The Sun. — London, England, 1857-01-14 00:00:00

THE GOVERNING CLASS. (From, the Times.) The author of Eothen may always be sure of commanding the attention, even when he fails to obtain the suffrages, of a constituency. Nor will his claims on such attention or the numbers of his auditors be diminished when he takes for his text the pleasing theme of the inferiority of the govern ing class to the persons whom he addresses. Facile aped Athenienses Athenas laudare. It would not be difficult for a less accomplished candidate than Mr. Kinglake to excite sympathy and applause by a profession which must appeal so strongly to the self-love of his audience. Mr. Kinglake's creed is thus enunciated I am strongly of opinion that the high offices of this country are mainly distributed among persons of particular families, and belonging to a particular class in society, without due regard to their quali fication for holding them. And what is the result ? Why, that in a country abounding in intelligence and business:like power there is always one firm that is breaking down, and that is the firm of the Government." And upon this theme Mr. King lake cEates at length. It is undoubtedly a taking theme, and one that will afford immediate delec tation on the spot even if it produce no material fruits in the end. It cannot be denied that our rulers belong to a caste. They are not all chosen from our Smiths, Joneses, Browns, and Robinsons. The humblest English peasant may, if he so like it, proudly luxuriate in contemplating the names of the Dukes, Marquises, and Lords who condescend to do his business for him. He is governed and directed, and has laws made for him, by men whose ancestors were lords when his ancestors were B eefs. That is one phase of the picture. But there is another phase. Among the "lordly" class are men whose fathers were, not so very long ago, in his own position ; b ut, o f what ever descent, the Lords predominate in the Administration, and of the Commoners those who fill the most prominent positions are of lordly stock or lordly affinity. So far a case is made out, aad it is one well adapted for the basis of a sentimental grievance. But Mr. King lake has overlooked one point to which as a lawyer he could not have been, though as a candidate he might be, blind. The constitution admits of our Executive being supplied only from the Legislative body. We cannot give the Treasury to any leading banker, or the Home Secretaryship to the first country squire or provincial attorney that we meet. The men who govern this nation are responsible to Parliament, and must, therefore, sit in Parliament. It is by their efficiency in Parliament that their fitness for administrative posts is tested. If there are more men of aristocratic birth in the Executive, it is because there are more of that class in Parlia ment. Perhaps this is wrong, and to be regretted and amended. But it is a fact. There is a very large proportion of this class which came into the House of Commons before the Reform era and has continued to legislate ever since. Some of these men remain in the House of Commons; others have gone to the Lords. But, whether in the Lords or the Commons, their long political career has given an amount of political experience which must make men who are willing to turn it to use almost indis pensable in forming a Government. If we admit it as a grievance that these men are not selected indifferently from all classes of society, we must blame the constituencies, and not the constitution. We may argue that the Lords ought not to mono polise an Administration, but we must admit also that, if they devote themselves to public business, they ought not to be excluded from all share in ad ministration. We do not wish--and we presume Mr. Kinglake does not wish—to reduce them to the condition of Spanish Grandees and Italian frincipi. If the country wishes to be governed by another class of men it must send another class to Parliament. But are we quite sure that, in such an event, it would be governed better ? We are willing to concede all that the most clamorous agitators will tell us about the ignorance and incapacity of cer tain heads of departments. Of many of them—not in this or in any one particular Ministry, but in all alike—we can truly aver that they are singularly unfitted for their special duties. Men whom occa sional business or official ties have made conversan with the machinery of different departments have hundreds of stories to tell respecting the wondrous ignorance of their chiefs. This is all true. But with a different race of men are we at all surtt of getting a superior class ? Under any circumstances the heads of our Administration must be, to a certain extent, speakers and debaters. This is their first indispensable qualification. Are the men of great and solid acquirements sue of recommending tnem selves to the suffrages of the electors throughout the United Kingdom ? Is a man of special and profound knowledge and thoroughly qualified for departmental administration likely to be always equally well qualified for Parliamentary debate ? Mr. Kinglake urges the reproach that ‘ 4 in acoun try aboundieg in intelligence and business power" the Government should be the only firm always breaking down. Now, it seems to us that recent events give to this complaint the appearance of irony. Certainly a retrospect of the last year does not enable us to triumph in the superiority of com mercial integrity or counnerciel adroitness over the integrity auu skill of the Government. The middle classes of this country hare a vast field of adminis tration in their banks, railways, and joint-stock companies. Knowledge, economic and iinanjal, vigilance, method, and integrity are as indispens able on their part as on that of any Government. Yet how often within the last twelve months—to go back no further—how often have the most critical difficulties and distress been caused by the absence of these very qualities in associations created and controlled by the mercantile classes ? What reason is there for supposing that the government of the country would be better carried on if it were confided to the hands of such men as administered the property of the Crystal Palace, directed the management of the Great Northern Railway, or originated that splendid institution of the Royal British Bank ? As long as we have Parliamentary government we must be governed by Lords and .M.P.'s ; and we are bound to say that, judging from experience, the Lords are not the worst element of this kind of government. To the discussion of great subjects of public interest the Lords bring an eloquence, an argumentative and critical treatment, and a novelty of illustration which a four nights' debate in the Commons does not often elicit. A debate in which Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Derby, Lord Ellenborough, and Lord Granville take part is far more interest ing than most which the Commons can nowadays produce on the same subject, and whoever has had to conduct business before them both will admit that the Lords' committees are at least equal to those of the Commons. We doubt whether any change which the constituencies are like!y to make in the composition of the Lower House will improve the component parts of our Administration. Ever since the era of the Reform Bill there has been, on the part of the towns, a growing tendency in favour of the aristocracy of wealth. The rich retired tradesman, the cornfactor, the woolstapler, and the provincial attorney are at present the ordinary choice of the borough voters. We do not quarrel with such a selection, but surely it would be depre cated by none more than by those of whom Mr. Kinglake may be taken as a type —men whose high intellect and fastidious refinement at the same time qualify them for pronouncing on the merits of the candidates for high office, and indispose them to join in a competition too often soiled by an ig noble pursuit of self-interest, and an ignoble forget fulness of self-respect. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, J. 13. The marketis exceedingly flat to-day. The reaction in the cotton market is inducing buyers to hold back, in the expectation that goods will be cneaper, and in addition to this commercial advices from India and the news from China are exercising an unfavourable influence. Some -kinds of longcloths, T cloths, and pri n t ers ar e i n fair de mand at full rates, but for most other kinds of cloths, where any busi ness i s doing, prices are rather easier. The sameinfluences have prevailed in the yarn-market, which has been inanimate throughout the day, with rather easier rates. Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report on the cloth mar ket : " Owing to the change which has come over the cot ton market within the last few days, and to the unfa vourable accounts by telegraph from India and China, buyers have shown even less disposition to operate than they have done since the late advance, and we have to report a very dull, inanimate market. As regards prices we make no change in our quotations ; but with the ex• ception of certain qualities of T-cloths, lon gc l ot h s, and printers, for which there is a moderate demand, the ten dency is in favour of buyers, and, were offers made for sufficient quantities, no doubt a slight concession would be made from the rates of Tuesday last." LEEDS, J. 13. A good active demand has been experienced in the cloth balls this morning, and there have also been some tolerably large deliveries of cloth direct from the manu facturers to the merchants. The tone of the woollen trade in the town and district continues healthy, with prices very firm. The report of the Ruddersfield woollen market to-day is as follows :—" Many buyers in market, but purchases marked with considerable caution, in anticipation of a change in priceg. Shepherds' plaids, mixtures, and the cheaper fancies find the readiest sal es . L ow goo d s are i soon bought up. Wool s still slighty going up." STAMP DUTY ON DEEDS.—Th e amount realised by the stamp duty en deeds, and other instruments, in the year ended March, was 1,225,2341. THE SUN, LONDON, ' WEDNESDAY VVENING, JANUARY 14, 1857. PARLIAMENTARY PRINTING. The art of printing is a marvellous invention. That it is fraught with incalculable benefits . to the human race is a proposition long past the need of proof, and one which we ourselves should be the very last to dispute. But, as the best things are open to abuse, the reader will perhaps feol less surprise than sorrow at hearing, upon very good authority, that " at least one half the printing in this country is absolutely thrown away." A good many people would be prepared, no doubt, to accept this saying with considerable latitude of application, but we must premise at once that the subject matter of the complaint is not general lite rature, nor, indeed, any particular branch thereof, as usually understood. The remark of Mr. M'Cul loch, who represents the authority appealed to, was levelled against the printing executed for the public service ; and, since the types as well as the tongues of our legislat ors w ill now ver y s h or tly be put in motion again, we s h ou ld lik e to bespe a k a little consideration for one branch of the question concerned. It will not have been forgotten, we dare say, that a select committee inquired into this subject in 1854, and continued their researches in 1855, and it is from their report that the principal information is to be derived. The office through which payments for public printing are made is the Stationery-office, at the door of which it is the duty of Mr. M'Culloch, as Controller, to stand guard in defence of the trea sures contained, and very efficiently does he appear to discharge this salutary function. "If I," said he, " were to be in the least degree what is called ' liberal, you would very soon have the bill for printing and stationery up to 1,000,0001. a year, and it would not stop even there." Under such circumstances we ought to be thankful that the actual charge figures for less than half that amount, but the case requires more analysis still. The demand thus made (458,275/. in the last esti mates) includes the expenses, not only of printing, but of stationery, and the comprehensiveness of this latter item will be appreciated when we state that it includes not only writing materials for the several public departments, but paper for the cart ridges which the military and naval services require. The quantity of " stationery," in fact, which was despatched on this errand to the East, combined with other exigencies of the war, had the effect of just about doubling the estimates between 1853 and 1854. Taking now the first step in the way of discrimination, we observe that in 1854 the total cost of printing for the public service was put at something betweeen 100,0001. and 110,0001., and that the value of the paper directly con sumed in this work was about 100,0001. more. This enables us, therefore, in pursuing the present object of our remarks, to eliminate about a quar ter of a million sterling from the discussion, and to reduce the actual sum under consideration to 200,0001., or thereabouts. But this printing for the public service is not all Parliamentary printing. A large amount of work is performed for the various departments of Government in the shape of forms, circulars, returns, tax-papers, &c., so that when we come to look at Parliamentary printing alone, the outlay involved is again dimi nished by fully one-half ; in fact, " printing and paper for printing for both houses, Reports and Acts," appear in last year's estimates as a charge computed at just 100,0001. How this may have been divided between the two houses we cannot exactly say, but it seams, from a return on the subject, that in 1853 the printing for the House of Commons cost 65,0001., so that something less, perhaps, than a third of the whole may be appor tioned to the Lords. In the House of Commons the control in these matters rests with the Printing Committee a committee appointed for the purpose of assisting the Speaker, upon whom in the first place the re sponsibility devolves. At this point, however, yet another distinction must be drawn—it is not every piece of printing which comes under the cognisance of the Speaker and his assessors. Every session, as our readers will remember, papers are presented to both Houses "by command," a category which includes the reports of commissions, and over these the Printing Committee has no power what ever. Working our way, therefore, by degrees to the desired residuum, we discover that the whole amount that ever comes under the control of the Printing Committee of the House of Commons is, upon the average, about 24,0001. a-year. We (i.e., the management) have no control beyond that, nor any cognisance of it in any way." A large propor tion, therefore, of what is called Parliamentary printing is not under the control of Parliament. :Now, the question is how to reduce expenses which are allowed upon all hands to have acquired an unnecessary magnitude. Very likely the cost of the work performed may be reduced by and bye, as the report points out, when the terms of perform ance come under ievision ; but, as a most compe tent witness pointedly deposed, " the greatest crav ing which you can effect is by preventing the print ing of unnecessary documents." That the ease has its difficulties Mr. M'Culloch himself admits. The vary life of our national institutions is publicity, and even the expedient of selection or compression be come full of hazard where the least suspicion of "gadding" would destroy the whole value of the proceedin g . Where lie the advant ages o f an i nqu i ry if the results are not to be made known? We must perforce assume that the investigations in question are useful, or they need never have been set on foot, so that to suppress the information which may have been collected would be like ignoring the advantages of printing altogether. Yet that things are carried too far there is no denying. The report upon the Hull Election cost 3,0001. Application was once made to the Stationery -office for "a map of Ireland, showing the situation of every one of the schools which are under the management of the Commissioners of National Education." This was refused, but Mr. M'Culloch points out an " abuse of printing" in the appendix to the second volume of the Wine Duties Report, which contains " a table of 234 pages; of what is called 6 vattingl of wine in the different docks.' " " There is not," he adds, " I believe, a sane person in the empire who ever read one line of it, or ever will. But, though per fectly useless, it occupies 234 pages, and 1,750 copies were printed and circulated at the public expense." ... The remedies suggested by the committee on this head are exceedingly reasonable, and will re ceive, we trust, due effect. They recommended that an extension of powers should be conferred upon the Printing Committee, so as to embrace the reports of commissions, and that all reports should first be printed with the evidence only, leaving the appendices subject to special decision by the Print' ing Committee, acting under the directions of the house, and in communication with the persons from whom the reports proceed. Generally speaking the actual reports or conclusions at which commit tees arrive lie in a very small compass, the bulk of the volume being formed by the evidence and ap pendix attached. Two very well informed wit nesses—Mr. M'Culloch and Mr. Vardon—recom mended the publication, in the first instance, of reports only, but we concur entirely in the opinion of the committee, that the evidence on which the re port is based should not be withheld. It deserves to be noticed that, though the cost of papers " by command" Las been rising materially, that of the documents under the control of the Printing Committee has of late been diminished, while the interest attaching to such publications generally seems indicated by some increase in their sale. The demand, however, is still but small, except in cases of special attraction, such as, we are as sured, are the Bank Charter, Coal-mines, and Mar riage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. The ordinary rule under the Printing Committee is to strike off' 1,000 copies of a document, of which 700 are de livered to the House, 100 reserved for permanent sets, 100 sold to regular subscribers, and 100 left to supply casual demand. The reports of commis sions, on the other hand, run from 1,750 to 5,000 copies —a source of great additional expense, though the interest taken in the subject may occasionally be considerable, and in one instance, where 10,000 copies of certain documents were ordered, a plea of justification was put in, as we think, to good pur pose. We should greatly regret to see any check given to usages which conduce, however circuitously, to the diffusion of knowledge on public affairs, but, considering that a vast amount of " printing for the public service" ends only in the production of waste papers it is obviously desirable to retrench an expenditure so plainly unremunerative. Th e , extent of waste, in fact, may be the measure of economy. We think not merely a cheap sale, but even a gratuitous distribution of to oarbe attendedliamentary papers, likely in some instances with advantage. There can be no benefit, how ever, in publications or copies which are never issued. The waste paper of the House of Commons accumulated at one time to such an extent that the reduction of the cost of warehouses to store it in became a matter of consideration ; and Mr. Vardon estimated in 1855 that three warehouses devoted to this purpose would be got rid of under the improved management. In this direction, therefore, may reforms be applied without any danger to the publicity of business or prejudice to the labours of those persons whose researches and reflections the documents embody.—Times. Letters from Senegal of December 5 announce, the death of Mohammed Sidi. the chief of the Bracknas, who was one of the most determined adversaries of French domination, and who, in consequence of the expedition of last October, had retired into the desert. This chief was an ally of the King of Trams, who himself took to flight to escape from the French troops. TIE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT-JAN. 13. OLD COURT. [The following appeared in part of our impression of yesterday :—] (Before Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Willes.) The prisoners, Pierce, Burgess, and Tester were this morning placed at the bar charged with the gold bullion robbery on the South-Eastern Railway in May, 1855. There was very little excitement or interest evinced in the proceedings on the part of the public. The various indictments charging the prisoners with the robbery were read over to them by Mr. Straight, clerk of ar raigns, to each of which the prisoners severally pleaded not guilty. Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Monk were counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Sergeant Parry and Mr. Ribton defended Pierce ; Mr. Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Sleigh defended Tester ; and Mr. Giffard, Mr. Poland, and Mr. H. F. Lewis defended Burgess. Mr. Sergeant Shee, in stating the case to the jury, said that it was scarcely possible to believe that they bad not learnt through the usual channels of public information, the general history of the gold robbery committed on the South-Eastern Railway, and he cau tioned them not to attend to any information they might have so gained, but to confine their attention to the statement he should be able to prove by the evidences of the various witnesses he should call before them. The prisoners were indicted for having committed this rob bery on the night of the 15th May, 1855, when a large amount of gold was entrusted to the company by persons of the name of Able, Spielman, and Bult, and the learned Sergeant then laid the circumstances of the robbery before the jury. The case rested principally on the evidence of Agar, a convict, but it would be their duty to require that his evidence should be corroborated. The evidence of Agar he should corroborate by most respectable witnesses—indeed so much so that their evidence alone would present the strongest case of circumstantial evidence he bad ever known, that the robbery was committed by the knowledge and conniv ance of the prisoners in the train of which Burgess was the guard. The learned counsel said that Agar's indcce merit to give the information he had, with reference to this robbery, arose from a breach of trust and faith on the part of Pierce towards Fanny Kay and his child relative to property he had placed in his hands for their benefit and support. It was lamentable to find so much industry, dexterity, perse verance, and knowledge displayed on the part of the prisoners, and had it not been met in the same manner by the prosecution the perpetrators of this robbery would never have been detected. The learned Sergeant then called Edward Agar, who entered the witness box in custody. He said—l am a convict, under sentence of transportation for life for uttering a forged banker's cheque. lam one of the persons by whom the robbery of gold was effected. I know the prisoners at the bar. I have known Pierce more than five years. He was not in the company's employ when I first knew him. I have known Burgess and Tester about three or four years. They were both in the company's employ. I first had a conversation with Pierce about four years since in re ference to this robbery. It was after my return from America. He was a clerk at a betting-office in King street, Covent-garden. I met him accidentally. I had had a conversation with Pierce before going to America to commit the robbery, but I declined then, not thinking it practicable. Pierce asked me when I met him if I had thought any more of the robbery. I said it was impos sible to be done unless the keys could be got. He said he thought he. could get them if I would undertake it. I had several meetings after with Pierce on the subject of the robbery. Pierce said he thought he could get the keys if I had no objection to complete the robbery. Tester and Burgess's names were mentioned, and Pierce said he would endeavour to get the keys of Tester to get impressions of them. I asked him how many were to be connected with the robbery, and he said four—Tester, Burgess, himself, and myself. I had not seen Tester at this time. I had a conversation with the whole of the prisoners about 12 months before the robbery. On one occasion I want to Margate, where Tester was station. master, to see him. He wished to see me because he could show me the cash-box if that was of any service. I took tea with him, and he showed me the chest and key for taking the cash up and down the line, and asked me if I thought it would be of any use to me. I said no. He said it was a pity Pierce had not mentioned it to him before, as he could then have given me the impres sion of the bullion keys. The witness then detailed his movements shortly after this, and the opinion he gave to Pierce how the thing could be done, and said it was at my suggestion that Pierce and I went to Folkestone, and took lodgings to watoh the'arrival and departure of the trains. I went then by the name of Adams. In consequence of the particular attention of the police to our movements Pierce left, and I re mained a few days longer. Our object in going to Folke stone was to see the bullion chest opened, and where the keys were kept there. When I came up to London I saw Pierce and Burgess. Pierce then resided in Wal nut-tree-walk, Lambeth. It was arranged afterwards by Pierce that I should go to Folkestone, and Tester would introduce me there to a person named Sharman, a clerk in the company's employ, who would show me the keys. I went down, and Teeter was to meet me there as though by accident. This was about 8 or 9 months before the robbery. I stopped at the Pavilion Hotel at Folkestone. I saw Pierce and Tester at the up-station on a Sunday, and we walked together down to the harbour-station arm-in -arm. Tester then introduced me to Sharman as his friend ; it was then proposed that we should go to the Pavilion Hotel, where we had some sherry and biscuits, during which time Tester and Shar man spoke of how business was progressing with the company, and how much bullion passed over the line. I and Tester dined together that day, and he asked me my opinion of the robbery, and I said that I thought I should be able to do it, now that I had bad an introduc tion to Sharman. Tester left for London •, I remained and walked about with Sharman, but he was a sedate young man, and I could not get any thing from him. I afterwards' returned to London, and communicated to Pierce and Burgess that I could do nothing with Sharman, and suggested the matter should rest for a time. About this time I was informed by Pierce that he had received a letter from Tester that one of the keys of the bullion chest was lost, and that the chest would have to be sent to Messrs. Chubby' to be repaired. It was proposed that Tester should be supplied with wax to take the impression of the keys when the bullion chest came up, but I objected, saying that I must take the impression myself. By appointment I met Tester after at the Arcade, near the station at London-bridge, who informed me that he had not got the key. We met several times without success. Not liking to stand so long in the arcade we appointed to meet at a beer shop at the corner of Tooley-street, kept by a person named Wallace. I met Pierce and Tester there, when Tester produced the keys. I said I must go into another room and take the impression. Tester hesitated to part with them, and asked me if I could not do it there. I said no. I rang the bell, and was shown to a bed-room under the excuse of washing my hands, and there I took an impression of one of the keys ; after that I returned the key to Tester. I knew the train Burgess worked. We were in the habit of meeting Burgess at Stearne's publichouse, which the railway officials frequented. I there informed him how the matter was progressing. I was first taken to the house by Pierce. It was then arranged that I should go to Folke stone so as to be able to get an impression of the keys kept there. I went to the Pavilion Hotel, and Pierce forwarded to me there a box containing 200 or 300 sovereigns, which I had advanced for that purpose. I received a letter by post from Pierce, informing me that he had forwarded the box to me. It was insured in the usual manner and addressed to me in the name of Archer, to the care of Chapman or Ledger, at the office. I called and inquired for the box once before it arrived. It arrived on a Sunday, whilst I was at the higher station awaiting the arrival of the train. I saw the chest arrive, and I followed it to the lower station, where it was opened by Chapman with one key. There were two locks on the safe. I noticed that he took the key from a cupboard on the left hand side at the back of the office. lle took out the box I expected and gave it to me, and he also gave me a form to sign acknowledging its receipt. I told him I could not write, as I had injured my finger, and at my request he filled it up, and I signed it in the name of E. IL Archer. The form produced is the one Iso signed. I took the box to the Pavilion Hotel, where I opened it and took out the sovereigns. I returned . to London andAtad an interview with Pierce and Bur gess, and told Mem where the key was kept. It was they arranged that I and Pierce should go to Dover, and walk across the cliffs to Folkestone. About a week after that we went down by a train that had arrived there at mid-day. We stopped at a commercial house, called the Rose, opposite the church at Dover. In the latter part of the day we walked to Folkestone, over the cliffs. We arrived there before the arrival of the Boulogne boat. We walked on to the harbour station. I saw the boat arrive, and how the station -master managed with the passerigers and luggage. We saw Chapman and Ledger leave the office. Pierce then went to the office, whilst I remained at the door. Pierce went in, took the key from the cupboard, and brought it to me. I took the impression, gave the key back to him, and he r e pl ace d i t in the cupboard. ' The door of the office was unlocked. I don't know if the cupboard was locked, but I imagine not. We then re turned to Dover and had tea at the Rose, and after that we returned to London. I then saw Burgess, and in formed him I had taken an impression of the key ; be said it was a good job, and that he would do all jn his power to assist us in the robbery. I met Burgess several times at the Marquis of Granby, at New-cross. I had some blank keys made,and I filed them and finished them to the impression. I commenced Sling them at Pierce's residence, at Walnut-tree-walk. Fanny Kay had lived with me as my wife, and she an d h er child were living at Harleyford-road. I had had a difference with her about that time, and we were living apart. We made it up then, and I took a house, Cambridge-villa, Shepherd's-bush, where we lived together again. I there finished the keys. Pierce then left Walnut-tree.walk, and took a house in Crown-terrace, Hampstead-road. It was arranged that after I had finished the keys I should go down by the train and try them in the bullion chest. I went down several times with Bargees when he had the chest, and tried the keys before they would fit. I watched an opportunity of getting into Burgess's van before the starting of the train. I tried them five or six times before they would fit. Burgess was present on the van, and saw me try them, and saw me open the chest with them. I never went down with aay other person in the van but Burgess. The keys being found to fit, I learnt from Burgess and Tester that when the tidal train went down early in the morning the bullion was to be sent down by the mail train. It was the mail train that was robbed. It was arranged that I should provide lead about two hundredweight, which we calculated 12,0001. of gold would weigh, and which we thought would be as much as we could carry. Pierce and I procured shot, which we placed in bags and conveyed to Cambridge -villas. The shot was then placed in 81b and 41b check bags. Fanny Kay, my child, and a servant named Painter were at home when this was done. I dont think Fanny Kay knew what we were doing. We had more shot than we required, and we threw the excess away in the streets and fields of the neighbourhood. The small bags of shot were put into four courier bags we had made at a shop at the corner of Queen-street, Drury-lane. The courier bags were made to order and to a particular size. The strength of bags was tested at Cambridge-villa. They were made of drab leather. Some of the stitches gave way, and I repaired them. The shot in the coarser bags was removed in a carpet bag with a cart and horse to Pierce's house, Crown-terrace, Hampstead-road. I bad a black leather bag made for Tester, who consented to go to Reigate and take part of the gold and bring it up to London, so as to relieve us of their weight. All the bags were taken to Pierce's house. Everything being in readiness for the robbery, arrangements were made when Burgess got on the mail train that I and Pierce, [Burgess, and Tester should meet at London Bridge. I and Pierce were to go in a cab with the courier and carpet-bag to St. Thomas-street. We hired a cab from the stand and walked to it a short distance from Pierce's house. Pierce had a black wig and whiskers on. He wore a cloak and carried two courier bags underneath and a carpet-bag in his hand. I had on a cloak, and had the other two courier-bags on and carried a carpet-bag. We drove to St. Thomas-street. I took off my courier-bags and cloak and left them with Pierce, whilst I walked to the station and met Tester, who told me there was no gold going down that night. This was repeated, I think, five or six times before the robbery was committed. On some occasions Tester came to the cab and had a conversation with Pierce respecting the robbery. On one occasion Pierce car ried a carpet-bag on his shoulder and left it with me at a coffee - shop near the Eagle, College-street, whilst he went home and dressed himself up. On the night of the robbery Pierce and I were at a public-house near the turnpike -gate, Camden-town, where we took a cab, with our bags, to St. Thomas-street. I got out then anA went to the station as usual. Burgess came out of the station, and wiped his face. That was the signal agreed on when the bullion was going down. He went to his house. I went back to Pierce in the cab, and we directed the cabman to drive us to the Dover railway office. I had previously seen Tester on the in cline, near the station, who said in a hurried manner "All right." I went to the station and procured two first-class tickets. We kept our courier bags on, but gave the carpet bags to a porter. I gave Pierce a ticket, and he got into a first-class carriage. I walked up and down, and saw the carpet-bag given to Burgess, who placed it in the van. The small black leather bag was in the carpet bag. I walked up and down the platform till the train started, when I watched an opportunity and jumped into Burgess's van. I crouched down in a corner, and Burgess threw his apron over me. I was in the guard's portico of the van till the train started, when I got up and saw there were two iron safes in the van. As soon as the train started I went into the baggage department, opened the iron safe, and took out one of the wooden bores (the box produced is the one); it was fastened with nails through the lid by bands and was sealed. I had a pair of pinchers to raise the iron end box-wood wedges with which to force open the the lid. I took out of that box, I think, 4 bars of gold; one of them I placed in Tester's bag and gave it to Burgess ; the others were taken out and placed in the carpet bag, and I put shot into the box. Burgess placed the bag for Tester in the guard's compartment. The train by this time had arrived at Reigate. I gave the bag to Burgess, and I heard Tester say, " Where is it ?" and I saw no more of it till the next morning. I did not see Tester —I only heard his voice. When the train started again Burgess joined me, and I opened another box in the same safe, containing American gold coins. I don't know the amount. I put them into my bag and substituted shot for them. I fastened down both boxes (the one with American coins with screws), and sealed them again with some seals and a wax taper I had purchased for the purpose. I then locked the one chest and opened the other chest, and also one of the boxes, which I found to contain small bars of gold. I took out as many bars of gold as I thought I bad shot to make up the weight, and then fastened up the box again. The safes were taken out at Folkestone, and we went on to Dover. I and Pierce took the courier bags and carpet bags, and we went to the Dover Castle. It was about 11 o'clock.. We went into the coffee-room, placed the carpet bags under the window, and ordered supper. During the absence of the waiter we took off the courier bags. The waiter asked if we wanted beds, and we replied no, that we had driven in, and were going up by the 2 o'clock train. I left Pierce at the hotel, whilst I went to the pier, and threw the mallet, chisel, &c., with which I opened the boxes, into the sea. When I came back we paid the bill and sent the waiter for some brandy in a soda water bottle, in order that we might replace our courier bags. We then left, and went to the station. At the station the porter asked to take the carpet-bags. I refused, but he per sisted and almost forced them out cf my hands. The porter then asked us if we had our tickets. We replied, "Yes, Ostend tickets." The porter asked us to show them, and he said "There's been no baggage through th e Cus toms to-day." I replied "No; we came yesterday," at the same time pitting some silver in his hand. He then left and we went intoa first-class carriage. Burgess was guard of the train. Few passengers came up by the train. Pierce and I were alone in a first-class carriage. On the way up we opened th e l arge ca r p e t-b ags , w hi c h were "dummies, threw out the hay, and at one of the stations Pierce got out and placed the carpet-bags behind the door of the waiting-room. The gold was then in the small carpet and courier bags. On our arrival at the London -bridge station we walked to the cab-stand, and desired the cabman to drive us to the Great Western Railway. Before getting there we said we had made a mistake, and ordered him to drive us to the Euston-square station. When we got out there we discharged the' cab, and Pierce got another, and we drove to the neighbourhood of Crown-terrace. We there discharged the cab, and took the bags to Pierce's house. From thence we went to London-bridge in a cab, with the American gold coins. The cab was then dis charged, and I met Tester with the box of gold, as had been previously arranged. Tester gave me the box of gold, and I believed he went to his office. I and Pierce then took a cab and drove to the neighbourhood of the East India House. Pierce got out, taking with him part of the American coins, and sold them at a shop at the cor ner of St. Mary Axe. I remained in the cab. On Pierce's return, he told me he bad to wait whilst the money-changer sent to the Bank for gold. He obtained upwards of 2001. for the coins. We then drove to an• other money-changer's in the Haymarket, and Pierce sold the remainder of the American gold coins for 2011., which was paid by cheque on the Union Bank. The cheque was then taken to the bank and cashed. We then returned to Pierce's house. Pierce had the proceeds of the American coins. At that time I was not in want ,of money, but Pierce was ; he had to pledge his things for support. Pierce afterwards hired a horse and cart, and we drove with the box of gold to Cambridge-villas, where I then resided. Fanny Kay was at home when we arrived there. The bags were first put into the parlour, and afterwards in my trunk, in my bed - room. Pierce took the horse and cart back from whence he had borrowed it, and I saw no more of him on that day. I saw him in a day or two after at my house, when we cut a 100 oz. of gold off one of the bars, and sold it at 31. per ounce. I had the proceeds. It was then ar ranged that we should melt the gold, and we accord. ingly took out the stove in my first floor back room, and procured some fire-bricks for that purpose. The fire brick produced is one of them, and on it small particles of gold are to be now seen. The gold, when melted, was poured into an "ingot " (100 oz. bars) that had been procured for the purpose by myself and Pierce. On one occasion, when taking one of the crucibles out of the fire I met with an accident and broke it, and the gold was scattered about on the floor, which was burnt ; Fanny Kay on one occasion complained of the heat, and asked what we were about. I replied "leather apron making," meaning "mind your own business." The courier bags were destroyed. It took four days to melt the gold. Pierce remained with me smk d e u eeep r tn i t n hh g icimhm t a h ama a tt t bavve t rb i s m eese e atri 2,000 oz, of the gold were sold by Saward, alias the barrister, When first I knew him he theo his goldt trouble, b m l e e : I Ichi N aosnnous o , Itts . dee W estminster yemaa wrlal :psi lnner-court, acelelhclao:dn.ipdpogln adt T : o e awf m bhs p aeor l neor barrister. r, had .sof oldlr which he paid me 31. 2s. 6d. per oz. He paid me in gold. Saward charged ls. or 6d. per ounce commission About this time I had another quarrel with Fanny Kay, and I left Shep herd's-bush and took lodgings at Kilburn in Piercela, s aaohrnotni mdwe Pierre's To ttcooecs atiK a srioel o n,bhh u uao t aßrdunnsude6r t . vgohweoii at Burgess the name of Adams. The gold had previously been removed from my house to Pierce's. e living there afterwardso when I from was n Crown row appre hended.l lived in Pierre's house about a week. On h n a d g beenld and sold, abe andrub received changed ene. iTv Testerheldet by Pierce e. i stated t e w e d a n w d r h e a c P t e i g i e v o r e e l d d e and rce f olr, notes Pierce, my share of the money was in my trunk when I was apprehended. The remainder of the unsold gold had been buried in a hole he dug under the front steps of the house. At the time of the robbery I had seven 1001. Spanish Bonds purchased of Mr. Young, stock broker, a considerable time before the robbery. I sold five of them on the night of the division of the spoil, at 481. each, to Tester, who paid me out of the notes he had received as his share. On the morning of my arrest I saw Pierce, and made an ap pointment with him to go with me that day to Shep herd's-bush to fetch the child'sclt h .o clothing, &e. After that I left to meet a man named Humphreys in Holborn, but I was arrested on my way, T saw Pierce after my arrest. I had 3,0002, invested, which wag sold out and handed to Pierce to invest for the benefit of Facny Kay and my Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry—l am 41 years of age. I was once in the employ of Mr. Davis, linen draper, Chiswell-street, for four years. That is 14 years ago. It may be 20 years, but I won't speak positively. No robbery took place there that I know of. I have not been in employment since. I have got my living since by speculation in the United States of America. Mr. Parry—What, in railway carriages ? Witness—No; by buying and selling things. I first went to America between three and five years after I left Mr. Davis. I decline answering how I lived dur. ing that time. I was not engaged in forging then, nor never have been. I did not know Saward then. I decline answering how I gained my living at the time referred to. Mr. Baron Martin—l don't see how it can hurt you. Unless you have done something that renders you liable to be hanged you can't be worse off than you now are. (Laughter.) Witness still declined answering the question, or if he had done anything that would render him liable to be hanged. I did not rob, or utter forged documents in America. I don't know that Saward is in custody. Saward's flash name was "Barrister Saward." (Laugh ter.) I have discounted bills for him. I never had any transactions in cheques with him. I am innocent of the charge I was convicted on. I am not a perfectly honest person, for I have received the proceeds of forgery. I never forged or uttered a forged document. The stock I was pos sessed of was purchased before the robbery. Your client had my share of that robbery. I was convicted of ut• tering a forged cheque for 7001., and was caught running away with a bag of 700 farthings in my possession. I can work at almost anything—at making jewellery. Mr. Parry—And bars of gold ? Witness—Yes, sir ; there's proof of that. (Laughter.) I don't know if Pierce was a betting man. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l have no particular motive for declining to say how I got my living after I left Mr. Davis ; I am not afraid of the consequences. Mr: Ballantine—l apprehend, then, my lord, he is bound to answer the question? Mr. Baron Martin—Not, if it will render him liable to prosecution. Mr. Sergeant Ballantine (to witness) —And is that the reason why you refuse to answer the question 1 Witness—No. I was first introduced to Pierce by two thieves, and he at once opened the business to me. I took tea with Tester at his lodgings, at Margate. It was served by an elderly female. The division of the money took place about two mouths after the robbery. Tester asked me the best way to invest his money. I said I have some Spanish bonds that are paying 7 per cent., that I gave 474 for them, and would sell theta for 481., and he purchased five of them. By Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You were convicted for uttering a forced cheque ? Witness—Yes. And you defended me. Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Yes. And you were con- victed on the evidence of an accomplice ? Witness—Yes. Every word he said was untrue, and it was also untrue what Mr. Mullins, the solicitor to the prosecution, stated on the trial, that I was outside the bank, waiting, when the cheque was presented. I was at Shepherd's-bush at the time. When I was asked by any one on the line, or at any hotel, I represented my self as a commercial traveller. Tester knew that I was a thief. I tried to get the keys at Folkestone without the knowledge of any of the company's servants. I became familiar with Sharman so as to get the keys when his back was turned. I did not attempt to corrupt him. Mr. Sergeant Ballantine--Did Tester try to corrupt your innocence ? _ . Witness—Oh ! dear, no. (Laughter.) Cross-examined by Mr. Poland—l have gone by the names of Adams, Archer, Agar (my right name), and Roberts. I answered to any name the prisoners choose to give me. I first made a communication to Mr. Rees, at Portland. I did not then tell him Burgess had nothing to do with the robbery. I have never said that Burgess had notbing to do with it. These were not the first false keys I ever made. I made some for Pierce to commit a robbery at the South• Eastern station. I may have made others. I may have received the proceeds of three or four forgeries. The money I had in the bank was not part of the forgeries, but the proceeds of hard work and speculation in America. I have never passed off forged notes either in this country or America. Re-examined by Mr. Bodkin--My reason for not an swering Mr. Parry was that he seemed to wish toforce it out of me. Whe❑ I left Mr. Davie's employ I had 501. I had saved, and with that, and by pledging my clothes, and assisting my cousin, a boot closer, I supported my self till I went to America. Mr. Baron Martin—There could have been no objet tion, then, to your answering the question just now ? Witness—l should not if Mr. Parry had not tried to force it out of me. By Mr. Bodkin—One of the witnesses in the case in which I was convicted was called Humphreys, who used to live with Emily Campbell, with whom I was living at the time in Stanley-place. When I was apprehended I was on my way to Humphreys' house, near Bedford row, to receive 2501. I had lent him. When near there the man Smith, who gave evidence against me, saw me, and said, I have been looking for you, and that Bill, meaning Humphreys, had sent him to me to say I was not to go to his house, for there was a screw loose, and as we walked along he said Humphreys bad sent 2001. to me, at the same time pul ling out a bag, and gave it to me. When he gave me the bag I asked who the men were that were following us, and at his advice I ran off and he joined in the pur suit with the officers. By Mr. Baron Martin—About three years after I left Davis's I commenced a career of crime. From that time to the time of my conviction I was engaged in crime. By Mr. Sergeant Parry—l never boasted to my fel low prisoners at Portland that I effected this robbery alone, and went after it to Boulogne. I never said any thing about it until I mentioned it to Mr. Bees. I Imd heard at that time that Pierce had given up the child to its mother, and that Fanny Kay was in a state of, destitution —that h e re f use d to give the child a change of dress. Evidence was then given to prove the packing of the gold and its delivery to the South-Eastern Railway Company for transmission to the Continent. From May till December, 1855, the Company resisted the claims of Mr. Abell for the value of his gold, asserting it must have been lost between Folkestone and Boulogne. Several witnesses from France stated that it was ap parent to the officials of the Custom Rouse at Boulogne that one of the boxes had been meddled with prior to its arrival there. After hearing evidence tracing the arrival of the boxes at Paris, the weighing of them, showing a deficiency of 401b5., and their being opened and found to contain a large quantity of shot in small bags, The Court adjourned at 6 o'clock until to-day: RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND GREENWICH. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes terday at the office, Gresham-house, Old Broad-street— Mr. J. Wilson in the chair. The CHAIRMAN commenced the proceedings by reading a statement of the accounts for the half-year ending the 31st of December, from which it appeared the half-year's rent paid by the South-Eastern Railway Company amounted to 22,5001., the transfer fees to 71. 53., interest on balances to 1401., and 321. from last account, making 22,6801. From this was deducted 4,7001., interest en bonds, and 5,568/., interest on preference ; 4361. for office and other expenses, and 8151. income tax, leaving a disposable sum of 11,1601., out of which the directors recommend a dividend on the unprivileged shares of ss. 21. per share, clear of income tax, leaving a small balance for the next account. A resolution approving the dividend , a al carried una nimously, and Mr. J. Filcher and Mr. T. Corney, the retiring directfirs, were re-elected. Mr. MACLAURIN suggested that a few lines showing the state of the accounts should be sent to each share. holder with the dividend warrant on the 15th inst. The CHAIRMAN said that it would involve an expense of a few pounds, and as they were anxious to prevent the dividend falling below ss. 2d. per share they wished to avoid additional expense, but would send a copy of the statement of accounts to Mr. Maclaurin or any share holder requesting the same. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the pro ceedings. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON AND 60IITH-EASTRIta RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Jan. 10, 1857 £17,566 15 2 Corresponding week last year 17,781 17 1 Decrease in 185 G LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.— Traffic return for the week ending Jan. 10, 1856 £9,876 9 11 Corresponding week last year 9,639 16 8 Total of tho half-year to this date, 1857 21,421 17 10 Total of the half-year to this date, 1856 20,188 2 1 GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for tho week ending Jan. 11, 1857 £6ll 18 1 Corresponding week last year 290 7 4 CONVICTION FOR MIIRDETL—At the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Monday, Peter M'Lean, Christina Peters or M'Lean, and Wm. Mansfield, were charged with " murder, as also assault, committed by stabbing and cutting, in so far as, on the 15th or 16th of Nov. last, on or near the public road leading from Bath gate to East Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, at or near Bog head bridge, they attacked and assaulted the now de ceased Thomas Maxwell, a miner, residing at Durham town, near Batbgate, and did knock or throw him down on the ground, kicked him, and struck with a knife or other instrument stabbed or cat him on the chest and neck and other parts of his person, by all of which he was mortally injured, and immediately, or soon thereafter died ; and also, time land place above I libelled, they did assault John Maxwell, miner, striking him with a stone on the bead or face, and throwing him down and stabbing him with a knife on the leg, and otherwise maltreating and abusing him by all of which he was cut and wounded, to the effusion of blood and the serious injury of his person." The pri soners pleaded "Not Guilty ;" but the jury, after a lengthened absence, returned a verdict, by a majority, of guilty of murder and assault against Peter M`Lean, but recommended him to the merciful consideration of the Crown ; not guilty against Christina M`Lean; and guilty of assault against Mansfield. The Lord Justice Clerk then sentenced Peter M`Lean to be executed on Monday, the 2d of February next, at Linlithgow, and adjured him to banish from his mind any hope that his life would be prolonged. The prisoner M`Lean exhibited violent emotion o❑ receiving sentence. Mansfield was sentenced by the Court to two years' imprisonment, and Christina Ai'Lean was dismissed from the bar. From the London Gazette of Last Night. The Gazette contains a notice that the Speaker will issue his warrant at the end of 14 days for the election of a member of Parliament for the borough of Salford, in the room of the late Joseph Brotherton, Esq. WHITEHALL, JAN. 12. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Rode rick Nicolson to the church and parish of Applecross, in the Presbytery of Lochcarron, and county of Ross, vacant by the transportation cf the Rev. John Reid, late minister thereof, to the parish of Barvas. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN. 9. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de spatch from her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, enclosing copy of a Portuguese Royal Decree, opening the port of Mossamedes, in the province of Angola, to foreign com merce. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN. 13. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de spatch from her Majesty's Consul at Lisbon, transmit ting copy of a Portuguese Ruyal Decree, equalising the duty to ba paid upon the importation into Portugal of foreign oils, to that established in the Municipal Customs' Tariff, viz.: 680 rein per 341bs. weight. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN. 13. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy., of a despatch from her Majesty's Plenipotentiary id' 1 China, transmitting' a copy of a proclamation issued by the King of Siam, permitting the exportation of rice from leis dominions. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN., 1 . 857. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty' s S u p er i n t en d ent of Trade in China, forwarding samples of various products of Siam. ADMIRALTY, JAN. 10. Corps of Royal Marines—First Lieutenant Henry Brad ley Roberts to be First Lieutenant and Quartermaster, vice Mawbey, promoted. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT. Brecknock Royal Rifle Regiment of Militia—Alfred George Drake Pocock, Gent., to be Lieutenant. Ist - Somerset Regiment of Militia—Henry Gully Foy, Gent., to be Assistant Surgeon, vice Colston, appointed to the East India Company's Service. Ist Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia—Assistant Sur geon Thomas Brittain to be Surgeon, vice Bascome, de ceased. NOTICE OF INTENDED DISTRIBUTION OF NAVAL PRIZE MONEY. Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy, .. . - Admiralty, Somerset-house, Jan. 12. Notice is hereby given to the officers, seamen, and ma. rives, and to all persons interested therein, that the distri bution of proceeds arising from the Greek brigantine Chrissys, captured M a y 22, 1855 , th e G reek vessels Hari klia and the Panagia Drapaniotisa, captured May 30, 1855, by her Majesty's ship Niger, will commence on Thursday, 20th Jan., in the Prize Branch of the Department of the " Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, Somerset house." Agents and other persons holding powers of attorney, prize orders, assignments, or other instruments, by virtue of which they may be legally entitled to claim the share of any captor, serving in the above -named ships, are re quested to present the same at this office. Any officer, seaman, marine, or oth er p erson , w h o ma y desire to receiv e hi s share from the Collector of Customs or Inland Revenue within the United Kingdom, is required to intimate the same by letter to be addressed "On Prizo Busi ness, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, London," in which letter his own place of residence is to be precisely stated, as well as the place of the nearest Collector of Customs or of Inland Revenue, from wh om it wou ld b e conven i en t to receive such share of prize money. THE CHRISM'S. Flag share Commander 33 7 8 Seventh class ... 1 11 3 Third class Fourth class 4 13 8 Ninth class Fifth class 2 12 1 I Tenth class THE HA: s. d. Flag share Commander Third class Fourth class 9 7 5 Fifth class THE PANAGIA s. d. Flag share Commander 2O 3 2 Third class Fourth class 216 7 Fifth class 1 11 4 ,RIXLIA. .£ s. d. Sixth class Seventh class Eighth class . 1 11 3 Ninth class 1 0 10 Tenth class 0 10 4 DRAPANIOTISA. SiLth class Seventh Eighth class Ninth class Tenth class 2s. d. 1 8 4 o 18 10 O 9 5 O 6 4 O 3 1 BANKRUPTS. Joseph Harbut, licensed victualler, Portswood, to sur render, Ja n . 22, a t t we l ve , an d Feb. 27, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore official assignee, Bas inghall-street ; Westall, South-square, Gray's-inn ; Cox well and Bassett, Southampton. James Henry Smith, corset maker and milliner, Oxford street, Jan. 23, and Feb. 27, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Linklater and Attwood, Sise-lane, Bucklersbury. Richard Carpenter, Museum Tavern ' Museum-street, Bloomsbury, Jan. 23 a t one, an d F e b . 24, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Alderman bury ; Mackeson, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Thomas Henry Tripney, grocer, Perranporth, Cornwall, Jan, 22, and Feb. 19, at one, at the Elreter District Court. Hirtzel, official assignee, Exeter ; Croddard, King-street, Cheapside ; Ford, Exeter. George Feasts, draper, Lambeth-walk, Jan. 23, at half past twelve, and Feb. 26, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Mason and Sturt, Gresham-street, city. Alfred Henry Harrold, druggist, Frome Sel wood, So mersetshire, Jan. 26, and Feb. 23, :at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official as: d.,gnee, Bristol ; Frome. Samuel Bayley, grazier, Wedn. , esbury, Staffordshire, Jan. 28 and Feb. 18, at half-past t en, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Knight, Birmingham. Richard Davis sen., coal merchant, West Bromwich, Jan. 24 and Feb. 14, at half-past eleven, at the Birming ham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birming ham ; Reece, Birmingham. George Davey, plumber, Murfay-street, New North road, Jan. 23, and Feb. 26, an twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-build ings ; Hudson and Francis, Tok:enhouse-yard. Joseph Whiteside, watchms ker, Davies-street, Berke ley-square, Jan. 28, at half-p ast one , an d M arc h 2, a t eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers ;. Abrahams, Southampton buildings, Chancery-lane. Edmund Goddard, provision dealer, Aldgate, City, Jan. 27, at half-past one, and. Feb. 21, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansf , ald, official assignee ; Burr, Paternoster-row. William T- Gravenor, hatter and milliner, Birming ham, Jan. 28 and Feb. 18, at half-past ten, at, the Bir mingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Morris, Old Jewry, London ; Hodgson and Allen, Birmingham. Henry Osborn, wine and spirit merchant, Old Trinity House, Water-lane, City, and the Catherine-wheel, Great Windmill-street, Haymarket, Jan. 23, at eleven, and Feb. 26, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Anderson, Barge yard chambers. Ramsden Rawnsley, builder, Copley, Yorkshire Feb. 2 and March 2, at eleven, at th e L ee d s Di s t r i ct Court.' Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Mitchell, Halifax; Bond and Bar wick, Leeds. Hobart Henry Bollin, oarriage builder, King's Lynn, Norfolk, Jan. 28, at twelve,, and March 2, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Easing hall-street; Goodwin and Co., King's Lynn, Norfolk, and Lancaster-place, Strand, London. Knowlton Wilson, surgeon, Sheffield, Jan. 31, and Feb. 21, at ten, at the Councill-hall, Sheffield. Brewin, official assignee, Sheffield ; Hoole and Yeomans. Sheffield. Jaines Griffin, poulterer, Liverpool, Jan. 21, and Feb. 13, at eleven, at the Liverpool Di3trict Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool ; Yates, jun., Liverpool. John Unwin, baker, Seacornbo, Cheshire Jan. 22, and Feb. 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Fletcher and Hull, Liverpool. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Alexander Law, coal merchant, Glasgow. George Lankham, saddler, Inchture, Perthshire. B. W. Dods and Company, merchants, Glasgow. J. and J. W. Vint, merchants, Edinburgh. Thomas Ness, blacksmith, Leith. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. - J. Swallow and Co., Manchester, cotton dealers—J. and E. M'Rae and E. Evans, Ludgate hill, fancy stationers ; as far as regards J. M'Rae— .. Jackson and D. Paget, Keighley, Yorkshire, brokers—A. and J. Booth, Man. chester, braid machine makers—J. Dixon, J. Galloway, and T. Dixon, Manchester, calico printers ; as far as re gards T. Dixon—C. Brown and Co., Barborough Sawmills, Derbyshire, and elsewhere, timber merchants—W. Sibley and R. Jordan, Bath, bakers—S. Woodley and W, Stephenson, Ilkley, Yorkshire, farmers- Bailey and Wick ham, Winchester, solicitors—H. Ellis and W. Myers, Deptford, lightermen—Johnson, France, and Co., Shef field, contractors- S. Hicks and Co., Crantock, Cornwall, malsters—Cliff Vale Iron Company, Stoke -upon-Trent— R. Burgess and W. Cousins, Norwich, painters—Liberty and Tomlinson, Nottingham, lace manufacturers —H. Smith and W. Southern, Nottingham, lucifer match manufacturers—Well and Bell, Nottingham, linendrapers —Edwards and Hancock, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, iron— founders—J. M. Oppenheim and Co., London and else where, merchants; as far as regards J. E. Oppenheim— Thomson, Finlay, and Co., Liverpool, merchants ; as far as regards H. G. Gordon—W. T. P. Saegert and H. Rogers, Strand, carvers—F. J. Ferns and W. Gold, Great St. Helen's, ship agents—W. Black and J. T. Bidmead, Trump-street and Lawrence-lane, city, umbrella manufac turers—Organ and Hare, Cawood, near Selby, Yorkshire, surgeons—C. W. H argrave and C. W. Wilkinson, St. Paul's-churchyard, warehousemen—G. P. and K. G. Macaire, Myddelt on•street, Clerkenwell, watchcase makers —J. and J. F arrar, Halifax, woolstaplers, and Cullonagh mills, near M ary b orough, Ireland, millers—W. Brown and W. Hargr eaves, B radford and Keighley, Yorkshire, cut ters in stone—J. L. Foster and S. Arbouin, Hertford and Mark-lane, a tt orneys —W. G. Gardner and W. R. Baker, Chatham, car r i ers —G . Austin, son., and G. Austin, ,jun., , Egerton and Pluckley, Kent, formers — A. and D. Ellis, Liverpool, metal merchants— W. Duckworth and Son., Great Tower-street, wholesale coffee dealers — Watson , Thomson, and Co., Glasgow, merchants - as far as regards J. Thomson. DECLARATIONS OF DIVIDENDS. Royal British Bank first div. of ss. 6d. on Wednesday next and subsequent Wednesday , at Mr. I.oe's, Alderman bury, G. Kyrke—further div. of lid., any Wednesday, at Mr. Morgan's, Liverpool. J. It. Gummow, Wrexham, builder—first div. of 2s. 6d., any Wednesday, at Mr. Turner's, Liverpool. DIVIDENDS. • Feb. 4, C. B. Roe and T. J. Blackford, Newport, Isle of Wight, bankers—Feb. 4, C. Ackroyd and W. W. Rowles, King-street, Long-acre, carpenters—Feb. 6, G. F. Owen, Lewisham, Kent, butcher—Feb. 6, A. Silvestro, Argyll street, importer of fancy goods—Feb. 6, H. Houghton, Friday-street, and Watling-stroet, merchant—Feb. 4, H. F. Budge, Manchester, fustian manufacturer—Feb. 5, J. Travis, Green-bridge, Cage-mill and Bridge-end, Lanca shire, woollen manufacturer—Feb. 5, J. Evans, Britton- ferry Ironworks, Glamorganshire, ironreaster—Feb. 1 , 2 , 0 G A. Voigt, Ch e lt en h am , d ea l er in pianofortes—Feb.of W. R.lLowe, Wolverhampton, manufacturing oliamist -- Feb. 4, E. R Sanderson, West Kialiald-ferry, Lincoln' shire, seed crusher. CERTIFICATES TO BE GRANTED. Feb. 6, J. F. King, Belle Vue-villas, Seven Sisters-rood , builder—Feb. 4, M. Willis, Shot Tower-wharf, Lambeth , fire-wood manufacturer—Feb. 4, J. C, Cooke, Prince's' street, Soho, carver--Feb. 5, W. Fevre, Peterborough , publican—Feb. 3, J. Symes, E. B. Symes, an d R. R o per' Strand, electio-pl a t ers — F e b. 6, W. Briscoe, Ashton-under Line, timber dealer—Feb. 4, S. and E. Lord, Bacup, L&% cashire, millw r i g ht s —F e b. 5 , R . an d J. Helsby, Childwo,• and Warrington, L ancas hi re , b u ild ers—Feb. 9, E. Hodder, Birmingham, grocer—Feb. 9, W: J. Peppery Coventry, printer—Feb. 5, T. Firmston, Shrewsbury, builder—March 3, R. and G. Marston, Leicester, manufsc' turers of hosiery. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL—JAN. 13. There was bnt a limited attendance of the town and. country trade to-day, and on l y a mo d erate demand we' at first experienced for wheat—however, towards the close some speculative operators cleared off the most pressing parcels and str e n g th ene d th e mar k e t, w hi ch closed at show', Friday's rates, or 2d per 701bs lower than on this dal week. Flour mat with a very slow sale, and may be quote°. 6,1 per barrel and sack down on the week. Oats and oat' meal only in limited request, and barely maintained their value. Barley, beans, and peas neglected, and again the turn lower. Indian corn continues out of favour with speculators, and, with few orders from Ireland, the valu e has declined 6d per qr. on the week, mixed being obtain' able at 33s 9d, yellow at 34s to 34s 6d, and white at 350 W 36s per qr. HULL -JAN. 13. A small show of wheat, which met a very good sale at. fully the rates paid last week. Barley in good request at full prices. Beans and oats neg'ected.. Linseed the turn dearer, and cakes proving scarce on i mprove d d eman d , ore -5s per ton dearer. There are sums very good foreign 00 • the market, Marseilles, Swedish, and the favourite bran: of Tilsit. Rape cakes unaltered. Bones fetch long Vic° for floating cargoes with choice of ports. B SI B. f. Wheat, English, red 58 to 60 I Peas, grey and black to Ditto white 6O to 65 Linseed, Black Sea... 63 to Dantzic and Konigs- Ditto Petersburgh ... 52 to 7"• berg Pomemnianand Ham- angel 4ito, burgh Daniala, Holstein, and Friesland' 54 to 58 Russian and Odessa 58 to 6:3 Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 29 to 30 Barley, malting Ditto grinding 35 to 38 Beans Ditto foreign Peas, white and yel 4O to 42 Ditto Konigsberg and Memel . 6 Ol 44 to Per Vt . Lins. c., Hull 01 03 to 101 103 r i Ditto fine for. 9/ Os 101 Os Pi a , Ditto inf. for O/ O s Od to W Rapeseed OOl Os to 001 a , Ol Rape cakes —s Od t o 125 s o' l Tares, English Ol to „„ Ditto foreign Guano • 001 Os 81 to 1211, 5 $ Bones -8 Od to 120 101 Flour, per brL 350. o', , LEEDS—JAN. 13. • We are fairly supplied with wheat. The trade 0 1 4 slow. Good dry qualities fetch about Vriday's c u r renciel, but all other de scr ipti ons are difficult to quit. Barley bel l ' firmly at full prices. Beans and oats, with other artiolek vary little from last week. Average price of grain—Wheat, 59s Od ; barley, g 2d ; oats, 288 7d ; bean s , 42 e 10d • . peas, 418. • PP, " rye, —s. Od. . . , COURSE OF EXCHANGE.--YESTERDAY. 4 m5terdam............ 11 14 • Gibraltar .............. g Ditto, three months .. 11 17 4 Leghorn ...• •• ........ 29 5 Y,1 Etotterdam ............ 11 171 h Genoa .......... ...... 25 71P' kntwerp .............. 25 32 ) , , 4 Milan ......•• ........ -- - Brussels ....•......... 25 3:2 Venice........•• .. .• .• - , . Fiamburgh ............ 13 6% Naples ........ „. 43 9.ltona •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• -- 1 Palermo .••• •••••• •• •• 129 . , Paris .........4 ........ 25 25 Mes s i na ... ... 129* Ditto, three months .. 25 67% I Lisbon .. Marseilles ............. 25 67 j„ Oporto ... ........ ..... 51,0 : Bourdeaux ...........• Rio Janeiro ...• 1 Frankfort-on-Maine .• .. 118jj Buenos Ayres.. •• • --• Berlin ................ New York,6o days' sight Vienna..........•• .... 10 42 Philadelphia •• -" rrieste.. •• ••••••• • • • •• 10 43 PRICES OF BULLION, PEZ OS.. i Petersburg ............ 37U Foreign G o ld i n B ars £ 3 17 : Madrid .........., .... 49 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 v„, 3adiz ......... • • ...... 49% Mexi can Dollars .... 0 0 u ,, Barcelona ............ New Dollars ...... 0 0 'l, Seville«. •• •• .......... Silver in b ars ...... 0 0'' ' LOCAL SHARE MARKETS, LIVERPOOL, JAN. 13. STOOK EXCHANGE.—Tho market has been doing a business to-day, and prices closed about the same as 9,7,, terday. M anc h es t er , Sh eff i eld, and Lincolnshire, 331 a • Ditto, 6 per cent., 12 .6.3.—Blackburn, Bi—London O ro ) North Western, 1051—East Lancashire, 23 Esst e i Counties, 91—Lancashire an d Y or k s hi re, 951—M idl a n 81/Great Western of Canada, new, 2i.p. b A MANCHESTER, JAN. 13. Soo EXCHANGE.—Thero was a firm business dolt but some of the principal sales w ere f or next aeco uP' Sheffields, 33/—Duvers, 22g—Midland, 821—Leeds, 96," Preston and Wyre, 41 S — North-Western, 7i—Blackbw"; Pref., 21i —North Eastern, 17/. A, ti die. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 13. STOOK EXCIUNGL—The railway share market was q lll 4l again to-day, and prices generally lowe r . L on d o n al l North Westerns, 105 1 i—Midlands, 81i 21—She00 61 336, buyers—North Stailords, 124—Great Western SUNS: Valley Guaranteed, 64—Crystal Palace Prof., si..—Not British, 39 1 —Birmi w. ngham Banks, 33k. SEABORNE MAILS. [When the date remains open until mail, via Southan evening previous.] 4/ 1 for making , up a mail falls on a S un d ay, the Inifi the day following; e x ce pt i n the case of the Inl.' npton, which, on such occasions, is made up Made up al the W hence des- Lisbon Spain Gibraltar Gibraltar 1 Malta Egypt Ceylon India Mauritius iviaCeylon)J China Penang .. •• Dd Singapore Australia(viai the Cape)•• _1 Cape of Good Hope ..•• Mauritius Ceylon India .....Lisbon Madeira .... I CapedeVerds Brazil BuenosAyres Falkland Is lands..... West Indies (except Ha vana and :Honduras). Venezuela Grey Town M New Granada Chili Peru California Post Office 7th,l7th, Bt} 27th of tke month. 14th & 20th of the month. llonduras .. N assau .. .. Mexico .... Havana • • .. Madeira . • Teneriffe W.C.ofAfrica British North America .. United States United States British North America , United States British North America 4th of the' month. IFeb. 12 Canada .... I reb. 5.. .. IFeb. 9.. 2d and 17th of the month. llan. 17 IFeb. 2.... IJan. 23 .. Every Fri. Tan.2o and alternate Tuesdays.. IJan. 14 ran. 27 ..1 patched. South ampton South ampton South ampton South ampton Dart mouth South ampton South ampton South ampton By what Vessel. Tagus Pera When expected Jan 14 4th and 20th of the month. --- • By il!!!. rAd til t , ittoriltd Light , A.ustrala sian South ampton mo uth Liver. pool Liver- Pool Harbin. ger Tyne ? Orinocol Orinoc Gambia A rabia Baltic IFeb. 4 IJan. 3 South ampton Arage.. Jan. 25 Liver pool Jan. 12 Ist and 16th of the month. 16th of the month. Feb. 1 Feb 6 , EIIg1 04: ' Tyne,. Arr.l3''' Anglo- Saxon La PlO4 La ?Dili AtrAto Iran. 12 Jan. 151 IStbIOPI Canad'._ arr. 1319. Baltic M—Morning. E—Evening. Feb. 191 Feb. 41 Frilo o •••••• .e, MR. DUNCAN M'LAREN AND THE "SCOTSMAN" NEWS' PAPER.-Mr. M'Laren has handed over the 4001. re' covered by him in the action against the Scotsman to the governors of Heriot's Hospital, to be applied by, them to the founding of an annual prize for good cow duct, in connection with the outdoor Heriot schools. BIRTHS, Op A SOL „t 3, Rand o l p h- crescent, Edinburgh, On the 12th i ns t., at Lee-park, Blackh eath, the wife o f M O r. n C. th W e I . 2 E th bo i r n a s l t l . . , the wife of John Blackwood, Esq. OF A DAUGHTZR. • rattonG,leEnsbqr.ook Bray, coantyWioldow', at 20, Newman -street, the wife of .A.- R. Venablee, Esq. On the 11th inst., at 65, Portland• place, the wife of th e' th; Ol R . Monntford Wood, curate of Aldbury. Rev. wife t t h h e e 01122 Jamest 12th i i n n g s t t .. 0: MARRIED. d On the 13th inst., at St . Martin's-in-the-Fields, Henri Pigott, Captain 83,1 Re,gt , to Fran ces C at h erine , Horse Guards B P i c n h z ild of lue.hilip Powlett Doy no , l a t e C aptain Roya l On the 13th inst., at St. Peter's, Eaton-square, the Rev. Thomas Scott Huxley, incumbent of Aldeby, Norfolk, .to Elizabeth Ferguson, only daughter of the late John Day, Esq., of Beccles, Suffolk. ~, DIED. On the 12th inst., at Hampton Court Palace, the Hon. Mrs. Bradshaw. On the 12th inst., at 34, Mortimer -street, Mary, wife of Col. Hugh Baillie , of Redcastle, Ross-shire, N.B. On the 12th inst., Leslie Clarke, fifth son of Mr. Henry Clarke, 39, King-street, Covent -garden, aged 23. On the 11th inst., at 7, Whitehall, William H. Pitcher, Esq. On the 11th inst., at his chambers in the Charterhonae, Mr. W. M. Hunt, aged 65. Hoare, B ar t. On the 10th inst. at Stourhead, Wilt s , Si r H. Ri c h ar d , I . iged ' 70. 67 . On the 10th Inst., at Lut on , J. K. Bl un d e ll , E sq., age d On the 13th inst., at 3, Vincent-place, Kin E. G. Hi scoc k , formerly of Abingdon, aged 73,gsland, lf r On the 10th inst., Mr. Kite, of Sutton, Surrey, aged 45. t,..—.7„,__...........___ LONDON: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the coup ty of Middlesex, Wednes Jay, January 14, 1857.