The Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-16 00:00:00

BREACH OF PROMISE. A FICKLE RIFLEMAN. (Sittings at Nisi Prius at Westminster, before Mr. Baron BRAMWELL and a Common Jury.) TRICKER V. VAN HOLST. This was an action brought before the Court of Exchequer, on Monday, for breach of promise. The defendant pleaded that the plaintiff was not ready to marry him, that a reasonable time had not elapsed, and that the defendant had not refused to marry the plaintiff, as alleged, Mr. Edwin lames, ct.o., and lqr. Butler tigliy, mere counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Huddlesioni and Mr. T'owc,.ll, Wfre counsel;, fd7.' the . lkt;. E r iV!'in ,:rati,es, in stating the case to the jury, said the plaintiff was a young lady, 21 years of age, and the defendant was 28. The plaintiff's parents, who at one time resided in Essex, were dead, and she resided with her brother-in-law, a gentleman named Staines, in Mary lebone. The defendant was a gentleman well known in the musical world, both in London and Worcester, and the brothevin-law and defendant's father, who lived also in Marylelichie, *ere chi iritimdte Tice defendant was introduced to the plaintiff, a yoUng lady of eon siderah.le, aiircietieni in il;t6 fBeo, And hi bei.qnie enamoured of her. He made proposals to the young lady and also to the brother-in-law, and in consequence of his representations, and that his income was £5OO a year clear, he was accepted. The defendant suggested that the marriage should take place in about six weeks or two months from that time ; but the la.dy..anl her brother-in-law objected, and July was filed ilia t. It was Understood the marriage would Lice place in that month, and provision was niade for it. The defendant in January left for Worcester, and the parties corresponded on affectionate terms, the plaintiff considering herself the defendant's affianced bride. A number of letters passed between them, to some of which he (the learned counsel) would call their attention, The first was as follows :-=•• " 9, High-street, Worcester, Feb. 5, 1860. "My own dearest Fanny,—l devote to you the first leisure. moment I have had since my return to my native hearth-stones—(laughter) —and I feel assured your kind consideration will acquit me of anything approaching negligence in delaying till ndtto emits ; *lieii you re- Menthe' the eitin jay I remained in town, and the 6drige'q'tielit harass of compressing three days into two. i shall not attempt to express the sorrow I felt at leaving you at Euston-square on Thursday; my only consola tion was that the separation would only be temporary, and that you remained with those who would watch and guard over you and protect you. I disliked enessively, in the frame of mind I was Allen in, being invited to join the party of Miss Jay's girls. I would infinitely have pfeferred being alone to my own thoughts, which, being about you, how much much more agreeable would it have been ? However, I had as pleasant a ride as under the circumstances I could have expected. t hoped you remained the day with MY nidthei•; aild eorisdied her for the loss or her darliti (latigliter), or at least remained with her till her father's return. I suppose you are aware we hailed each other en route —our respective trains staying simultaneously at a railway station. I did not reach home that night till near ten, having, as you know, to make arrangements with a new school, which, however, does not promise overwhelmingly bril liant ; however, I must make the best of it, and not the worst. "I am fondly anticipating the pleasure of seeing you down here at Exeter with Mrs. Staines and my mother, Give my love to your sister, and ask her to make arrangements for accompanying you. I hope friend Rump (laughter) is recovering his temper now I am away. He has, I think, been lately suffering front the loss of it. Do not ask him to accompany you doini here, however much I admire hinie I hdlie my dear pet, you take care of yourself and avoid all draughts. Recollect there is another now bound up with your existence, for I should not survive you. (Laughter). "Excuse a very hasty !pit. - 43 you may imagine Ihave a great..,;ea . l. to do, and now, although Sunday, I nave got some friends dropped in who torment me sadly with their conversation, and force me very reluctantly to conclude, "neceife Elie tHilitande of my unalterable love arid atreatiorti gad believe me, dear Fanny, ever yours, d , M. V. IL" " Give my kindest remembrance to all friends." The next letter was dated February 12 i—= "My dear es t Fanny,—l eideedingly annoyed last Sunday td be ititeritipted by visitors while engaged in the pleasant task of writing to you; but the Motto of an Englishman's house being his castle does not, I believe, apply to bachelors, as one of the penalties of their posi tion is being at all times supposed to be open to visits, and to-day I Rai-6 rooni rdit, afid while f now write am almost distracted by the incessant conversation around. Your letter gave me more pleasure than I can express, although I am not disposed to forego the anti cipated happiness of seeing you and Carry here at Easter. I hope she will reconsider her decision, and favour me with her presence. " I have been so very much engaged that until yester day I had no time to get a ring to send you as a pledge of my love,; I shall send it by post to-morrow, so that you will receive it in a valentine on Tuesday. Write to me on that day to let me know if you receive it safely. Accept that ring, dearest Fanny, as an emblem of love for you without end. Should you, however, not like it, pray do not hesitate to let me know, as I will otherwise change it. In return, my dear, do send tne your portrait ; lam absolutely dying for it. (Laughter.) Send it without fail on Tuesday. I will send you *Mine as soon as my uniform as a rifleman is ready— (laughter) — as mp fancy suggests being taken in that dress--(renewed laughter.) We are to have what I think is a good style of dress —the dark green, trimmed Vrith a scarlet, and a shako. (Laughter.) Do not think tot a moment, from my remarks in my former note about. Rump, that I fancy you still give him any encouragement ; my dearest Fanny, I have the greatest confidence in your tonstant and although a great dis tance separates tts, yet I-fervently trust that will make no diftetthiselti our loyalty and faith to each other." The letter concluded with, "Believe me, et sweetest p ever yours, lovingly, I L v. R.„ _ A letter of the 19th of .Febniary contained lowinthe fol g : "I trust the time, however, is not far distant when I shall have no necessity to console myself with a likeness a n d th a t my kisses may meet with a reciprocal feeling from the object of my heart's dearest affection. lam glad you like the ring ; I thought it would just have fitted your third finger, from the size you told me when in town. Perhaps the second finger will do equally to remind you of the solemn promises of constancy we matle. I trust you are not forgetting, and in the gaie ties of London being oblivious of the existence of him whose very soul is dependent upon your love. Do not keep me long without the pleasure of a letter ; I read and re-read them a thousand times, and in each time vivify your angelic presence. Each time I read them it is with renewed pleasure. Give my love to Carry. and be assured of the devotion of ever yours, M. V. II." In July, when the defendant came to London to attend the volunteer review by her Majesty, in Hyde Park, be called on the plaintiff, and saw the dresses that had been provided for the wedding ; and there was every reason to believe that the wedding would have taken place as intended, but such, however, was not to be. On the sth of August the plaintiff received the following letter : " My dear Miss Fricker,—My long silence must, I think, have caused you to surmise that which I feel my painful duty now to ask, viz., that cur correspondence should cease, as the only means of averting a future which I feel could not be otherwise than an unhappy one. Our characters are too dissimilar, the incompati bility of our temperaments too great for any other results to ensue, and I can hardly expect that you could readily relinquish the gaieties of London for an exile in a dull provincial town—(laughter,)—where with a knowledge of having imposed so great a sacrifice on the part of my wife I could never be happy, and under these circumstances I must request You to absolve me from a promise, the keeping of which I feel convinced would he fatal to the happiness of us both, even were I in a position (as regards pecuniary means) to do so. I can never cease regretting the pre cipitation which induced the engagement last Christmas —a precipitation for which, however, I was not only to blame —and I cannot express the sincere sorrow I feel, that through having misconstrued the feelings I enter tained towards you I have placed you in a position far from that which your goodness and amiability deserve. " Had time permitted, I should have endeavoured to have seen you on my return from Margate, but my attendance having been urgently required here, I was unable to do more than pass from one station to another. Believe me when I state most emphatically that I neither write this at the dictation of any one, or under the in fluence of any other attachment. I have but one motive, which is to avoid placing us both in a false position, beyond the power of recall. " Dear Fanny, farewell. Forgive me the pain I caused you, and if in after years we ever meet again, may you have found some one happier than I am, and in whose tenderness you will have forgotten all of me save one kind remembrance like that which shall never cease cherishing towards you. "Permit me to subscribe myself your friend and well wisher. " MATTHIAS VON HOLST." The plaintiff, much surprised naturally at receiving such a letter, handed it to her brother-in-law, and he replied in indignant terms. After some remarks from the learned counsel on the general nature of the case, he called Mr. Staines, the brother-in-law. He deposed to the defendant's proposing to bins for his sister-in-law, and that he had a clear incom e of £5OO per annum. He was accordingly accepted, and some of the wedding dresses were purchased. In July, when the plaintiff called, he saw them. He had provided them. Cross-examined—The defendant had been acquainted with the plaintiff about a fortnight before he proposed to her. lie did not know till within the last three days that the defendant was involved in pecuniary difficulties. Re-examined—He was induced to accept him for his . . sister-in-law, on his statement that be was in the enjoy- THE CANADA FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE. merit of a clear income of £5OO a year. By the Judge—How often had they seen each other ? (Sittings in Banco, before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn Witness—Almost every day the fortnight before he and Justices Crompton, Hill, and Blackburn.) proposed. In the matter of John Anderson, a prisoner in the By the Judge—ln what way ? gaol of Toronto, tipo'ht Lewis Alexis Chamerouzow, Witness—At his father's house. Secretary to the British and Foreign Antt:Slatery By the Judge—You accepted the proposal at once ? Society. Witness--Yes. I saw she was very much attached Mr. Edwin James, with whom was Mr. Flood and to him. Mr. Gordon Allen, applied to their lordships, in the The defendant's letters were then put in and read. Court of Queen's Bench yesterday, to issue a writ of This was the piaintiffes a ise. habeas corpus ad subjicicenduni, to be directed to the Mr. liiiddlestone siiijniitted there was no breach. The Governor of Canada, or to the gaoler and sheriffs of defendant had written to be absolved from his contract; Tortinto; to bring tip fhellcld:' of John Anderson. The and hat received no tinsW4: learned counsel moved noon the followidg afildatit of The Jury returned a tefdidt for the plaintiff— Lewis Alexis Chaff eriinicieff of No. 27, NeW Broad= • damages, X 25, street, in the City . ofA ()nada, secretary to the Anti- Slavery Society, who saith " That Ist. John And erson , o f the city of oron o, in Her Majesty's province of Caucedy, a British subject domiciled there, now is, as I verily believe, illegally detained in the criminal gaol of the' said city there against his will, not having been legally accused or charged with, or legally tried or sentenced, of the com mission of any crime, or of any offence against or recog nised bs> the latts to &fee in the said province, or in any other pait of her Majesty's dominions,: of riot being otherwicii3 rails to be imprisoned or detained tinder or by virtue of any sitcli late. 2nd. I Verily beliel'e that unless a peremptory writ of habeas iorplis shall imme diately issue by this honourable court, the life d the said John Anderson is exposed to the greatest and immediate danger." The learned counsel contended at great length that this court had the power of issuing this prerogative writ of the Croton to Canada ; and reminded the court that it Was easentiallY tiecessaiy they slioitid decide the ease that da - Y, oriel fer th ifrit to go out by to:ittorrow's mail (should they decide in issiiitig it!'; of itt alt prob'ability the man's life will be sacrificed. What he tv., j 6 e:slted fOr was, a common-law right belonging to every English man illegally detained within her Majesty's dominions. It was sworn in the affidavit that Anderson was illegally detained; that he was innocent of any crime known to the law of England ; that he had been tried by no tri bunal; and that he was a British subject resident in her Majesty's dottlinitins; It was trite there had been an appeal on the Or; of Andergeti to the loeal Odd for a habeas Zorpici, which irfas I:einied ; 'gild kethitted to prison; but that was no argument against the issuing St the writ. If the courts at Westminster had concurrent jurisdiction in the issuing of habeas corpus, a fortiori it had in that of the colonial courts. Canada was merely a colony of the Crown of England, and was subjected to have these writs issued, He submitted that the Crown, hating power of exercising that authority, it could not be abridged tit implitation tit the institution of another edith ba+ing 6thicnifenl The Lord Chief jitoice eitliresded M Nlith reerence to the difficulty of enforcing the order of tilit court in.ganada. if the Colirt of Queen's Bench of England had noPower to enforce the eiecntion of the Writ, to hint there was some doubts about their power of issuing it. Mr. Edwin James said he thought there W6iild be no more difficulty in executing the writ in Canada than there had been in instances which he cited, where writs of this kind had been executed in Jersey, the Isle of Man, and St. Helena, Their lordships retired to consider their judgment. After all abserite of about a quarter of an hour, their lordships tetnrned into eddrti and The Lord Chief Jtistim dkii•Yeted the judgittent. lie said—We have considered this matter, and the result of our aniiotis deliberation is that we think the Writ ought to issue. We are at the same time sensible of the inconvenience that dray res Ult fro& the e±ercise of such a jiirisdidtion. *e are quite sensible that it might be felt to be inconsistent with that higher degree of colonial independence, both legislatittlY and judicially, which has happily been carried with effect in modern times. At the same time in estab lishing a local judicial authority, the legislature has. not gone so far as expressly to abridge any jurisdiction which the courts in Westminster-hall might possess with reference to the issuing of writs of habeas corpus to any of her Majesty's dominions; and we find that the existence of that jurisdiction in these courts has been asserted from the earliest time, and exercised clown to the latest period, We have) it on the authority of Lord Coke, Lord Mansfield, .131ack stone, and Bacon's abridgement, that these writs have been issued and are to be issued into all the dominions of the Crown of England, wherever a sub ject of the Crown is illegally imprisoned and kept in custody not only have this authority on the dicta of eminent judges and the assertions of text writers, but the practical application of the doctrine from the earliest periods down to modern times. The more remarkable cases are the instal - tees of writs having been issued into the island of Jersey, the Isle Of Man, and St. Helena, and all these in very modern times. Not only hate they been issued as a matter of authority, but they hate been harried into effect as a matter of practice, and that even where there was an independent local judi cature and legislature, the writ of habeas corpus has been issued in those dominions of the Crown. We feel that nothing short of legislative enactment can deprive this court of such a jurisdiction, and warrant us in omitting to put into effect when callcd upon to do so for the personal liberty of the subject. It may be that the legislature had thought proper, in its wisdom, to leave concurrent jurisdiction between this court and the colonial courts, as Mr. James had properly pointed out, with reference to the issuing of various writs of habeas corpus. We, however, can only act upon the authorities that have been brought before us, and we feel that we should not be doing our duty if we withheld the writ. The writ must therefore go. The writ was accordingly ordered to issue THE REV. MR. BELLEIrS DIVORCE CASE PAINTING A WHITE GIRL TO MAKE HER A SLAVE. One day last week a gentleman of this city hailed an up country boat, the Cora Anderson, as she was passing Greenville, Miss., whither he had gone on business, to return home. Shortly after being under way our Natchez friend obierved a pensive -looking little girl, aged about nine or ten years, whose black hair and yellowish brown skin would indicate that she was a mulattress. There was something about her that in terested him, and he inquired of the captain concerning her. lie was informed that she was a slave belonging to a man on board, whom the captain pointed out, who said he was taking her to New Oilcans to sell her, he having bought her for 0160 in North-Western Missouri on the borders. Our Natchez friend eyed the little girl and the border man so closely as to attract the attention of the latter, with whom he was soon engaged in con versation concerning the child, interrogating him in such manner as to elicit answers not always agreeing with previous statements, and evidently alarming him. This was suspicious. The little girl was taken aside and examined. She said she was an orphan, and had been taken from an asylum in New York by this man; that her hair was light and her complexion brunette ; that this man told her he was going to the South with her, where, as his adopted child, she would have a good home ; that black hair was preferred in the South, and prettier than hers, and that he had taken her to a barber and bad her hair dyed black. Ile also told her that if she would allow him to put some yellow dye on her skin that her complexion would become much whiter in a few days, and that he had put the stain on. On hearing these statements, the girl was taken charge of by the captain, and potash, soap and water being applied, the dyes were taken off, and the light hair and light complexion brought to light. The pretended master was seized by the excited passen gers, who were about to deal with hint summarily, but it was finally arranged to lock him up in the stateroom until the boat should land. In the meantime the boat had passed St. Joseph, and when a few miles below that town, rounded to to take on wood. A t t hi s po i nt, i how or in what manner s not known , the b or d er ruffian escaped from the boat, leaving his baggage behind. The girl was taken by the captain to New . Orleans. and placed in one of the orphan asylums ta that city.— Natchez (Miss.) Free-trader, Dec. 12. NOTTINGHAM CHAMBER CV COMMERCE AND THE FRENCH TREATY AND COTTON SUPtLY.—A. meeting of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday, for the purpose of receiving the reports of the pro ceeded to Paris in connection with the Commercial on the whol e delegates from the lace and hosiery trades, who Treaty. The reports of the delegates were favourable, and strong hopes were expressed that th e results of th e t rea ty wou ld b e highly favourable to the Nottingham t ra d e . DARING GAROTTE ROBBERY AT WORCESTER. — An extraordinary robbery of this description took place at Worcester on Friday night, the thieves succeeding in carrying off a booty of £220, and they have remained undiscovered. The victim is Mr. Fleming, son of a hay and corn dealer, of Worcester, who gives the follow ing account of the transaction. He states that he had been to the neighbourhood of Dudley to collect accounts for his father, and returned to Worcester by a train on the West Midl and Railway, arriving there at forty minutes past eight, p.m. On leaving the Worcester station which is in the suburbs of the city, he had scarcely got out of the station yard when he was set upon by three men, one of whom, coming behind him unawares, threw his arm round his neck, clasping him tightly, while he placed the other hand over his mouth and nose, almost suffocating him. One of his accom plices then ripped open Mr. Fleming's coat and asked for a knife, which was handed t o him by the third man, and with which he cut off the left-hand trousers pocket of their victim, which contained a purse with Bank of England notes and gold and silver, making up together a sum of £220 15s. Mr. Fleming was then thrown violently to the ground, blood flowing from his mouth and nostrils, and he states that had the men held him much longer he should have been suffocated. He was found lying on the ground by a boy who gave the alarm, and a cab being obtained, he was carried to the police station, and soon recovered. A sum of Os. 2d. was found in the road, but the remainder of the .£220 15s. was carried off by the thieves. The spot where the outrage was committed was within a stone's throw of the railway station and of houses. Cabs and cabmen are always waiting at the station, and at about this time there were two trains about being despatched. The police have made no capture, though it is said that parties are suspected. . ~~' ~.. BELLEW V. BELLEW AND EDEN. This was a suit instituted in the Divorce Court yester day, before Sir Cresswell Cresswell, juOge ordinary, by the Rev. Sohn Sheppgrd Montagu Bellew (the popular pfeaeher arid lecturer) wgOist is wife Eva Maria; fttr a diisoliltiOti of niitrit* liy terton cif i ei, achiltety with the co-respondent, the Hon. Ashley Eden, a gentle.: man holding an important office in the civil service in India. The wife appeared to the petition, but put in no plea. The co-respondent appeared and put in a plea, not den'ing the adultery, but submitting that he ought not to be condemned in the costs of these pro ceedings, he having paid the damages and costs in an action brought against him by the petitioner in India for aim. doh: Dr. Travers Twiss and Tristraid appeared fdr the rev. petitioner; Dr. Swahy appeared for the ea-responz dent. The wife was not represented. It appeared from the statement s of the learned counsel and the documentary evidence of proceedings in India, that Mr. Bellew was married to his wife, Eva Maria Money, hut at the time of the marriage a widow, of the name of Palmer, at St. Saviour's Church, Southwark, on the 27th of March, 1847. They continued to live happily together until 1851, there being three children of the matriage. In 1851 Mr. Bellew was appointed to' a blidplaibby Ctilmltta he _ _ then proceeded with his wife and fariiilY, and Continued to reside there, and cultivated the acquaintance of the principal official European residents. The lion. Ashley Eden had come over to India on the Civil Service, and was received on most friendly terms by Mr. Bellew, Vito continued to live happily with his wife until 1853, when by means of an intercepted letter, Mr. Bellew dis covered that the cd-respondent had been carrying on an adulterous intercotirso pith his tcife for some ifitib; arid on inquiries being niadb; it thiS aS6eitairied that was hi the habit of goliig td Mr, hdenig td bail Mm to tiffin, and the mere Seen to occupy the same riiattress; arid ..othei. c:iiilenCe;, left no doubt oft their guilt. Mrs. Bellew alisCOricled on the diSco,rery, and was ascertained td be lining with i.fir: Eden: 11fr 13,11ew brought an action against him on the civil' side of the Supreme Court of Bengal for crim. con., and recovered 5,000 rupees damages and costs. Mr. Eden paid, Mrs. Bellew remaining with him. Mr. Bellew then insti tuted a suit on the ecclesiastical side of the Supreme Court, and in 1855 obtained a decree, a Inemed et Moro. lie then returned to Vngland, and commenced proceed= ings in the house of Lords for a dissolution of his Man: 'gage, but was compelled to drop theru i outing to the ertorntous eXpenst, and no* mile to this court. `the official copies of the judgments and fornier evidence were read, showing continuous adriltery, and that Mrs. Bellew had since given birth td two children by Mr. sclen: • Aft: Ho Solicitor General for Bengal, Who hap 4 pened to be in this country, was examined, and deposed that he was on terms of intimacy with Mr. Bellew in 1 852, Ho appeared to live happily with his wife, but in 1853 there was a marked change in her manner. The witness deposed to having seen Mrs. Bellew after she left her home, residing with Mr. Eden, and that acts of adultery had taken place. The affidavits of Gholam Hossien and Mr. William Wilson Linton were then read. The former of these, a native servant of the petitioner, proved that Mr. Eden went to visit his mistress in a clandestine manner; and the latter, the petitlottees Calcutta solicitor, deposed to finding the respondents cohabiting together in a tent. Dr. Twiss did not pre s s for c os t s . This was the case. The Judge granted a decree nisi for dissolution, with out costs. IMPORTANT INSURANCE CASE. -_- The following interesting point Was decided by the Court of Queen's Bench on Monday SINCLAIR (ADMINISTRATRIX) v. THE MARINE PASSENGERS ASSURANCE COMPANY, This was a special case, which came before the Court last term, and was argued by Mr. Macnamara and Mr. Matthew for the plaintiff, and Mr. Geary for the com pany. The question was whether death from " sunstroke" came within the terms of the policy which had been effected by the plaintiff's late husband with the Marine Assurance Company. The deceased, by the terms of the policy, was insured against any personal injury from, or by reason, or in consequence of any acci.• dent which should happen to him on any ocean, sea, river, or lake. For the plaintiff it was contended that death from sunstroke was an accident. On the part of the defendants it was contended that death from sun stroke was not a death caused by accident, but by a disease, which though rare in this country, was well known in India and other tropical climates, and was brought on by excessive heat, and more frequently by the direct heat of the sun. The Court took time to consider the point raised, and, to-day, The Lord Chief Justice delivered judgment in favour of the defendants, stating that it was the opinion of the Court that a sunstroke was not an accident within the meaning of the policy. Judgment for the defendants. SHIPMENTS OF YARNS AND COTTONS TO THE EAST. According to some tables prepared by Mr. Samuel Mendel, of Manchester, of the exports of plain cottons and yarns to the East during the last eight years, the general movements of our trade in that region have been as follows :—Of plain cottons out shipments tti Calcutt a e xp e ri en c e d a gradual increase from 1853 to 1859 of 110 per cent. Last year, however, there was a falling off of more than 20 per cent., the totals having been 3 65,232,911 yards, against 459,722,963 in 1859. To Bombay the increase of shipments from 1853 to 1859 was 135 per cent., while last year there was a reaction of more than 21 per cent., the totals being 209,238,779 yards, against 265,567,788 yards in 1859. To Hong long the shipments last year were much in excess of those of any former period, the total being 70,723,201 yards, showing an increase of more than 30 per cent. on 1859, and 214 per cent. since 1853. To Shanghai the shipments last year were 107.970, 231 yards, showing a re. s uction of about a half per cent. from those of 1859, and an increase of 51 per cent. since 1853. With regard to yarns, the movements have been less striking and satisfactory. To Calcutta the exports last year were 16,392,4511 b, against 20,019,4851 b in 1859, and 15,259,07 , lb in 1853 ; to Bombay they were only 4,076,2121 h, against 12,896,8751 h in 1859, and 7,760,960115 in 1853. To Hong Kong they were 7, 6 36,6121 b, against 9,565,261 th in 1859, and 5,991,2531 b in 1853; and to Shanghai 18,0001 b, against 55,1001 b in 1859, and 68,0301 b in 1853. Matthew Phibbs has been fully :committed for trial at the next assiAes for the county of Sligo, on a charge of having murdered the O'Callaglians and the girl Mooney on the night of the 7th or the morning of the Bth inst. TRADE AND MONEY IN PARIS . — Comrnercial difficul ties have not diminished within the last week ; they have increased. The measure which the Bank of France found it necessary to adopt to stop the increasing drain of gold—that is, the raising of the rate of discount to 7 per cent.—has undoubtedly tended to limit commercial operations. It is true that the shopkeepers of Paris who deal in articles of luxury have on the occasion of the new year found their receipts increase, but the general merchants have not profited by this expenditure, which from custom has become almost unavoidable. Money is scarce, and everybody appears to feel it, and contracts his expenditure as much as possible. Should the same causes produce similar results elsewhere, the demand for French produce, it is feared, will become more limited.—Paris Letter. THE LONDON AND 'NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY AND THE LATE ACCIDENTS.—The following arrangements have been made by the company in carrying into execu tion the decision of the directors to sl , .orten the speed of their expresses during the continuance of the frost. With respect to the extra tine allowed for mail and fast trains, it may be stated that the following down traits, viz., 7.25 a.m. Iri s h d a y ma il t ra i n , from London ; 8.25 p.m., Irish night mail, and the 9 p.m. auxiliary night mail, have been allowed 15 minutes additional from Euston to Stafford, and 15 minutes additional from Stafford to Holyhead. The 9.0 a.m. Scotch day mail from London; the 8.40 p.m. Scotch limited mail, and a a ( d I d th i t t o o a n t cr ( o n n m s E t Euston d t t o o Stafford, orlo a T m i l l the 9.15 p.m. S co t c h auxiliary mail, have 15 minutes 9 e 151. minutes n a l t m e express from London has an additional 10 minutes from Euston to Rugby ; and the 5.15 p.m. express from London, 15 minutes from Euston t o Bi rm i ngham. The 2.4.5 p.m. express and the 5.0 P.m. expr ess f rom L ondon have 20 minutes additional from Euston to Stafford, and 10 minutes front Stafford to Liverpool, and M anc h ester. The up mail and express trains nave an equal addi tional allowance of time for the purpose of securing the utmost possible amount of safety. Appended to the instructions specially issued to ail the working officers of the line is that they are "to exercise the greatest vigilance and render all the assistance they can in taking the necessary precautions for the safe working of the line ;" and the particular "attention of platelayers is called to rule 341 in the book of rules and regulations, which requires them closely to inspect the rails, keys, kc., and to see that the gauge is correct and the road in good condition." It is thus very evident that the London and North-Western executive are doing their utmost to - • • ••• prevent accident. THE DAILY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1861. THE WEATHER AND THE LONDON PARKS. GRAND SHAM FIGHT WITH FIREWORKS ON THE SERPENTINE. The frost having again set in with great severity, the tee upon the various ornamental waters in the different par . is has dgain obtained not only the solidity it possessed last week, bdt has how a much finer and smoother surface than it previously possessed. The consequence was that many thousand persons, including ladies and gentlemen, members of the Skating Club, and other parties of almost every grade, travelled from an early hour until late at night to the different fittrhc. The original intention was to have had a grand in6iisfef fait upon the Serpentine, but this, to some extent; Was atinficlo&,tl ; owing to the ice not being thonght sufficiently` Wet; from the rapid that lasted for tWO days and tiithts) to hear' saieti hOrse-riding (.51' itheaties;: nevertheless, an imitieligo nieniber Of amalknients - took place, tents and marquees being eietted iCe, which were used for dancing. There was likewise agieaf number of refreshment tents for the accommodation of sliders and skaters. The spirit of the fair, however, did not fairly commence until nine o'clock at night, when an e±traordinary spectacle took place. Upwards of 6,000 persons - , Marry With lighted links and skates upon their feet, took up their positions at the east end, and formed theMselies into processions, being heeded by a brass baud, whi The gias'l've left behind its," "kold Robin Hood was a feristet goint," , and' Other Tively airs. After going through setefarl _ f6ats; the parties skated back to about midway of the bridge to:the Albert-gate and the Royal Humane Society's Receiving house, the skaters and sliders taking their positions in a form d le militaire. One side was termed the attacking party, and the other the defensive party. The first perform ante was a disehafge of 11 maroons, which, as they c - Ipiodel; made such a singtdat noise on the ice that many petgonf frwr a distanee thagirred that the Royal powder magazine in that jerk he'd - exploded ; =din' less than a quarter of an hour after' t'h'e stallite Was fired several thousand persons hastened through the diWeient gates of the park, and the foot promenade became crowded. A. regular cannonading at once commenced from the south side, which was carried out by chasseres being thrown alight across the river towards the north shore; these *lt followed by a continuous shower of rockets, Roman candles; dtbeestriallet description of fireworks, which lasted for several Vining this time the defensive party kept up a similar fire, aEir ibe' tight of the dis charged fireworks threw a brilliant reffeetion ofet Knightsbridge, Brompton, and Belgravia. This sham fighi had a grand effect, but unfortunately was attended with great danger, not only to the various persons taking part in the performances, but also to the great number of spedtdtoit upon the banks. Shortly after the affair had commenced; a man named William Morris, of No. 50, CharlWOOd- - stieet, Pimlico, was shot in the eye by one of the ffreWorirs i dni ;la's so setionsly learned that after being taken to the' A*/ /lament' Sobiety's Receiving house, Mr. Young,•the secretary; and Mt, Williams, advised his rernoial to St. George's Hospital, Which Was Gene; and he iethaihs ih a state of great suffering. The menibeis of the Skating Club mustered in full force during the day, and trev; mrounded` by 7,000 other skaters and sliders, to their great incontenienee. The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's hotSt in this park during Sunday night stood at 26, being 6 degrees of frost. At nine o'clock on Monday morning the mercury rose to only 28. At noon the glass stood at the Bathe point, as was the case at eight o'clock the same night. The barometer indexed 29.76. The wind was east, the weather rather hazy, and the ice was described at a later bow as being very dangerous where the fire works were being discharged, Three ether persons, about ten o'clock, were also severely damaged by the fireworks exploding in their faces. Matches of all de scriptions; from the "Express Train," the "Pedlar's acre" game ; and several exciting and graceful exercises were gone through by a party consisting of 23 ladies. Their evolutions elicited great applause from the spectators. IRELAND NO LONGER A ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRY. When the census was taken in 1841 the population of Ireland was found to be 8,175,124. In 1851 the popula tion was but 6,551,970, showing the extraordinary de crease of 1,623,154 souls. The terrible famine years, with their deadly consequences of fever, cholera, dysentery, and starvation, show 414,343 persons in the decade between 1841 and 1851. Brit more than a million, believing at last that Ireland was a doomed country, emigrated to Canada, the United States, and Australia, Happily, famine no longer thins our people, and in the census returns of 1861 no such dismal entry will be found as " deaths from starvation." But, while the diminu-, tion of the population has lessened the number of marriages and births, emigration still continues steadily to diminish the population of Ireland. Thus, by the returns from the Irish ports it appears that from the Ist of May, 1851, to the Ist of Sep tember, 1860, no less than 1,140,982 emigrants went from Ireland ; and in the first eight months of 1860 62,185 persons emigrated, being an excess of 2,776 on the same period of 1859. Adding together the losses by death and emigration, and allowing for the ordinary estimate of births, we find that the population was less by 20,293 on the 31st of March, 1860, than at the same period of the preceding year. There will be a corres ponding diminution on the 31st of next March, and the population of Ireland on the first of this month could not have been more than 5,950,000. From various causes, emigration has chiefly taken place among the Roman Catholic portion of the people, and the number of those who profess the Roman creed has annually diminished. On the fairest calculation it would appear that of the 5,950,000, not more than 3,4.50,000 are Roman Catholic, the remaining 2,500,000 being Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, &c., all classed under the generic name Protestant. It is not with any satisfaction that we record the diminution of our people, no matter what their creed. We believe that had the same encouragement been given to Irish manufac ture which has been bestowed on English—had not a miserable and wicked system of centralisation been carried out by the partisans of a selfish monopoly, had it not been laid by statesmen as a pet theory, to bo carried out unflinchingly in practice, that Ireland was fitted to be but the graz ing farm of England—those who have left this country would have remained here. Still, as a diminution has taken place, it is most important that an accurate return should be made of the numbers who remain. By a wise provision, it was directed by Parliament that the new census should con tain a return of " religious profession." The census papers will be left at every dwelling in a few days, and we know that the most strenuous efforts are being made to make it appear that the Roman Catholic creed retains the majority, which it was said to possess in 1841. It is the duty of every Protestant house holder to see personally to the strict accuracy of the return, and to take care that the religious creed of all the members of his household is stated with fidelity to truth. We continually hear it asserted, as an argument for the most unlimited conces sion, that Ireland is a Roman Catholic country. The stern figures of our annual statistics prove that this is not the case. A great proportion of the property, the wealth, and the intelligence of Ireland is Protestant; and we think that the census returns, if honestly answered, will show that the number of professors of the two creeds are more equal than they are generally supposed to be.—lrish. Times. ADDITIONAL CURATES' AID SOCIETY. The. Man chester auxiliary association of the Additional Curates' Aid Society, held its annual meeting in the Assembly Room of the Free-trade Hall, Manchester, on Monday last. The Hon. Algernon Egerton, M.P., presided, and there were also present a considerable number of the clergy, as well as many of the lay friends of the society. The chairman advocated the claims of the society, which he described as belonging to.no party in the church, either high or low. The report stated that £3,580 was paid from the society for additional religious aid in the diocese of Manchester, whilst the subscriptions from the same diocese only amounted to £2,399, and an earnest appeal was made for help for an association whose "sole object" was to "send the living Church of Christ to the mass of the people." WHISKY DUTIES IN THE NORTH.—The Inverness Courier says :—" There has been a great falling off in the revenue from duties upon whisky manufactured in the Highlands. In one district, containing about eight distilleries, the decrease in actual money amounts to £2,200; but this does not nearly represent the decrease in the consumption of whisky. Had the consumption continued at the same rate as before the new duty was imposed the revenue should have been increased by 25 per cent. Instead of this there is the large deficit quoted above, which, considering the increased rate of duty, really represents a loss to the Government of upwards of X 8,560 in the half year, in one district, and that a small one, in respect to the quantity of whisky produced. If other districts show similar results, it is impossible that the Chancellor of the Exchequer can recommend Par liament to maintain the present enormous duty upon whisky." DEATH OF RANDLE WILDRAIIAM, EsQ., OF RODE HALL. CHESHIRE.—The death of this gentleman, on Saturday last, two days after the completion of his 88th Year, will be heard of throughout the county of Chester with much regret. He was the senior magistrate of the count), and was greatly regarded and honoured for his sterling worth and benevolence of character, as well as for his high mental endox‘rnants and intellectual culture. The deceased gentleman was the younger brother of the late Earl of Skelmersdale, and uncle to the Countess of Derby. He was the great uncle of Lord Egerton, of Tatton, and father of Col. Wilbraham, the adjutant general of this district. Notwithstanding his great age, Mr. Wilbraham to a recent period took his full part in public affairs as chairman of the bench of magistrates for his district, and of the Congleton board of guardians, as well as high steward of the borough of Congleton, which office he held for 62 years. The intelligence of his death, though long expected, has been received in the town of Congleton with every mark of deep lamen tation. The interment is to take place at Astbury Church on Saturday next, and will be as private as may be, consistently with the numerous connections of the deceased. THE DUNDRY MURDER. On Monday the two prisoners, Charles and Matthc Wedmore, the former a deserter from the Marine Artillery and the latter a Bristol quay lumpLr, were brought before the magistrates at Bourton, charged with the brutal murder of their aunt and the attempt to mur der their uncle, George and Sarah Waterman, aged persons, who had been living in a solitary cottage at. Dundry. The magistrates' court was well attended during the day by a large number of the respectable in habitants of the neighbourhood, by whom the aged pair wef6 titth esteemed. The woman, Harriett Francis, at whose hotist the fellows stayed on the night after the murder, and with lihOrN it seems some of the stolen property had been left, was appr22.2endtd on the charge of having it in her possession, but she Ls since been liberated. Acting Serjeant Morse deposed to apprehending Charles Wedmore on the Hotwell-road, Bristol, after the latter had fired a pistol at him. Prisoner then dropped fhe toktol and a bunch of keys, now produced. They had tden ghotfit to Waterman, and identified by _ _ his property. IKanS , of the keys fitted locks in Weterniaii's house. fTe prodded fWo diets with blood on them, Whith' he redeived from Mr. Charles grads, of Dundry, on Thursdafthoinifig last. Waterman identified one of the sticks as the one With which he was struck. Witness produced a pair of tongs hs fthind in Water man's house. There was blood upon them. The Rev. C. W. M. Boutfiower, incumbent of Dundry, said he went to Waterman's house immediately after the murder, and saw the tongs before-mentioned in the lifteten. They had blood and grey hairs on them. The life Sarah Waterman had grey hair. She was 73 and *ateiinan Silas fei;zotre, Of the trisfol potice , furce, said he assisted in appreheiiding . th'e pi'lonte, and found a pistol in his pocket. The pistol tita4 londr.d• and capped. Waterman identified the pistol as his pfofeiq. Jeremiah Jordan, a beerhouse-keeper, of Towet"-/aite, Bristol, stated that on the morning of Thursday last the primers called at his house, had some beer, and asked him to piss ti a watch for them. The watch was pawned, and Ultimately came into the possession of Police erortetahte' Caleoft, of the Bristol police-force, who now Produced it, and inicl Waterman had identified it as his property. William Lovell said-1 xrii a hatchet, of Dtmdry. George Waterman came to my home eh. Wednesday evening, between seven and eight. He had ti hMidker chief around his head, and blood all over it. I Went with him directly to his house. I was obliged to take him by the hand, and help him as best I could. I went i'ff, at seeping the old man back, and I saw Sarah Waterman Plitt Oar her right side on the floor. She was not then dead; hat was speechless. There was blood all around on the floe, tad on het fate and hands. I saw a pair of tongs lying about sift feet from the fire place. Had seen two men at Batt's public-Kauto the same evening, at about seven. One of them I tan identify as Charles Wedmore. I raised Sarah Water man from the ground, and put her in the armchair. I think she knew me, but could not speak. Mr. Shorland said—l am a surgeon residing at Dundry. On Wednesday evening last I was called to .the house of George Waterfaau, and arrived there at a quarter before nine. On entering the cottage the first thing that attracted my attention was a large pool of blood near the sitting room door. I then saw Sarah Waterman in a chair, supported by two women. Her dress was completely satu rated With blood. She had a considerable swelling over the orbit of the right eye which completely closed up that organ. I considered her labouring from compression of the brain. She was not then dead, but insensible. She died in about half an hour. Yesterday I made a post-mortem examina tion in conjunction with Mr. Dowling. We found a fracture of the skull 14 inches in extent, and running in two directions. There was a great quantity of extrava sated blood diffused over the brain, and that was the cause of death. The blow must have been given by a blunt instrument. I think the injuries were caused by the sticks produced. I should imagine that four blows had been . given. I found the external appearance of George Waterman's head worse than that of his wife's. There are six injuries on his head. He is going on favourably at present, but alarming symptoms may arise. I can't say he is out of danger, but as far as I can judge I hate reason to believe he may get over it. The prisoners were then formally committed for trial. They are strong muscular fellows, and were apparently insensible of the peril in which they now stand. They appeared quite indifferent to all the proceedings, and although they were undefended by a professional man, declined to ask the witnesses any question. They were at the conclusion of the hearing cautioned in the usual manner, and when asked if they had anything to say, respectively replied in the negative. They were com mitted on both charges. The adjourned inquest was resumed yesterday. THE MURDER NEAR MONAGHAN. The inquest on the bodies of James and Robert Shaw, the unfortunate men who were found murdered in their house, midway betweed Glasslough and Monaghan, on the morning of the 4th instant, was resumed by Charles Waddell, Esq., coroner, at the house of Mr. Leeper, situated close to the scene of the murder. The inquest had been adjourned from Saturday last to give the police time to prosecute their search for evidence against the perpetrators of the dreadful crime, and the result is that three persons are now in custody charged with having taken part in it—William Shaw, brother of the deceased ; Thomas M'Niece, their nephew, who lived in the house with William Shaw ; and Richard Jackson, the only evidence as yet against whom is, that one of the wit nesses believes it was his voice he heard calling at the door of the deceased on the night of the 24th ultimo. The police have had considerable difficulty in assigning a motive for a murder the like of which has rarely been committed in this country. The murdered men were between forty and fifty years of age. They had con siderable wealth, and hoarded it with the greatest care. They lived entirely alone, and though they had three good farms—two held under Lord Cremorne and the other under Colonel Leslie, M.P., on which they were murdered—besides horses, cows, and farm stock, they employed no servant, but performed all the work them selves, even, it is said, to milking the cows and making the butter. The house in which they lived was allowed to fall into disrepair, and no money that could possibly be avoided was spent for their own personal comfort or convenience. Their bed was a miserable one, placed in the same room with two horses. Yet it appears that they were well liked by their neighbours and acquaint ances. One of them, Robert Shaw, was a blacksmith, but had ceased for some years to work at that trade. He had considerable skill in the treatment of horses. His assistance was frequently sought by the neigh bouring farmers, who did not hesitate to summon him at any hour of the night, and it is thought that, on the night when he met his death, he came to the door—believing that some one's cattle had taken ill, and that he was wanted to see them. The deceased men were in the habit of lending out small sums of money at high rates of interest, and it was first conjectured that, as James Shaw had lately obtained decrees against some of his debtors, his untimely end was to be attri buted to their act; but further investigation has led to the general belief that the murder has been the result of a family quarrel. The evidence of Mr. Her shows that the deceased and two of the prisoners, their brother and nephew, lived on the worst possible terms, and it further appeared that the former had stated that they appre hended violence from Mqiiece. Mr. Stuart, County Inspector, Mr. M'Kilvey, Sub-Inspector, and the con stabulary, are actively conducting inquiries into this mysterious murder, and Mr. Singleton, R.M., has also arrived in the district, and was present at the inquest.— Belfast News Letter. CHRISTIAN MEMORIAL AT CAWNPORE.—At the last monthly (January) meeting of the members of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts the Rev. Prebendary Hawkins, 8.D., read a letter recently received from the Bishop of Calcutta, informing the society that the arrangements which he had been autho rised to make with the Indian Government for the transfer of Christ Church, Cawnpore, to the society for a mission church, had been brought to a satisfactory termination. Christ Church is a spacious building, recently restored, in the immediate vicinity of the terrible massacre of 1857, and it is proposed to erect within it a suitable memorial to the missionaries and catechists who were slaughtered in the mutiny. CHURCH-RATE CONTEST AT KIEKHAM.—An exciting church-rate contest took place on Monday, at Kirkham. A poll having been demanded, there was an immense amount of effort put forth between the Roman Catholics and Dissenters on the one part, and the Church party on the other ; and there was some " tight" voting at the poll, which continued until noon, when the Church party obtained the ascendant, and the rate (10. in the pound), was found at four o'clock to be confirmed by a majority of 198 against 156. The rate was formally protested against, on the ground that the proceedings at the vestry meeting which sought to impose the rate in the first instance were illegal ; and counsel's opinion is to be obtained in reference to the matter. A SNIPE CAUGHT IN A MANCHESTER WAREHOUSE. —A remarkable proof of the severity of the weather in this district was afforded lately by the capture of a fine jack snipe in the very heart of Manchester—in fact, within one of our best-known warehouses. The bird was discovered by Mr. Leason, the head of the Silesian room at the warehouse of Messrs. Bannerman and Sons, York-street, on the ground at the bottom of one of the " wells " or lighting shafts in the very centre of the warehouse. It had fallen there exhausted after a long flight, or had dropped there in search of food, and then was unable to scale the height necessary for regaining its freedom. The poor strayer was lively enough after being fed ; but we believe that its captor intends to com memorate the fact of the intense frost by having the bird stuffed. THE COAL TRADE.—The quantity of coal and coke exported from the various coal ports in the United Kingdom during the month of December, 1860, was, o f coal, 399,482 tons, and of coke, 18,336 tons. Of t his quantity, which is very much smaller than that export ed during the preceding month, Liverpool exported 20,735 tons of cool. The total quantity of coal and coke shipped during the month from the various coal ports to London and other ports in the United Kingdom was 661,630 tons of coal, 5,609 tons of coke, and 377 tons of culm. Of this quantity, which likewise shows a failing off when compared with the returns for the preceding month, none was sent from Liverpool. THE LATE FATAL OCCURRENCE ON THE LONDON & NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY, On Monday the Deputy-Coroner for the Western Division of Middlesex (Mr. G. S. Brent), and the jury empanelled to investigate the causes which led to the extraordinary accident. which took place on the line of the London and North-Western Railway on the London side of the Primrose-hill tunnel, on the night of Friday, the 4th inst.., causing the death of Mr. William Michael George Kelly, it f4..st-elass passenger, and injury to other persons, re-assembled lir one of the committee-rooms of the Euston station, for the pterpese of further prosecut ing their inquiry. The Deputy-Coroner, in opening the proceedings, said he had consulted with Mr. Wakley, and they had deemed it advisable to communicate with the Board of Trade ; sold the result was that an inspection had been made by Colc'a4 Yollaud, who would probably deliver a report to the jury. Ne felt pleasure in stating that. the deceased gentleman had . Iml-red his life for £l,OOO. After some delay Colonel Yollatid arrived, and said he attended mainly for the purpose of inqufft, '.,ire had examined the broken carriages and the scene of the fatal disaster, and after he had heard all the evidence to be adduced it might cause him to modify or alter the opinion he had already formed. Several witnesses were then examined, who stated that they had examined the carriages at various stations previous to the accident and &mid nothing out of order. James Upperton, the policeman alluded to, deposed that he was on duty on the main down line signal, near Primrose-hill tunnel, on Friday night, the 4th instant, and saw the Liverpool and Manchester express coming in shortly after eleven, at from fifteen to twenty miles an hour. When it got abotit sixty yards from the tunnel he heard a grating noise, and directly afterwards he saw the carriages turned over on the line, and he ran away for assistance. By Colonel Yolland—Did not see any wheel mount the rail, ttor did he see any wheel drop. The whole train cable through the points in front of the tunnel perfectly safe", Mathew Maling said,-4 aim a resident coachmaker at this (Euston) station, in The serfiice of the London and North Western Railway Company, lt is not my duty to examine the trains as they arrive, but I see them afterwards. I saw three carriages on the morning fol lowing the accident much damaged, as if thrown upon their sides. The leading wheel of No. 46 carriage were much injured, as well as the body of the carriage. Both the Wheals had shifted from the axle, which, I believe, was occasioned at the time of the accident by the rough usage they reetifed.• They were each out of gauge, one three-quarters of an indi anal the' other an inch and a quarter. The key was shifted with the boss of the wheel. The wheels appeared to be all right till they got to Camden-town. The trailing-wheels of the carriage and those of the other carriages, and the break van were true to gauge. The draw bar of No. 40 was Broken. Its diameter is an eighth of an inch, and the iron is of good quality. It did not show much fibre; but that might be accounted for from the weather. The coupling hook had not been found, Mr. David Stevenson, goods manager in the service of the company, deposed, that on his attention being called to the accident directly after it occurred, he at once visited the scene. He found two carriages lyiag on their sides, one of which was right across the ways, with the deceased lying under it. He had the unfortunate gentleman removed, and went down the line with the locomotive foreman to trace the origin of the accident. The first indication was after the points had been passed,. when he found a chair broken. He could not in the least account for the accident. Mr. Mather said, in reply to Mr. Horsley, that at the present stage of the inquiry he had no scientific evidence to offer. In the course of a desultory and tedious discussion that ensued the Deputy-Coroner said he had no scien tific evidence to call for from either the company or the friends of the, deceased. Colonel Yolland was his witness. William Scholefield was next called, and deposed that he was in the employ of the company as permanent way inspector. He inspected the condition of the points on the south side of the Primrose-hill tunnel on the 20th ult., before the frost set in, and also since the the accident several times, and they were all right, except in the last examination, when they were a little tight. Could not say what effect that would have in respect to the accident. They are at present exactly in the same positiou. By Mr. Horsley (who appeared for the friends of the deceased)—He was inspector over three lines of rails between London and Tring, and went over them every day, but did not always use his gauge. By Mr. Cleather—l have been inspector for about six years. The points have been in just the same condition since they were first put in 12 months ago. 34 trains a-day pass over these points, and no accident has ever before taken place. Owing to the severity of the weather, I have exercised particular care in examining the points, which have sustained no injury on account of the frost. They have not required gauging since the 20th of December; had they required it, it would have been reported, and the work would have been done directly. Mr. John Grantham was called by Mr. Horsley, and stated that he is a civil engineer, of Nicholas-lane, city. At the desire of the friends of the deceased he examined the ground and the carriages, and agreed with what had been stated, except that he found the two leading wheels of the carriage about two inches apart. The wheels, in his opinion, were out of gauge, and the rails being contracted at the switch, together caused the accident. He considered the curve being close to the switch made it a very dangerous point, and the double switch would add to the risk. Colonel YoNand was then sworn. He deposed that he was one of the Inspectors of the Board of Trade, and was directed to inquire into the circumstances attending this accident with a view of making a report to the Board of Trade, and if their Lordships thought proper, to forward a copy to the London and North-Western Railway Company fur the purpose of avoiding, if possible, a recurrence. Having made a careful exami nation of the scene of the accident, and the two carriages and break van which were detached, he found the London and North-Western adopted for their gauge at the points 4 feet 81 inches, and for their main line 4 feet 81 inches, and when he came to measure the gauge at the points in question he found the gauge very nearly half an inch too narrow. His impression was that there could be no doubt whatever that the carriages passed over the tight part of the gauge, and dropped over the side of the rail. He had no doubt that the carriages were thrown off by the tightness of the gauge at the points. It appeared that on the 20th of December the gauge was 4 feet 82 inches, and the railway at that particular spot is now defective, it being 7-16ths of an inch too small. Deputy-Coroner.—Do you agree with Mr. Grantham that the curve this side the tunnel is a source of danger ? Witness.—Nothing more than what is usual on all railways. All points are dangerous. Deputy-Coroner.—ln order to avert such accidents in future what do you suggest ? Witness.—That the gauge should be kept. Ido not find fault with the difference of gauge between the main line and the points, but I find fault with the gauge being nearly half-an-inch less, as in this case. I think the breakage of the draw-bar, which was first supposed to be the cause of the unfortunate accident, was merely the necessary result of the accident, but it would not throw a train off the line and only involved a separation of the train. By the Deput.y•Coroner and Jury.—l believe the cause of the accident was clearly the tightness of the gauge at the points. lam assured that had the officer in charge been aware of the difference of gauge at that point, he would not have allowed it to be so for one hour. The Deputy-Coroner having briefly summed up, the room was cleared of strangers, and, after a deliberatior, the jury returned the following verdict :—" That on the 4th day of January William Michael George Kelly was found dead beneath a certain carriage on the London and North-Western Railway, and that his death was occasioned by the effects of the fracture of his skull and other injuries produced by his having become crushed beneath the carriage aforesaid, accidentally and by vnis fortune." To which they appended the following remarks :—" The jury sitting to inquire concerning the death of Mr. W. M. G. Kelly earnestly recommend the London and North-Western Railway Company to remedy on their line as speedily as practicable the defect which is represented to have been the cause of the accident, and which resulted in the death of the deceased gentleman." The proceedings, which lasted the whole day, termi nated at 6 p.m. PLATELAYER KILLED ON THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. BOXMORE, Jan. J 4. A fatal accident took place this morning near this station. The down Irish mail train leaving the Euston terminus at 7.25 a.m. was proceeding at its usual rate of speed, when the engine-driver, who was keeping a good look-out behind, perceived several platelayers at work upon the line. He gave the customary danger signal ; but the men who, had they paid the slightest attention to the instructions given to them, would have had ample time to get on the "six foot " (the spa ce b e t w e en t h e down and up rails), appeared to be unconscious of the approach of the harm until the . engine was upon them. The buffer struck one of the men, inflicting dreadful injuries upon him,_ and his death m u s t have been instantaneous. Another of the plate layers was also very seriously injured. It is a remark able fact, that although these men are almost daily :warped of the danger of not keeping a good look-out, arid that the engine -drivers, knowing where the plate layers are at work, keep their eyes particularly toWards such spots, and invariably give the "get out of the Way" whistle, they frequently, while the engine is running perhaps at the rate of 40 miles per hour, abso lutely "crawl" off the line when the train is within a couple of hundred or a hundred yards from them — that is, a few seconds only before the engine passes them. The writer has often seen escapes of this character, and the wonder is that such accidents do not occur every day!! HUNTING FIXTURES. The WYNNSTAY PACK will meet on The first day after the frost, at Each day at half-past ten .The Kennels Master, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., M.P. ; Huntsman, J.Walker, The CHESHIRE HOUNDS meet on Wednesday, January 16, at Thursday, January 17, at Saturday, January 19, at Monday, January 21, at Wednesday. January 23, at Thursday. January 24, at Saturday, January 26, at Monday, January 28, at Wednesday, January 30, at Thursday, January 31, at Saturday, February 2, at Each day at half-past ten. Lincoln RACING FIXTI FEW 13 MAI Nottingham Spring Liverpool Spring . Northampton Croxton l'ark Epsom Spring Newmarket Craven Chester York Malton Salisbury Beverley Chelm!ford litmgerford Ascot Hampton Newton Newmarket Carlisle Worcester ' 4 Abingdon ... 9 Iliglawayside Crewe .Wrenbury Station Beeston Station Poorer Arley Vale Royal Warmintrham Village Norton Priory Appleton ....Crewe Station Le «e 3 5 Brighton Brighton Club 9 Wolverhampton l2 SEP CF.: RES FOR 1861. Derby Spring .CH. _ Devon and Exeter Derby Doncaster Richmond Newmarket First October.. 1 Newmarket Second October 14 NOVE. Shrewsbury l4 Coventry :L. Thirsk Doncaster Spring Newmarket First Spring Bath Manchester llarpenden Epsom Summer 2B E. Oldham 25 Newcastle Bibery Club 26 Stockbridge WinchestLr Worcester Liverpool Liverpool July lO Pontefract ll Nottingham 1 Goodwood 3O ST. I Reading l4 Egham Oxford Plymouth ,30 ABER. Leicester 'Walsall M onmout h I Manchester Autumn 27 )BER. Newmarket Houghton 1111 ER. Shrewsbury ... A SKATING TRlP.—About thirty skaters belonging o :Chelmsford undertook to skate to Maldon by the Navigation Canal on Saturday morning. Notwith standing that a partial thaw had set in, they kept their resolution of attempting the journey, and tiftcen of the party, we hear, overcame all obstacles in their progress, and effected their object, though the ice was by no means in a satisfactory state, the water being occasionally two or three inches deep.--Essex Herald. THE MEMORIAL TO LORD PALMERSTON.—The letter to Lord Palmerston on the reduction of the National Expenditure, which we published on Friday, has already received the signatures of between 50 and 60 members of Parliament, and many additions are confidently expected. The gentlemen who promoted that letter have written to us expressing their surprise at its publi cation, as it was intended to he a private communica tion, and not for the public eye. It is due to them to state this. At the same time, the difficulty of treating as'private a document which 50 or 60 members of the House of Commons have signed is self-apparent. — Daily News. LANCASHIRE AND Yont(stunt RAILWAY.—On Satur day evening last, about 230 porters, with their wires and friends, belonging to the Oldham-road goods station, partook of an excellent tea in the Domestic Mission School-room, Rochdale-road, to Welprale the opening of a society lately established among t h emse l v es, called the Porters' Sick and Provident So'ciety, in connection with the goods warehouse. The benefits arising' from the society are Bs.'per week when sick. After tea, the chair was occupied by Mr. Thomas Lowe, superintendent of the above school', and the meeting addressed by the Rev. James B ar d s l cv , Mr. Wright (prison philanthro pist), and other ministers. Between each address anthems and other pieces were sung by RD effici ent choir. After spending a pleasant evening the meeting separated soon after ten o'clock. BELGIAN CANNON M A KING.—The Belgian Minister of War went a few days since to the cannon foundry at Liege, where the greatest activity prevails in the manu facture of guns on the new system, and in the transfor mation of such old ones as are fit for the operation of rifling. The Minister also visited the works at Seraing, to ascertain what means that establishment possesses for making the new steel cannon. After having given orders for all the measures necessary to hast en th e diffe rent operations, the Minister went to the Polygon of Brasschaet to witness the trial of som e rifled cannon of different calibre. lie was accompanied by the directors of the .cannon foundry, and of the Pyrotechnic School, and several officers who have specially occupied them selves with the study of rifled canner. The various trials are stated to have been attended with very remark able results. The Princeton, which arrived in the Waterloo Dock yesterday, has brought a large cargo of grain, flour, &c., from New York.—The Roland Bremen, from Baltimore, which has also arrived in dock, bas a large cargo, consist ing of not less than 8,300 barrels of flour.—The Star of the West, - one of the largest American traders, left the Waterloo Dock yesterday afternoon with a large general cargo, consisting of iron, soda ash, bale goods, &c.; for New York.—The Fortitude, which sailed yesterday for Rio Janeiro, takes out a general cargo of coal, iron, and bale goods.—The ship Versailles, which sailed yes terday for Shanghai, had on board a general cargo of iron, coal, deal, bale goods, &c.—The Jura, from New York, is expected to-morrow with a large general cargo of provisions and breadstuffs. TRADE OF LIVERPOOL.—The following is a return of the number and tonnage of ships reported inwards and cleared outwards at this port as compared with he corresponding periods of last year : Rl:roam) INWARDS ' For the Week ended Jan. 12 . 1861 1860 11 Increase in ships Decrease in tons CLEARED OUTWARDS, For the Week ended n. 12. 1861 079 tons. 1660 Decrease in ships Decrease in tons 8,948 REPORTED INWARDS, From Jan. 1 to Jan. 12, 1861. 78,548 tons. 1 1 8 8 60 61 ............ .. ................ ...... ::: 1 1 2 4 0 0 s c h h i i p p s s 97,405 tons. Decrease in ships Decrease in tons CLEARED OUTWARDS, From Jan. 1 to Jan. 12, 1861 , 18 61 1860 Increase in ships 75,812 tons. Increase in tons.. l2 16,414 _,~.. ~~, SHOCKING CASUALTY NEAR SHEFFIELD On Monday afternoon a shocking accident occurred at Attercliffe, near Sheffield, to Esther Brooks, aged nine years, and Eliza James, aged fourteen years. The South Yorkshire Railway is in course of extension from Tinsley to Sheffield, and in a cutting at Attercliffe the excavation has disclosed a bed of coal, which rises within a few yards of the surface. During the late severe weather a number of poor people have hewn up the coal from the side of the cutting to supply their fires. The two girls and a young boy went to the place on Monday afternoon to get a quantity of coal. A man named Cope passed by whilst they were so engaged, and warned them to go away, as the embankment was in a very dangerous state. They continued hacking at the coal, however, and before Cope had got far away a very large quantity of rock, fell upon the girls and boy. The latter was much bruised, but not dangerously hurt. The two girls were fright fully crushed, the quantity of earth, &e., which fell upon them being fifty or sixty tons. A large number of men were quickly on the spot and rescued the bodies, but death must have been instantaneous. BANKRUPTS. Herbert Redgate, Nottingham, lace manufacturer. James Crook, Winkworth-place, City-road, india-rubber web manufacturer. Victor Faelli, Crutehed Friars and Alic-place, ship broker. Walter Blundell, New Broad-street, dentist. Walter Allanson, late of Castle-street, Holborn, Austra lian merchant. James Thomas Taylor, now of New Church-street, Marylebone, previously of Poplar, grocer. Alfred Bowles, Ipswich, music seller. Thomas Whitaker Pringle, Hawle-place, Kentish Town, grocer. Frederick John Skinner, Thurlow-place, Hackney-road, designer in embroidery. John Routh, Broad-street-buildings, merchant. Christopher Hood and John Nixon, of Nuneaton, elas tic well manufacturer. George Thomas Rollason, Birmingham, china dealer. Charles Humphreys Cox, Leamington and Coventry, jeweller. Joseph Maurice Marks, Birminghara, cabinet maker. William Francis Lawrence, West Bromwich, draper. William Adams, Nottingham, glazier. Richard Wood Markham, Bradford, Yorkshire, haber- dasher. Henry Brawn and Brook Hodgson, Halifax, velre' manufacturers. James Wagstaff, Alfreton, draper and outfitter. Rowland William Connell, Liverpool, dealer in teas. John Hall, late of Bolton, manufacturer. ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE. BENEFICES AND APPOINTMENTS VACANT. PREBEND. :n the Cathedral Church of Exeter : val EN : pat Bishop of Exeter Rev. R. Holdsworth, dec. RECTORIES. Cholderton, West, Wilts : dio Salisbury : val £225 with resi dence : pats Oriel College, Oxford : Rcv. J. Fraser. prom. Duntsbourne Abbotts co and dio Gloucester : val £3OO with residence : pats representatives of the late R., the Rev. R. R. Suckling, dcc. VICARAGE Brigham 9a Churston-Ferre7sF.:,and Lower Brigham P. C., Devonshire : dio Exeter : vat £4l with residence : pat the Crown : Rev. R. lioldsworth, dec. Kirtling, Cambridgeshire : dio Ely : val £140: pat Marquis of Bute - :( Rev. W..Windle ' prom. Sutton, Cambridgeshire : dio Ely : val £1,200: pats D. and C. of Ely Rev. T. Fardell, LL.D., dec. PERPETUAL CURACY. Combe Longa : e& - anadio Oxford : val £9O with residence : pats Lincoln College, Oxford : Rev. W. Barrett, dec. CHAPLAINCY. To H.M.S. Hastings : Catotguard Ship, Liverpool. CUICACIES. Christ Church, Brixton, Surrey : dio. Winchester. Oxcomb : co and dio Litcoln. Toddington Beds : dio Ely. Warwick, St. Mary's : dio Worcester. LECTURESHIP. London, St. Andrew Undershaft : Rev. A. Porah, prom. MASTERSHIPS. Chigwell Grammar School, Essex : Second : testimonialsbefore Jan. 21. Devon County School, West Buckland : French and Chemistry. Dulwich College Upper School : Second : Rev. A. Povah, prom • Isle of Man, King William's College : Assistant: salary £3 with board and lodgings. sprting . uttliigract. LATEST NEWS. (BY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND. BERNE, Jan. 15. The leave of absence granted to the Marquis de Turgot, the French ambassador, has been pro longed for three months. Notwithstanding the denial given by the Moniteur to the reports of the resignation of M. Thouvenel, letters received here from Paris assert that the French Minister for Foreign Aftliirs will shortly retire from office. HUNGARY. PESTH, Jan. 15. The Committee of the Comitat of Neutra has resolved on the following programme—viz., a responsible ministry for Hungary, a Hungarian Diet selected on the basis of the law of 1848, the removal_ of all except Hungarian troops from Hungary, the Hungarian troops to take an oath of fidelity to the constitution of 1848, re-organisa tion of the National Guard, and, finally, a request to be made to Government that a liberal constitu tion may be granted to the other crown lands of Austria. THE FRENCH FUNDS. PARIS, Jan. 15, 3.25 p.m. The Bourse opened firm at 67.39, but appre hensions of a rise in the rate of discount by the Bank of France afterwards caused a decline. Bentes closed flat at 67.05, or 10c. lower than yesterday. SPAIN AND MOROCCO. MADRID, Tan. 14. The Moors have declared that they are pre pared to pay a further instalment of 40,000,000 reals. The government has proposed measures for causing a decrease in the emigration to America. THE BLOCKADE OF GAETA. VIENNA, Jan. 15. The Austrian Gazette says that during the last few days Russia has repeatedly despatched notes to Paris, declaring her determination not to acknowledge the blockade of Gaeta by sea under any circumstances. In the political circles of Vienna it is said that Francis 11. has written a letter to the Emperor of Austria, in which he declares his firm resolve to continue the defence of Gaeta to the utmost. GAETA, Jan. 11. The firing has been suspended on both sides until the 19th instant. The belligerents are only allowed to repair damages. ITALY. THE RISINGS IN ROME AND THE NEAPOLITAN PROVINCES. ROME (via Marseilles), Jan. 13. The reactionary movement in the Marches has been suppressed, but is on the increase in the Abruzzi, under the influence of Count Trapani. General Riviera has been sent to cause a rising of the people in Calabria. Political manifestations continue, to take place in the theatres in Rome. The Dowager Queen of Naples and the partisans of King Francis 11. have been thrown into a state of great consternation at the news of the departure of the French fleet from Gaeta. The Pope is said to be much gratified with the results which will accrue to the Catholic church from the succps of the allied armies in China, and also with the secession of the Bulgarians to Catholicism. The Papal Zouaves have left for the frontiers, but will be entirely unsupported. MARSEILLES, Jan. 15. According to news received from Rome to the 12th inst., popular liberal manifestations had taken place in the Apollo Theatre. THE EAST. CATTARO, Jan. 14. There is a report current here that on the 9th instant 2,000 Montenegrins made a sudden attack upon the town of Spertz, on the Albanian fron tiers, and arrived as far as the gates of the fortress, where they were repulsed with great loss. ARRIVAL OF THE BORUSSIA. SOUTHAMPTON, Jan. 15. The Hamburg and American Company's screw steamer Borussia, Captain Troutman, from New York on the 2nd instant, has arrived off the Needles. News anticipated by the Persia. THE BALTIC NAVIGATION. A telegram from Dantzic, dated January 12th, states that the Paulina and five other steamers had left that day. THE FORTIFICATIONS OF MALTA AND CORFU. PARIS, Jan. 15. The Patri e say s it i s repor ted that the garriso ns of Malta and C or f u h ave b e en increased to twi ce their former st reng th, and that the Engli s h authorities intend organising militia at these places. It is also said that the English squadron in the Mediterranean is to be reinforced. PRINCE ALFRED. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 15. Prince Alfred arrived here this afternoon by express train, and was received with great cheer ing. His Royal Highness will embark to-morrow on board the St. George, 90, screw, Captain th© Hon. F. Egerton, which is bound for the North American station. THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF ENGLAND. The Commercial Bank of London, declared a dividend, yesterday, at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum. THE WEATHER. The telegraphic reports of the weather show that all over England, Ireland, and Scotland, frost prevailed at nine o'clock yesterday morning. In London the atmosphere is unusually clear, and t h e t e mperature is becoming keener. THE AR.IIY. The following appointments are published in last night's Gazette : Lieutenant-General Sir W. Codrington to be Colonel of the 23rd Foot. Lieutenant-General Mildmay Fane to be Colonel of the 54th Foot. Major-General George M'Donald to be Colonel of the 96th Foot. The Speaker's warrant for a new writ for Leicester will he issued on the 29th of January, being 14 days atter the usual notice in last night's Gaulle. The following appeared in oar later editions of esterday AN CE. PARIS, Jan. 15. The Moniteur publishes a decree convoking the Senate and the Corps Legislatif for the 4th Feb. The Moniteur also publishes a comparative table of the revenue derived from indirect taxes, which shows a decrease in 1860 as compared with 1859 of 21,000,000 of francs. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES AT GAETA, Tunis, Jan. 15. The Opinione publishes a despat ch announcin g that a portion of the French fleet left Gaeta on the 14th inst., and that hostiliti es had been bus pended on both sides. The Times says that rifled cannon have been slipped from Liverpool for Charleston, South Carolina. Great inconvenience was experienced yesterday through the detention, until a late hour, of the whole of the correspondence from the northern and midland districts. The Times, in a leading article, announces that the project of converting the Tipperary militia into a brigade of the Royal Artillery, has been definitively abandoned. The tone of the King of Prussia's speech on the opening of the Prussian Chambers, is consi dered warlike, the object of his enmity being Denmark. 0 (or , RIFLE CCNTEST.—The adjourned contest for the three P 3 o f a r t n e c u h s e s t t o e r th eßifi el s \ tr Irish lun te e took place at their private'shooting grounds, at Black ley,9th) givenofCaptain on Saturday aftcrtioon. Amongst those present were Captain Parteus and Lieut. E. 0. Bleackley, of the Ist Manchester Regiment. The firing party was under the command of Colour Sergeant Kinfey. The Company's band attended and played during the after noon. Four rounds at 100 yards were to decide the contest. After firing these it was found that four of the competitors had scored the same number of points ; but, after shooting off, Sergeant Leary won the first prize,tj, Private Knox the second, and Private Flanaggn-flor third ; Lance Corporal Bradshaw being disqualifiedrious the latter on account of having competed_ i i n Z , „il icsoevecu the watch, matches. The prizes were a purse of r,e ver cup, and a silver tankard. - a vote of thanks to Captain acclamation. Iptortite'eue c l o se s adopted by