The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-22 00:00:00

CLEVER CAPTURE OF TWO LONDON SAVE LLINTOB'S-MEN, IN LIVERPOOL. a eaer Oa Satur day afternoon, d e t ect i ve off i cer C ar l y l e , ma d e CaP una_ tune of t wo members of the London swell-mob, Will sha tte r peculia r c i rcumstances; and, as the deta i ls e b.. the the sa gac i ty of the officer was amply proved atthresult. O n S aturday, Carlyle observed the men l look e ReYal B ank. One of them had a memorandum setriela his hand, i n which he seemed to be making le n 8' Tne o fficer watched th em for some time, until at )3ruhgtil they W alked arm a n d arm i n t o a publicho u se in ''\viek-street. Presently they came out, again, and he r eplied ,them, saying, "do you know me ? " " No," they de who who are you ?"" My name is Carlyle, and lam too. t , i ' v e*” " What do you want with gentlemen like You e L al d the two individuals addressed. " Why, I think ram ie a Pair of thieves," replied the constable. " n ai J °4 smart for this," said the gentlemen. lust shall etty the station," retorted the officer, " "or I y fat?l'i_you in iro ns at once; so you h a d better wa lk ` l ' i sh to b uav e three men alo with me, and if ou dn They e exposed, go, and make no more noise about o. t t . lairee:.,_ut accordingly, and the following details before!and 7rneu the parties were brought up and examine 00,4 r Parker, at the police court, yesterday. A sum l 'areestt i rd s,_uf 4'lo was found on the prisoners, whos i , N nPos e d e. ' n ad given as John Smith and John INl'Donne et l 'Mlle to be fictitious). They were both dress sty-H ail • 8 -w th yle e informed the bench, (it ' thatthat on February last he cussrisoners visiting several banks in town, 'and „Nil e p,,eti, th e y spotted him," and escaped. `aen -41°13 hell we ) to defend Smith), th at p a r l?lied s „ bench for e so'rrie of the money found on nearirlio-er, for whom he said he appeared. 17ere said Perhaps the bench was not aware that psoe::; - ,.a charge p of robbery preferred against the park," Yolin;"'°r having stolen .e2O on the 15th March, from gentleman named Mr. Doran, who resides in the ; 41C1 WhO is a clerk at the office of Mr. A. Jones, Zershi, ; and therefore he hoped his Tatie,",,euld not •ke any order in reference to the a,', 1 , 1 , 11 e bench m a a cquiesced, and Mr. Campbell said "anee ° '",,,aefead the prisoner Smith under any circum- The T he ease was then proceeded with. stattoyieeieer said that when he took the prisoners to the 11 `121 0 ,,' ,e asked them where they came from, and eteQuell replied, from London, and that he was , a . t k 'u• n X-p s is i ln agent and lodged at Clement's Hotel Islin 'raith - "'s latter' statement was found to be correct. t he o B aid he lodged in Seymour-street, and on enquiry, s kee ti t i n eer said he found he had lodged there about a ',ag hat Itn a ge• Be had intercepted a telegraphic message arthe hotel, directed to M‘Donnell. It 4 -7alea - i' and Was to the following effect, from a person eeeel l e'"via, at Worcester:—"Can you send up Mrs "tni er next train ? Mr. C. called to-day.' The officer eonA,4B-exarained by Mr. Campbell, but his evidence only Peb r -44 , Th e d the fact that he had seen them at the banks in Satu rda y' and that they were at the Royal Bank on tocli e . a ,Y. The prisoner M'Donnell (who is a regular . 1.1,,,,q) Said he never saw Smith until he met him in geati v "l a few days ago. Mr. William Doran, the piing thati'llaan already alluded to as having been robbed, stated anti o , e ,h as general clerk in the office of Mr. M. A. Jones, LW." 15 th March he went (on a Saturday) to the Bank be 0 30 01 to get £7O. £5O of this was in gold (which Laid i i i„ s tit ° his trowsers pocket), and the remainder wes t tato by two notes of ten pound each, which he pu c3 at a to P A Tcet book, and that he deposited in his outside l'etrieb ; e ' e t• He saw the prisoner Smitb, and another Ke tici_n the bank, and they took F.rticular notice of him. Ariso 'ne name of Smith, but he could not recognise the batlC - er k`Donn e ll as t h e ot h er person . 'When he left the he the two persons followed him down Castle-street, and saw them watching him. He took out his book, and "i g l oo ""a notes a ll right, and then went into • Winch's 4 ittil er r° °lns, in South Castle-street, to get his et f a : a nd while standing looking at the bill gail e -e ; the two persons entered, and Smith stood . tho notes by the pocket where the book containing fer 4 e s was placed. The other person called . for a note; fo r he laid down a four-penny piece, but did wai the ilange, as both left very abruptly. On going into f the cae, to e tnla g room be missed the book and the money. a t he Prisoners were gone. In reply to Mr. Campbell, Aris or ,fe's swore, most positively, to the identity of the deya SMith, and witness went on to say that about 'arne aLt er that he was passing the Royal Ban . , wen he the V ni th coming out of the building, and ethen ro b v e e s o a d 7 \i'i' lle " t „ lt eas, be at once . jumped into a car and d Wh et 's Called a policeman, and they followed the car. t he Prisoner observed that he was followed, he leaped fatale the car, flung the driver a shilling, and ran up a theLreet near the railway. Witnes, ran one way aril i v n tteir o . A s a i rt another, thinking to catch the prisoner, u t b er ut, At a ., -an; h e caught a shoemaker. (Loud laughter.) gh tinelppeaajdreilttoliat one of the notes had been stopped, having e the bank amongst a sum of £6OO by Messrs. Vil l g onl i ' s h and Brandon but that firm could not tell from dini n theY received it. Mr. Winch, the owner of the Nden g n r o o ms mentioned, fully corroborated the tioa O Mr. Dor an , so f ar as it related to the transae tj-,nd gat too k place on hi s premises, and identified Smith e u all doubt, but he could not swear to M'Donnell, t a s s fretil",cond person who was at the shop. Mrs. 3 C , l D em on en eel , had 13 %- , len lent , B Hotel, Islington, stated that l konti,T l in the habit of stopping at her house for twelve about -- ;, -- Off and on. On the last occasion, he was there Smi th s Week, and was constantly visited by the prisoner tettb,' ;tit by no other person. He was in the habit of stat e g letters, which he used to read and then burn. He and that he was an agent, and was vino. to America, titte eh nl , jut said the same. That (Monday) morning her the 'ja r , discovered a valuable gold watch and chain under vtli eh , 4 , in the prisoner's (M'Donnell) room. Carlyle said h ad arrested the prisoners he asked M'Donnell if he t listl e all Y Watch, or other property, at the hotel ? and he p r i lo etly said r he had nothing bat his partmanteau. The ,",alel ti l e- , 4 °N7 denied that he said so, but admitted that the xr wne h "aa his property, and stated that be could tell ' l ,.r re e h6 oght it. Thiswas the evidence at present ready. enarD.„l4bell addressed the bench, contending that no !aid E: 81 : 1 been sustained against his client. Mr. Parker "seta, -e ase against M'Donnell was one of the could ° l 3 and he would remand him until further enquiry Sui• t e made about him. The charge against Smitu was meP O a r; and he should send him for trial. After the ae B . -° as bad been taken, Mr. Campbell applied on behalf laire-- Interesting looking young person, alleged to be the 4 44 O r f a til e Prisoner Smith, for an order to s'e him. .11e p ros to let the parties see each other in l 'eni r ; e 'enee of an officer was granted, and Carlyle a tten b ; ° . , s uperintend the interview, when the prisoner t° l ll4 ,`"I,T 4 to pass some documents to the female, but the •r, seized them. This led to a further application by liisetV l Pbell t o t h e b enc h, an d i n th e course of a short !nten t f,,ln which followed, Carlyle said the documents were 4 a hae,,, t o defeat the ends of justice, and he was very glad so ket cuti t i r ; 1303%9810n of them, as he was of opinion that P.'esent i a° i t aPortant would come of them. Here the lady r ecei ved " herself, and asked to be heard, and having 1014;4 Permission to do so, she proceeded in a very . ener- IPee ra t i, , u, and with much theatrical gesture, to deliver a 11 - iond e o ll ,; (ramount of which was that .. she had come from Y t .„ u Saturday, in consequence of a message received s nobs u at her husband was in custody. At the conclusio o n . %ta t : sPeech, Carlyle ordered her into the custody . _ t t,he 4„er,oncer, Who took her to the central station. Smith i ,. towi n -s uatid, Was then fully committed for trial. The fo t ,!ttle en g e is the sequel to this strange affair—lt may be f f ,V. that a short time since the representative of 4tanoti-wee.ll, Merchant, of this town, was robbed at the ae -- a eB 'v r corn exchange of upwards of £BOO, by some t a vf "° watched an hdeek.opportunity, and took the money ou Carlyle suspecting, perhaps, that the prisoners 6.f'ave sornethine• to do with th aair, set enuiry oot, and, as he stated, he will be able to trace the q rob st n ' to one or b oth of the prisoners. At present the affair 448 as above described. $U p ERSTITION & MURDER Ix trangest &RREST IN TAVERPOOL OF THE ACCUSE IRELAND t eti ° 4 ll th e Gth instant a case of gross superstition, which ted in the death of a boy, took place in Kilkenny. The ets boy about ten years of age, named Il at .were these. parents near Kilkenny, Ip ke tl eic Kirans, who A resicl ' ed tsith his et attacked with illness, but the nature of the disease is not at e d th e k. : Some of the neighbours persuaded the parents of ti o „un that he was " fairy struck !" There is a supersti n be cured only by a f .` 4 1 . 11 1 Ireland that this " malady' i ntbi l tY man ;"—that is, a man . w c h a o is supposed to have ``ln' e ,, l !ee over the invisible spirits, something like the ce,, e uleines" among the tribes of American Indians. In "fairy man" v 7 -13 iteligaequence of this recomtnendation, a an ght, and found in the person of one Michael Donovan, He was 4 Ignorant fellow about twenty-one years of age. p, 1 ) 11 ,,,,k i r, and on arriving at the house . he was shown the d ean lad, who was at the time in. artzeulo mortis. Donovan 1, 0 ,7,ed th a t " the fair i es ha d a h owit o f hi m, b ut that h e on t u aoon make them leave that!" He dragged the boy eal d of bed, and gave him a jug full of lie': Water to drink. The boy rejected this, Do at the moment in the last pangs of existence. on e Of the then declared that the fairies would not be put out tr er m uaY in this manner, and in order to chow , his power ktr - le " wee people," lie pulled the boy violatly by the v ar !, beat him about the head, and kicked him severely on ther e parts of the body. The boy died on the spot, - and 'lei e l i lv as no more about the matter, until the priest of the tn,A banrhood heard of the transaction, and he at once and the coroner, who held an inquest oft the body,. st bo n th e jury found a verdict of wilful murder against Ith ge "an. The "fairy man" had, in the meantime, 1. anded, and a reward was issued for his apprehension. Nerd con at aY, head constable Richard 2/Pilate, of the Irish et abnlary, arrested Donovan ou board the ship Bridge tte r l ', now in the River Mersey. and bound for America. tloth: d a sum of LI 45. in money, and a good store o t den:, and provisions on board. The accused at firs t rop , ( n ..that he was the pe rson c h arge d , an d sa i d h e was 214 M 1 -12ipperary but ultimat e ly h e con f esse d h e was t h e I he Willr. Wl:tale brou g h t hi m on shore, and this evening be transmitted to Ireland to answer the charge. THE EXTORTIONS OF GAS COMPANIES A LIGHT SWINDLE, BUT AN OUTRAGEOUS ONE A good deal of just indignation is expressed by the citizens of New York and Brooklyn, at the new swindle now practised by the Light Gas Companies, of these cities upon their customers. It seems that the Manhattan and the New York Gas Light Companies—whose legitimate business is to supply the city of New York with light—have within the past year, made it an imperative rule to demand from every one making appl:cation for their gas, a permanent deposit of money, which must be made before the gas will be furnished. This money varies in amount from 10 dols to 50 dols, according to the number of burners to be sup plied from any one metre. For an office the deposit must be 10 dols. For a dwelling-house, 25 dols, &c. A certi ficate of deposit is issued by the company in return for this advance. This certificate nears no interest ; is not allowed as an offset in value for any gas that may be con sumed by the holder of it; nor will it be redeemed until the owner, having paid the last gas bill, notifies to the com pany that he has no further need of the gas,—which, of course, will not be until he removes his residence from this city, where light is thus *axed. In short, these de posits are a new capital belonging to the people, but used for the benefit of the Gas Company, who obtain it with out any value given, and retain it without any compensa tion allowed. _ _ . . ..„.. The Brooklyn Gas-light Company, which is an exclu sive monopoly, and charges more for its gas than any othor company, has followed the example of the New York establishments, though more timidly, (for the legislature is still in session), and demands a deposit of five dollars in advance, before they will allow their gas to flow into any premises. The miserable excuse offered for this extortionate tax is that some consumers, on moving, leave their last bill unpaid, and that there is no other way to prevent this loss than by requiring from all a deposit of money in advance, as a security for final arrears ! That is to say, the com munity must be taxed for the purpose of insuring certain Gas Companies, whose business is exceedingly lucrative, against all bad debts, real or imaginary ! There is certainly neither right nor treason in this policy, and we doubt if there is any law in it. We have no means of knowing how many defaulting consumers there are that patronise these avaricious gas companies. There are, probably, but very few. But if these com panies really suspect that their customers are villains— disposed to cheat them out of their hard earnings—they can demand payment of their bills once a week, instead of once a month, or once a quarter. Or they may pre sent them every morning before breakfast, for the gas consumed the night previous ; and in case of non-payment they have the right to stop the flow of gas into the de faulter's premises, as they do now. But what legal right have they to compel.a loan of money from every one who deals with them, and at the same time refuse to pay interest for it ? No matter whether this loan be sor 500 dols, it is a heavy tax upon many poor but honest people; and is, in principle, exceedingly offensive, tyrannical and unjustifiable. We take it for granted that Gas Companies are char tered and protected by law as public conveniences; that their legitimate business is to furnish gas to any party who demands it, and will pay for it ;—that they have no right to refuse a supply under these circumstances. It is neither their business nor right to prejudge, as dishonest, everybody that applies for that merchandise ; requiring that, as a preliminary, to any transaction, a douceur, a " deposit," shall be made under the pretext of protecting them from possible thefts, and insuring them against imaginary losses ! If a Gas Company may do this law fully with its customers, why may not a water company, a bank, or even an omnibus driver in Broadway ? We cannot but characterise this scheme as a gross SWINDLE, and that one would never have been attempted if the business of making gas were not a monopoly. Public sentiment cannot tolerate it long. Our citizens are justly indignant about it ; but the only consolation offered by the monopolists is, that "we will return you your money when our transactions are closed with you.'' Most of us can do better with our money (when we have any) than loan it for life, without interest, to parties about whose responsibility nothing is known! We are informed that the amount of moneys already colkicted in this way by the New York and Brooklyn Gas Companies exceeds two million dollars I—capital enough to sulapty all the gas consumed in these cities. We desire to call the attention of the legislature, now in session at Albany, to this subject. We beg to submit to that honourable body—Have these gas companies any authority, by their charter, to borrow money, or extort money in this way ? Have they any authority to assume the functions of savings' banks, receiving long deposits of money, and issuing certificates for the same? If they hav then we would ask what securities are pledged fo - r the faithful redemption of these loans and certificates? And does not the interest which accrues on the loans, while in the possession of these monopolies, properly belong to the unwilling depositors ? We hope the legisla ture, before its adjournment, will look into this matter. And we hope that some of our citizens who have suffered this imposition (the newspapers have been passed by), will speedily test the justness of it by legal proceedings against the extortioners. THE HOTEL ROBBERIES AT MANCHESTER. The two Americans charged with plundering several hotels, who were apprehended for robberies at the Albion and Royal Hotels, at Manchester, were on Saturday re-examined before the Manchester magistrates, and there is now but little doubt that they are part of a gang of most accomplished cracks men, who have been travelling through Europe for some time past, practising their calling with no ordinary success. The name of the first prisoner is Oscar Kingston, styling himself a merchant from Philadelphia, who was charged with stealing £25 from Mr. Elden, a commercial traveller, sleeping at the Royal Hotel, Manchester, on Tuesday night. The other gave his name Daniel E. Branch, and he calls himself a lawyer from New York, and who was taken at the Adelpid Hotel, Liver pool, on Thursday, charged with having entered the bedrooms of four travellers, and robbed them, at the Albion Hotel, Man- chester, on Tuesday night, in addition to having atolen.a large quantity of foreign coins from the landlord's bedroom. When Oscar Kingston was taken, at the Royal Hotel, Man c'rester, he had managed to divest himself of everything which could lead to a suspicion of his calling, but, subsequently, two instruments were found concealed behind mats or oil cloths, between his bed room and that which had been robbed, which threw a light on the facility with which gentlemen's bedrooms could be entered and plundered without much disturbance. One of these is an instrument entirely of steel, i❑ the form of a mortising chisel, well adapted to cut out a panel, unscrew the hinges of a box, or prize open a door. The other is in the form of a pair of pliers, the two ends of which when pressed together form a barrel, well adapted to lay hold of the end of a key so as to turn it in the lock ; so that sup posing a door to be locked inside, and the key left in the lock, the person having these pliers in his possession would be able to turn the key from the outside, and on leaving the room could re-lock the door without the necessity of removing the key. Amongst the luggage of Branch was found a formidable instrument used by thieves in New York, and termed a "knuckle-duster." It is a thick, flat piece of metal, about three-quarters of a pound in weight, with holes at one of the edges, through which the four fingers of the hand can be passed. When put on for use, and the fingers clenched over it, the larger portion of the metal fills the fist, whilst the outer edge presents four rings of solid metal over the knuckles of the second joints of the fingers, calculated to give powerful effect to a blow struck by the wearer. Up to Saturday, infor mation had been received of twelve or fourteen hotel robberies, which the prisoners are supposed to have perpetrated—several of the most serious being in London and Paris. The prisoner Daniel E. Branch was first placed at the bar of the police court, to be re-examined on the charge of five robberies during Tuesday night at the Albion Hotel, Man chester ; but ultimately only one case was taken against him. Inspector Maybury and police constable Stanley described the apprehension of the prisoner at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. and the search of ,his luggage. They produced four shirts marked "M. de B." a small portmonnaie, with mother of pearl sides inlaid with silver, and a silk mantle. Mr. Michael de Burgin, said he had been lodging at the Albion Hotel, Manchester, and went to London on Thursday week, intending to return next day, and had consequently left his luggage behind. He did not return till after the robbery, when he misse4 all the articles produced. Ho could not swear to the mantle or purse, hecagse he had no private marks on them, but the shirts were his property, and had been taken from the Albion Hotel. They were bought from a celebrated sbirtinaker in Paris, who put his initials, "M. de B." on them. Other evidence was tendered, showing that the prisoner slept at the Albion on Tuesday night, and left very early next morning, with the other facts of a suspicious character detailed at the examination on Thursday. The magistrates, without taking much time to consider, decided to commit the prisoner for trial. Oscar Kingston was then placed at the bar, charged with entering a bedroom at the Royal aotel, Manchester, on the same night. Mr. Stanisland, solicitor, of Boston, Lincolnshire (who, it is said, has been robbed of a large sum recently at a hotel in London) conducted the case. Mr. Edden, of London, said he slept at the Royal Hotel on Tuesday night. About half-past two o'clock on Wedges.. day morning he was awoke by a person having entered his bedroom, and who he saw examining his clothes at the foot of the bed. It.was a man in drawers and Jersey vest. He asked him what he did there and the man bounded out of the room and witness after him, but the mars,escaped, and he could not say which way he took along the corridor. Notes to the value of £25 had been taken from ono of his pockets, which were afterwards found on the floor outside his door. Had locked his bedroom doer on going to bed and left the key in the door. evidence given on Wednesday, of the prisoner seen on the landing over Mr. Eddeu's room, after bbery, with the other suspicious circumstances, and the chisel and pliers spoken of above, was The heir the finding again repeated Mr. 11. S. Sowler, barrister, addressed the bench upon the case in favour of the prisoner, observing that the prosecutor THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1866 could not identify Kingston as the man in his bedroom when he awoke, and all the other circumstances were matters of mere suspicion. The bench said they would commit the prisoner for trial. Mr. Stanisland here said that he had himself been robbed while at an hotel in London of a large sum of money (6001.), and he had reason to believe that the prisoner was an accom plice in the robbery. Another man, connected with the prisoner, had just been captured on hoard the Persia, at Liverpool, when about to sail for New York, and would be taken to London for examination, a number of waiters from Morley's Hotel, London, who had bee❑ down at Liverpool to identify the prisoner, having to return to London, where it would be more convenient for that reason to hear the case. He wished the prisoner Kingston, therefore, to be remanded, and that the magistrates would give hint up to be taken to London. Mr. Maude said he would remand the prisoner; hut the best way to proceed would be to apply for a habeas corpus. The magistrates declined to consider a question as to bail at present. THE LOSS OF THE BARQUE BLAKE FEARFUL SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW. By the arrival of the ship Mercury, at Torbay, we have received the following report of the loss, and subsequent painful sufferings, of the crew of the barque Blake, of Liverpool The British barque Blake, Captain Edward Rudolf, sailed from Ship island harbour, Mississippi, with a cargo of pitch pine deals, bound to Cork for orders ; she sailed on the Bth of February, 1856, with a fire fair wind and good wea ther, and was in good trim and fine order, and every hopes of making a good and prosperous passage. The weather continued fine, and we made nice progress on our way, sighting Bermuda on the eighteenth day after leaving port, the ship tight and in fine order. On the 4th day of March the weather began to change. Commenced with rain y squally weather. sth, It hauled to S.W., blowing a strong gale and a heavy sea running. Finding the ship making a little water, the pumps were attended to every watch. 6th and 7th, The gale increasing, and sea running very high and crossed ; wind blowing from N.W. to W.N.W., causing the ship to labour heavily, and kept one pump constantly going, the ship running under double reefed main and close reefed fare topsails and foresail. Bth and 9th, Gale still continuing, and veering more to northward, with very heavy squalls, and a tremendous crossed sea, causing her to labour, and straining her awfully. Both pumps were kept constantly at work, ship running under close reefed main topsail and reefed foresail. Tried to forereach her under the two close reefed topsails, but not succeeding were ultimately obliged to run her ; found the ship making water fast, and it gaining upon us—there being three feet water in the hold. 10th and 11th, Gale still con- tinning, and squalls more violent, attended with hail and snow, and very cold ; the water gaining rapidly on the pumps, there being nine feet water in the hold. 12th, Blowing a terrific gale from the W.N.W., with a very heavy sea running, thirteen feet water in the hold, and men worn out havirg been at the pumps constantly for three days and nights, without sleeping or rest of any sort. The water was rising fast ; the ship getting heavy and difficult to steer ; at six p.m. she broached to and shipped a heavy sea, which carried away the man at the wheel, the binnacle, skylights, life and jolly boats and all the bulwarks. Took the foresail in and rounded her to under a close reefed main topsail, when the sheet parted, and the sail blew away. She lay very broad to the sea, which made a clean breach over her, carrying away the spars on deck, water casks, galley, long beat, topgallant forecastle and breaking in the poop, which washed away the cabin, and everything off deck. Got the main trysail set, and tried to get forward to cut away the foremast, but found it impossible for a soul to get there. The ship was now laying water-logged, it blowing a terrific gale, with very violent squalls, and the sea making a clean breach over her, all hands clinging to the weather rigging and in the maintop, everything being washed away from the maindeck. 13th, Blowing a terrific Ihurricane, with heavy squalls of hail, sleet and snow, from N.W., and fearfully cold. At eleven a.m., were struck with a terrific squall, and a tremendous sea at the same time, which capsized the ship, washing away seven men, poop deck, and bursting up the main deck, washed off all the batches, and carrying off every morsel of provisions there was on board the ship. The ship lay in this state about two hours, while the hurricane blew, the remainder of the crew nearly perishing with the piercing cold, when she carried away all he three lower masts at the heads, and bowsprit at the stem, and slowly righted. Having a list, it formed a little shelter from the cold under the weather-poop-bulwarks aft, where we were obliged to hold on, and make ourselves fast, to prevent being washed away by the sea that was constantly breaking over us. In this sad and miserable position we were obliged to remain until the 18th, the gale still continu ing and the sea breaking over us (lat. about 43 15 N., long. 38 30 W.), and unable to move from our position for fear of being washed away ; this being five days without a morsel of food or a drink of water, without rest, and constantly drenched by the sea. 19th, Gale and sea more moderate; at the risk of our lives attempted to get forward for water, and succeeded, but spoiled this cask of water in the attempt. This day one of the seamen died from cold, hunger, and fatigue; we put him overboard. In the afternoon the gale began to moderate ; got some pieces of canvass to lay upon, and all huddled together in a heap to keep ourselves warm. 20th, This being the seventh day without anything to eat, I caught a half-drowned rat, which I immedi:tely cut t.p and shared out to each one; it was a delicious morsel. The weather was still very rough and cold. 21st, The eighth day ; we were able to get forward, and get a small cask of water from the hold, and rolled it aft, and lashed it to the stauncheon—this being the only thing we had to depend upon. Ninth day, No sail could yet be discerned upon the horizon, all eyes being daily and nightly stretched to catch a glimpse of some friendly sail. Hunger now began to tell heavily upon us all, and its ravages were plainly discerned. Tenth day : What a joyous sound was heard this morning, as the watch, at daylight, cried " Sail, ho !" and two vessels were seen, and every heart leaped with joy, but only to meet a heavier disappointment. The two vessels passed—one to windward, and the other to leeward—without taking any notice of us. Ohl this disappointment was heartbreaking ; with starvation staring us in the face, and the cries and the moans of the men around me calling on their God to help them, with their glaring eyes and emaciated forms looking so pitifully towards me, as if I could assist them. The scene was awful and horrible, and cannot be described by pen ; and, in my situation, I had to hold up against every thing to sustain them, that they might not give way to it. Many times I had to set my heart as hard as iron, to bear up against their cries and appeals to me as to what they should do, when I could have laid down and given way to grief and sorrow far deeper than themselves. To see those men, once so strong and robust, and now nothing better than moving skeletons. To hear them smacking their lips and dreaming of being at some friendly table eating and erjoying themselves, as they would fall off into some of their dozing sleeps from fatigue, only to be awakened by the wash of a sea to behold their deplorable fate, which was frequent ; than their cries and moans,would be heart-rend ing. They by this time began to get flighty, from weak ness, and sores were breaking out all over us, from being constantly wet with salt water. In this way we con tinued until the 13th day, when we saw another vessel pass, and take no notice of us. The wailing and moaning upon this day are too awful to be described. Thirteen days without a morsel of fond of any kind to put to our lips. Another seaman died this day of starvation. We did not put him overboard, but reserved his corpse for our own use, and in this state we lingered far four days more, living off the body of our dead companion, but I must say very sparingly indeed, for the thoughts of it was almost as bad as death itself. Through these four awful days Ido not see how we ever lived, not having a dry place to lay, and the sea continually washing over us ; and as some of us would drop off in cur dozing state, dreaming of feasting, and be awakened in a few minutes by the wash of a sea, then, coming to a sense of their situation, and the dead body of their comrade swinging in the pale moonlight, the cries and moans of the men were appal ling. On Saturday, the 29th March, we bore the heaviest and greatest disappointment, a large ship, passing us about two miles to windward, and not seeing us, it being two early in the morning. This was the seventeenth day since we capsized, and nothing to eat but the dead body of our comrade, none of us hardly able to move from weakness and fatigue, and all our lives gone. I laid myself down when the ship passed us, shut my eyes, and gave up all hopes of ever seeing land again, and was about resigning myself to my fate, when, about two hours after, I heard cries of joy from all, of sail ho I sail ho ! repeated in such strain, as will. never be erased from my memory while on this earth. She proved to be the schooner Pigeon, Captain W. S. Knight, of St. Johns, Newfoundland. It blowing a strong gale from W.S.W. at the time, and a good sea on, they had some difficulty in removing us from the wreck, owing to our weak, miserable state. Our clothes, on being taken off us, were completely rotten, being so long wet; we could pick them all off by pieces. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF TILE CREW. SURVIVORS.—Wynne Dugan, mate, of Swansea; James Cosgrove, second mate, of Liverpool ; John George Rudolf, third mate, of Ilalifa; ; .john Petersen, seaman, of Trieste ; .foseph Barber, seam an ; of Genoa ; John Kieren, seaman, Of Germany; William Thomas, cook, of Halifax. WASHED ' OVERBOARD.—John Phillips, carpenter, of Dundee ; Thomas Leach, seaman, of Dublin ; Henry Eccleston, seaman, of New York; Joseph Thompson, seaman, of New York; John Crimmons, seaman, of New York ; William Brown, seaman, of New York; Charles o eck, seaman, of B a lti more; nathan Roberts, steward, of Liverpool. Jose Ariva, of Callao, and Richard Foss, of Bideford, Wales, died from fatigue 40 starvation. EDWARD RUDOLF, Master. Ship Mercury, off Start Point, 8 a.m., Friday, April 18th, 1856 Monday, April 7th.—Lat. 41.39, N; long. 41.50, W. spoke schooner Pigeon, Knight, from Lisbon for St. John's, N.F., short of water, &c., supplied her, and from Captain Rudolf obtained the report accompanying this, which he desired to be forwarded to England. THE CRIMEAN MILITARY ENQUIRY, The board of officers appointed to hear the defence of certain officers animadverted upon in the report of Sir J. M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch, re-assembled yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. The Earl of Lucan, drawing attention to a promise given by Colonel Tulloch on a former occasion to produce letters from the Government expressive of their approval of the report, asked whether Colonel Tulloch was prepared then to produce such ? Colonel Tulloch replied that he had two letters, one a public one which would be produced in the course of that day's proceedings ; and the other, a private one, from Lord Panmure to Sir J. M`Neill, which he could not of course produce without the sanction of Sir J. MNeill ; but its effect was that Lord Panmure considered the report moderate in its tone, and that he saw no objection to any part of it, except the mortality returns, which he considered were not necessary for the enquiry. Admiral Sir E. Lyons was then called by Lord Lucan, and said he never was applied to for sail cloth to cover the cavalry horses. He never heard an opinion expressed that it might have been available for that purpose. It would hava been utterly useless to put up canvass covering for horses on the plateau, even if they had had the means, which they had not. Major Connolly was next called and examined by Lord Lucan. He stated that he was brigade-major in the east, and he, as brigade-major to the heavy cavalry, put in a statement of the horses and men struck off the parade roll for commissariat duties. He_testified to the zeal of Lord Lucan in providing shelter for the horses to the greatest possible extent, and stated his opinion that there was no want of promptitude or in genuity displayed by any one of the officers in this respect. Colonel Lowe was recalled, and stated that, Lord Lucan had always encouraged officers to shelter their horses to the best of their ability. This closed Lord Lucan's case. The judge-advocate enquired whether Colonel Tulloch was then prepared to make his state ment. Colonel Tulloch said he could not do so until he had communicated with Sir J. M'Neille. The judge advocate intimated that Colonel Tulloch would not be permitted to call fresh evidence. The board, after a brief consultation, agreed to adjourn till Friday next. POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY. (BEFORE MR. C. B. T PARKER.) CHARGE OF FORGERY.—GiIes Hilton, and Owen Jones, were brought up on a charge of having committed forgery on the Adelphi Loan Bank, Renshaw-street. Mr. Bluck appeared for the prisoners. From the evidence of Mr. John Allison, and Mr. William Searle (the latter the inspector of the bank), it appeared that, on Monday week, Hilton made an application for a loan of £7, and amongst the names of his sureties was one Thomas Ballow. The sureties were accepted, and on Saturday two of them attended to sign the bill for Hilton, who then went out, saying he expected the third every moment. It appeared that he met the prisoner Jones in the street, and persuaded him to go in and sign the name of Barlow, telling him it was no harm. Mr. Searle, however, discovered the transaction. In reply to Mr. Bluck, he said lie did not give the money, in consequence of the discovery. Mr. Allison said he did not wish to punish the parties ; all he wanted was to show the public that such practices could not be passed over with impunity, and Therefore he desired to caution people against snch conduct. His Worship said it was very kind of Mr. Allison, but he would, at the same time, remand the prisoners for a week. Sinn. LIFTING.—Jane Price alias M'Loughlan, who bad been remanded on a charge of shop lifting, a full report of which appeared in our paper a few days ago, was brought up again. It was proved that some of the property found in her house had been stolen from Mr. Hassel's shop, Byrom Street, and that some of the hooks found also, had been stolen from Mr. O'Niell's, South John Street. The prisoner was com mitted for trial. OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.—A TO spect4blo looking young man named Elijah Hulse, late a clerk in the employment of Messrs. HaMead and Fletcher, timber merchants, was charged with obtaining £2 on a forged order. It appeared that on Saturday the prisoner presented an order to Mr. Stainiought, a publican residing in Windsor Street, and this order purported to be signed by Mr. Joseph Aimes, the chief clerk in Messrs. Halheads, The order was for £2, which was at once given, but in the course of the evening it was found that Mr. Aimee had not sent it. He proved that it was in the prisoner's handwriting. The pri soner, who said he intended to return the money this day, was sent for trial. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) ASSAULT UPON THE POLICE.—Peter M'Ardle was charged with assaulting the police. On Sunday morning, between twelve and one o'clock, the prisoner was seen attempting to break open the door of a brothel, in Crimp-street. He was given into custody, and on being conveyed to the bridewell, he resisted and behaved in a very violent manner. The defendant stated, that he only went to the house to take away his sister, who was therein confined, and as they refused to admit him, he attempted to get in by force. He was committed for two months' imprisonment, for assaulting the police. VIOLENT AsSAULT,—James M'Loughlin and William Gray, two dock labourers, were charged with having assaulted a poor old man, named Edward M'Cormick, in Chiseehale street. Police constable 13 saw the defendants fighting together in the street, and soon after he followed them into a court, where he found the defendant M'Loughlin beating the complainant with a poker. (The poker was produced, but was not identified by any person.) The poor old man, whose head was bandaged up, had evidently been most roughly handled by his assailants. Mr. Mansfield regretted that these Irish fights should be continually taking place in the town, thus bringing disgrace upon the name of Irishmen. He committed each of the prisoners fo o . ,• ll o i n n e s, m a onth child whose chain ROBBING A CHILD. —John Collins, scarcely reached the top of the bar, was placed in the dock on a charge of having stolen a pair of boots from a child about five years of age. The evidence in this case was, that the prisoner and another boy were seen with the child, when they asked him to let them take his shoes off, and they would clean them. The child let them take the boots, which were stolen, one of them being afterwards found on the little prisoner. The magistrates ordered him to be imprisoned for three days, and to be privately whipped. CLAIM FOR WAGES.—Henry A. Calhorn, captain of the ship Henry, was summoned by Maurice Vantright, for £l4, a balance of wages. The complainant stated that he shipped on board the vessel as a steward, to Mobile and back, at £4 lOs per month. When out, the defendant had sent him forward to do the work of a sailor. The captain, in his defence, stated that the man had been shipped as a steward, but after he had been on board, he discovered that he was perfectly useless, both as a steward and as a sailor, and his habits—he was a man of colour—were so filthy, that it was impossible to tolerate them. He also stated, that in the present day it was customary for persons to ship themselves as able-bodied sailors and as stewards, when they were perfectly incompetent to per form the duties of either; in fact, out of a crew of twenty-five, he had only eight who were of any service. In his opinion, that was the cause of so many ships being lost, and be only wished to protect himself and others from such characters. A witness was called, who corroborated the statement of the captain, and the magistrate exonerated the captain from all blame in reducing the man, and allowed him £4 168 4d as a balance of his wages. A VIOLENT ASSAULT.—Patrick Martin, a lad, was charged with throwing a stone at, and inflicting a severe blow on the right cheek of a dock labourer, named David M‘Gowan, of G r aven-street, on the previous evening. The complainant stated that he was standing at his door smoking his pipe, when he saw the defendant running up the street, with a large stone in his hand, which he instantly threw at him, and it struck him on the cheek, inflicting a most severe wound. The defendant pleaded that the complainant had insulted and assaulted his mother, and wounded his brother. Mr. Mansfield committed the boy to take his trial at the next sessions. THE WRECK OF THE BOOMERANG.—John Dickenson and Howard Blucker, two of the crew belonging to the late ship Boomerang, were again brought up by detective officer Sullivan, on a charge of having stolen a large quantity of property belonging to Mr. Thompson, the chief mate of the vessel. It appeared that all the crew and the passengers of this unfortunate vessel had left the wreck, with the exception of the mate and four others, whom it was supposed were lost, and the defendants tio thinking, disposed of all the mate's property, valued at about £lOO, and that of some of the others. This property had been traced to the possession of the prisoners, and some of it they had appropriated to their own use. The case was adjourned until this day for further evidence. ASSAULTI3.—Arthur M‘Guire, a labourer, was fined £5 for assaulting police constable 397 in the execution of his duty. In default of payment, three months' imprisonment.--7Thqmas Le 3 was imprisoned for the same period, for the same offence upon officer 755.—Michael Shantley was committed for two months for assaulting a young woman in Hotham-street, with out the slightest provocation, on Sunday evening. SUNDAY PERFORMANCES art ST. CrEORQE'S HALL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES, Sir,—There has been a deal of discussion for and against using St. George's-hall for sacred music on the Sunday. I would suggest that a middle course might be adopted that would probably give general satisfaction. It is this : 1,46 t a number: of Protestant clergymen—say Church of England, Independents, Wesleyan, and Baptists—under take that one of their ministers shall give an address of half-an-hour, and that the proceedings be opened with singing an hymn, and concluded with the Evening Hymn (which might be printed on slips, and distributed to those going in). One in a thousand would hardly be affected with the finest organ mania; further than the pleasing of the ear. Rut' who could hear two thousand or more of Gbd's voices, singing, in unision, His praise, led by our magnificent organ, without feeling the heart touched, and would leave that assembly better than he came.— Yours, &c., a J. SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER, AT MOSCOW, TO A DEPUTATION OF THE NOBLES We extract from the Constitutionne/ the following extract from a letter, dated Moscow, April 11: The Emperor has arrived quite unexpectedly at our city, accompanied by the Grand Dukes Constantine , Michael, and Nicholas, and a numerous staff. Their reception was most enthusiastic. This morning, the Emperor gave audiences to Count Zakrewski, the military governor, who was accompanied by deputations from the nobles, and from the civil and military authori ties. When all these persons had formed a circle round him, the Emperor addressed them as follows : "Gentlemen,—The war is over, for I ratified the treaty of peace, which had been signed at Paris, before I left St. Petersburg, Russia was able to defend herself for many years to come, and I believe that, no matter what forces were brought against her, she was invulnerable on her own territory. But I felt that it was my duty, in the real interests of the country, to lend an ear to proposals compa tible with the national honour. war is an abnormal state, and the greatest successes attained by it scarcely compensate for the evils it occasions. It had caused an interruption of the commercial relations of the empire with most of the States of Europe. I should certainly have carried it on, had not the voice of neighbouring States pronounced itself against the policy of late years. My father, of imperishable memory, had his reasons for acting as he did. I knew his views, and I adhere to them from my soul ; but the treaty of peace has obtained the objects which it was his ambition to obtain, and I prefer this means to war. Many of you, I am aware, regret that I have accepted the proposals made to me. It was my duty, as a man, and as the head of a great empire, either to reject or accept them frankly. I have honourably and conscientiously fulfilled that duty ; I am sure that allowances will be made for the difficult position in which I was placed, and that shortly every Devoted friend of Russia will render justice to my views and intentions for the welfare of the country. Supposing the fate of arms should have remained constantly favourable to us, as it has been in Asia, the empire would have exhausted its resources in keeping up large armies on different points, the soldiers of which would, in a great measure, be taken away from agriculture and labour. In the government of Moscow itself, many manufactories have been compelled to close. I prefer the real prosperity of the arts of peace to the vain glory of combats. I have thrown open the ports of Russia to the commerce of the world, and the frontiers to the free circulation of foreign produce. I wish henceforth that the greatest facility shall be afforded in our markets for the exchange of wares of every origin ; and of the raw materials and manufactures of our soils. Various projects will shortly be communicated to Ton, the object of which will be to give an impulse to home industry, and in which, I trust, every nobleman will take a share." TRADE REPORT.-MONDAY LIVERPOOL COTTON : The advices from the States, per Canada, to hand this morning, gave renewed impetus to the cotton market ; both the trade and speculators have operated freely, and prices are fully 13 per lb higher. The sales— including 40 Pernambuco, 74d to 8d ; 540 Bahia, 621 ; 260 Maranham. 60 to 7d ; 500 Egyptian, 6id to 10d ; 2.500 Surat, 4d to 413—are reported 20,000 bales, of which 10,000 are on speculation and for export. Sconn Pia IRON : Our market for warrants closes firm; buyers at 765, cash, but no sellers. SUGAR : There has been a better feeling in our market, with a more general demend from the trade, and rather stiffer prices realised; incl idinE, , Saturday's business, the sales consist of 100 hhds Barbadoes. at 40s to 44s ; 40 hhds Demerara, at 40s; 1,300 bags Madras, at 36s 6d to 363 ; 600 mats Mauritius, at 41s; 9,300 bags Manilla, at 26s 6d, in bond, with 1,750, all faults, at 39s 6d, duty paid ; 180 boxes Havana, at 303; 800 bags Pernams, at 26s ; 20 cases, 900 bags Macein, at 255; and 50 cases, 500 bags Bahia, at 23s 6d to 265, for brown, and 283 per cwt for white, in band. MOLASSES : 300 puns clayed Cuba, to arrive, are reported at 19s per cwt from the quay. Rum: The sales are confined to 40 puns Demerara, at previous rates. COFFEE: 50 bags Rio have brought 45s per cwt. TEA : A steady business doing, at forme; prices. RICE : We have had a larger business doing, the sales comprising 4,000 bogs Madras, at Bs, and 4,500 bags Bengal, at Si to;83 Gd for yellow cargo, and 93 9d per cwt for mid iling. NITRATE Or SODA : 190 tons, by auction, sold at 15s to 15s 3d per cwt, for 94 per cent refraction. CASTOR On.: We hive to report 100 cases at 51d per lb 130 cases, at 50s per cwt. TINCAL LINSEED : 700 bags Calcutta, at 50s to 53s per qr. JUTE : 500 bales, at Xll 15s to £l3 10s. LIMA WOOD : 20 tons, all faults, at £l6 12s 6d to £l6 15s. NICARAGUA WOOD : 30 tons, at £l2. Fusiric : 80 tons Rio Hache, at £5 10s per ton. CATTLE : We had a large supply of beef to-day, the general quality of which was very good. Prices must be quoted rather lower, and the demand not by any means so brisk as last week. Sheep were all cleared off at rather less money : the supply, although still small, being consithrably in excess of last market. Beasts, 2,050 ; sheep, 6,500. LONDON. The following sales are advertised for to-morrow:—Sugar, 400 hhds of West India, 17,000 bap of Mauritius, and 1,000 bags of Bengal; eaffee, 400 casks and .900 hags of plantation Ceylon, and 500 half-casks of Mocha ; rice, 1,400 bags ; Moongby pimento, 450 bags; cocoa, 300 bags; rum, 80 puncheons, Penang. SUGAR : There has been rather a large amount of busi ness done in sugar since Friday by private contract, at full improved confidence. to a shade advance, and the article has In other articles we are without transactions of import ance to report. OILS : Seal, pale, £53 ; yellow, £4B ; brown, £4O to £4l ; sperm, £122 to £124; cod, £43; South Sea, p a l e , £44 to £46 ; olive Gallipo li, £5l to £52 ; Spanish and Sicily, £4B to £ 49 ; cocoa nu t, 38s t o 39 s 6 d ; palm, 36 s 6d to 40s ; linseed, 29s 6d to 30s ; rape, pale, 48s to 503; brown, 46s to 475. TALLOW : The market is steady at the subjoined quota tions : —Town Tallow, 48s nett oash ; Petersburg Y.C. on the spot, 47s 3d to 47s 6d ; April tc, May, 47s ; May to June, 47s ; October to December, 46s 9d. BOROUGH Hop : Messrs. Pattenden and Smith report that the demand for fine hops continues unabated, with prioes the same as last week. CORN : The condition of the English wheat at market this morning was for the most part good, and the picked sam ples realised the full rates of Monday last, but other descrip tions were dull at that day's quotations. Choice qualities of foreign wheat maintained their value, bat secondary qualities were rather cheaper. No alteration was announced in the value of town made flour, although the question of lowering the top price was mooted, and may eventually take place. Country flour was unchanged. Barley was saleable, at fully at much money as before. Choice feed oats supported former prices, but secondary sorts were 6d to is cheaper. Beans and peas underwent no material change. Arrivals into London from April 14th to April 19th. Coast wise.—English : 2,921 qrs wheat, 1,465 qrs barley, 10,711 qrs malt, 164 qrs oats, 434 qrs beans, 66 qrs peas, 1.493 sacks flour. Scotch :54 qrs barley, 20 qrs malt. Irish : 165 qrs barley, 65 qrs malt, 7,077 qrs oats, Foreign : 9,875 qrs wheat, 3,240 qrs barley, 29,110 qrs oats, 1,750 qrs beans, 20 qrs peas, 1,7,9 brla, and 200 sacks flour. E. C. Railway: 3,606 qrs wheat, 1,387 qrs barley, 9,277 qrs malt, 951 qrs oats, 91 qrs beans, 16 qrs peas, 10,976 sacks flour. Gt. N. Railway : 493 qrs wheat, 5 qrs barley, 610 qrs malt, 108 qrs oats, 2 ; 535 sacks flour, Exported-382 qrs wheat, 449 qrs oats, 350 cwts flour, METROPOLITAN CATTLE : To-day's market was moderately supplied with beasts, which sold briskly, at an improvement in the quotations of 2d per 8 lbs. The supply of sheep was limited, and all kinds moved off freely at 4d per 8 lbs more money. Calves : 'I here was a small supply, at late prices. In lambs and pigs a moder ate business was transacted , at late rates. Beef, 3 s 41 to 4s 10d ; mutton, 4s to 5s 8d lamb, 63 to 7s 10d ; veal, 4s 2d to 5s 8d ; pork, 3s 61 to 4s 81 per S lb., to sink the offal. Beasts, 3,319, foreign, 370 ; sheep, 18,340 ; calves, 74, foreign, 24 ; pigs, 270.; xasTERDAT'S 14ARICErs BELFAST CORN : A small supply of wheat, oats, and oatmeal at farmers' market to-day, and prices same as on Friday last. 2n45., 130; 3rds, 125 ; 4tlts, Coax BUTTER: kat% 140; 112 ; sths) 941: EARLY RISING.—An "early rising association" has just been formed in the thriving and populous town of Middlesbro'. All the members are bound, under penalties, not to be bed after half-past five o'clock a.m. RETURN OF THE BEITIS4 ARKY.—The first instalment of the British army from the Crimea, consisting of 2,000 of the Guards, will be brought home in her Majesty's steam ship Himalaya. This noble ship will proceed to Balaklava, immediately after the review at Spithead, where she will be present with the members of the Eiouse of Commons. tIISSIAN PRISONERS.—The Russian prisoners of war, in number 326, who had been confined in the Lewes war prison, left that town on Friday morning, soon after seven o'clock, by special train for Portsmouth, for embarkation on board the Imperatrice. The Russian officers have addressed a letter to the authorities at Lewes, thanking the people of Lewes for their kindness and hospitality. THE ALLEGED POISONING NEAR LICHFIELD. Yesterday, the inquest on the body of Mrs. Catherine Ashmall, the wife of Mr. Joseph Ashmall, of Edrall, Burntwood, near Lichfield, was resumed before Mr. W. W. Ward, coroner for Staffordshire. It will be recollected that the enquiry had been directed by the Home Secretary, Sir George Grey, and had been adj )urned for the purpose of a post-mortem examination of the body being made by Dr. Monckton, of Rugeley, and for an analysis of the stomach and intestines by Professor Taylor. We have received from our own reporter a long account of the proceedings of yesterday, but it will be enough to men tion that the evidence of Dr. Monckton went to show that the appearances indicated biious diarrhma which might have ar isen either from natural from the administration of medicinal or poisonous drugs. Dr. Monckton added that the diffi culty in the case was that the:death had taken place more than twelve months ago, but poisoning was quite consis tent with the evidence he found. The deceased might have died from the effects of a narcotic poison. The coroner submitted to th) jury the report made by Profes sor Taylor of the analysis he had made of the stomach causes and intestines. The report of Professor Taylor was wound up thus arrived from the investigation is that from th The conclusion at which I have examination and the analysis there is no evidence that poison was the cause of death As no medi man saw sed before her death it is difficult to draw I correct conclusion respecting the cause o under which the deceased is said to have )ours d, but assuming that the illness is correctly described by the witness who was present, there is nothing in the symp toms and appearances inconsistent with the deceased having died from natural causes." It is right also to add, that it appeared from the evidence of the Rev. Mr. Poole, the incumbent of Burntwood, that the deceased was a delicate woman, and that he had always expected she would die suddenly. The rev. gentleman added that the decaased always spoke of her husban t with respect and affection. The coroner summed up the evidence to the jury, who returned a verdict that " the deceased diva trom natural causes." Immediately the verdict was de livered, loud cheers burst forth from the friends of Mr. Ashwall, who had assembled in considerable numbers in and around the court. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LONDON On Saturday morning, between the hours of one and two o'clock, a most destructive fire broke out on the extensive premises of Mr. Cole, Star and Garter Tavern, No. 125, High-street, Shereditch. The premises in ques tion are 100 feet long by 40 feet wide, facing the church at Shoreditch. Barton, the conductor of the Royal Society's Fire Escape, rescued Mr. and Mrs. Cole, a friend of the landlord's, the maid servant, and the wife of an Indian chief who was exhibited at the house. Mr. Cole brought down his cash-box, containing his money and other secu rities, amounting to several thousand pounds. In the con fusion. it got into the possession of some dishonest scoun drel, who broke open the box and emptied the contents. The flames soon reached the large wooden vats containing the spirits, and caused them to explode successively. Their contents materially increased the violence of the fire. The flames soon burst through the roof, and were seen to rise in the air, and the next moment the roof fell, carrying every floor with it. Considerable injury was done to the surrounding houses. The cause is at present unknown. The loss will fall on the Monarch, Phcenix, and other offices. The conduct of Barton, the fire-escape conductor, deserves especial attention. On this occasion he rescued all the inmates of the house (numbering five) at the risk of his own life, having again and again pene trated into the smoke and flame of the burning house. We learn that within the last ten mouths he has saved twenty seven lives. MURDER BY LAW TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIME*, Sit'----In looking over your publication of yesterday, I find an article headed " Murder by Law," and am per fectly astonished that any man that wishes to lay claim to the designation of " right thinking and sober-minded " could ever pen such a letter, and he or she has the weak ness to sigh the letter " Mercy." This is a darling attri bute of ay. great " I am," and this is his positive com mand, " He that shefideth man's bl god, by man shall his blood be shed," while in certain excepted cases he, when his ancient people were under theocracy, directed them to provide cities of refuge for those who, by misadventure, slew his brother. This law has never been abrogated ; and shall the puny finite creature—man--proceed to arraign the infinite perfections of Him " who is wise in council, and excellent in working." Sir, the "signs of the times " are truly appalling, and the " namby-pamby " sentiments put forth by men of letters sicken the heart and leads one to exclaim—(were we not supported by this truth, " The Lord reigrieth,”)—alas, my country I What, sir, is it these sentimental theorists want you and the legislature to do: neither more or less thin to abrogate this positive command—and for why and what? Because Bousfield chose to work himself up into a frenzy, and " because Caleraft was frightened by the roughs of Rent-street," and because murders multiply so fast around us that hanging will be more frequent, hecause " mothers monsters prove," and for lust and lustful purposes murder their own children. Is it for these and such like we are to abrogate a law which the experience of 6,000 years has proved necessary for the well-being of society? Away with such heart-sickening stuff; argument and common sense repudiate it as not fit even for the nursery, unless it be for crime, that hardened villians, who fear death, may be let. loose again upon society, to do the work of a Guise in France, a Stafford or a Lana, or a Castlereagh, or a Sidmouth wanted them for, and thus agents for the work of the English Star Chamber, which English centralisers and Popish Jesuits are striving hard to restore to England.—Yours, &c., JUSTICE TO SOCIETY On Monday, at Vienna, the shares of the Lombard- Venetian railroad were at 29 per cent. prelnium. A. great Vienna banker received orders on Friday to buy 2,000 shares for Paris houses, at 20 per cent., and on Saturday the premium was as high as 32 per cent. EXFCITTION OF A PRIF,ST.-At Piacenza, on April 8, a priest named Gregorio Franchi was hanged for murder,. The execution took place in the Boulevard Toricella. The bishop of the diocese and the clergy generally, made extraordinary efforts to obtain a commutation of the sentence, but without success. CORONER'S INCIURSTS.—The borough coroner held the following inquests on Saturday : —On the body of a child named Lloyd, six months old, that was smothered accideo tally in bed. Verdict accordingly. On the body of George M Gowan, aged 79, a shipkeeper, who was drowned on the night of the Bth of March, by falling into the Prince's. dock, from a ship. The body was rot found until it floated in the water, on Friday evening. Verdict, found drowned. It appeared from the statement of the police, that the un fortunate man was drunk at the time, and it was stated, also, that he had fallen into the docks on several previous occasions, whilst in a state of intoxication. He had also been hurt in the streets, whilst in the same state, and was several times in the Northern Hospital. On the body of Mary Bagly, 29 years of age, who died suddenly in the street. From the medical evidence it appeared that death resulted from natural causes. Verdict accordingly. On the body of John Armstrong, a warehousekeeper, in the employment of Messrs. Baring, Brothers, who was acci dentally killed on Thursday, in a warehouse in Redcross street, by a bale of cotton falling on him. Verdict, accidental death. THE FEMALE CAPITAL CONVICTS.—The execution of the two wretched young women now under sentence of death in Newgate, has been appointed by the sheriffs to be carried into effect on Monday next, the 28th instant, unless the Home Office authorities interpose by a commutation of sentence. A very affectinz memorial has been transmitted to Sir G. Grey on behalf of the prisoner Harris. The mate rial facts, of course, have been gleaned from herself, but there appears to be no doubt of their truthfulness, and may be thus summed up. Seduced at an early age by one who c t ha t l h d e re p n at h ty arn i jaue under to s i n tw h c u i l r d c u not m s t pay an ee anys— from his position should have been her protector—compelled to resort to the la!, to obtain the sm a ll p i ttance granted for thean a t supportea that t of longer, and that be would allow his goods to be sold and go to prison, rather than cor ei nue to pay the amount --all these circumstances, coupled with urgent pressure on the part of the autliorites of the workhouse to the nnhapp.y woman to leave the establishment with her children and support them herself, drove her to desperation, and out of actual love for her children, and, dreading the nature of their fate (both children being 9.a it appears cripples), when left to the mercy of strangers, she acknowledges having committed the dreadful crime of which she has been convicted, but being hardly aware, from dl3tress of mind and misery, of the nature of the act she was committing. It appears, from enquiries that have been mane, that the prisoner was always considered a peculiarly kind and and affectionate mother, and to the extent o f h er humble means she provided everything that was necessary for her children ; and during the period she and her children were in the Uxbridge Workhouse, she was, it appears, also noticed for her affection to her offspring. No answer has, . , it appears as yet been returned to th e memor i a l. Wi t h to ihe other prisoner, Celestina Sommer, it seems that Mr. Humphreys, the solicitor who conducted her defence, has embodied a numher of facts in a memorial, praying for a commutation of the capital punishment, on the ground that, from the state of her mind she was not a resposible• agent. The prisoner herself entirely appears to exhibit ai very different demeanour to that of her wretched companion in crime. She frequently alludes to the dreadful act coin witted by her, and she has stated upon some occlsions that her object in cutting her child's throat was that, being very much ill-treated by her husband on account of the child, she thought that by destroying it she should propitiate him, and induce him to treat her better in future, and she appears to have bad very little regard for the heinousness of the crime, or its probable consequences to herself.