The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-04 00:00:00

THE CRIMEAN MILITARY INQUIRY. The heard of General Officers appointed to inquire into the report of Sir J. 11‘Neille and Colonel Tulloch, assembled yesterday morning at eleven o'clock in the great hall of Chelsea Hospital, for the purpose of arranging the course of the proceedings. The members of the Board present were—Sir A Woodford, president ; Sir G. Berkeley, Earl Beauchamp ; General Knollys, Sir J. Bell, and General Peel. Lieut.- colonel Douglas represented the Horse Guards. The only officer present wh o was re f erre d t o i n th e r eport of the Crimean commission was the Earl of La can. The Right lion. C. P. Villi ers , th e j u d ge a d voca t e Seneral, read the various official communications re specting the appointment Gf the board and the order of proceedings to be adopted. It was arranged that the board would not send summonses to officers whose con duct was reflected upon in the report of Sir J. M.Neille and Colonel Tulloch, except to those who had signified a Wish to submit their defence to the board, but that it should be open to any other officer referred to in that Port, to apply to the board to be allowed to appear before it in defence of his conduct. Th e officers who have prayed to be heard before the asuult nit tee, are th e E ar l of Lucan, the Earl of Cardigan, b l eh ril " Ai reY, Quart er -M aster -G enera l, and Col. Gordon, uty Qua rter - Master-General, and they will be alan ai ned in succession according to their military rank. te A xt n order w as given to lay before the board at its 'Meet ing, a copy of the report of Sir Y. M'Neille d an uc ci ed e°l . Tulloch, an d a l so cop i es o f a ll documents pro- Aft er t° parliatnent on the subject. th e u some other fo r m a l arrangemen t s h a d b een ma d e, Luca ° will naissioners d adjourned until Monday, when Lord attend with his witnesses. IitALTH COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY day7;!eltlY meeting of this committee was . held r yz d te e r r. "he, godson, members were present . M Znea_ennkevvir following (chairman); D. Crosthwaite, M'Guffie, k , Sheil, Johnson, Flathead, Haydoc , a. ,2_Gladstone, and Godfrey. urial Boron npertv. Rh Engineer, Building Surveyor, and Inspec i-Nuisanees, reported various particulars of the and ; r l.l n 2 ". in their several departments during the week, titt en ,ft which it appeared that 148 ashpits, &c., were ere'" to and repaired ; 1151 cesspools had been eued • ~, . tak en , i nuisances had been enquired into, and . means . districtsto remedy the same; 694 houses in uninhabited r , ~ i lt ai be en ( containing 2,321 apartments), and 337 cellars 9 41R t),_ Pot under examination, with the view of improv -1 Thuee,..sanitary condition. . from th l 'aW Clerk said he had received a communication btir,_ Secretar Rrou nd e clergyman of St. Paul's, respecting the burial and, with regard to St. John's, he had written Y of State. with the view of having the iraolliround there closed. the re T . the Medical Officer's report, it appeared that r th e wk, a considerable decrease in the mortality during PrevineeK—the total deaths being 213, against 257 in the i Pp WePk Ahe L - • i eons Law Clerk stated that Dr. Duncan was absent in eq ue ., , v enid ,, Lice of ill health, when Mr. Gladstone asked what 0 sainr,,,;°eY do for a medical officer as he received - a large ' • Lette r 'eßar ~li w ere read f r o m Jr. Rose Wand Mr. Allison, ent er 'lng their late tenders, but it was resolved not to eo n .° l l them, as the matter was in the hands of the am alto th A eont ge er. ) to kr. George M for some masonry in Talbot-street was given The Bower for £240 7s. 0 bone,, adj ro tiu rned.ne business was then transacted, and the , ou t IRp ORTANT TO RAILWAY TRAVELLERS ltu At Manchester County Court, on Monday, an the , ' ,, rta nt „ question was decided by Robert Brandt, Esq., Judge of that court. It arose in the case of eordr.. lB TAE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY the on which was an action brought to . recover Fom• by on for expenses incurred, and loss of time sustained, nt, law lae;slect of the defendants. Mr. Fernley, barrister- t V olv , said the plaintiff, Mr. Gibb, was a metal deaier a fio tn e v rh ampton, and some time since, having occasion to Plac e Newcastle on business, he took a ticket for that too at the M anchester Station, and at five o'clockin the firpl:'Ye at ning Proceeded by the train which was adve r ti se d t o N ora Tv —ewcastle at half-past eleven. The t ra i n reac h e d th ere i n good t i me ; but between there and York pia" wa s considerable d e lay, an d on arr i v i ng a t t h e latter should the plaintiff found that the train by which he end hav e proceeded to Newcastle had left half an hour, tr e a t ," had t 9 wait for the next, which was a government Onethe e ana ala not get to Newcastle until four o'clock . in wahtt. la late for the plaintiff to do the bussiness / to a 'ell he we nt—and he had to travel all night to keep hei,,PPointment for the next day. The claim was for £6, lrorline expenses of the journey, and .E 4 for loss of time. *er e e de fence, Mr. Cobbett obiected that the company li ne not liable, the delay not having occnrred on their li on _ As the company had granted a through ticket, his mdroeur the the objection. Mr. Cobbett then Budge ju dße s r d t he jury in mitigation of damage! ;. and the f; aviog summed up, the jury, after retiring for a olaitee'dfte, found a verdict for the plaintiff for the amount Ai. - - - - LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH P41 3 ; 11 1 : usual monthly meeting of th's board was held at the Mr. /10:11ficesi Dgremont, last evening, commissioners D res _ , ey occupied the chair . . . other seven o'cloc>. Robertslt were Messrs. Odell, Fishwick, Hill, .-.to. Penny and E. Coulborn. Neville, Ball, we ir re be ,ietk read the minutes of the last meeting, which a u e Pled and confirmed. The TIIE WORKS AND HEALTH COMMITTE t at Clerk said, although there had been E iv . .o or three att em p t s made to form a works and health committee, they stibielle,q.. succeeded in the attempt ; but there was one beam relative thereto, which he would bring before the Op that It was relative to the assessment of s th e e n F ia e l rt n i a e s s e . rc. , at subject it had been agreed to have a P difficulty b;lrred to the Curt of Queen's Birch. feZesbeen experienced for the want of him, and the three he Mr. Coulborn had applied to him, .and e stated that ‘ v it W h e t u b bi , b e at the joint expense of preparing such plans Mr. o e ( ° , ar d.. for ttelotl obiected to the expenses of defendant, being sadiled ware t he rate accom modation of the defen plan. which A „ ~ payers.. lea'"4l`,ile other members of the board could not see the an 4 icltnwlection to the proposition, as it was a friendly suit, lion ti, as their duty to furnish the best possible informa- It Was could to the Court of Queen's Bench. N an a.s agreed that the surveyor shculd . mak s e Mr. nB, with tl, • , 011Ib .e assistance of a person appointed by T orn, sta'telldalltswr to a question put by a commissioner, it was there being the cause of the non-attendance_ was owing to be r ' e inß. a vacancy in the committee and another mem l'lrsa ill, • - ATr. *lnch Penny said he had not complained of afternoon, which „e to met, four o'clock in the the hour at eal,"as,to him a most inconvenient hour, but that was he'r.7ne had not been able to attend. and at ' t , l airtiaan : The hour was fixed by the chairman, mr phe time it was thought best. trn there not ' en' to prevent any f . e nn Th ors enamel ,oe'ng any meetings held, I . suggest that one Th should be added to the committee. was agreed to. 1%. ()dell "era,then made a complaint as to the sta m te os o t f d th is e . gr,e‘e,•e of Beaufort...terrace, which was in a been repairtuedt state, and wished to know why it had not Ih. A, Of ,„„%unairman replied that it had not been for the want ic'..uy, but at present that did not exist. adrlAil... Neel.' was satisf.ed with the explanation.. oiininN ville then stated that there was a inece lin t it h g the pool t• which belonged to the commissioners, of land ikittaolitad for a long period laid dormant, and apparently h ev ery re an owner. From what was going on, they very Yaluateson to believe that this land would become very ',eye, s," ProPerty. What he suggested was, that the commissionerscur e * ere tiio(,ould be instructed to show that the an h,:re of it H eel of that land. There was not more than AT T. Ipla.nd the cost would not exceed £8 or £lO.. atlobted.4 seconded the motion, which was unanimously tolatjvearstitshen resolved that the clerk should he instructed for tenders for the sewerage of New Brighton. Th e ~, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. tnend—Vr°ceedings of this committee contained a recomne of Aft4,,l_loo that Alr. Thomas Marshall, of Blackborne,o he aDpoijn candidates who had made application, should bl tr l ejl the chief who in the lace of Mr. Scram ree4ieweuse resignation had been accepted at the last ttle %ti i.ill tn "ed, and Mr. Fishwick seconded, the rccom- I t ' i r ( , ) , n of the committee. Jack s° . nt.solt, however, moved the appointment of a Mr. Ntr. ,dell li,Tr. I,seconded the proposition. kr, m Is I wick and Mr. Hill advocated the appointment of raeter,a_rshall, whose testimonials were of the highest cha any ,f 11114 w hom they believed would, without . disparaging ili pi aee,t , Re other candidates, " be the right man in t e r g . t ord er a nd a man well fitted to keep their little force in wallsl,ri. Bell withdrew his amendment, and Mr. Marshall ~,, eeeehrecl unanimously appointed• o b f e ir n a d ri f .or k t r h ic e then read the receipts and expenditure of the t past year, which, in accordance with the ac ra, 1141ent, will be published for the information of the e"PaYers 4 A.fter transacting ijoUrned some routine business the board ELECTION OF SELECT VESTRY-MEN Yesterday, a mettitig of the ratepayers of Liverpool was convened (according to Act of Parliament) at St. Nicholas church, for the purpose of electing the members of the Select Vestry, in the place of those whose term of office expired, or in the place of those who had been chosen as ovetseers, which latter appointment disqualified them from serving at the board. The Rev_ Rector Campbell presided. . - The Vestry Clerk having read the notice convening the meeting, Mr. Churchwarden Woodruff moved the adjournment of the meeting to the Sessions House. This motion having been seconded, and unanimously adopted, the ratepayers proceeded to the Sessions House, when The Rev. Rector Campbell-, on taking the chair, announced to the meeting (which was Very thinly attended) what had taken place at the church, and called upon the ratepayers to proceed with the election of vestrymen. The following gentlemen were proposed and seconded by the two churchwardens, and in most cases unanimously elected : Mr. J. Hastings, in the place of Mr. Bairstow; Mr. Edm. Jardine, in the place of Mr. Bradley, whose term of office had expired, and who had not been again nominated ; Mr. 11. J. Cook ; Mr. Jones; Mr. S. B. Jackson, in the place of Mr. Nixon; Mr. W. Critchley, Landon-road, in the place of Mr. Wensley ; Mr. J. Whitty ; Mr. T. Cronin, in the place of Mr. Satchell ; Mr. W, Taylor; Mr. C. Wyse, in the place of Mr. Owen, Mr. Churchwarden Woodruff then proposed that Mr. F. P. Flannigan should be elected in the room of Mr. Fairhurst, who had retired. He said he hoped on that question it would not be necessary to drive the parish to the expense and trouble of having a poll. For some time past it had been the custom to have at the board two members of the Roman Catholic persuasion, and considering the mixed population of Liverpool, he thought it was only right. If they considered the number of the Roman Catholic population, and the amount of relief adminis tered to them, it would be found that such an arrangement was proper, and he thought that Mr. Flannigan was a very suitable person to fill the place of Mr. Fairhurst. Mr. Holme said he would propose that Mr. If J. Svred he elected in the place of Mr. Fairhurst, and not Mr. Flannigan. The - Churchwarden hoped that there would be no poll demanded on the question. Besides he had another reason for objecting to Mr. Syred, he was a pawnbroker, and there were already two on the board, himself and Mr. Critchley, who had just been elected, and he did not wish to see any particular trade unduly represented. He requested Mr. Helme to withdraw his motion. Mr. Holme said he should press his motion, because he did not approve of the churchwardens going to the meeting with a " cut and dried list." Mr. Sidney objected to religious creeds being mentioned at such a meeting, and also to the mode of electing the vestry men, but chile it was the law they must obey it. He con ceived it to be very objectionable that only one rate should be levied in the year, and should call upon the ratepayers to memorialise the Poor Law Board on the subject. The Churchwarden thought it would be far more inconve nient and expensive to have more than one rate levied in the year. The Chairman then put the motion and the amendment, and declared the choice to be decidedly in favour of Mr. Flannigan. Mr. Holme said, such being the case, he would demand a poll for Mr. Syred. A Ratepayer : What expense will that poll incur to the parish ? The Vestry Clerk : That can't be told. But it will incur much inconvenience in having all the clerks brought from the offices, and neglecting their duty there. Mr. Denton said he had had an interview with Mr. Syred, who had informed him that he would not serve if a poll was demanded. Mr, Satchell believed that he would serve if elected. That was his private opinion. The Chairman : That is only a private opinion against Mr. Denton's positive assertion. He would leave it for Mr. Holme, after what he had heard, to decide. If a poll were demanded, he could not object to it ; but it would be attended with much inconvenience and expense. The Churchwarden again requested Mr. Holm() to with draw his opposition, at the same time observing that he had no doubt but that Mr. Syred would be elected a member of the vestry in a few months. Mr. Holme refused to comply with the request, and persisted upon going to a poll on the question. Mr. Sidney begged of Mr. Holme to withdraw his motion. Several Ratepayers expressed their opinion, that Mr. Syred would not serve, if elected under such circumstances. Mr: Holme still insisted upon demanding a poll. The meeting was accordingly adjourned until Saturday next, when the poll will be taken. POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY (RF,FORR MR,. MANSFIELD. ) CHEAP SUPPER.--A young man named Morton Church hill, was charged by Mr. John Mullen, who keeps an eating house in Great Crosshall-street, under the follow ing circumstances. The complainant said the prisoner, with four other persons, entered his house the previous night, and called for supper. They were supplied, and when witness asked for payment, the prisoner said he would pay when the supper was over. The witness waited until the party had finished their repast, and again asked for payment, when the prisoner, having sent out his comrades, made his escape into the street. The witness followed him, and on taking hold of him, the prisoner turned on and attacked him with the knife which he had used at his supper. The prisoner did not make any defence, and his worship sent him to gaol for one month with hard labour. BRUTAL CONDUCT .—A young Welchman, named Hugh Jones, was charged by an unfortunate girl named Amelia Jones, with the following gross outrage. She stated that on Wednesday night she met the prisoner in Copperas Hill. They had some sapper and drank together, and after that the prisoner wished her to accompany him to a place she did not like. On her refusing to go, the prisoner turned on her and struck her a violent blow in the mouth, which knocked out one of her teeth, and loosened several others, and injured her very much. He kicked her when down, in a very brutal manner, in the arm and side. In reply to the bench, the prisoner said the complainant made an attempt to rob him. Mr. Mansfield : I fine you £2O, or in default of payment, six months' imprisonment with hard labour. GRANO!. versus GREEN.—A good looking young woman, named Catherine Carr, who held a fine child in her arms, was charged by Catherine Graynor alias Derby shire, with having broken fourteen squares of glass in a house in Frederick-street. The complainant said that on St. Patrick's day the prisoner, with some boys who carried green flags, came to her house shouting, and wishing her (the complainant) and all other orangemen and women at a certain distance. This roused her (com plainant's) blood a bit, but she curbed herself, and shut the door. The prisoner then went away, but returned with a dead cat, with which she belaboured her (the complainant) about the head ; she concluded the outrage by breaking fourteen squares of glass in the windows. The prisoner said the charges was all spite, and that the affair happened in this way. There was a man who lived with the complainant, and he with a woman, robbed a sailor one night of a considerable sum of money, and then the fellow left her. She (the prisoner) gave information to the police, and the parties were arrested, and sent to gaol for three months. She was passing by the complainant's house on St. Patrick's day, and having a bit of a green ribbon in her cap, the com plainant exhibited an orange handkerchief, and fell on her like a female tiger, and in the " scrimmage " the windows were broken, The police corroborated the prisoner's statement about the robbery, &c., and she was discharged, as it appeared the windows broken did not belong to the complainant. THE SMOKE NUlSANCE.—lnspector McDonnell, of the smoke nuisance committee, summoned the authorities of the London and North Western Railway Company for allowing smoke from their chimney at the Edge Hill station on Easter Monday. The defence was that the engine was engaged all day in drawing special trains, and there was so much business that day that the smoke could not be attended to. A fine of £5 was imposed. (BEFORE MR. AIKEN.) A " DARK DEED BROUGHT TO LIGHT."—John Wil liams, a very black man, the cook of the ship Sea, was brought up by a policeman who arrested him at one of the dock gates, and on searching him, he found six lb of wax candles on him, which he had taken from the ship. There was no inclination on the part of the captain to prosecute the prisoner, as he intended to take him back to his own country. He was discharged. (BEFORE MESSRS. lIENN AND J. AIKEN.) CAUTION TO ILLICIT WHISKEY SELLERS.—Nicholas Coyle, a resident of Banistre-street, who had been several times charged for similar offences, was charged for selling two two-pennyworths of whiskey, not being duly licensed. Mr. Brook was for the prosecution, and produced Inspector Skermer, and officers Bolton and Shuttleworth, who s wore they saw the defendant sell the whiskey on Sunday morning, 7th February, to two men ; it was taken out of a bottle, and the policemen tasted it afterwards. The defendant, who had been before convicted, was fined £5O. (BEFORE MESSRS MANSFIELD AND HOLT.) CAUTION.—A man named M'Donnel, was fined .Z 1 for attempting to defraud the East Lancashire Railway Company, by getting a ticket from Ormskirk to Bootle, but going to Liverpool on it. BEGGING 1 MPOSTOII.—A well-dressed youthful-looking person, named John Williams alias John Bennet, was brought up as a begging impostor. He was given into custody by Mr. Kirkus of Prescot-street, to whom he presented a begging memorial. There was a second document and 10s 10d found on him. He was sent to hard labour the abur ti f m or e a o month, h o i n s th in , e t a h r e ce m ra o t n io. money to go for his support during SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES, CROWN COURT-YESTERDAY .His Lordship, Mr. Baron Martin, entered court at nine o'clock yesterday. SENTENCE.—Peter Connally, a seaman, convicted of man slaughter, was sentenced to one months' imprisonment. CIVIL CAstS.—His lordship then resumed the hearing of common jury cases. THE MILFORD GUNPOWDER COMPANY a. ALEXANDER REln.—This was an action brought by the plaintiff 3, who are a company engaged in the manufacture of gunpowder, and the defendant is a gentleman residing in Wales. The action was brought to recover £7O 133. 6t1., for three lots of unpowder ; alleged to have been delivered on defendant's order at a certain slate works, near Llangollen, in Wales, belongifng to a company called the Llandysillis Slate Works Company, of which defendant was a member. Of the amount claimed .647 odd *as paid into court for two of the lots, and the question involved only referred to the third lot, the amount of which was £27 lie. Mr, James conducted the plaintiff's case, and Mr. Brett the defence. The defence was a denial of the defendant's personal responsibility. There was nothing in the case of any public interest. The juty found a verdict for £27 I Is. TONGE V. GREEN AND ANOTIIELL—TIIIB Wag an action brought to recover damages for furniture claimed as the property of the plaintiff seized by the defendants. Mr. Atherton appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Wilde for the defendants. The plaintiff was a widow, residing at a place called Piper's Alley, Ilindley, and the principal defendant, Mr, John Green, is a magistrate and income tax commis sioner. The plaintiff had been liting with her daughter and son-in-law, the latter being a person named Thomas Walkden, who was a collector of income and property tax. On the 20th of February, 1855, this person died, and it was then found that his accounts were in arrears, and that he was indebted to the income tax commissioner for a sum of £179 7s .sd. Mr. Green, one of the commissioners, and Mr. T. D. Milne, issued a warrrant for that amlunt. A sheriff's officer named Frande, who was the seoond defendant in the case, proceeded to the house where Walkden had lived, and under this warrant seized the furniture and some cows. This property was sold in execution sale, and upwards of £BO realised. Tinder these facts the plaintiff brought the action, claiming the property as heri, and alleging that it had been brought by her to Walliden's house at the time of her daughter's marriage with him, and that she never parted with the ownership of it. Evidence was produced to establish these allegations. The defence was, that the property had been made over to Walkden pre vious to his death. The jury found for the plaintiff, with £75 damages. HANLov. Jormsorr.—Mr. Tindal Atkinson opened the pleadings, and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins stated the case. The plaintiff was an old woman, who kept a fruit stall in front of the Royal Insurance buildings, Dale-street. In conse quence of her good conduct she had been allowed by the directors of these buildings to keep her standing there for some years, in order to dispose of fruit to get her living. The defendant was a merchant in Water-street. On the sth of December last, the poor woman was placing her table against the buildings, having her back to the street. A car man of the defendant's was endeavouring to drive a lorry round the corner of Prince's-street, a very narrow street, out of Dale-street, and while doing so, the end of the lorry struck her and threw her down. She received such injuries that she became insensible, and was carried to the hospital, where she had to remain for three weeks. Among the other injuries which she had received, her sightwas severely affected. The effect of the injuries upon her was such that she would not be able to carry on the business by which she lived, any longer without assistance. The defenee set up was, that the accident had occurred chiefly through the plaintiff's carelessness. The jury, after some consideration, found a verdict for the plaintiff, with £lO damages. DROGHEDA STEAM PACKET COMPANY v. WHITE.—This was an action for a breach of contract made with the de fendant, to pay £2O a year for the manure of the cattle transported in the Drogheda steam packet company's boats. On the part of the plaintiff, it was stated that the defendant had taken the manure for four years, but did not fulfil his portion of the contract by paying for it. He paid £7 out of the amount. Mr. Aspinall appeared the plaintiffs, and Mr. Brett for the defence, The jury found for the plaintiffs, with £72 lOs damages. NISI PRIUS COURT —YESTERDAY. (BEFORE MR. JUSTICE MLLES.) TIIE BRAZEN DOORS OF ST. GEORGE'S HALL POTTER V. THE CORPORATION OF LIVERPOOL.--This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover the value of the brazen doors of St. George's Hall. The defendants paid into court £1,650, and the damages were laid at £3,800. The question in dispute being simply one of account, it was agreed, after the case was called on, to take a verdict for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs, subject to a reference. TAYLOR V. WAKEFIELD AND ANOTHER.—The plaintiff, Mr. William Grant Taylor, of Kendal, is a gentleman advanced in years, and he brought the present action to recover damages for an unprovoked assault committed on him by the defendants, and for the wrongful conver sion of certain machinery to their use. The defendants paid £lO into court. In the year 1848, the plaintiff dis• covered an invention for the manufacture of lint. and the patent proved very valuable, particularly during the late war. On patenting the invention, he entered into an arrangement with a person of the name of Waithman, who carried on the business of a flax-srinner and bleacher, at Holme Mills, between Burton an - 1 Kendal, at a place called Gatebeck, and also at a place called Bentham, by which it was agreed that Waithman was to have the exclusive use of the patent for seven years, the linting machinery at the expiration of that time, to be taken equally by him and the plaintiff. After some time disputes arose between them ; they were referred to arbitration, and the award was that Waithman should pay the plaintiff £1,500, and that the plaintiff should also have the option of purchasing all the machinery belonging to the concern. Immediately after that arrangement, which was in 1854, Waithman became a bankrupt, and one of the defendants, William Wakefield, a member of the firm of Wakefield, Critson, and Co. bankers, of Kendal, was appointed assignee. Wakefield and Co. alleged that they had a mortgage for £BO,OOO on the Holme Mill and Gatebeck property, and after some negotiation, the machinery was valued and allowed to continue working the mill, on a payment of £6 a week. Shortly afterwards the plaintiff received notice to quit. He hired mills at Tamworth and sent £272 lOs to the defendants, being the value of the linting machinery which it was necessary be should take with him. They refused to accept the money, and violently prevented him from removing the machinery, which they detained. Out of these circumstances the present action arose. Mr. Watson, Q.O .' and Mr. Hill, Q.C., appeared for the plaintiffs ; and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, with Mr. Manesty, for the defendants. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £5O, with costs, over and above the sum paid into court. HILL O MERRET.—This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover the sum of £3,857 14s ld. Both plaintiff and defendant are contractors, the one residing in Cheshire, and the other at Sydenham in Kent. The defendant had a variety of contracts on the Norfolk lines of railway, the Crewe and Sandbach branch of the North Staffordshire, &c., and the plaintiff acted as his manager and also took sub -contracts under him. While so employed the above amount accrued, and the defendant not being able to pay it was made a bankrupt on the petition of the plaintiff. The defendant denied when before the court the greater portion of the debt, and under those circumstances the present action was brought by order of the commissioner. The questions between the parties being chiefly one of account, a verdict was taken by consent for the plaintiff for £5,000, all the questions in dispute to be settled by arbitration. Mr. Hill, Q.C. with Mr. Millward, ap peared for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Manesty for the defendant. THE NORTHERN TIMES,—LIVIRPOOTJ, FRIDAY, APRIL 4, Me CHESTER ASSIZES.-YESTERDAY CROWN COURT (tEPORE MR, JUSTICE WILLIAMS.) THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL ASSAULT ON A SERVANT GIRL AT LISCARD. James Dalziel, committed at Liscard by Daniel Nielson, Esq., in August last, for assaulting Jane Jones at Liscard, with intent to ravish her, surrendered in discharge of his hail, and was arraiened ofi the charge. Our readers will remember that the case (when before the magistratds at LisearS) excited unusual interest. in con sequence of the peculiar circumstances by which it was surrounded. Originally the capital charge was preferred againet the prisoner, but this was not substantiated, and ultimately he was commit ed for the assault. Sir. Brandt conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Macintyre. theMprr. o ß s e r a cti n t d i t o , n a . t considerable d l e n h g i t s h girl of the name of Jane Jones, wit intent to comunt a rape upon , re s nn ta a te ,k d s th by e c s a t s a e ti o n n g behalf the prisoner was charged on the first count, with having assaulted a her. On the second count, he was siniply charged with an indecent assault. However much the jury might regret to see a person like the prisoner, who had hitherto moved in a respectable Sphere of life, placed in his present position, it Would be their duty to find a verdict against him, if the evidence he was about to lay before them, War ranted them in so doing. The case would require their very serious consideration, for iit was somewhat complicated, and there: w re sortie rather curious facts, in connection" with it. The learne d counsel after stating that the prosecutrix, at, the time of the alleged offence, was a servant at the Trafalgar Hotel, at Egremont, kept by the prisoner's brother, narrated the circumstances of the case, and then called Jane Jones, the prosecutrix, who said—On the 23rd day of Aug :st I went to live at the Trafalgar Hotel, Egremont, kept by the pri soner's brother. 1 remained there to the Monday folio, ing. The prisoner was at the house then. On that morning, when 1 awoke, I found him kneeling at the foot of my bed. That was about six o'clock. He went out when I got up. I saw him again in the kit chen about eleven, and asked him what he was doiog in my bed room? He said he did not know I s'ept there. The next mornisg he took liberties with me in the kitchen. On the following morning (Wednesday) about six o'clock, I was carrying some giassts out of the bar into the parlour. The prisoner was sat on a chair in the bar at the time, with his head laid on the table: He followed me into the parlour, and threw me down on the sofa [ The witness here de scribed the manner in which the prisoner attempted. to have impro per intercourse with her.] I screamed as loud as I ,uld, and then the prisoner left the room; but before doing so, he told me to say nothing about it. I then went up stairs and to'd a fellow-servant named , Ann about it, also that I had a toothache. Ann brou ht me some rum, which 1 drank. In the forenoon, about eleven o'clock, I went to my slate 'a, who lives at Egremont, and told her what had happened. She came with me to the Trafalgar, and we saw the prisoner. My sister, and also the prisoner, said they would bave me examined. Two doctors came, and 1 was examined. I afterwards put my mark to a paper. [The following document, signed by the prosecutes, was here put in, and read—" I acknowledge that the charge I made t ass Morning against Mr. James Dalziel, of having carnally abused me, is false and unfounded. JANE + JoNEs."] Examination continued—The paper was read over to me before I made my mark, but I did not know the understanding of it. The two doctors, and my sister, were present when I signed the paper. I am not quite sure whether Mr. Dalziel's sister was also present or not. The rum that Ann gave rise in the morning made me ill, and I was all of a confusion will' it when the doctors were there. It was about half a gill cup full. The Judge—What time was it when you signed the paper? Witness—l don't know. Somewhere about noon. The Jtidge—Ahd you must have had the spirits much earlier. It must have been about seven o'clock. That was a long time before ydu signed the paper. By Mr. Braadt—lt would be about seven o'clock when I had the rum, and at the time I signed the paper the illness caused by the rum had not gone off. Cross-examined by Mr. Macintyre—When I went to the Trafalgar Inn I was to sleep with Ann. I did not sleep with her, but in a room by myself I still slept in the same room by myself after the morning when the prisoner came into my bed room. I did not sleep with Ann, because it was hot weather, and the bed in which she slept was a sma'l one. I did not open a bottle of soda water for the prisoner on the morning of Wednesday when he threw me down on the sofa. Atter the doctors had examined me I said I had made a mistake, but when I did so I did not know what I was doing. When I went down stairs the servants told me that Mr. James Dalziel h d it in his power to do what he pleased with me. That was after I had signed the paper. No threat at all was Used to me before I signed the paper. My sister was present and heard the pap -r read over before 1 signed it. I suppose she understood it. They read the paper over so quickly that I did not know what it meant. Mr. Thompson read it over, and then told me to sign it. Dr. Nisbett did net ask me before I signed the paper if I understood what it meant. He did not at any time ask me that I remember. In further cross-examination the witness persisted in saying that she did not understand the paper when it was read over to her, before she signed .t. Re-examined by Mr. Brandt—Before I said that I had made a mistake, the doctors told me that n othing was to do with me, and that I was a naughty girl for having made such a charge against Mr. Dalziel. After 1 had signed it, the pri . oner, Mr. James Dalziel, met me, and said "get out of my sight." We afterwards gave information to the police. I never told Mr. scrambler, the head of the po ice at Liscard, that I was mistaken, and did not intend to proceed further about it. Mrs. Sarah Lightfoot, sister to the prosecutrix, was next examined. She in the main depos d to the same facts that had been spoken to by her sister, and added that when in company with the prisoner, along with her sister, the prisoner said " What have I done to you," when her sister replied You know what you have done. You threw me on the sofa and have ruined me." Witness then asked to go into the room to look at the sofa, when the prisoner said " I own to throwing her on the sofa, but I did not do anything more." In cross-examination the witness admitted that the paper was read over in her hearing before her sister signed it, but it was read in such a low tone, and so rapidly, that they could not hear its contents distinctly, Mr. Charles Oliver Baylis, physician and surgeon, at nirkenhrad, was next examined, and stated that on the 20th of August, he made an examination of the prosecutrix, and found nothing to indicate that a rape had been effected. Mr. Brandt here intimated that that was the case for the prose cution. Mr. Macintyre observed, that he did not know whether the pro secution ought to be called upon to examine Mr. Nisbett and Mr. Hodson, the surgeon. Perhaps His Lordship would think they I ought. The Judge—l cannot compel the prosecution to call them. Mr. Brandt—They are not on the back of the indictment, and we do not intend to call them. The Judge—lf they were on the indictment, I could not compel you to call them. Mr: 111acintyre then addressed the fury on behalf of the prisoner. He commented severely on the manner in which the prosecution had been conducted, remarking that the wholesale imputations made by counsel against the prisoner, had in not one instance been supported by the evidence. Amongst other things, his learned friend had stated, that the prosecute' had been drugged, that she had been induced to sign the paper, which had been put in, by a threat, and he had insinuated that two surgeons of highly respectable characters, had entered into a conspiracy with Mr. Dalziel to do a gr;evous wrong. Now, not one of these statements had been attempted to be substantiated by the evidence adduced, and he s id that his learned friend ought not to have opened his case in such a way if he was not prepare.' with evidence in support of it. Instead of the prosecutrix having been drugged it was most distinctly proved by her own evidence, that the rum with which she was supplied by her fellow-servant was given to her at her own request, she having asked what would cure the tooth-ache, whilst, as regarded the alleges ion that s , e signed the paper under a threat, the prosecutrix had now distinctly sworn OA no threat whatever was used to her. After reviewing the whole case on the nart of the prosecution, and making a powerful appeal to the jury for an acquittal. he proceeded to call witnesses. Mr. Henry Briefly Thompson examined, he said—l am a barrister-at-law, belonging to the Northern Circuit. In August last. I lodged at the Trafalgar Hotel at Egremont. I slept there on the night of the 21st of August, and rose at seven on the following morning. I heard no noise nor alarm of any kind while in the house. I left the hotel for Liverpool soon after eight o'c'ock in the morning. About noon I had occasion to return to the hotel, and as I was going into the house I met the prisoner, who told me he had been falsely charged with rape. On going up stairs to my room I found the prosecutrix, her sister, Mr. Nisbett, and Mr. Hodson, surgeons, and another female. The medical men told the prosecutrix that she had made a m'stake, when sae replied that she thought she had, and she was sorry for it. The prisoner then asked the prosecutrix for an acknowledgment in writing to that effect, in order to satisfy his friends, and she agreed to give it him, but she could not read or write. I then wrote a statement and read it over to her. She said she understood it, and she made her mark to it witeout any hesitation, in the presence of myself, her sister, and the other p nrties. A few days afterwards I was served with a summons to appear before the magistrates at Liscard to give evidence on behalf of the prosecutrix. I attended the court two days. The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial after hearing the evidence of the prosecute', her sister, and Mr. Baylis, the surgeon. I was not called upon at all. I tendered my evidence, and told the magistrates I could give important information, but they refused to hear me. Mr. Nisbett, surgeon, of Egremont, was the next witness called. lie deposed to having made an examination of the prose cutrix, in company with Mr. Hodson, having been requested to do so, under the circumstances before detailed, by the sister of the prosecutrix, as we 1 as the prisoner. After making the exam ation, they told the prosecutrix that they did not believe in the truth of the charge which she had made against the prisoner, when she said, " well, I thought it was true, but, perhaps, I might have made a mistake." Mr. Thompson then prepared the acknowl e d gmen t , w h en it was read over to her. She said she understood it, and made her mark s r , it. A few days afterwards witness was summoned to give evidence on a charge of rape against the prisoner. He attended at the court at Liscard on the 28th and 29th of August, but was not called upon. The magistrates positively refused to hear any body but the prosecutrix. her sister, and Mr. Baylis, the surgeon. He was perfectly satisfied, from the examination he had made of the prosecutrix, along with Mr. Hodson, that no attempt at rape had been made, and was ready to have stated this before the magistrates. He had had no previous acquaintance with the prisoner, beyond having once attended his sister during her confinement. Mr. George Hodson, surgeon, of Egremont, confirmed the evi dence of Mr. Nisbett in every particular—both as to the result of the examination of the prosecutrix, as regarded her acknowledgment that she had made a mistake in charging the prisoner with the offence, and as to the paper being distinctly read over to her by Mr. Thompson before she made her mark to it. Witness added that he had never before been consulted by the prisoner or any of his family, who were strangers to him. • Mr. Alexander Forster, who was staying at the Trafalgar Hotel, at the time of the alleged offence, said that, although his bedroom was immediately over the parlour where the assault was said to have been commi ted, he never heard any screams at all. Mr. Brandt then addressed the jury in reply, and, with reference to the remarks he had made in his opening address upon Mr. Nis bett and Mr. Hodson, he had now to apologise for having cast any reflection upon their conduct in the matter. He was satisfied that their conduct had been straightforward and honourable, and from the evidence which had now been given, he saw clearly that so far as they were concerned, his instructions had misled him. His Lordship in summing up the evidence, remarked upon the refusal of the committing magistrates to receive the evidence of the two surgeons (Mr. Nisbett and Mr. Hodson) as being unnecessary. Any evidence was absolutely necessary in such a preliminary inquiry which would throw any light upon the charge, and particu larly such evidence as it appeared these gentlemen could have given. His Lordship then drew attention to the evidence as given on both sides, and in conclusion said the matter resolved ' , self into a ques tion cf belief, or otherwise, of the prosecutrix on the one hand, or of the medical gentlemen on the other. If, however, they believed the prosecutrix, they could not do more ,than find the! prisoner guilty of an assault, with intent to commit a rape, or the minor offence of a common assault; If they did not believe the prosecu trix, they would acquit the prisoner. The jury retired, and after an absence of half an hour, they returned into court shortly before seven o'clock, with a verdict of a quit tal. The prisoner was at once discharged by the direction of his lordship, and left the court with his friends. SUDDEN AND SERIOUS INDISPOSITION OF MR. WRIGHT THE COMEDIAN.—The greatest excitement prevailed in the Strand, on Monday evening, in consequence of the sudden and unexpected closing of the Adelphi Theatre. From inquiries made at the theatre by our reporter, it was learned that Mr. Wright had entered the house but a few minutes, and while in company with his dresser that he was suddenly perceived to be attacked by the most alarming symptoms, which rendered him all but insensi ble. Two medical gentlemen were promptly in attend• ance, who deemed it advisable that he should be at once taken home. In company with the two medical gentle men, he was conveyed to the stage-door, and taken with all possible speed to his residence at Chelsea. It was thought by the employes of the theatre, that the illness was attributable to a violent attack of determination of blood to the head. The theatre, in consequence, was at ones closed. THE LOSS OF THE SCHOMBERG In our impression of yesterday, we gave some particulars of the loss of this vessel, and we have since received th 6 folltrwing letter from Captain Forbes, addressed to the Melbourne Argus TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUE. Sir.—l avail myself of the earliest opportunity afforded me since the melancholy catastrophe of the lass of the royal mail ship Schomberg, under my command, to communicate to the public of the Australian colonies the information re. garding the voyage and foal loss of that magnificent ship, which they are justly entitled to demand l and I am equally anxious to furnish. The royal mail ship Schomberg sailed from Liverpool on the 9th October, and in the early part of the voyage met with light bafging winds, the Equator not being crossed until the 28th day after sailing, and a detention of ten days from calms marking the crossing of the tines From the Equator to the Meridian of Greenwich the ship met with light, baffling, and contrary winds, which pro tracted the voyage to 65 days from our departure from Liverpool, the distance ordinarily occupying not more than 38 days. From this date until our arrival at 130 deg. east longitude, we encountered fine steady breezes from S.W. to N.W., the ship averaging six degrees daily of casting, and her greatest spee I during the distance being 151 knots per hour. From this date, December 22nd, met sith adverse winds from east to south-east and east-south—east, blowing fresh. On Christmas Day first made land at Cape Bridge y'rater, about one o'clock p.m., wind blowing fresh from the east-south-east, driving ship . fast to the north. During that night and the tollowing day the wind continued from the same point, compelling us td tack frequently. On Wednesday, at twelve o'clock noon. wind blowing fresh, tacked ship, being then about four miles off shore stood in aga'n at six p.m., the wind blowing from the same quarter. About half-past ten p.m., land was faintly visible, and the wind fell of to a dead calm. Shortly before eleven o'clock pan., the order was given to "'bout ship," wind, the ship partially coming round, and then refusing to answer the helm, It was then tried to wear ship, but a current run ning westward, from three to four knots an hour—of which we were ignorant, and of which no mention is made in any existing chart—rendered the attempts unsuccessful, and carried the ship into a sandpit, about 35 miles west of Cape Otway, not laid down in any of the charts. Immediately before the vessel struck, and white wearing, took a cast of the lead, and found bottom at 17 fathoms, the vessel striking immediately afterwards in four fathoms. All sail was kept on the ship, in the hope of carrying her over the sandpit, but it was found unavailing, and a boat lowered, to take soundings round the ship, having reported shallow water on all sides, and a heavy southerly swell and strong westerly current heaving the ship into shallow water, dewed up all sail, and let go the starboard anchor. The boats were then got out, and every possible preparation made for the preservation of the passengers, which was eventually accomplished on the following morning, by the aid of the steamer Queen, Captain Doran, whose kindness and prompt assistance well entitle him to public gratitude. I do not complain that interest should be manifestsd by the people of the Australian colonies in the fate of the noblest ship that ever floated on the water, ar that they should be jealous of the causes of her loss; but I do feel wronged by injurious aspersions and insinuations thrown out by the local journals, by parties obviously ignorant of the circumstances and the locality in which the vessel was lost. A writer in the _Herald, for instance, asks, " Why was the Schomberg so near the shore ? We do not, of course, wish to impute blame to Captain Forbes. We are not, at present, sufficiently well informed to justify us in so doing, but it is impossible to prevent men asking the above question. Ask the intercolonial traders—those best ac quainted with every bay and headland of this iron-bound coast, and they will tell you that no more ticklish s - ot i to be found than that between Moonlight Head and Cape Otway." The same writer adds that " the Ng hid was blow ing from the south-west when the vessel was first observed drifting in-shore." Now, I do not object to the asking of the question, nor have I the slightest unwillingness to answer it. But the ' fact is, that the vessel was not between Moonlight Head and Cape Otway, but in a far more ticklish spot, several leagues to the westward of Moonlight Head, which it was necessary to pass through in coming from Cape Bridgewater to Cape Otway. I think it also necessary to state that no wind which could blow from the heavens would have better an swered my wishes than the south west wind alleged to have been blowing, for had such a wind been blowing the School berg never would have been in such a position. I think it necessary to answer only one calumny more. It is publicly asserted that, when the ship struck, the anchors were not ready to be let go. It is simply necessary for me to state that this is untrue. The anchors were ready when the vessel struck, and the starboard anchor was let go when ordered, immediately after the vessel struck. It is my duty to my officers to acknowledge the manly manner in which they stood by and assisted me when the catastrophe occurred ; and I have much pleasure in acknowledging that the greater number of the seamen showed themselves possessed of the true qualities of British tars in as trying circumstances as ever sailors were placed. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Melbourne, Jan. 3, 1856. JAMES NICOL FORBES. larrival, find the colony too hot to hold him. Their provisios were not of the quality, nor in the quantities they were led I expect, nor had their contracts been fulfilled. They were aware that by the act of parliament thef were allowed three quarts fresh water per diem, over and above that required for cooking. During the first part of the voyage they had never received more than two quarts, and latterly not more than a quart and a half, hardly more than enough to wash with. The quality of the water. which was bad at first, became afterwards better, and soon after.. wards they got some filters. Further on in the passage the allowanee of sugar was stopped for nearly a week, and when they remonstrated, instead of sugar, they get molasses, although not a word about molasses was said in the dietary scale. They refused the molasses, and were then put on half f moist sugar, of a quality that he felt assured no one On the 3rd January the passengers convened a public meeting, Mr. G. Hawker in the chair, who explained that the object of the meeting was to investigate the cause of the wreck, and to reclaim the baggage of the passengers. Mr. Melville proposed the first resolution. He said he was one of the unfortunate passengers by the Schoenberg. He had been requested to attend, and he had accordingly done so, and begged to propose the first resolution, which was as follows t— " Resolved—That the conduct of the captain, the surgeon, and officers of the Schomberg was ungentlemanly, discourteous, and tyrannical, and grossly immoral." He might say, in reference to the ungentlemanly, discourteous, and tyrannical conduct of the captain, that there could be no doubt of it ; but he must add that there were some exceptiors amongst the offictrs—although he thought it would be better not then to specify them. He had suffered considerably from the con duct of the captain, for when he started he had £2,000 in his pocket, and he had then only £5OO, and had it not been that he carried the latter sum about his pJrson, he should, beyond all doubt, have landed in Melbourne a beggar. Mr. Norris cordially agreed with the resolution. The con duct of all the officers was bad, and he understood that a proper investigation would at once be instituted. (Hear.). Mr. Fenn said that after the resolution which bad been proposed he did expect that some information would be given— that some specific charge would have been made to substantiate the sweeping assertions it contained. He must say that it was un-English and unfair to make such charges without bringing forward something to support them. As far as they had gone, not one word of the resolution was proved. He stood there not as the friend of Captain Forbes, but as a friend of fair play, and it would, in his opinion, be a disgrace to the meeting and its chairman to pass this resolution unless better grounds for it were shown. Mr. Melville should have cited some instance of the tyranny or immorality of Captain Forbes, to support a resolution of this nature, and until some such case were brought forward, he for one should hold up his hand against the resolution. Mr. Gotkin would give one instance of the tyranny and discourteousness of the captain, and that was towards Mr, Melville. The captain entered Mr. Melville's cabin, and the latter gentleman complained that he was kept short of provi sions—in fact, half starved, and that the provisions were of a quality not fit for a dog. To this the captain replied that they were a set of dirty dogs and what they had was good enou4h. Mr. Greeve, jun., said that the partition separating the first and second intermediate classes hal been removed in spite of the petition to the contrary of the second class passengers, who, in consequence of its removal suffered considerable annoyance. rations a in that room would use. It was apparently the sweepings of loaf and moist sugar, and was more dirt than anything else. A number of the passengers Went to the purser and asked him to change the sugar. He said that he could net do it, that the sugar had been given out by order of the captain. He (Mr. Stockdale) said that it was most ungentlemanly to offer them such sugar as that. The purser said, "Do you call that bad sugar ?" The answer was " Yes ;" and he replied, "I'll b e —if I change it, for you or any body els," The man ner in which their meals were served up to them was more fitting for a parcel of pigs than for human beings. Their table requisites were reduced by breakage, until at length they were compelled to eat soup, pudding, and meat off the same plate, and to drink tea out of tins and tumblers. They had been obliged to eat their pudding off their plates tottonr upwards—(laughter)—and the tables were seldom washed, and were so dirty that, disgusted with their appearance, he had frequently set to and washed them himself. (Cheers and laughtdr.) Mr. Carpenfer moved, as an amendment to the resolution, the insertion of the words, "some of the officers." Mr. Melville seconded the amendment. Mr. Kelson said that it was a notorious fact that the captain of the Schomherg kept a woman in the second cabin, and the same thing with the doctor. It was every day, all day, and all night. When he went to the doctor for some medicine he saw this female sitting in his cabin. A Passenger : I have seen her in the bed. It was Stephen's Day. Mr. Kelson : When the steamer came to their rescue none of the passengers wero allowed to take any luggage with them. It was with great difficulty that he took his writing desk. The captain, however, came on board with one of these women in a small boat, and they had a lot of boxes, containing nearly all, if not the whole, of her au St luggage. Mr. Charles said that Miss had a similar indulgence allovred to her. She was the doctor's lady. Her luggage was taken away with the mail bags. The question was then put from the chair, and the amend ment declared to be carried. Mr. Gotkin moved the second resolution :—" Resolved, That it is not only the general impression of the passengers by the Schoenberg, but to the certain knowledge of many of those here assembled, that the loss of that fine ship can only be attributed to the gross negligence of the captain." The vessel at the commencement of the voyage had borne every rough weather, and had behaved well. When the intelligence was brought to the captain that the vessel was nearing the shore, why did he not come up ? No, he indulged too much in his own pleasure to care for the safety of the passengers. He did not want to say much against the captain, however, for they had been at variance on board the ship, but he felt that the public at large should be satisfied. When the captain was made aware of the dangerous position of the ship, he did cer tainly come up, and told the crew to put the ship in stays. His orders were obeyed, and one of the officers told him soon afterwards of the condition of the vessel, and he replied, " Let her go to h-1, and tell me when she is on the beach." If such were the words he used, was it not design rather than negligence which cast her ashore ? It might be asked why was ho at variance with the captain? It was because be (Mr. Gotkin) would not sanction his immoral conduct. He had, however, done much to screen him. When the cabin door was locked and the woman came down at half past four in the morning, he had endeavoured to break the lock of the door for her, but failed in the attempt. (Great laughter ) He had been abused by the person who had locked the door, and he stated to the captain what had happened, and he seemed satisfied with the way in which he acted. When the captain was informed by the third officer that the ship was approaching the shore, land had been seen at least an hour, if not more. The captain, who was in his cabin, however, told him to• get out of that, and not he bothering him. Mr. Stockdale fully coincided with the resolution. He was of opinion that the conduct of the captain from the outset had been reckless in the extreme. The first time he bad cause to find fault with him was when they slighted an iceberg in the Southern Ocean, when the captain ran the vessel so close that in his (Mr. Stockdale's) opinion the keel must have gone over a portion of it. On another occasion, on meeting with another vessel, he without any specific purpose, ran so close that he carried away the signal haul yards, (" Oh," and "Shame.") He afterwards made a joke of it. Previous to the vessel stranding he felt greatly alarmed, for the general impression among the passengers was that that they were in some danger, and even the doctor himself admitted that it was land they saw. Attempts were made to awaken the watch ; and he saw the trees even, and informed the captain of it, when he came on the fore castle with his night glass in his band. It was more than ten minutes after that that any preparation was made to 'bout ship," and the vessel, when she did strike, went on the reef in such a manner that it would be almost impossible to get her off again. Mr. Johnson, a mariner, said that if the anchor had been ready to drop when the vessel missed stays she might have been saved. The chain cable had been got up four or five days before they made the land, but it was never bent, nor was the anchor raised. The ship might easily have been saved after she missed stays, if the anchor had been let go. Mr. Williams said that when the vessel struck he was on the forecastle. He had been there from ten o'clock, and many of the passengers had seen land ahead. He told a man named Cavanagh to awaken the watch, who were asleep. Cavanagh (who was a passenger to Sydney) roared out that there was land ahead, and the first mate, who heard him, said it was only a cloud. He called out a second time, and they then stopped him. He was so convinced that the ship would strike, that he ran down to some friends of his in the second cabin, and told them to put on their clothes. He said that it was not his intention to go to bed, and be advised them not to do so either. He said that, in his opinion, the ship would be wilfully run against the beach. This impression arose from his want of confidence in the captain, and from his proceedings on the previous evening. Such was his impression then, and so it remained. The captain had once threatened to put him in irons because he looked at him ; he had no other excuse for doing so. He did look at him, and was not afraid to look at him now, nor was he afraid to state before him every word he had just uttered. He was not a nautical man, and knew nothing of navigation, but he stated his own impressions freely, and was ready at any time to re-assert them, and prove them, if that was of any use. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr Carpenter moved the third resolution : " That this meeting is of opinion that the contracts entered into between James Baines and Co., of Liverpool, and the passengers by the Schomberg, have not been fulfilled. " As to the pro• visions they had received they were not fit for use. The preserved potatoes were tolerable, but even they were such as any man on shore would repudiate. As to the pork— A Voice—They killed the pigs after they died. (Great laughter.) Mr. Carpenter—The salt pork was brought to table in such a state as to be quite disgusting, and even the captain's special favourites in the second cabin could not touch it. Mr. Connolly seconded the resolution. Mr. Charles said that they were led to believe that they were to have a bath-room, but bow had that promise been kept ? The bath-room was turned into a dungeon for a mad man. (A Voice: What made him mad?) He verily believed that he was made mad by the cruel conduct of the captain and his officers. Mr. Wharton said that he agreed with the resolution, for they had great cause to complain. Neither the proper quantity or quality of provisions had been served out to them. For instance, they had four ducks and four knuckles of ham to mess a number of the passengers, and frequently the pro visions were in such a condition that several passengers left the saloon and went without dinner, which, however, he could not afford to do. They often had soup that stank, and meat that was tainted. After the strong inducements which the Black Ball Line had held out to them, and the way in which they had been fulfilled, he felt that nothing too severe could be said against them. As to the provisions, the water supplied was scarcely drinkable, the Hock a n d M ose ll e ran out that they cap t ain wa h s ad a except retainedalways s f o o r r ,thw p o rk,i twice to p u soe s rn e kd ; . a couple of dor t e wo n a , st w hse h o ic hm h ade t a li tt e h, aa hac k .ndtlie sheArrsy pork." They had, in short, an infamous steward, and a blackguard cook—two very great evils on board a vessel. (Hear, and laughter.) Mr. Belson would add to what Mr. Wharton had said, that during the latter part of the voyage they had been fed on pork, although plenty of poultry remained. He would also remark that the chief steward on board the Scbomberg was a man who had been disgraced and dismissed from the James Baines. Mi. Carpenter said that, as another instance of the tyranny of the captain, he would state that he had taken two unfortu nate Irishmen out of their berths in the night, and confined them in the wheelhouse until four or five o'clock in the morn ing. Ho called them, at the same time, " A - Irish crew and set of rebels," and said that he " would be down on them." Mr. Stark said that another instance of tyranny on the part of the captain was, when one of the passengers brought forward some provisions to complain of their being short of weight, the captain, instead of hearing him, only told him " to go forward to his cabin." The passenger remonstrated, and the captain shoved him violently forward, and said, " Go down to your cabin, or I will kick you down." Mr. Stockdale said that he, too, could add something to support the resolution. That the condu ct of the captain and his officers had been immoral no one on board of the ship h a d the slightest doubt. There were two " lady,,passengers on board in the second cabin , one of them belo nging to his (Mr, Stockdale's) mess, No. 8. These females wer e k ept out of their cabins by the captain and his officers until very unsea sonable hours. The first occasion on which any dispute arose on the matter was when one of these ladies was kept in the captain's cabin until one o'clock in the morning. The second lady preferred the daylight, for she came back at four in the morning, and then only in her night dress. ("Oh !' and " Shame !") The door of her cabi n , h owever, was shut against her, and she did riot obtain entrance until a full exposure of her conduct had been made. If this was the conduct of those having under their charge the lives of hundreds of passengers, he would ask any one present if it was decent or proper, or whether, if they had a female, or even a male relative, coming out to the colonies, they would allow them to come on board a ship with which Captain Forbes had anything to do. (Hear.) The mess to which he belonged, No. 8, passed a resolution requesting the lady he had referred to to withdraw, as there were other ladies in it, and the result was that the next morning the captain came down, in a bully ing manner, black guar di n g them, an d th reaten i ng t h em w ith irons; and when they attempted to justify their conduct, he replied that lie would not believe the word of any man at the table. (Shame.) Mr. Gotkin spoke to him in very moderate terms, and was told that if he said another word he should be put in irons instanter. He was, however, informed, in reply, that if ho dared to carry out such a threat ho would, on his The resolution was then put and carried. Mr. Stockdale moved the fourth resolution—" That a depu tation be appointed to wait on his excellency the officer administering the government, praying that an investigation he held into the circumstances attending the loss of the Schomberg, and the property of the passengers." Mr. Kelson seconded this resolution, which Was carried unanimously. Mr. Miller moved—" That a vote of thank s b e g i ven to Captain Doran, of the steam ship the Queen, for his ready exertions to rescue the passengers ; and also to the passengers on board for their readiness to submit to inconvenience, to enable the passengers of the Schomberg to be forwarded to Melbourne." This was seconded by Mr. Adam, and carried. Dr. Milton moved a vote of thanks to the passengers of the Schoenberg who had taken the necessary eteps to bring this matter:fully before the public. Mr. M`Greger seconded this resolution, which was sup. ported by Mr. Porter, and also carried. A deputation was then appointed ; and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. THE DOCK COMMITTEE The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held yesterday, at the dock offices. Mr. C. Turner occupied the chair. The other members of the committee present were— Messrs. Mondell, Brocklebank, Shand, Evaos, Littledale, Barker, Henderson, Rathbone, Robinson, H. Gladstone, &c., &c. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Messrs. Allen and Fletcher, and also a memorial from the shipbuilders of the town, complaining of the want of graving dock accommodation, which occasioned a very serious loss to the shipowners of the port. This would, in some degree, bo remedied, by the accommodation that was about being given to them at 13irkenhead, and by the opening of the Queen's-dock, but still it was thought that further graving dock accommodation would be indispensable. The Chairman said there could be no doubt but that greater graving dock accommodation would be very desirable, but as their bill had been thrown out in the House of Commons, and as they had been tied down to apply the money to a certain way, they bad not any funds to apply to such purposes. Mr. Shand observed that the signature of one of the parties who had given evidence on the committee was attached to the memorial. He was glad to see that persons began to see rightly. He requested to know when the Queen's dock would be opened ? The officer replied very shortly. Mr. Shand : The opponents of the bill begin to see that the committee did not go for too much, now that they required graving dock accommodation. Mr. Evans : Graving dock accommodation was not asked for. It was the preposterous things asked for that caused the opposition. The Chairman: There are no funds available for giving graving dock accommodation, which pays the dock trust worse than any other. The motion then dropped. A letter was also read from Mr. Inman, requiring a berth for the Baltimore steamer in the Sandon graving dock, and pointing out the inconvenience that would be attendant thereon if they had not one found shortly. The meeting then separated, all the business having been disposed of,