The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

imprrtat taar HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY. The Marquis of CLANRIC MID E, in presenting a petition from cert lin leaseholders of Church property in Notting hamshire, complained of the conduct of certain eer' ‘ ,. f, astical commisioners in refusing the renewal of 'l ie k ds e l , and intimated his intention to move for e.2ii - ching in• quiry into the subject in the next session of parli:dment The Bishop of LONDON said the commi.ssio% iers were appointed to make the possessions of the Chur.ch available in the greatest possible degree for the relie,e, o f th e spiri tual destitution of the kingdom, and ',.ney would, there fore, be guilty of a dereliction of duty if they did not make the most they fairly could of the property intrusted to their management. The principle on which the corn 'missioners went, was to give the leaseholders the full value of the surviving lives ; and such being the case, although the commissioners courted inquiry, he did not see why parliament should interfere when they would not think of doing so in the case of private individuals. The Earls of RADNOR and Besnonotom defended the commissioners, and the conversation ended. The debate on the third reading of the Railways Bill was then resumed, and terminated in the adoption of the Bishop of London's amendment respecting Sunday tra velling, and the adoption of a clause proposed by Lord Warncliffe, to the effect that when railway companies run any trains on Sundays, one train at least should contain third-class carriages. The Earl of M INTO then rose, and after calling atten tion to the state of our relations with foreign powers, and questions pending in America, and especially with France, which threatened a rupture with those countries, pro ceeded to condemn our present naval establishment as wholly inadequate to the wants of the country. When the present government came into office, though at a time of profound peace, there were 16 or 17 ships of the line in the Mediterranean, whereas now nine ships of the line comprised the whole of our home and foreign naval establishment, and we were consequently at the mercy of any enemy who might choose to sweep the channel or the coasts of our colonies. One of the results was the recent affair of Tahiti, which he believed would never have oc curred but for the neglect of which, in this respect, the present government had treated British interests. The xtoble earl concluded his speech by moving for returns of the number of ships on commission at the present time, and the number stationed at Tahiti from Ist September, 1812, to the period of the latest advices from that country. The Earl of HADDINGTON said such speeches as that 'which had justbeen.made were most inconvenient to the public service, and highly censurable when there was no parliamentary case to justify them. The means of defence possessed by this country were overwhelming, and al though the number of ships of the line actually in com mission were small at present, they were much more ef ficiently manned than the larger force maintained by their predecessors. Moreover, additional vessels were being actively built in all our dock-yards, and our steam marine was being considerably strengthened. He maintained there was ample power in the Pacific to watch over British interests, and that a still larger force could not have pre vented the recent outrage Lbut on this subject he would say no more at present. He could not grant the returns moved for. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that when he censured the late government it was for carrying on war with a peace establishment. He believed the number of men voted this year was equal to that of any previous period of peace, and that, at the present time, and in every part of the world, British interests were adequately protected. With respect to the recent eccentricities in the Pacific, he would say no more than those who committed them were responsible for them, and that their responsibility was now the subject of negotiation. Their lordships then proceeded to the discussion of the Poor Law Amendment Bill. Earl FORTES= considered the alterations proposed by the present bill wise improvements, with the exception, plrl'aps, of granting permanent relief to widows out of the union. The Earl of HARDWICKE considered the amendments generally were ameliorations, but defended the existing law as essentially humane, and declared that he had never known among the poor in the agricultural districts any other feeling respecting it than the belief that it had bet tered their condition. After a few words from several peers, the house went into committee pro forma, and resumed. The other bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The Leeds Vicarage Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. HARDY and Sir ROBERT PEEL said that Dr. Hook was entitled to the thanks of the country, and of Leeds in particular, for consenting to the bill. Sir R. PEEL moved the second reading of the bill sent down from the House of Lords to repeal the obsolete penal acts against the Roman Catholics. No security provided by the act of 1829 was touched by this measure, the effect of which was to place all Roman Catholics, taking the Roman Catholic oath, on the same footing with Protest ants in respect of franchises and civil rights, and to repeal some acts which had become a dead letter. One of these made it a crime to maintain the supremacy of the Pope, another made it punishable to neglect attendance at divine service on the sth of November; and another pro hibited a Roman Catholic from having a horse worth more than £5. Really, in repealing such laws the legis lature was not so much conferring a favour on the Ca tholics as relieving its own statute-book from a disgrace. So far from being bulwarks to the church, these laws were outwarks which might be used by reason and ridi cule against her. The establishment in these days must be maintained, not by defences of that kind, but by sound argument and the affectionate attachment of the people. The bill was read a second time. Mr. HAwes asked whether it was intended also to repeal the obsolete laws affecting Protestant Dissenters. Sir H. PEEL, without pledging himself on a subject not then before the house, was ready to declare that if there were any law imposing heavy penalties on dissenters for absenting themselves from divine service on account of conscientious objections, he would support the repeal of that law. On the order of the day fur the third reading of the Irish charitable Donations Bill, Mr. D. BROWNE expressed a hope that it would be postponed. The Roman Catholic hierarchy of Ireland were opposed to it, and Mr. Wyse's approval of it was no reason why it should pass, for that gentleman did not possess the confidence of the Roman Catholic clergy. He believed it, indeed, to have been proposed in a spirit of conciliation ; but still that was not, with him, a suffi cient inducement to support it. He moved that it should be read a third time this day six months. The amendment found no seconder. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said, that after the best con siderations, he had felt it his duty to abstain from joining the opposition to this bill. He liked its spirit, which he thought of more importance than its words. It had no cumpulsory operation ; and it effected a great good by raising the worldly condition of the Homan Catholic clergy without diminishing their influence over their flocks. The bill was read a third time, and passed. The house having gone into committee on the Insolven' Debtors Bill. Mr. M. PHILIPS objected to the clause abolishing im prisonment for debts below £2O. It would prevent a poor man from obtaining credit. Sir J. GRAHAM said, that the bill had been so framed as to give to the creditor every facility of proceeding against the goods of the debtor. But as the abolition of imprisonment was the very essence of the measure, he thought it would be best to postpo ne this clause now, and take the discussion of it upon the third reading. The committee then proceeded with the remaining clauses. Lord SANDON brought up the report of the Secret Committee on the postoffice. The house adjourned, after some other business, to five o'clock in the afternoon, when Mr. Gladstone ob tained leave to introduce several bills, for the purpose of their being printed and circulated during the recess. Most of them were consolidation bills i the last was for amend ing the laws relating to the relief and support of merchant seamen, their widows, and children. At 7 o'clock the house adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY. A great number of bills received the royal assent by commission. The Commons' Amendments to the Art Union Bill were agreed to. The Duke of WELLINGTON rose and said he appre• bended that their lordships had participated in the public joy on the occurrence of that day, and that their Lordships must be anxious to avail themselves of the earliest oppor tunity of expressing their congratulations to her Majesty on her safety, and upon the joyful event of the birth of a prince. (Cheers.) He therefore moved, in conformity with the usual practice, and without giving notice, an bumble address, congratulating her Majesty upon the birth of another Prince, and assuring her Majesty that every increase in her family, and every addition to her domestic happiness, afforded the most unfeigned joy and batisfaction to the house of Lords. (Hear, hear.) The Noble Duke concluded by moving an Address accordingly. Viscount MELBOURNE seconded the motion, which was carried mem. dis. The Marquis of NORMANDY moved for a return of the number of days and hours their lordships had sat for the purpose of legislation since the commencement of the present session, and contended that there was a vast deal of mismanagement in the mode of conducting public busi ness. The Duke of WELLINGTON said the business of Par liament was now conducted in the same way as it had been conducted for the last 150 years. The Government brought forward as many bills in their lordships House as_ they th oug ht oug ht to be originated there, and he denied that Government should be held responsible if the Common s did not send up their bills at an earlier period. The Marquis of 'node of proceeding, LANDSOWNE said that by the present the level of a e mere the House of Lords was reduced to m Court for registering the bills passed by the House of Commons. He hoped that what had just passed would lead to an improved mode of proceed ing next session. Lord Wu AItNCLIVFE conteude contended that the present session had been a m ost fruitfu l one, their lordships paving passed a great number o f measur es of the greatest importance, several of which he enumerated. The motion was agreed to. On the motion that the house should resolve itself into committee on the Poor Law Amendment Bill, The Bishop of ENETEIt said that there was no time for their lord.hips to consider a bill of such great importance, and it would be, therefore, far better to drop the bill for this session, and for their lordships to take up the bill in its p resen t s hape, in the next session of parliament. Under this impression, he would move that the bill be committed that day six months. The Duke of WELLING"- d,..r e <7.N said that the measure had been un three or four ye,.the consid - , estion of Parliament for the last tion to say " In d it was therefore out of the ques and " -(kst it liad not been fully known to the House pkl))lic. Pie was surprised at the course taken to Ri g ht Rer. 'Prelate, who was so strongly opposed by the existing Poor-law ; for this bill which he also opposed was an amelioration of the harsh provisions of the law of which he so bitterly complained- if the bill on the table did n'ot go far enough in the way of amelioration, the Right Rev. Prelate, might ; in Committee, propose further =end merits. The House divided, and the amendment of the Bishop of Exeter was negatived by a majority of 17 to 1. Their lordships then went into Committee, and the dis cussion of the various clauses occupied the remainder of the evening. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. The house went into committee on the Lords' Amend ments to the Railway Bill. Mr. TRORNELY said he was very glad that the principle upon which his amendment was founded, that if trains wereto run at all on Sunday, there should be trains for third class passengers, had received the sanction of both houses of parliament. He felt it his duty now to propose that the charge for the conveyance of passengers by the Sunday trains should not exceed the price charged for conveyance by the week train, viz., id. per mile. Mr. Thornelv's amendment was agreed to: the other amendments of the Lords' were agreed to; the Chairman repotted progress, and the report was received. Sir R. PEEL said—l am convinced I shall be acting in accordance with the unanimous feeling of this house if I avail myself of the earliest opportunity of proposing that we should offer to her Majesty our cordial congratulations on the happy event which has taken place this day. (Cheers.) lam sure that there will be one feeling of uni versal satisfaction throughout this country that an addi tion has taken place to her Majesty's family, and thatthus there is an increased guarantee that the throne of these realms will long continue in the direct descendants of her Majesty. Every increase of domestic happiness to her Majesty will, I am sure, be a cause of grateful satisfaction to her faithful commons. And I therefore beg to move at once, that this house do present an address to her Ma jesty, expressing the sentiments which 1 have uttered. (Cheers.) Lord MARCUS HILL seconded the motion. An address, which was the echo of the Right Hon. Ba ronet's speech, was then read by the clerk, put by the speaker, and agreed to. Mr. T. DincchmßE wished to know upon what day it was intended to adjourn the house and for what period. He was also desirous of knowing when the decision was likely to take place in the case of the Queen v. O'Con nell. Sir R. PEEL said that no decision would be given till the judges came to town. and he understood that when they did so they were anxious to have a conference. The prorogation, however, would not take place until the deci sion in that case was given. It was his intention either to-morrow or Thursday to move the adjournment to a certain period, with a view to have the opinions of their lordships on the case of Mr. O'Connell. Mr. HAWES brought under the consideration of the house the petition of merchants and importers of deals and other woods, presented to the 22d of July last. The hon. member, at some length, stated that the timber trade was suffering under great depression in consequence of the alterations made in the late tariff. Mr. GLADSTONE trusted that at this late period of the session the hon. member for Lambeth would not perse vere with any motion on the subject. He could assure the house, although the alteration of the duty in the first instance caused a temporary loss to the revenue, it was now every month increasing, and the public were sup plied with cheaper and better goods. In the month end ing in July, 1814, the amount of duty paid on timber was between £15,000 and £20,000 more than the correspond ing month of the year 1833. After a few words from Mr. WARBURTON, Mr. HAWES withdrew bis motion. HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNESDAY. The Merchant Seamen's Bill was read a third time and passed. Others Bills were forwarded a stage, and conferences were held with the Commons on the subject of amend ments to bills with respect to which the two Houses dis agreed. _ . - The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill went through Committee. Several other Bills were forwarded, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY. Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would, on Friday, move an adjournment of the House. Sir R. PEEL having declined to answer certain ques tions of Lord Ebrington, relative to the conduct of the French in Africa, Lord PALMERSTON complained of the concessions made to America, on the boundary question, and to France with respect to Spain and Africa, and expressed his conviction that that policy which sought temporary peace at the sacrifice of the rights of the country must tend to difficulties of a most serious nature than those which it was intended to put an end to. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") Sir R. PEEL denied that the present Government had made any concessions that were injurious to this country or its honour. He perfectly admitted that the Govern ment had not acted in every respect on the principles of the noble lord ; but, as regarded every object of impor tance to this country, he contended that there never was a period when the name and honour of the British Go vernment stood higher than they did at that moment. (Hear, hear.) The Roman Catholic Penal Acts Repeal Bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time on Thurs day. The Insolvent Debtors' Bill was, after some discussion read a third time and passed. Sir J. GRAHAM, in moving for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of medical practice throughout the United Kingdom, said its object was to amend many of the provisions of the present imperfect law. To put down quackery was hopeless, but he thought encourage ment ought to be given to the clever man. He proposed no restriction to private practice. (Hear.) His principle was this, that none should be eligible to fill medical or surgical offices except those who were declared to be so by competent authority. He proposed by this bill to re peal all acts and charters which imposed restrictions on the medical profession. The most important feature of the bill was the establishment of a Council of health in the metropolis, in direct connexion with the executive Government, with branches in Scotland and Ireland. He proposed to have a register kept of all the physicians and surgeons ; that the present bodies should have power of granting licences, but it should be at the option of the Council of health whether they would register them or not, and every person that was not registered could not hold any public situation. He proposed to enact that, with regard to licensing the vendors of medicine, the licensing bodies should have the power to grant that de gree to no person under twenty-one years of age. The latter's testimonial would be founded upon an examina tion both in medicine and in surgery, by one or other of the seventeen licensing bodies. With respect to surgeons, he proposed that the license to practice in surgery should be issued to no persons under the age of twenty-five years ; and with respect to physicians, the age at which a license could be obtained would be twenty-six years. At these several ages the respective parties might obtain licences to qualify them to be registered, having previously under gone the necessary examination by the licensing bodies. But a person wishing to be registered as a physician, who had not qualified in the manner required by having gra duated in some university, would not be eligible for regis tration until he had attained the age of forty years, and had been examined by the Royal llege of Physicians in England. After explaining some of the minor provisions, he said, that with respect to persons at present practising, it was not his wish to make it a harsh measure. He there fore proposed to give to those who were now in practice in the United Kingdom a period of twelve months within which they might apply to be registered. There was ano ther clause about which he felt some hesitation. It pro vided that none but registered persons, or those who could have been registered before the passing of the act, were entitled to recover at law for medicines, attendance, or advice. He meant it as a warning clause, and he hoped that it would be so understood. Those who falsely pretended to be registered were to be liable to the punishment awarded to those who were guilty of misde meanour. The motion, which was seconded by Mr. Macauly, and supported by Mr. Warburton, Mr. Wakley, and Mr. Hawes, was agreed to. HOUSE OF LORDS.--TIIURSDAY. In the course of a short discussion which arose upon a petition presented by the Marquis of Normanby respect ing the treatment of missionaries by the French autho rities in the Pacific, The Earl of ABERDEEN observed that the existence of a war party in France rendered it necessary that the ne gotiations on the part of this country should be con ducted with justice and moderation—he used the word justice lest concession should be inferred from the word moderation. With respect to the recent outrage at Tahiti, be would only say in reference to the question as to whether Mr. Pritchard was or was not British consul at the time of his arres t, that it was in his opinion one of little consequence„ He was a British subject, and as such entitled to the protection of his g overnment. In reply to a question fro m the Marquis of CLAN RICARDE, The Earl of ABERDEEN said that the conversion of Spanish Passive into Spanish Active Stock appeared to him to have made no progress. Tilere was some hope, however, in fact that the present Minister of Finance in Spain was the most upright and honourable of any who had for years occupied that position. It was a question, however, which the British government, as a government, had nothing to do with. The Poor Law Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. A great number of bills were forwarded a stage, after which their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.---THURSD AY. The Roman Catholic Penal Acts Repeal Bill was read a third time and passed. In reply to a question from Mr. R. YORK S, Sir R. PEEL said that the late Government and the pre sent one had received so little encouragement in their at tempts to reform the ecclesiastical courts, that he could not pledge himself to re-introduce a measure upon the subject in the next session of Parliament. In reply to a question from Mr. WYsE, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that great complaints had been made of the injustice to newspapers not fully itfully established of publishing the usual stamp returns , and . usei , tdetermined paper,no not butto publish give lish the the num bertot stamp s of w" ' number issued to all. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD Dr. BOWRING said he would bring the subject under the consideration of the house early in the next session. Mr. WAKLEY said the grossest frauds were resorted to under the existing system. Sir JAMES GRAHAM moved for leave to bring in a bill for the amendment of the law of settlement in England. The right hon. baronet stated the provisions of the bill, the chief of which were the repeal of all the existing laws of settlement, and establishing birth, and birth only, as the future governing principle. The measure was warmly approved of, and, being read a first time, was ordered to be printed, with a view to its being taken into consideration early next session. Sir J. GRAHAM then moved for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the appointment and payment of clerks and other officers of the courts of petty and quarter sessions of the peace, oyer and tersniner, and gaol delivery. This bill was similarly eulogised by several hon. mem bers ; but in reference to a compensation clause, Mr. ESCOTT read a communication, showing the extor tions practised by those clerks, and contended that the length of time during which they had practised such ex tortions ought not to be made the ground of a claim to compensation. Such a principle was monstrous, and he hoped the right hon. baronet would not fail to take it into consideration, for compensation under such circumstances was nothing short of a premium of future extortions. Mr. WAKLEY said that the judges in the cases referred to must have been cognisant of the extortion of their clerks, and should share the blame. The bill, however, was a good one throughout, like that which preceded it, and he felt bound to say that the Government bad within the last few days introduced so many admirable measures, that he thought it a pity that Parliament should break up without passing them. The measures introduced were essential benefits, and why not proceed to give the coun try the immediate advantage of them. Mr. G. KNIGHT highly eulogised the conduct of Sir James Graham for the manner in which he had conducted the public business throughout the session, and gave him his warmest thanks for the measures which he bad that evening introduced. The remaining business was of a routine description. HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. In reply to the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that the report of the secret committee on the post-office had not been sufficiently long upon the table to enable her Majesty s government to give it due consideration, and he could not, therefore, say whether any measure would be founded upon it. In reply to a question from Lord CAMPBELL, Lord WHARNCLIFFE said it was intended that the house at its rising should adjourn until Monday, the 2nd of September. Lord CAMPBELL thought the adjournment was un necessarily long. The Lord CHANCELLOR said that Mr. Justice Patteson could not return from his circuit until the 28th of this month, and it was necessary to give some time to the judges for consideration before they were called upon to give judgement in the Irish writs of error. Lord CAMPBELL admitted that under such circum stances the adjournment could not be fixed for an earlier day. The several bills on the paper were then disposed of, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. Sir R. PEEL moved that the house at its rising should adjourn to Thursday, the sth of September. Mr. SHEIL adverted to the case of Mr. O'Connell, and said that if the forthcoming decision should be in his favour, it would tell badly in Ireland that he should have been kept three months in prison. Under these circum stances he put it to the right hon. baronet (Sir R. Peel) to consider whether it would not be well to act generously towards the prisoners, and liberate them at once, without waiting to ascertain whether the lawyers should have succeeded in picking the lock of Richmond Penitentiary. He warned the government of the necessity of adopting a course calculated to conciliate the people of Ireland, and to soften the growing antipathy to this country which recent events were calculated to deepen and increase. Mr. WYSE besought the government, if they meant to do anything towards conciliating the people of Ireland, to do it in time. Lord J. RUSSELL then took a review of the proceedings of the session in conformity with a practice which had of recent years grown up, although he did not think that it was altogether a good one. He contended that the go vernment had not in its foreign policy sufficiently vindi cated the honour and dignity of the country, and in its domestic legislation it had neglected to improve the con dition of the masses of the working population, who had not shared in that progressive advance which had marked the condition of the middle classes. He also censured the government for neglecting the condition of Ireland, and intimated that if the government should bring in no measures of general improvement, he would, during next session, take up the subject himself. Sir R. PEEL was glad that the noble lord had discussed the matter with so little of party spirit, but contended that the present session was a more fruitful one in mea sures of general improvement than any for many years gone by. The right hon. baronet then enumerated the various measures of the session, claiming credit for the Government for the uprightness of its intentions in pro moting the welfare of the country both in this country and in Ireland, and insisting that the state of affairs, com mercial as well as political, was far more cheering and sa tisfactory than they were when the present Government took office in 1841. After some further discussion, in which Mr. Hume, Mr. B. Cochrane, and Mr. Villiers took part, the motion for the adjournment was agreed to. In reply to a question from Mr. HAWES, Lord STANLEY said that the disturbances in Dominica arose from a misapprehension as to the object of the census ; but a large number of the rioters were in prison awaiting their trials, and the island was restored to a state of tranquility. The amendments of the Lords to several bills were taken into consideration, after which the house adjourned. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. WEST INDIES. By the Medway, steamer, we have received the latest intelligence from the West Indies. The amount of re mittances for the Mexican dividends is 44,807. This is the official statement by the committee of Spanish Ame rican bondholders. The West Indian papers continue to debate the ques tion of the reduction of the duty in favour of free labour sugar with a great deal of spirit, and not the least remark able feature in the meetings which have taken place on the subject is the attendance of black freemen, who, hav ing become proprietors of the soil, take an active part in expressing their opinions on this subject. The papers generally allude in very satisfactory terms to the regular passages now made by the royal mail steamers ; and it is remarked that the regulations of the company having got into steady play, there is every prospect of the line ful filling the expectations previously formed. Business con tinued much in the same inactive state as represented in previous advices, and at Jamaica there was extreme dul ness in the markets for island produce. Sugar had sold at 235. to 275. 6d. Rum had advanced, in consequence of a large export demand, and the expectation of a short supply. Purchases had been made at 3s. 10d. to 45., bt.t. 4s. Id. had since been refused. Bills on London were at par. . . . . The weather in Demerara had been somewhat more propitious to agriculture. Several dry days had been ex perienced, the effect of which would prove very beneficial, but it is said some time must elapse before the plantations could recover from the consequences of their recent soak ing. Immigration was quite at a stand, and the office of agent-general was so thoroughly a sinecure, that it was now held in conjunction with the post of stipendiary magis trate by one and the same person. Bank exchange was 475 dols. per £lOO at 00 days' sight, and private 470 dols. per £lOO. The Barbadoes and Trinidad advices give nothing new. The crop of sugar at the latter had nearly concluded, and it would prove nearly one-third short of the estimate in consequence of the heaviness of the rainy season. Sugar was quoted 5 2 1 dol. B t is 0115L90 d for 10 a 0 y l s b , si.,agilidt were mo at lassespV cents per gallon. at Freights were as low as 2s. per cwt., and several vessels had left with part cargo, and some empty. TAHITI.—The Favourite, South Sea whaler, lately ar rived, brings news fourteen days later from Tahiti. A skirmish had taken place between the French and the natives. A number of the natives, who now live in en campments up the mountains since they have been ex pelled the town, were seated taking a quiet meal, when some Frenchmen came upon one party, consisting of two chiefs and their wives, and seized hold of the women, whom they attempted to drag on board their boat, then lying moored on the beach a short distance off. The chiefs resisted this aggression, and were immediately shot. A third chief then rose up and exclaimed, " What, are we dogs, that we are treated thus ? We are a quiet peo ple, and wish for peace, but you will not let us have it.'' Whereupon the 'French fired at him, but missing their aim, he gave the signal to the natives for an onset. At the first charge fifteen Frenchmen were killed or wounded • ' but a second attack almost immediately taking place, be tween thirty and forty more of their number were killed or disabled by the Tahitians. OVERLAND MAILS TO INDIA..—.-The arrangements made for extending the communications with India and China, alluded to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Friday, are understood to be as follow :—There is to be a communication with Bombay, as at present. The East India Company's steamers are to leave Bombay on the Ist of every month, with mails, &c., for Suez, and the government is to provide steamers to convey them from Alexandria to Marseilles. This portion of the mails will arrive in London about the 3d and 4th of every month. Another or intermediate line of communication is to be performed by the steamers of the Oriental Com . pry, un der contract with the Board of Admiralty. Tins line will arrive at Suez in about twenty-five days after leaving Calcutta. From Suez the mails will be carried across Egypt to Alexandria, where they will be embarked in the Oriental Company's steamers, the Oriental and Great Liverpool for Southampton, where they will arrive about the 21st of every month. There will thus he a communi cation twice a month with India, one aid Bombay , and the other to C a l cu tt a di rec t. With the Calcutta line a monthly communication with China is to be connected. A line of steam ers i s a l so t o b e p r ovided by the Oriental Company to run between Ceylon and Hong Kong, and to touch at Penang and Singapore. These will take from, and deliver to, the Calcutta steamers at Ceylon the China mails. By this arrangement, the correspondence will be transmitted between London and Calcutta in forty to forty-two days, and between London and Hong Kong in forty-eight days. The Calcutta mail service is to com mence in January next. In connection with this subject it may be mentioned, that there is a report of a conven tion with Mehemet Ali for the safe transit of the mails being speedily settled. IRELAND. The Duke of Devonshire left Ireland on Wednesday last, and arrived at this town on the following day. Tuesday last, the 6th instant, was Mr. O'Connell's 69th birthday. THE STATE TRIALS.—It is expected that the judges will deliver their judgment on the writ of error on the 27th or 28th instant. EXECUTION.—On Wednesday last, at Roscommon, Catherine Brien anti Bridget Langan (two sisters, the latter married) were executed for the murder of their brother-in-law. The latter admitted that she was the actual perpetrator of the horrid deed, and the former that she knew all that was going on. LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.—Mr. Joseph Martin (brother to the late member for the borough of Sligo) and his wife were drowned on the first of this month, while crossing to their lodge on an island at the mouth of the river that runs into the bay of Sligo. They were in a jaunting-car, and the unfortunate gentleman was driving. They have left five young children to lament their loss. - - THE ROYAL INFANT AND O'CONNELL.—As Tuesday last, the birthday of the royal infant (the Duke of York), happened to be that which completed Mr. Daniel O'Con nell's 69th year, the repealers already presage great events from the coincidence—amongst others, an amnesty for the state prisoners; but whether to be realized or not, must for the present remain a mystery. PERILS OF A JURY IN TIPPERARY.—After the trial and conviction at Nenagh assizes of William Feehily, for shooting at Mr. Carden's steward, at Barna, his brother, Michael Feehilv, who was twice tried for the murder of Mr. Byrne, of Lissenure, pulled out a nistol in the street, and threatened one of the jurors who tried the case in which his brother was found guilty. THE REPEAL ASSOCIATION.--At the weekly meeting of this body on Monday last, J. L. Arabin, Esq., Lord Mayor elect of the city of Dublin, took the chair. There were five members of parliament present, viz., Messrs. Grattan, Powell, Kelly, O'Brien, and Sir V. Blake. A letter from Lord Wicklow was read, in which his lord ship, alluding to a hope expressed, that he might ere long become a member of the association, said—" Before that period can arrive, my opinion of the intentions, be nevoltnce, and powers of the United Parliament must be much changed indeed. I must also have forgotten all that I have ever learned of the conduct of the Irish parlia ment. I now believe that there exists amongst the British people an anxious desire to do justice to our coun try, and to atone in every way in their power for the evils of former misgovernment. 1 cannot believe that we should find in a domestic legislature the same honesty, integrity, and ability to promote our national interests, and the welfare of the empire at large."—The amount of the repeal rent for the week was announced to be £1396 9s. 7d. ROMANIST INTOLERANCE, AND OUTRAGE. - The Cork Constitution of last week gives another specimen of the spirit which possesses the unhappy population of that town and country. During the forenoon service at St. Nicholas's Church on the previous Sunday, the congre gation were disturbed by the yelling and hooting of a crowd that collected in and about the church-yard, so that it was difficult to hear the clergyman's voice. Capt. White and other gentlemen went out, and, with the aid of the police, cleared the church-yard and passage leading to it, to allow the congregation egress ; but the ladies were alarmed by the wretched rabble around them. It turned out that these misguided persons had collected in consequence of a man, previously a Romanist, having that day for the first time entered a church. The pre sence of the magistrate and the police saved him from personal injury—perhaps from murder ; for the mob looked furious, and (as usual with Cork mobs) the women were the worst. Finding their hands restrained, they gave full fling to their tongues, and poured out the foulness of their filthy hearts, to the disgust and annoyance of all within hearing. On the intended victim this had no effect, and, declining the protection of the police, be walked manfully through the shouting and shrieking crowd. Captain White, however, apprehensive that they might close in upon him, sent the police to accompany him. All along to his house the windows were thronged with vociferous Romanists, more ferocious than savages. The controversy between the churches had for some time engaged his attention, and his joining that of England had been the result of a diligent study of Scripture, and a conscientious comparison of the claims of both. At the evening service a crowd again collected, and as soon as he appeared they followed him, shouting and screaming, and reviling him by the most opprobrious epithets. Several of the parties, including some women, were afterwards apprehended, identified, and committed for trial. An escort of police was required to accompany the man to the police-office to give his evidence, as he would proba bly otherwise not have reached it alive. While he was in church on Sunday evening, his wife was beaten and her clothes torn. The police remained in the neighbourhood till a late hour, as apprehensions were entertained, from threats uttered, that his house would be set on fire. The victim of this outrage supported himself comfortably by means of a school, and had 70 scholars, nearly all Roman ists. On Monday, as had been anticipated, he was with out a pupil, the mob declaring that not even a Protestant child should enter. He was removed by the police next day to lodgings in the city, neither his life nor that of any of his family being safe in the neighbourhood where he lived ; for up to the time of his removal his house was surrounded, and the mob kept up a constant shower of stones against the door. "This," concludes our contem porary, " is a land of liberty, and this an age of ' progress' and improvement I " THE COURT. ACCOUCHEMENT OF HER MAJESTY. — BIRTH OF A PRINCE. On Tuesday morning, at ten minutes before eight o'clock, the Queen was safely delivered of a Prince, at Windsor Castle. In the room with her Majesty were, his Royal High ness Prince Albert, Dr. Locock, and Mrs. Lilly, the monthly nurse. And in the rooms adjoining were the other medical attendants, Sir James Clark and Dr. Fer guson, and also the Lady in Waiting on the Queen. About half-past eight o'clock an official bulletin was issued announcing the joyful event. Intimation of her Majesty's illness was forwarded from Windsor Castle to town, at six o'clock, and the intelli gence was received at the Home Office at a quarter-past seven o'clock. Summonses which had been previously prepared, were immediately forwarded to the Lord Chan cellor, Sir R. Peel, Sir J. Graham, the Duke of Buc cleuch, Lord Wharncliffe ' and other Cabinet Ministers, requesting them to proceed forthwith to Windsor. The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Privy Seal; Sir James Graham, secretary of State for the Home Department ; the Earl Delawarr, Lord Cham berlain ; and the Earl of Jersey, Master of the Horse, were the first to arrive at Windsor, having left town by a special train. which arrived at the Slough terminus of the Great Western Railway at twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock. The ministers and officers of state imme diately proceeded to the castle in one of the royal car riages and four, which was in readiness. Sir R. Peel, First Lord of the Treasury, and Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, arrived shortly afterwards, levying travelled from town by a second special train. The Right Hon. Baronet and his lordship were likewise conveyed to the castle from the station in a royal carriage and four. The Duke of Wellington arrived at the castle soon after nine o'clock, the noble duke having travelled from town by a third special train. The ministers of course did not arrive at the castle until her Majesty had given birth to a Prince. The necessary forms having af terwards been gone through, Si; James Graham and his colleagues immediately lett Windsor, and arrived in town at half-past eleven o'clock. Sir IZobert Peel waited some time longer, and returned to Whitehall-gardens at a quarter-past one o'clock. On the return of the ministers to town, summonses were immediately issued, by direction of Lord Wharn cliffe, for holding a Privy Council at three o'clock. The Council was attended by Prince Albert, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and most of the Cabinet ministers. The Archbishop of Canterbury was directed by the Council to prepare a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for her Majesty's safe delivery. The Park and Tower guns were fired at one o'clock, and the bells of the metropolitan churches rang merry peals during the morning. In the course of the day several special messengers were sent off to foreign courts, to announce the auspicious event. The gratifying intelligence reached this town on Tues day evening. On Wednesday the royal standard was hoisted at the Town-hall, and flags were displayed from the various public buildings. The morning was ushered in by a merry peal of bells, which were rung at short in tervals during the day, and in the evening they continued for ringing hours. The Royal Infant is spoken of as one of the strongest and most robust children given birth to by our beloved Sovereign. Some of the newspapers are giving currency to a rumour, that the infant prince is to be created Duke of Kent, but we cannot learn that there is any truth in the report. In the Court Circular Prince Albert speaks of the royal infant as the future Duke of York, which, in all probability will be the title he will receive. On Tuesday morning her majesty signed the commission for giving the royal assent to various bills on Tuesday morning, about five o'clock, scarcely three hours before her accouchement ! The commission was dispatched by the Lord Chancellor to her majesty by a special messen ger, who went by the nine o'clock train from Paddington on Monday evening. It was mentioned to the Queen that a commission requiring her signature had arrived, but that she need not sign it till the following morning. About five o'clock, however. feeling that her accouche ment was fast approaching, and with that presence of mind so characteristic of her, recollecting that an impor tant public document was in the castle awaiting her sig nature, she immediately directed it to be brought, and, although not free from pain and anxiety, affixed her sig nature with the same freedom of hand as usual, to the commission, and the sheets of parchment upon which the names of the bills were inscribed. As there were seven sheets of parchment, the signature of the queen was re quired to be as often repeated. Mrs. Parkins, the intended wet nurse to the royal in fant, was taken, upon her arrival at Windsor, from her residence near Camberwell, to the wardrobe tower, oc cupied p h i e e d r b m y ajeasdt yywhe reßarrington, she own was s o h f rtohoegbedchamberbed aladfiileies healthy boy, on Friday week, immediately after r herLrii; rival within the precincts of the royal palace . will be her Majesty's monthly nurse ; Mr s. to the royal infant; and Miss Whiting, daug e inted one of the Queen's pages of the back sta irs, is appo D rt h A t s i c r o o , n f u o r n se e of the rockers in the royal nursery. satisfactory accounts of her has, e in fact, been, ggirveesisr to mostth wards convalescence. The royal lady d,, Bulletins have been issued daily, dthe little be expected , in all respects, " as well as little prince is flourishing ckarmingly.. Yikvlsalleics.ht'hsavpero CLERICAL NEIVS. R. Fountayne Wilson, Esq., has just given two dona tions to the Society for promoting the employment of ad ditional curates in populous places, amounting together to £2,500. CHURCH EXTENSION.—The following is the report of the proceedings of the Incorporated Society for Promot ing the Enlargement of Churches and Chapels during the quarter commencing on the Ist of April, 1844 :—The number of places aided by the society in the first quarter of its present year is 78, the grants to which will secure the erection of 34 additional churches, the rebuilding with enlargement of seven existing churches, and the enlarge ment of, or other increase of accommodation in, 37 other churches. In these parishes containing together a popu lation of 912,500 persons, there are now 180 churches and chapels containing accommodation for 131,155 persons ; but including only 31,370 free seats. The whole church room now provided is therefore adequate to the accommo dation of about one-seventh of the population. In 29 of the parishes referred to, the inhabitants are chiefly en gaged in trade, manufactures or the working of mines, the population being net less than 786,525 souls, for whom 125 churches and chapels are now provided, containing accommodation for 107,562 persons ; viz., for rather less than one-seventh of the number, and including 21,795 free seats. In many of these manufacturing parishes, however, the provision of church room is in far lower proportion than this average shows. Thus in Blackburn, Lancashire, the accommodation is for one-seventh in a po pulation of nearly 72,000 souls ; in Bolton. le-Moors, the same, in 74,000; in Oldham, Lancashire, for rather less than one- tenth in 60,000 ; in Woolwich, for one-eighteenth in 28,000 ; in Gosport, for one-eleventh in 8,000 ; in St. George, near Bristol, for one-sixteenth in 8,000; in Royton, near Oldham, with 5,730 inhabitants, and in Ilkestone, Derbyshire, with 5,329, for about one-twelfth. The total amount of the grants voted by the board during the quarter just ended being no less than £12,810 of which sum £3,645 is granted for the erection of fifteen churches, which are to be endowed under the act of the last session. The means at the society's disposal are re duced to the small sum of £2,881. ANOTHER IMPORTANT INQUIRY UNDER THE CHURCH DISCIPLINE Acr.—On Tuesday last a commission issued by the Bishop of Exeter, was opened at Totness, against the Rev. James Shore, for that he being a clerk in holy orders, did offend against the laws ecclesiastical, by pub licly reading prayers and performing the divine offices of the church, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, in an unconsecrated building, con trary to, and in spite of, the bishop's injunction or monition. Mr. Shore alleged that he was not subject to the jurisdiction of the bishop or the commissioners, for that before officiating in the chapel, after the receipt of the bishop's injunction, he had signed the oaths and de clarations required by the toleration acts. A long dis cussion followed whether Mr. Shore, being a clerk in holy orders, could avail himself of these acts, and so avail himself of the jurisdiction of the bishop, when the in quiry was adjourned to the 22d instant, to afford time to take the opinion of the leading authorities on the subject. The following is a brief outline of the leading facts of the case :—About the year 1833, the Duke of Somerset erected a chapel at Bridgetown, Devon, as a chapel of ease to the parish church. The chapel was licensed by the bishop for the performance of divine service. Mr. Shore being also licensed to serve the chapel, on the no mination of the then vicar of Pomeroy, Mr. Shore has continued to officiate there, under such license, until a very recent period. In 1833, the living of Berry Pomeroy became vacant, and in the month of August in that year the present vicar was instituted. It seems that a nomi nation by that vicar, and a new license from the bishop, were necessary, to enable Mr. Shore to continue to serve the chapel, and Mr. Shore not receiving any such nomi • nation or license, receives from the bishop a revocation of the license previously granted, with an admonition not to continue to officiate in the said chapel. The chapel was for a time closed, but afterwards opened under the pro visions of the act 52 Geo. 111., c. 155, it having been re gistered under that act by the agent of the Duke of Somerset, and Mr. Shore continued to act as minister. LIVES OF THE SAINTS.—Mr. Newman is now pub lishing a number of works under this title. We turn to the biography of St. Bartholomew, one of the choicest of these saints. Jrlis history begins at page 128, and con tains, in the words of his biographer, " many startling and even grotesque stories." The biographer thus warns the reader at the very beginning of his narrative, and very properly too,—" We may feel startled and disgusted that such a figure, with an ill-smell of goatskins, should come betwixt the wind and our nobility, but he is the genuine product of an age of faith ;" when St. Barll'emy " was born, the blessed Virgin looked upon him with a sweet countenance," and " the figure on the crucifix stretched out its arms to welcome this new soldier of the cross." We are told that " by his prayers a clear stream gushed from the hard rock." Besides being a saint, no easy business in " Catholic " estimate, he was "a grazier, fisherman, labourer, and pilot." In the midst of these labours, too, " a rough shirt of hair was worn by him next his skin," and he slept " on a pallet from which the hardiest of the world's soldiers would have shrunk." The " seagulls and the eider-ducks" were fond of the saint's company. One dark morning Satan, we are gravely told, got into his throat, and nearly choked him. " For some time he was unable to speak, but at last he shook off the impediment and called upon Mary. "Against these at tacks his only weapons were the sign of the cross and holy water." The biography cf the saint closes with his burial in Farne, and it is conjectured by the writer that Grace Darling was in some way connected by succession or de scent with this monk of the olden time. "The spirit of these holy men who once lived in Fame seems still to dwell there. It was on Bartholomew's island that that Christian maiden lived, who, not many years ago, ventured her life to save the crew of a shipwrecked vessel." The writer forgets it was not by beads and holy water and crucifixes, but by hard rowing and strong-hearted courage, that Grace Darling did service to the wrecked. Are these the productions of illustrious Oxford ? We rejoice to answer they are not. They are printed in Derby and pub lished in London, and drawn up by men who have unhap pily associated the name of Oxford with publications replete with the dogmas of Trent. and they are too palpa ble proofs, not that the Church of England has become Romish, but that Messrs. Newman, Ward, and Pusey should be in person where they are in principle and predilection, in the Church of Rome. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. The North British Railway Company have purchased the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway at a cost of £87,000, the revenue of which line yields, it is calculated, a divi dend of above four per cent. on that amount, and may be expected to increase. At a numerously attended public meeting, held in Wisbech, on Saturday, a committee was formed of pro fessional gentlemen, bankers, and others, in the neigh bourhood, to consider the subject of a railway communi cation between Wisbech and the London and Northern lines. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.--The half-yearly meeting of this company was held, on Thursday last, in London, when a dividend of 4s. on the new, and 3s. on the old, shares was declared, and powers were taken to consolidate the stock and dispose of certain first and second class shares on hand. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.—A special pleasure train lift Wakefield for Hull on Monday week, consisting of 97 carriages, with the extraordinary, and, we believe, unprecedented number of 4,000 passengers, composed of the " Ancient Order of Foresters," other lodges, and their friends. The Board of Directors of the Manchester and Leeds Railway intend to make an application to parliament in the next session, for power to extend the Oldham and Stalybridge branches, through Saddleworth and Hudders field, to join the main line at Cooper Bridge; and also to form branches from Dewsbury to Leeds and Bradford. These new branches, in conjunction with the parent line, will embrace in one comprehensive railway chain nearly the whole district of country known as the " manufactur ing districts." FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On Monday week a young man named Robert Wood, one of the firemen em ployed on the Newcastle and Darlington Railway, was accidentally killed near the Fence Houses station. It appears that the deceased was accompanying a train, when the engine broke away from the tender, owing to having been insecurely coupled together; and he was thereby thrown across the line, and several carriages passed over him and killed him on the spot, nearly severing his head from his body. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT. — On Saturday a young woman named Lucy Grant, a passenger from Rugby to Allesthorpe, on the London and Birmingham lines, fell from the platform on to the railway just as the train was being put in motion, and four of the carriages passed over her before any alarm could be given. On being taken up it was found that both her legs were broken, the right one being cut so badly that it was attached to the body by a single tendon only. She expired in about two hours after the accident. _ _ .. on Friday, it was announced, that all the arrangements Eastern necessary for perfecting the agreement with the completed, and the dividend Counties Railway were nearly of the companY, At the meeting of the Northern and Eastern Railway, declared was £l. 2s. 6d. on the old shares and 7s. 6d. on the scrip shares, . mprovement, the The returns of traffic showed great t_ X 43,264, or an amount up to the 30th of June being £3,264, period last year; l ess the Prop in crease of £7,716 compared with the held out of the thus fully realising the expectations Newport, Cambridge, capa bilities of the line. The line to terms entered into, be Brandon, &c., would, underc Counties Company. Eastern oun constructed by the HAM RAILWAY.—The half mr.topany erty tax. was held on Friday. The half ear was £241,678, being £17,754 nett profit for the correspondingy half year of 1843. A divi more than the was declared. The report stated Bend of £5 per cent. Company pledged Grand Junction themselves that the Shrewsbury shall have a good and sufficient line to that a mpton, and both companies have agreed in con leeV°tivweri}:b the Manchester and Birmingham and Trent Va r ney half yearly com panies to make the line between Rugby and Stafford on fair and equitable terms, which are still under re N etin A g N o p f B thi ß s l' e ' o l discussion. The directors had agreed to revise the ar rangement of their trains, and also to modify the fares for the benefit of the public. Resolutions were unanimously carried empowering the directors to proceed in such man ner wilh respect to the proposed Rugby, Tamworth, and Stafford line as they might deem necessary, and to lease the proposed Worcester, Banbury, and Rugby line, or otherwise, as they might think best for the interests of the company. The same power was given to the direc tors respecting the line to Bedford. The Coventry and Leamington railway will be ready for opening at the lat ter end of the sear, and the Peterborough and North ampton about March or April next year. August 13,18-11. LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Friday. The re port announced an increase on the balance of net revenue , amounting to £10,215, had taken place during the half year ending the 30th of June. The amalgamation of the working stock with the Croydon and Dover companies had taken effect since the Ist of March last, but the re suit had not been sufficiently ascertained. Instead of the fixed sum paid to the Greenwich Company in lieu of toll, the company will in future pay for first-class passenger ) 4d., for second-class 3d., and for third-class 2d. Mort gage bonds at 5 per cent. to the amount of £11,450 have been renewed at £4 per cent. After considerable dis cussion, the report was adopted. The resolutions to purchase an interest in the railways from Brighton to Hastings and to Chichester, and settling the terms O which the new shares for this purpose should be taken bp the proprietors, were carried. The dividend declarerav'iag' 12s. per share. YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY: Vrei l " day week the half-yearly meeting of "this railway was held at York. The directors' repoV, stated, amoun t re ceived that during th e half-year ending the 30th une, 1844, the ou account of passengr.,re traffic, parcels, and mails, No e £26,362. 19s. 10d.; on account o f merchandise traffic,. £15,528. 14s. 4d. and for rents, £306; making the tot s) receipts £42,19.;. 14s. 2d. ; being an increase of £2, 176w 15s. 7d. urton the aggregate receipt for the correspondiog half-year of 1843. The expenses of working and taming the line paid during the same period amounted to £15,679. 18s. 7d. ; and the interest on debentures W £4,373. Ils. 3d. The account of the income and expendi ture of the Leeds and Selby Railway during the half-)ea t shows a balance in favour of the company of .2,102. 17e. 4d. The balance of the corresponding half-year of 18 43 'did not reach £7OO. The directors recommend the divi dend for the half-year to be £2. 10s. on each £5O share' and LI. 4s. on each £25 share, which will amount,t e £24,790, to be paid without deducting the income al' The report was unanimously adopted. NJIWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON RAILWAY.—The firth half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterds/ week. Arrangements have been made for the purchael of the Durham Junction railway. The capital r equire for making the line from Newcastle to Berwick will be £700,000, which the directors proposed should be raised in shares of £25 each, to be off e red to the proprietors of this company. Six per cent. interest from the Ist ger h to ol t d h e e rson 30th theJu last 2 neothinst. T was ordered irreddteoctboers were empoweredpaidtotheshre to borrow any sum not exceeding £166,000, and a resolu tion was passed that in order to raise the requisite capita } for forming a line of railway from Newcastle-upon Tyne to Berwick-upon-Tweed, this company do engage to take a perpetual lease of such railway, at a rent sufficient 10 pay to the subscribers five per cent. per annum on the amount of capital invested ; but that the subscribers have the option at any time within three years after the openieS of the railway, of determining the lease and retaining the line freed from such engagement, and that they also he, allowed five per cent. out of the capital on the amount Or their calls paid up until the opening of the line. LAW INTELLIGENCE. MR. DYCE SOMBRE.—On Thursday the Lord Chan' cellor delivered a long judgment in this case, which be concluded by refusing the application to supersede the commission of lunacy. REVISING BARRISTERS.—The following are the foci tures for the North Wales circuit :—South Cheshire ao Chester: Mr. Meeson.—Norlh Cheshire, Macclesfield , and Stockport : Mr. Yard ley.—Flintshire : Mr. Trafford' —Denbighshire: Mr. Welsby.—Carnarvonshire and he' glesey : Mr. Tem ple.—Montgomeryshire and Merionell' shire : Mr. Townsend. QUI TAM ACTIONS.—The first of these actions cam. on for trial on Thursday, before Mr. Baron Parke an d _ i t special jury. C. H. Russell was the plaintiff, and Mr,. George Bentinck the defendant. The action was brough t to recover penalties amounting to £12,000, the allegatiott being that the defendant had in an illegal manner recovered a bet of £3,000 from Jobn Day, in May, 1843. The counsel for the defendant having stated that it was the wish of his lordship that the case should go to trial, t," learned judge reserved, for the consideration of the tiV e l judges, the question as to whether the recent statute u' a not act as a bar to the action, although it was commen ce prior to its passing. After several witnesses had been el" amined, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, the case having broken down on the merits. It turned out that Day had made the bet with Mr. Gully, and that the latter was, in the eye of the law, the loser of the £3,u w. to Lord George. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—At the Surr e i, Assizes, on Monday last, before Mr. Baron Park do ° „ Special Jury, Miss. Melville Roberts brought an action against Captain Frank Denham, to recover con3Pensqb' s in damages for a breach of promise to marry her. Plaintiff, a beautiful and accomplished young lady, no: about 28 years of age, had been for eight or nine yeal governess and confidential companion in the flulaled of Capt. and Mrs. Evans, and in July, 1843, sbe i r . e verpo oll from Malta, with Mrs. Evans, in the Great rner steam-ship. The defendant, who had traded a' sam e t h e chant to the East Indies, was a ship, and in the course of the voyage he beci a r t at South. of the plaintiff, and shortly after their arriva psssenger through Mrs. ampton, he made her an offer of marriage of a Evans. He remained as a visitor in the character August suitor for some few days, and about the middle of 0 , he went to London , from whence he wrote on the 9th 1 October, breaking off the match ; and on the 15th of No vember, be was married at Ackwortb, near PontefraCtr to. Miss Eliza Lacey. The jury gave a verdict for the Plaintiff—Damages, £BOO. beYenamoured` LIBERTY OF THE PULPIT.—The case of " Smith r. the Rev. A. Gentle," has been argued before one of the Scotch courts, and has at last been decided ; and the de cision is of importance as involving the liberty of clergi men in their clerical capacity. The issue in this case was as follows :—Whether on Sunday, the 14th of March, 1811, during divine service in the parish church of Alves, the defender did, while addressing the congregation , Eq' concerning the pursuer, that he had been guilty of cheat ing, deceiving, and overreaching others in the course ot business ; that he had kept up false and ficticious a pp ea r: ances, and had, on false or ficticious credit, engaged in speculations and improvements, and indulged in sumptu ousi living ; that in the course of his speculations an d ni ; provernents, he had cheated or deceived his more ign ora° t . neighbours, by inducing them to sign documents to they prejudice or ruin, and had thereby converted the house no mirth and joy into a house of wailing and mourning, .af that if its walls could speak, they even would testi f against the vile intruder—meaning thereby that the pur suer had been guilty of obtaining money on false Pr e c i tences, had kept up false appearances, and had chea t f ie and deceived his neighbours and others, with whom had transactions, to their injury or ruin ; or did use utter expressions, in allusion and with application to 0 , , pursuer to the like effect. Last year the case was tri ll and a verdict was given in favour of the defendant • wi l h e ;§ verdict was set aside as contrary to the evidence. ' ln second trial the jury returned a verdict for the plain'l with £lOO damages—£looo having been sought. 3 5 ASSIZE NEWS. — At Norwich, James Frost, aged + was charged with the wilful murder of his four childret!' the eldest of whom was only five years of age. The P rt : soner was a preacher amongst the Primitive M e thodist s : was subject to strange delusions, sometimes in utter d spair of salvation,—at others in the contrary extreme ,an d , he destroyed his children with the alleged object of s en ,bo ing them straight to heaven. He was acquitted 011 ground of insanity.—At Stafford, William Beard was C O w victed of the wilful murder of Ann Griffiths, at Wede`,., bury, on the 16th of March last, and sentenced to d eg 0 1 —At Bodmin, Matthew Week, aged 22, was convicte d ~t the wilful murder of Charlotte Syrnond, his fellow-ser e and sweetheart, at Davidstone, in April last, by cn ttin v her throat. The motive appears to have been jeal o li e , The prisoner was sentenced to death.—At Newe as 'o upon-Tyne, Mark Sherwood. an elderly gray-headed man, was charged with the wilful murder of Ann She ol , wood, his wife, on the 14th of March last, under eire n , o , stances of great barbarity. He was convicted and `' ‘ ,l tenced to death.—At Guildford, in a bleach of prorni se t be marriaee case, Roberts v. Denham, the jury found fer pr , plaintiff—Damages, £Boo.—At Guildford, a ca se, "si bert v. Day, was tried, in which the question at issue - I ,eo whether the racer Bloodstone, winner of one of the 5 °,4 ! at Ascot, was the horse he was d escr ib e d to be, nor:re-0 one of two years old, or anoth er o f th ree years o ld, eat at and ran falsely in his name. The ver di c t decided t r eo fraud had been practised, and that the owner of theat was not entitled to the stakes.—On Thursday we e T n 'tt o the Bodrnin assizes, before Justice Patteson, Ch ar oh Johns, an interesting looking girl, twenty-four years a te was charged with the murder of her male illeg'„ t p i a lia child. The jury found the prisoner guilty of ', - I , o o' the birth, and she was sentenced to two years' llnPL o fve° ment.—At the Newcastle assizes, on Friday week, us . ',Jer o jfe h Justice ve irs a aged edillegitimatet Creswell, hirte ecn Jane i6yl dea. r s Purvis T, h:, w asi a p s ari dnil lodiiiinnciecetfirtereddw-ffaisrr and the evidence went to show that she had been deli c,`0,13 of a child, which was subsequently fo in a bo% b r o ro its throat cut. It was not proved that the child wa s alive, fe o adn f tt l a e v .:ll : o ;b s w : ec t )lxi ls : cealed the birth, and she was sentenced to twelve 1110 ;',01 11 i m prisonment. — On Tuesday last, at Coventry, Sasa'rder be sent home at the end of the week. One she suspected that the prisoner of Emma Goldsby, an infant, seventeen months 0 1 d - , was a most extraordinary case. The •, er w a " r'' ployed by Mrs. Goldsby to nurse AN, last the prisoner was given to understand that she o o' be ther observed some scratches on the infant's nee- se,,,AP child showed great dislike to her afterwards. O n of tb e - April the prisoner, who had been left to take caret,a cradle, suddenly called out that a man had sta bv ll o ' up th e c baby. The mother ran to her, and, taking saw blood streaming from it and that it was dying' gave the alarm and several neighbours rushed " n ' t , ea r child, which was already dead, was examined by _ t int°, geon, who found that a large knife had been thro b l b o r d t t a a h i e e s e m v rjuillnorite its chest. The wound was just such an one as c a l g dres,,l b e been inflicted by a carving knife which lay on and on which a few spots of blood were four '7 statement of the girl, who more than once saber ed sot not do it," was, that a man, without shoes, en, o tg r stabbed the child. The examination was purst,e' 060,11 length, and about six o'clock, p.m., the jar vrb,t ter , tlis' Two hours afterwards they applied for some for _ O , was refused. They were subsequently locked . . er i e intt 4 night. On the following morning the jury bad ?j, duced into court, when they stated that tb e e_Y,.,. 0 , 0 0 , 4 agreed, and that it v , as not probable that they it. 7 an d prisoner will be tried again at the next assif flatir jer .. ,l They were then discharged from giving a verf e tu . ___At w o ( same assizes Gtorge Skelsey was tried for thela uo en ter, Henry e C d lile )10 1 Y y He was . Seventeen covicatedt n prisoners were senten ced, vat/ day week, at Irswich, to he transport ed fur terra s en te r nt t ot y. en n from seven years to the duration of life. rs ; ra c n o sp v o i r c t t a e t d io n o f . ma ns I