as they applied to him, contemplated for a moment, took flight to Mexico. An insurrection of the people rendered the accomplishment of this project im possible. Godoy was flung into prison ; French troops were pouring into Spain ; the King, terrified for his owu safety, and the Queen, caring for nothing but the rescue of her favourite, thought that their respective objects would be achieved by abdicating. Accordingly, the one in an extremity of terror, the other under the impulse of unbounded hopefulness, descended from the throne, and on the 19th March, 1808, Charles resigned the sceptre to his son Ferdinand. The first feeling that Charles had of his uncrowned condition was on hearing that the new King had ordered all the wolves and foxeste be destroyed, which Charles had preserved for purposes of "sport"-- the only pleasure which, of late years, possessed any at tractions for him. The poor old man made no complaints of his son's policy, but the idea that his son had sup pressed his bunting' establishment made Liin weep heartily. Meanwhile, the subjection of Ferdinand to Napoleon was complete. Not less so was that of Charles. The former asked for the Imperial recognition of his title ; the latter appealed to him to set aside the act of abdication, to which Charles had consented only under compulsion. Ferdinand repaired to Bayonne to plead his cause, and he found himself a prisoner. Charles, his consort, and Godoy, were ordered to be brought to the same city, and the family feud was only embittered by the parties being in presence of each other. It was the object of Napoleon to rid himself of the pretensions of all. The obsequiousness of the ex-King firthered, but the obstinacy of Ferdinand retarded the accomplishment of the desired end. Never was Spanish comedy built up on half so many intrigues as were put in action in order to dethrone the Spanish Bourbons altogether, and to found a Bonaparte dynasty in Spain. The more serious drama lingered, and Napoleon grew impatient. But Napoleon's impatience contrived a striking close t the disreputable affa.r. On the sth of May, 1808, the Emperor visited the Spanish ex-Monarchs. Around the aged Charles and his consort were assembled their se cond son, Carlos ; the evil ginius of the family, Godoy ; the Minister Cavallos, and several Grandees. At the end of a conference between the chief of these illustrious personages, Ferdinand was summoned to appear. It was not so easy as had been expected to bring him to consent to the designs of the great conspirators against the country of which he himself was unworthy, and at length a scene ensued such as never has been paralleled in history. The old Queen, Maria Louisa, unable longer to control her rage, or perhaps desirous to gratify Napoe leon, with whom she was partly suspected to hate prepared the scene, thus assailed the wretched Ferdi nand :—" Traitor, you have for years meditated the death of the King your father, but, thanks to the vi gilance, the zeal, and the loyalty of the Prince of he Peace, you have not been able t ) effect your pur pose—neither you, nor any of the infamous traitors who have co-operated with you in your infamous designs. I tell you to your face that you are my son, but not the son of the King ! And yet, without having any other rights to the crown than those of your mother, you have sought to tear it from us by force. But 1 agree and demand that the Emperor Napoleon shall be umpire between us,—Napoleon, to whom we ode and transfer our rights, to the exclusion of our own family. I call on him to punish y m and your associates as so many traitors, and I abandon to him the whole Spanish na tion." There is something horrible in the idea of a woman proclaiming her own dishonour in presence of her hue hand and her children. The object she bad in view was, however, attained. Charles surrendered alll his territories to the French Emperor. Ferdinand, as Prince of Astu rise, ultimately renounced all right to the throne; and Joseph Bonaparte became King of Spain. LAW INTELLIGENCM.—Jan. 26. EQUITY COURTS. (Before the Lords Justices of Appeals.) CARTER V. CROPLEY.-RIGHT TO PRESENT TO THE PERPETUAL CURACY OF CLERKENWELL. Their lordships delivered their judgment in this case, which was an appeal front the decision of Vice-Chancellor Sindersley, whereby he had determined ilia:. the right of , election and of presentation of a clergyman to the per petual curacy of Cl-rk, nwell had, by the effect of the late statutes—viz , the 18th and 19th Vict , c. 120, and 19 h and 20th Viet., c. 112, being the acts passed for the better Local Management of the Metropolis—been trans ferred from the parishioners and inhabitants of the pa rish, paying tithes, rates, and assessments to the church and poor, to a select vestry of the parishioners, consti- tuted in manner directed by first of those acts. The case was heard before the Vice-Chancellor, upon motion for an injunction to restrain the truttees of the living and the select vestry from presenting, and the Bishop of London from inducting the Rev. Robert Maguire, who bad been elected by the select vestry, to the living. The motion had been refused by the Vice-Chancellor, with cl.sts. Their lordships reversed the decision of the Vice- Chancellor. The consequence is that there will be a decree declaring that the right of election or f.rtsentation has not teen altered or affected by the late stiitutei ; and that the election of the Rev. • Robert 'Maguire winx null and void, and directing that an ii.junction sholld issue restraining the vestry from presenting him to the bishop for a license as a candidate duly elected. COURT OF 'QUEEN'S BENCH. (Sittings; in Banco.—Before Lord Campbell and Justices Coleridge and Erle.) IN RE THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK. Rules were obtained by Mr. Lush against two share holdei is in the Royal British 13401 c, upon , hens to show cause why execution should not issue against them in respect of judgments obtained against the bank. He stated that the circumstances were precisely the same as those which had been .mentioned in other cases in this court. ' Rules gittuted. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. (Sittings in Banco.—Bdure Justices Cresswell and Williams.) MOORE V. WEBB.-POLLUTING A WATERCOURSE. The plaintiff in this case bas a ferns in Suffolk, through which flows a stream which he had been in ate habit of using for Isis cattle upon the farm. The defendant was a tancer, and had premises some distance up the stream. lie was in the habit of using the water of the stream in his business and returning it hack again into the stream, and he justified his right to use the stream for the pur poses of his business. To this plea there was a new assignment by the plaintiff, that the defendant bad used the stream to an extent beyond which his right ex tended. The case was, tried before Mr. Justice Cole. ridge, who directed a verdict for the defendant; but subsequently a rule was obtained for a new trial, upon the grounds that,his lordship was wrong in holding that the defendant's plea setting up bis right to use the stream was proved, and that there was no evidence of the plaintiff's new assignment. To-day cause was shown against the rule being made absolute. Mr. Serjeant Byles, Mr. O'Malley, and Mr. Couch appeared to show cause ; and Mr. Knowles, Mr. Pren dergast, Mr. Serjeant We►ls, and Mr. Honyman to support the rule. The case occupied their lordships the whole day. The Court ultimately directed the rule for a new trial to be made absolute. Rute absolute. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. (Sittings at Nisi Prins ;it Guildhail.—Before Mr. Baron Bramwell and C , mmon Juries.) LARD V. THE GENERAL APOTHECARIES COMPANY.— ALLEGED BREACH OF CONTRACT. Mr. Doyle was counsel hr the plaintiff, and Mr. Overend conducted the defence. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, Dr. Lard, against the defendants, the General Apothecaries Company (which bad been established for the purpose of supplying the public with pure drugs), for as/preach of contract. The defendants denied having made the con tract as alleged. It appeared that in September last the defendants announced that they were ab .ut to pub lish 18,000 copies of a circular, which they called ;men, tion to as offering important advantages to advertisers who insert their advertisements therein. The plaintiff at this time being about to publish a work, of .red the defendants 5/. for inserting his advertisement, upon which they replied by letter, requesting him to forward his advertisement as , soon as convenient.. This he accordingly did, but notwithstanding the arrangement the plaintiff's advertisement did not appear, r w but wok circular contained an advertisement aboutasii la c The which had been published by another person . plaintiff, in consequence of this alleged breach of n cotifonth. e defendants contended con tract, a m c t r ,. had ov e r b e r n o d n , g on brought behalf this te that there was no case to g o t o t h e j ury, fore, the plaintiff must be nonsuited. , that, there- There was no breach of Contract, as no contract existed. in T ci h r e cu p l l a a r in s t o iff f hade d i d had offered to insect his advertisement s t e h n e d d i e t fe t n o da t n he ts m , , an w d htiteh e y v n merely y no r t eq a u m es o t u ed nt himto an acceptance, as it was not coinp ulsory on a newspaper or other advertisi ng me di um to insert an adverti e which might be prejudici a l t o their interests, particularly when no money had passed bet weep the parties. Mr. Baron.bramwell was of opinion that the objection was good, as there had evidently been no contract be tween the parties. The plaintiff must either be nonsuited or the verdict must pass for the defendants. The verdict was then entered fur the defendants. , I JUDGES' CHAMBERS. SCOTT V. LANGFIELD, ALIAS MONTEFIORE. THE LATE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF FoRGERT AT THE MANSION HOUSE. This case, which uas attracted a good deal of " public attention" came before Mr. Justice Crompton, on an ap plication on the part of the defendant for his discharge from Whitecross-street Prison. It will be recollected that Mr. Justice Coleridge ordered the di-charge at the suit of a gentleman named Hewitt, who arrested the defendant as he was about leaving the Mansion-liu s e, where he was charged with forgery on the Cape of Good Hope Bank. After the arrest on a judge's order five detainers were lodged against him, and as many :urn monpes were made returnable to-day by adj , iurnment, in all of which the question was raised whether the defend ant intended to abecond. Mr. Eedie appeared as counsel to oppose the applica tion, and read an affi 'avit from Mr. Roy, the En.;lnitor for the Loudon and Westminster Bank, setting forth the arrest, by Scott, the detective, at Grivesend, and the several examinations before the Lur,l M ayor. lie alleged that the pretence of an intended marriage was not to be credited, and that the defendant w ou ld l eave the country. He expected some further information from the Cape of Good Hope, when the defendant would be charged again with the offences. Mr. Lewis (Lewis and Lewis) referred to the defer& ant's affidavit, that he came to England to marry a lady, and intended to reside in London within the jurisdiction of the cr‘urt, He submitted that the very reason alleged on the other side that the defendant had committed offences in parts abroad, would induce him to reside in the country. It would appear from the affidavits that the defendant left the Cape voluntarily, and was induced to leave from sr communication made by the Attorney-General of the colony._ Eadie cited a case in which it was held that a mere denial that a man did not intend to abscond was not sufficient. The alleged pretended marriage was a mete pretence, and too absurd to be believed. Mr. Lewis said it wag no pretence, and be could prove it, but, of course, did not wish to be a partisan in the matter. Mr. Justice Crompton was of opinion that the appli cat , n for discharge should be granted. He should have wished to have detained the defendant, but it would appear that this cJuntry was the best place in which to take up his domicile if the allegations were true. His lordship ordered the defendant, to be discharged. An application was then made to Mr. Justice Wiliest in the case on a detainer by a creditor named Rodergiu and he matter was strong y opposed, and Mr. Roy's affidavit again read. On the part of the defendant it was said that the bj -ct was to detain the defendant on expected information. There was no pretence that any offence had been committed in this country. Mr. Justice Willes was inclined to refer the matter to the Court, but after consulting with Mr. Justice Cromp ton ordered the discharge. Subsequently a similar application was made to Mr. Baron Bramwell, before whom three summonses were made returnable. The case of a creditor named Keen and another was gone into, and occupied the learned Baron till nearly six o'clock. Mr. Eadie opposed, and Mr. Lewis supported. Three learned judges had already decided in favour of the defendant. Mr. Baron Bramwell - considered the case of so much importa❑ce that he should refer it to the Court. The matter was accordingly referred, and the defendant re• mained in custody. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. (Before Mr. Commissioner Phillips.) IN THE MATTER OF LOUIS FLATOW. This insolvent, who described himself as a Turkish merchant and commission agent, was oppused, on his Application to be discharged from prison, by Mr. Dowse for Messrs. Brown and Deleggio, merchants at Constan• tinople. Mr. Sargood supported. • There was only one debt in the schedule, contracted in September last, when the ins, lvent was a resident at Constantinople. He obtained 1201. of pickles of the opposing credijors, which he sold for 601., and 341. of candles, which be sold for 291. The goods were ordered before be obtained them, and the fall is the market before they were delivered caused the loss. With the money the insolvent paid some debts, and spent the remainder in travelling. He came to England to eze cute some orders, and on mentioning to the house in London his intention to return to Constantinople, he was arrested on a judge's order as about to leave the country, on which he petitioned the Conrt. Mr. Dowse required the names of the parties to whom the articles were sold to be set forth in the schedule, as" a telegraphic message would be Bent to Constantinople. Mr. Commissioner Phillips ordered the production of a Mr. Gans, on whom the insolvent had drawn a bill for the debt due to the opposing creditors, which he did not accept, on the nest occssion,.and directed the schedule to be amended as to the sales of the goods. The case was adjourned sine die. Country Markets. • CHELMSFORD—JAN. 23. The wheat trade waa dull, at a reduction of 2s. to 3s. par quarter. Beat barleys the turn cheaper, with little de mend. All alit) unaltered in value. Wheat, white, old, per a. qr. 34 new 37 red, old 32 new 32 Barley ............ t 33 Chevalier 3B Grinding .....,33 Malt 73 ' Chevalier 75 go go . 72 Oats, per qr 24 ' 30 71 1 Peas, Partridge 41 43. , 6: Whit e 39 40 62 Boiling 4O 4 1 44 Dun 37 3 0 52 Beans, Tick .36 4 0 .. 44 Harrow ticks 40 6 ' , 77 79 Mazagan ---- Ditto, new... 35 38 COLCHESTER— JAN. 24. The wheat trade was dull with a moderate supply, at • decline of is. per quarter on best and N. on secondary 1:1 3 ' cols. Barley 15 lower and the demand slack. Beans and peas about the same as last noted. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wheat, white, 623 to 740 red, 58s to 645; barley, 418 to 52s ; oats, 23s to 28a • beanit Mazagan, 36s to 388 ; middle and small, 3,'s to 448; peale white, 403 to 44s ; grey, 40s to 425. Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, Stc,, recoil" in the port of London, from the following ports, fr4:411 Jan. L) to Jan. 24, both inclusive. At 5: g 1 0 • Colchester I Harwich 6021 30 — if : .2 48 0 5 0 ( ' 22 2 :43 00 0 Leigh 147 Ifaldon 1 170; 107 KIRKCALDY-3'AL 24. There was a fair supply of *heat, which sold slowly at „. reduction of 2s. per iir. Barley and oats in rather smalL supply, and both are ls. per qr. dearer. Wh eat. I Barley. , Oats. I Beata., First sBs Od 43s (11. 30s Od lOs ')° Second 541 Od I 41s Od I 25s Od ,us 04 Third 285 Od I 33s 01 I 22s ucl 1 Os 04 Oatmeal, —s to —s per bag of 2801 b . :BT.—JAN. 26. the close of tho martet. Wallsend, &o. 1 0 " .d . ) gotten lB . Hetton Lyons Main .., 16 6 I bambton 18 ° Lumley 17 . 6 1 Peusher / I Russell's Hatton 17 0 17 9 cSouth Hetton 18 3. 'Stewart's 18 6 Whitwell l6 0 Cassop l7 6 Hartlepool lB °4 u Hartlepool Hetton 17 n " Heugn Hall l7 Hunwick l6 0 South Kelloe 17 6 ' Tees lB 6 Whitworth l6 6 Coundon Tees l6 6 I Bold QOAL MAR; ?rhea of Coal per ton at 5. d Bebside's Hartley 15 0 Davison's West Hartley 15 0 Hastings' Hartley ....Al 9 Holyvvell . ... l6 6 Howard's West Hartley Netherton l5 0 Longridge's Wst Hartley 15 01 Taufield Moor l4 0; Taufield Moor Butes 14 0 1 Victoria • 15 6 Walker Primrose 6 West Riding Hartley 14 61 West Hartley Orey s l4 61 • Walkout', tim. Acorn Close ' 17 3 Bell's Priinrose l4 0 Eden Main l7 6 Braddyll l7 9 Pramwellgate l7 0 Haswell' 18 61 Ships at market...l43 LOCAL SHARE MARZET3. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 26. sroon EXOHA I 410.—The market is quiet, at steady prices. Caledonian, 300 o —Eastern Counties, 9k—Lan' Oashire and Yorkshire, 96I—London and North Western, 1064—Manch ster, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 344—Midland, S2i —North-Eastern, 21— South-Eastern, 24—Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, 6 per cent. stock, 1106 -- Birmingham Guaranteed, 75 —Great Western of Canada, 24 I i• M ANCHESTER, JAN. 26. STOOR MANCHESTER, was a qu i e t mar k e t , w ith" out chan ge i n prices. Leed s N or th ern , No. 131 Easy' lAncashi re, 23 9-16—She ffields, 341 Caledonians 30 9-16 —Londons, 10 N—Great Western of Canada, 24'13-16-- - Doveri, 221 — Manchester Assurance, 7 p.—Midlands, 82} —Eastern Counties, 94. BTRMI, JAN. 26. STOCK EXCHANGE. INC4IIAII —This markdt was steady to-day. and prices firm. North Stafkros, 4i —Great Western, 654 6 6—London and North-Western, 106 1066—Birming• ham and Stour Valley, si 9. BIRTHS. ON ♦ 111011. On the 23th inst., at 38, Southampton-row, the wife o Charles J. Allen, Esq. On the 26th inst., at 20, Graft )n-street, Berkeley-square, the wife of Dr. Wane. OF A DA.IIGRTxR Thomas Lucas, Esq. On the 25th lost. , at Lowestoft, Suffolk, On the wife of the 26th inst. , at 12 , Walto n - p l ace, Upper Chelsea* th MAR RIED. On William e wife Henry Cripp s , E sq. Novembe r l ast, at St. James's Cathedzsl, Port Louis,esth Mauritius, Ed mund J. Johnstone, E q , Coto' th of of missariat Staff, third son of the late Richard Johnstone, E sq ., to Agnes Isabel, daughter of Thomas Dale Gulliver, Esq., Paymaster ktoyal Navy, At Southweald Church, Essex, George Simpson. Estl'} surgeon, eldest son of G. Sim p son, Esq., P.h.C.S, Gower-street, Bedford-square, to Jaue Campbell, of Tor quay, eldest daughter of the late Hugh Campbell, Esq., and niece of William Murdoch, Esq., of. Halifax, Nova Scotia. On the 19th i n. DIE D. Charles Willi am Sho, t Odiham, H an t s Li eu t . . C o l onel aged 58. rta, late of th e Coldstream Guards' On the 22d i ns t ., at the Oaks, Rock Ferry, Elisabe th, widow of Richard A.ddison, Esq., of Liverpool. On the 23d inst., at Ramsgate, Isle of Thanet, Grace Calland er , w i dow of Sir Murray Maxwell, K.C.8., aged 77. On the 24th inst., at Hull, Charles Bamford, jan., B e l . ' merchant, aged 42. . On the 2th inst., Miss Jane Foster, of Mark Sous ' On Walthamstow.; aged 80. On the 2.)th inst. at Sevanoaks, Kent, Sarah, the .be loved wife of Mr. R. E. Adams. 0 On the 25th inst., Montagu, younger son of Mr. Mora* A. Rush, of Herefordstreet, Brompton, aged 14. ...._..., On the 25th inst., at 1, Branswick-square, Mrg. i laij Silk, rolict of the late Alexan.ler Silk, Esq., aged 76. th, Ou the 26th inst., at 17, 'Montpelier-row, Blackhea us _ i Charlotte Eliz i Richardson, late of Ashburnham-he u daughter of the late John ILILUMI Richardson, Esq. —......,.._ LONDON : Printed and Published by MUILDO yolING? of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Of IC ,.°: 112, Str an d, i n the Precinct of the Savoy, in the coup ', of Middlesex, Tuesday, January 27, 1857.