The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-16 00:00:00

2 .111,232 ic. 2 . ,. ..11.1111 THE RUGELEY POISONING CASES. ADJOURNED INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR WALTER PALMER, (PROM OUR OWN RtPORTER.) R TUESDAY . The inquiry i n t o the cause of the UGELEY, death of Mr. NiGHT Walter Palmer, of Rugeley, who is alleged to have been poisoned At Stafford, in August last, by his brother, William Palmer, surgeon, was resumed this morning before Mr. William Webb Ward, the district county coroner. The .'court was again crowded. Mr. Robert Hughes was the first witness examined. Ile 'said : lam a surgeon, residing at Stafford; on the 2nd of December, 1854, I made an examination of Mr. Walter Palmer, in conseq.ience of receiving a notice from the Solicitors and General Life Assurance Society, that his brother, William Palnvr, wished to effect an insurance on his life. Air. Walter Palmer called at my house for the Purpose of examination, in company with his brother, William Palmer ; I made an examination of Walter Palmer, and certified to the office that his - -was good; I did not discover that he was suffering from any disease at all, and the only remark I made was, that 'one of his pulse was feeble ; In my private report I stated to the company that from the habits of the persons with whom he associated, and not from personal examination : the prospects of longevity were not so good as in the case of a healthy person, of temperate habits ; I made this communication in consequence of information I privately wetelved ; I had also heard that he had had one fit of delirium tremens, which he himself afterwards confirmed to me ; at that time, I was not on intimate terms with the deceased; I heard Dr. Taylor's evidence yesterday ; y opinion, before hearing Dr. Taylor's evidence, en tirely agreed with it; to intoxicate means to poison; my 'opinion, before hearing Dr. Taylor's evidence, was, that the deceased had been poisoned by gin. By Mr. Smith: In my opinion the continued use of gin as spoken to yesterday would destroy life ; I think " poi soning by gin" a proper term, and I adhere to it; I have never seen a person poisoned by prussic acid or morphia; I cannot say whether prussic acid would cause sterto rouse breathing or not; 1 have heard no evidence to change the opinion I have formed that the deceased died from excessive drinking; it depends upon a person's con stitution as to how much liquor will cause poison by kioxication ; one person might live to an old age though drinking a deal, whilst another person would be poisoned at once by the same quantity. 'l Mr. Smith : Why, this is no evidence, because it 'amounts to nothing else than a vague opinion. I knew two men, one of whom was a teetotaller, and the other :never went to bed sober, and yet they both lived to the •age of 92. teral health By the Coroner : Apoplexy sometimes follows an:attack uf delirium tremens. Dr. Monckton, physician, of Rugeley, examined :"On the 20th of December, I made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased ; the case was that of a man of middle statue, and broad build, with very considerable corpulence; decomposition had commenced, and proceeded to some extent, especially about the head and neck, and the whale of the posterior ; that is the most dependent position of the body ; the exterior presented no Marks of the violence ; there was no dropsical uenditioll of the surface, except that about the head and face, 'which was clearly the usual effect of decorntosition ; tae body . was well nourished, much fat being found where h is usually deposited; the blood had almost entirely soaked out of the body ; the brain was so disorganised by 'decomposition that I could form no opinion of its state at the time of death ; the lungs at one or two points were :adherent to the walls of the chest ; this is by no means an 'unusual appearance, although certainly a diseased one, but is in fact, a very common condition ; the lungs were 'somewhat decomposed, but not to such an extent as to prevent my discovering evidence of disease of an organic nature, that had existed during life. The liver was some what larger and harder than usual, but showed no other external evidence of disease ; the kilneys were rather softer than ordinary, but I am not prepared to say whether this was the result of a fortuitous accident or of disease during life; the external appearance of both was healthy, and on taking a section of one it did not present an un healthy. appearance. The other was unexamined by ane, because saved with the other viscera in one of the jars sent to Professor Taylor ; the whole length of the alimentary canal, including the mouth, throat, palate, 'and intestines, were carefully examined, with the exception of those portions enclosed in the jars, and , throughout the whole extent, the tube exhibited no evidence of disease ; the only thing remarkable was the unusually empty state of the stomach and bowels —there being but a very small quantity of food or excrement present, and that only in the ccecum; near the entrance to the windpipe, far back in the throat, a rather unusual appearance presented itself, and as such must be men tioned : it was a light, oval, prominent substance, about the size of a tulip ; I believe it was an enlarged gland, and wholly unconnected with the death of the deceased; so far, therefore, as the condition of the body allowed me to form an opinion, I found no organic disease, no change of structure, sufficient to account for death ; the duodenum, the stomach and intestine-a, one kidney, and a portion of the larynx and pilarynx, the liver, spleen, heart, and half of the lune. 6, were encl ose d i n three glazed earthen ware jara, duly labelled:a n d secured, and delivered by me into tLie hands of Inspector Ellis Crisp, on Saturday 4',,ening, Dec. the 22nd. By the Coroner: I have heard the other evidence, and from that and the post mortem examination, in the absence o I f any other cause occurring within a short time of death, can form no other opinion than that the deceased died from a fit of apoplexy; the habits of the deceased, as given in evidence, would be quite sufficient in m o to account for suc h apoplexy taking place. y pinion, Mr. Deane : Is it incompatible with the symptoms described that death took place from prussic acid ? 'Witness : By Mr. Smith : The heart was flaccid and collapsed, like an old bladder ; the kidneys were soft, but I did not find them diseased ; should say that the kidneys would be the last organ from which the blood would soak; I could not speak to there being any congestion other than that which I discovered from post mortem causes; the liver I found harder and larger than natural, but I did not con sider it in a generally diseased state, although to some extent diseased. By the Coroner : There is a 'smell from prussic acid, but it would not be detected except immediately pre ceding or after death, because it is exceedingly volatile; if mixed with brandy, the smell would be entirely over powered ; the brand y, alone would smell, and not the prussic acid. trom pr By Mr. Smith : I h ave never seen a person suffering prussic acid, but I have been at the post mortem examination of a man who died from prussic acid. A Juror : In three months after death would you be able to discover traces of prussic acid, on a post mortem examination ? Witness : Oh, no. In the case I am speaking of, the post mortem was made within an hour after death, and there were no traces. I The Coroner : Did you ever see a post mortem examine. tion of a person who had died from drinking gin or other ardent spirits ? Witness : Why, not particularly, but of course I mus t have been present when post mortem examinations have been made of persons who have died from the effects of drinking ardent spirits. Ellis Crisp, Inspector of police, to receivin three jars containing the contents deposed of the body of the g deceased from Dr. Monekton, on the 22nd December, and delivering them to Dr. Taylor on th Palmer, No.e 24th, at the laboratory at 1,2, 3." Guy's Ho spital; they were labelled chemical "Walter Mr. Deane here proposed to call the gentlemen repre senting the insurance companies, but The Coroner observed he thought it irregular in the present stage of the proceedings. In ordinary cases (and he did not see why the present case should prove an ex ception) his rule was to take first evidence as to the cause of death. Now several medical gentlemen had been called, and expressed a decided opinion as to the cause of death, and before any other class of evidence was produced he thought that if there was any further evidence as to the cause of death which might alter the opinions formed by the jury on the medical evidence, which they had already beard, it ought now to he brought forward. Mr. Cornelius, Waddell, of Stafford, examined. He said: I attended Mr. Walter Palmer professionally as a surgeon, in November, 1854; I examined him in conse quence of his brother William speaking to me some days before, and saying his brother was poorly. I called upon Walter, and found him suffering from a slight attack of delirium tremens ; he told me it was the result of consi derable trouble and excessive' drinking ; he considered trouble had quite as much to do with his attack as drink I never k new trou b le cause delirium tremens without the drink ; he had not had an attack before that period : I had heard that he was a general free liver, but I did not know he was a drunkard ; I attended him more or less for six weeks. and in addition for disease of the digestive organs ; the pulse was scarcely ever disturbed, and the s ymptoms of deliriu m tremens su b sided in three days; at the end of th e s i x weeks I left him in good health ; he had a great inclination to be intemperate, but the person in the house restrained him within the bounds of moderation ; Thomas Walkerdine lived with him at that time; I have not since then attended ce him professionally ; r; have fre qeently seen him sin. The certificates produced —h NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, [lnsurance certificates by witness on Walter's state of health put in]—are in my hand writing; the first bears date 2nd December, 1854 ; I then certified that his health was entirely recovered t thy opinion as time grew on became altered, and the result was that I was Of opinion that the life should be declined. The private letter sent by the witness to the insurance company, was here handed to the coro ner, who read the following extract from it :—" the pro poser's brother is of intemperate habits. The proposer, William Palmer, insured his wife's life for many thousand pounds and after the payment of the first premium, she died. Be cautious." The coroner also read extr . iets from the witness's private communication, in referenct to pro posals made to the Athenaeum and the Gresham offices. Mr. Smith : Not one of these proposals were accepted, and therefore 0 - 6 , are not evidence. By Mr. Deane iUp to July he was temperate. I had better opportunities of judging of this from February to July, than I ever had in my life ; I often met him, and he seemed healthy from the conversati on I h a d with him; I did not call upon him; he called Upon me once in July; he once said—" I know the evil of my life ; I think you have prevented me from insuring my life long enough." That was in July or August, 1854; he said he owed his brother William £4OO, and he was anxious to have it secured; I had prevented him from insuring his life several times, and he said—" Are you aware that my habits are entirely altered ? I only drink two or three glasses of bitter beer a-day, and I eat like a thrasher." It was not altogether in conse quence of that conversation that I gave those cer tificates; he called at my house ) I examined him, he was sober, and ,I was satisfied there was no organic disease. By Mr. Smith: Prom the statements I have heard, it might be that the deceased died from apoplexy, caused by excessive drinking ; if a person has had delirium tremens, and continues the exciting cause, I am of opinion that death may take place at no very remote period ; I have seen a person die of apoplexy from drink ; the appearances described by the witnesses, .2re such as in a case of death produced by drinking, where the person died from apoplexy. By Mr. foene: I did not know at the time Walter Palmer spoke to me, that his life was already insured by his brother in another office for £l3 000. Here a letter was produced by the witness from Wm. Palmer himself, dated from Rugeley, requesting that if Mr. Waddell had received a letter from the Solicitors' and General Life Assurance Company, he would not reply to it until he had seen him (William Palmer.) I afterwards saw Mr. William Palmer about the_pro posal to the Solicitors' and General Life Assurance Com pany, and the Gresham: He dictated several of the answers, and interfered with them in a manner that I had never before perceived ; t believe I was his medical attendant when I gave the certificate; William Palmer's dictation had no influence with me ; Walter Palmer was, in my opinion, quite sober when I gave him the physic. At this stage of the proceedings the court adjourned for an hour. On resuming, Mrs, Mary Ann Parkes, wife of Mr. Benjamin Parkes, was examined. She said : I reside at Wolverhampton ;my husband has left England; I first knew Walter Palmer about twelve months before his death ; I first saw him at Mr. Yohn Blanthorne's spirit vaults whose business I managed ; he came in accidentally with Mr. Walkerdine ; they generally came in together. liy . Mr. Deane: I now keep the Fountain-inn at Wolver hampton; I recollect the deceased Walter Palmer calling at my house in Wolverhampton on the 14th of August last, and Mr. Waikerdine came with him; he arrived between eleven and twelve o'clock, and, at the request of Mr. Walkerdine, a mutton chop was prepared for Mr. Walter Palmer; he eat a very small portion of the chop; I drew a glass of bitter beer for him, which I do not think he drank ; he afterwards had a glass of gin ; he seemed very sober and steady when he was at the house ; he left about one o'clock ; Walkerdine lett with him; they said they were gaing to the races; gin was had by Walkerdine from Mr. Blanthorne's for Mr. Walter Palmer, at the rate of a quart a day. Mr Smith : What has that to do with it ? Walkendine said he had gin, and I believe everything he said to be true. (Loud laughter.) Men in a good state of health would not order a mutton chop, and then leave it if it is good. I know I don't. (Laughter.) The CorUneri Yoa'are quite sure he was sober and steady, and well in health to all appearance ? Witness : He appeared well, and was very quiet ; I have seen him much more elevated than be was then. (Laughter.) Mr. Smith : Yes, you have seen him on horseback some times, I suppose ? (Renewed laughter.) Mrs. Lucy Astle examined : She said, I am the wife of Joseph Astle, and reside at Ginner : my husband is manager for the Enl of Stamford. I am the mother of the last witness, and was staying at her hou.e on the 14th of Auznst ; I saw Walkerdine and the deceased on that day at the Fountain-inn ; they arrived a little after eleven o'clock, and left about one, and returned again between three and four; the deceased ca ll e d for brandy an d so d a - water ; I helpedhim to it, and Mr. Walkerdine gave it to him ; I cannot say whether the deceased had a second glass of gin and water ; when Walter came in the second time, he seemed very ill, unea.y, and a sickness came over him, and soon after Walker awe took him to the railway station ; I asked the deceased what was the matter with him, and he said he was very ill, and very unhappy, but did not say what made him so. George Wyman, of Wolverhampton, chemist's assistant. was next examined. He said : lam in the employment of Messrs. Maunder, Weaver, and Co., of Wolverhampton ; William Palmer, on a Tuesday in August, the first or second Tuesday in that month, purchased at our shop one ounce of prussic acid, and a third article, which I cannot remember; Mr. William Palmer I knew as a name on our books ; he had no account with us ; 1 can't say if be has had similar articles. unhappy By Mr. Dears: I have met Mr. Palmer in London. By the Coroner: When I saw him in London, I knew that he was Mr. Palmer, of Rugeley. The Coroner: If any one came and told you he was a sureou, would you let him have such articles ? Witness : We frequently have surgeons come to our shop. By Mr. Smith : I have no note or minute of the transac tion ; I speak front my memory; the small amounts are five shillings and under, and are entered in the petty cashbook ; the large entries are made in the daybook; this transaction was on the same day ; I cannot recollect the day ; I have not looked in `he book, which would refresh my memory. By Mr. Deane: I was not requested to bring my book with me. By the Coroner : If my books were produced now I could tell the date of the sale; the price would be ten-pence for the prussic acid, and four-pence for the powders; the third article I cannot recollect. By Mr. Deane : I first met Mr. Palmer at the " Punch" tavern, Fleet-street, London, in 1852. By the Coroner : I don't recollect selling any ether in the month of August ; in July, or it might be the end of June or the beginning of July, I sold six ounces, two to one person, three, and one; I sold the six ounces in one week ' • I sold none from June to A ugust; I k now to whom I sold those ; the three ounces were sold to a surgeon in the town, another to a person from D trleston, to whom I sold two ounces ; I know him to be a surgeon. By Mr. Smith : I never commenced to think about it until yesterday ; I mentioned two months ago to Mr. Devereux that Mr. William Palmer had purchased prussic acid in August ; Mr. Devereux keeps the Puck Horse in Wolverhampton, and is a sporting man ; I don't do a little sporting myself; I did not mention to my masters, Maunder and Weavers, that I had sold this prussic acid. By Mr. Deane : It was never mentioned to any one else but Mr. Devereux. By a Juror : Our employer never speaks to me of any thing of that sort. By Mr. Smith : I have mentioned it to Mr. Weaver : he asked me if I had sold any strychnine over the counter, and I said I had Rot ; I had only sold some prussic acid to Mr. Palmer. By the Coroner : The prussia acid was put in a blue ounce bottle ; there was a large !able with the dose on it ; the lable had on it in large letters, " Hydrocyanic acid ;" we keep it made up for constant use. Mrs. Walter Palmer, the widow 'of the deceased, was next called, and was about to be put in the box. The un fortunate lady was so overwhelmed and affected that the coroner, on the application of Mr. Smith, adjourned to another room and took her deposition privately. The de- position was as follows :—I am the widow of the late Walter Palmer, and reside at No. 92, Chatham street. Liverpool. On Slturdly, the 4th of Anust, Mr. Walter Palmer ir,-)mr, fr. T ween claven and twelve o'elocs, anu stayed with me uLtil ten o'clock in the evening of the Bth of August, when he returned to Stafford by the mail train ; during that time he was constantly with me, and was pretty well, better than I have seen him before ; he was quite himself; he did not take any ,intoxicating liquor whilst with me, but a glass or two of wine at dinner ; he did not seek to take anything else ; he got much better whilst he stopped, and left me greatly improved in health ; his cough was much better; we had been talking seriously about him taking the pledge, and he had almost promised to do so ; when he left he was shortly to return to Liver pool, and we had arranged to go to a concert together ; he had always been in the habit of writing to me about twice a week, sometimes oftener. On the 10th of August, after his return to Stafford, I received the following letter from him, which I produce. The letter is as follows : Castle Terrace. My Dearest Agnes,—l left you last evening, and did feel I possessed a light heart; but on my arrival at Warrington I found the Scotch express was three-quarers of an hour late, owing to the flood. I was lonely, only myself in the carriage. The rain on my arrival was incessant. Thanks to God I had not very far to go. I have been home to-day; am truly sorry to say mother has been very uuwell, but is better. I told Sarah you were going to the concert on the 27th, and she wishes to go. Please write to her, and she can come with me. If I should bring little Miss Bonba, you won't be jealous, dear,*will you? But I do not know whether we shall meet or not. I should like you to know one steady and sensible creature upon earth, but not a teetotaller on piinciple. She Bays t never drink One Mass o f *ihe in twelve Months. I therefore have no occasion to be aT.T. R. I will write you to-morrow, and explain a few little secrets. Good night; God bless you, and ever believe in the affection of WALTER PALMER. The post mark bore the date August 10th, 1855; I answered that letter immediately, but I never heard from him again; on the 17th of AugUst, Mr William Palmer came to me at Liverpool, and informed me of my husband's death, on the preceding day; I asked him why he had not written to me, or telegraphed for me ? and he said that Walter himself had said he would write if he wanted me ; I sclshcd to go to Stafford immediately to see my husband before he was hurried, but Mr. William Palmer said he was been obliged to close him up in lead, and it was no use my going, for I could not see him; he said that he had been sent for to see him on Thursday morning, and that Mr. Day had been in attendance on him all the week; he said that he had been delirious for days, and bad broken a blood vessel two hours before his death, and had had a fit of apoplexy. In consequence of Mr. William Palmer's statement, I abandoned the idea of going to Stafford ; on the 28th of September I received friina Mr. William Palmer the letter which I produce ; it is as follows, and dated Rugeley, September 27th, 1355: " Dear Agnes,—l hope the change cf air and scenery has done you good by this time, arid that you are more quiet and more reconciled than when I communicated to you the painful, the sorrowful news of the death of poor dear Walter. Ah ! poor fellow, I often think of him, and only wish I could have done more for him than I did when he was alive, and I assure you that I did a very, very great deal for him, perhaps a great deal more than we are aware of. I know not whether Walter told you that I had advanced him, on the drawing-room furniture, £B5. Of course, I was aware that some of it belonged to you, but the poor fellow told me you would repay me, which I feel sure you will do after I have told you, and I shall have much pleasure in sending it to your order. There was also another item you must, if you please, assist me to, viz., £4O. for a hill which you knew well of the circumstances, and I must be excused going into particulars. This account I should not ask you for, but Walter said it I would only take up the bill, you would pay me, and I feel sure you will after all the money I have before paid• I have received bills amounting to £230, which, I suppose, must be paid by some one. What say you to this ? You canq for a moment think but that I ought to have assistance from some one, and I crane yours because I feel certain poor Walter mutt have told you bow very, neru, often, on very many occasions, I have stood his friend, and I believe I and his dear mother (except yourself) were the only friends he had on earth. I only wish his career through life had been a different one. He might have been alive, but poor tallow, he is dead and buried, and I hope and trust he's gone to heaven.—With kind regards, yours very truly, I replied to this letter as follows : WM. PALMER Dear William—l have just received your note, and must say lam much surprised a t i ts contents. What right have you to lend money supposing that I would repay it, with out consulting me on the subject? Poor Walter's expla nation to me, over and over again, was, that you had insured his life for, I think be said, £l,OOO, and that you had promised to advance him £5OO of that money, but that you had put him off from time to time, and were just giving him a few pounds now and then, to go on with, until you find means to pay him the whole. Now, if that is true, and I am much disposed to believe it, you are the proper person to pay all that he owes, but if you make that out to be in correct, and I have no way, I am sorry to say, of proving it, I still should not consider that I am the person to be looked to to pay his debts, never having received one farthing from him, or been kept by him during the whole course of our married life ; I should not think your mother can be aware that you are applying to me for payment of her son's debts, and I will not for a moment have it suponsed that I am the responsible person ; in conclusion, I beg of you t o remember and beware h ow y ou belie he (lead.—. Yours, truly, A. H. PALMER. Edith Lodge, Great Malvern, Sept. 28, 1855. Up to the time of my husband's death I always believed that his life was insured for 41,000 only ; he had repeatedly told me so ; I often told him that if he would take th e pledge, and keep it for six months, I would return to him and live with him; I first separated from him about seven years ago, and since that period I have lived with him about three or four months at Stoke-upon -Trent ; I left him upon that occasion in consequence of his intemperate habits ; I was once two years and did not see my husband at all, when he was in the Isle of Man ; I saw him on the 20th of July, 1855, at Liverpool ; he stayed till the 23rd ; previous to that he came to Liverpool at the beginning of M ay, 1855, and stayed a day or two. Thomas Mvatt, boots at the Junction Hotel at Stafford, deposed to William Palmer, two days before Walter Pal mer's death, giving him two small bottles full of something, to take care of; he told him to lock them up, and not to let the air get to them ; afterwards he fetched them away. Mr, Lloyd, landlord of the Junction, confirmed this evi dence, and added that on the morning of Walter Palmer's death, William Palmer was mixing something up in the stable yard in a small bottle : he told witness that - Walter was very ill, and that he was going to give him a stimulant. Thomas Wyatt, boots at the Junction Hotel, at Stafford, said that two days before Walter Palmer's death, William Palmer came into the yard of the inn, and gave witness two small bottles, screwed up in white paper, and told him to put them by safe, so that they would not be ex posed to the air; witness locked them up in a drawer in the boot-house ; in about an hour, William Palmer came to him and asked for them back again, on which witness went to the boot house,..and fetched them for him, and Palmer took them away. In a short time afterwards Palmmer again brought them back, and asked witness to keep them until he called for them. On Wednesday, the 15th day of August, the day previous to Walter Palmer's death, William Palmer again came into the yard, and asked witness for the bottles. He went to the boat house, and took them out of the box, and delivered them to Palmer, who was then in the stables. Witnes then saw him take a very small bottle from his pocket, and he began to make a mixture from one bottle into the other. At this time Mr. Lloyd, the landlord came into the stable, and began to converse with Palmer, when witness went away. After this conversation Palmer gave witness the bottles again, and on Wednesday night Pallier finally took them away, putting them into his gig which was then waiting at Mr. Lloyd's front door. On tee following day, Thursday, the 16% of August, witness met William Palmer coming from Walter Palmer's house, when Palmer said to witness, " poor Walter is dead," when witness said it was a bad job. Palmer then said, a take this message to the telegraph office." The message was to Mr. Beckett, of Watling-street, telling him to back a certain horse, which was marked in cypher, for £5O ; he also gave him another message to Mr. Frail, of Shrewsbury, who was then at Ludlow, to telegraph to him to Stafford ; the message was, "send me word to Stafford station what won the Ludlow stakes ;" that was the day on which Walter Palmer died. Mr. Lloyd, landlord of 11e - .T unc`ion-hotel, said, that on Wednesday, the 15th August, the day before Walter Palraet's death, that on passing up the stable-yard, he saw William Palmer standing inside one of the stables ; he was then pouring from about a two dram bottle a white liquid, into a larger bottle, about an ounce and a-half or a two ounce bottle ; witness said to him, " Good morning, Mr. Palmer, how is Walter this morning ?" he replied, " he is very ill, indeed, very weak, and very low, and I.am just going up to see him, and take him something a little more stimulating ;" he added that Mr. Day was attending him, and, as he did not know his habits as well as him (Palmer), he was taking his drink from him too suddenly, and giving him too muck medicine; witness then left; the next day he heard of Walter Polmer's death. After the examination of some gentlemen from the insuranca companies, the evidence closed about half-past seven o'clock, when the court adjourned for half-an-hour, preparatory to the coroner's summing up. On re -assembling, the foreman of, the jury said they had been deliberating., and they should not be satisfied until Mr. Pratt of London, was examined about the insurance transactions ; also George B Ltes, and they wiAhed to have further evidence from Dr. Taylor and Mr. Day. The case was then further adjourned till Wednesday next. SALE OF PALMER'S RACING STUD' The brood mares, horses in training, and yearlings, be longing to the notorious: Willia m P a l mer were put up of Monday by auction by the Messrs.Tattersall, at "The Corner," and attracted so large an attendance of com pany that the sale-yard was completely crowded. In certain instances competition was sustained with much spirit, and it will be seen that high prices were realised. In the aggregate the sale amounted to 3,906/. Major Grove, her Majesty's commissioner from the Royal Padocks, bought Trickstress for 230 guineas ; but, strange to say, although he appeared to bid anxiously for Nettle—a decidedly superior animal—he at last let her go, Mr. F. L. Popham purchasing her for 430 guineas. Nettle, it will be remembered, was first favourite for the Oaks last year, but she fell over the chains soon after starting, and her jockey had his thigh fractured. The Chicken was knocked down for 600 guineas. The first bid was 300, and Mr. H. Hill spiritedly advanced the price until he reached 780 guineas, when he stopped. The horse was ultimately sold to Mr. Harlock, who, it was under stood, bought him for " a noble lord." For the three year old filly by Melbourne ont of Seaweed, Mr. Sargent b gave 590 g u i neas. Staffordsh i re N an was purchased for 300 colt guineas. With regar d to the two-y ear - old brown t y Sir Hercules, the auctioneer annou nce d that a P a aper, signed by P a l mer, h a d b e en hand e d to him, con ning a promise on Palmer's behalf to pay the breeder of the colt 100 guineas on the first occasion of the animal's winning. This promise, however, the auctioneer stated, would in no way affect the sale, as the purchaser could pay the money, or not, as he pleased. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY la, 1856. dotJNTY COVET.-YEST.tRDAY (BEFORE JOSEPH POLLOCK, ESQ ) LAWRENCE V. TRUEMAN.—The plaintiff is a woman who earns her livelihood by contracting for the washing and cleaning of Ships' cabins, and she brought the present action to recover from the defendant, master of the American ship Canoe, the sum of 30s , under•these circumstances: She alleged that on previous occasions she had frequently been employed by the defendant s and that On his arrival at Liverpool, on his present voyage, she contracted with him to clean the seen• d cabin for the actin she no* sought to recover. She Went to the vessel on the morning of the 31st of Decetn ber last, with five other women whom she had 'engaged to assist her, but after waiting from seven o'clock until twelve o'clock, to see the defendant, when he came he would not permit her to execute the work. Under these circumstances she resolved to bring this action, and Mr. Gray, who appeared on her behalf, obtained an "immediate stimmons" against Captain Truernan, and on that he attended. The defendant positively denied that he had ever engaged her, though she con stantly asked him to do so f arid complained of the exactions, of which the present claim, he said, was a specimen, to which American shipmasters were subject in Liverpool. It appearing that the defendant's vessel will not sail for the next ten days or more, and the plaintiff in consequence failing to prove the necessity of an " immediate summons," His Honour pointed out that he had no jurisdiction in the case, but observed that, after hearing the statements on both sides, if it had come before him in proper course, he should have given a verdict for the defendant on the merits, A nonsuit was accordingly entered. THE MANX FAIRY V. WILLIAM FAWCETT.—In this case, which arose out of a collision opposite the landing stage, and which was heard before the Court a fortnight since, his Honour gave judgment on Monday. He said, that the 'William Fawcett should have ported her helm earlier than she appeared to have done, because, though She did port it before the collison, yet, being a slow boat, she was unable to answer it in time to avoid the accident. At the Same time, he considered that the Manx Fairy was to blame in making t 6 sweep art full speed, for in doing so she had not only violated the Admiralty instructions, but had done what was in itself manifestly wrong, when the crowded navigation of the Mersey was fur a moment considered. Under those cir cumstances the verdict should be for the defendant, hint' without costs Mr H. Bell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mt. Almond for the defendant. POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY, -...-.-......._. (BEFORE MR. HUGH HORNBT.) MORE COlNllRS.—inspector Murphy brought up two persons, named Thomas Pilkington, and Esther Mason, on a charge of being fabricators of base coin. The Inspector, along with officers Cozens and Carlyle, went to the residence of the prisoners, at 3 Court, Peter street, where they discovered five or six base half-crowils, tiles, cement, metal, &c., all used in the manufacture of base coin. The only excuse offered by the prisoners was, that they found the things in Scotland-road. The prisoners were fully committed for trial at the sessions. EXTENSIVE PLUNDER.—John King, the keeper of an eating-house in Hanover.street, opposite the Sailors' Home, Mary M'Ardle, and Ellen Hughes, alias Kavanggh, were charged under the following circumstances : From the evidence of detectives Povey, Sullivan, Horn, and constable 4, it appeared that they went to King's house, where they found about a ton weight of lead, and upwards of a horse load of copper acid copper bolts, nails, &e ., the greater portion of whi c h were new . It was found that several ship-building yards had been broken into, and similar property to that found, as described, stolen therefrom. Amongst the yards so I broken into, was that of Mr. Wilson; of Jordan-street, and the foreman of that house identified a quantity of the copper found on King's premises, as a portion of the property which had been stolen between Saturday night and Monday morning. There was a quantity of brass and other materials stolen from ships, and these things were identified by parties connected with the vessels. It appeared that the female prisoners were what, in a slang phrase, are termed the " kidneys"—that is the parties who receive t he stolen goods from the plunderers, and sell it to third persons, and it was shown in the present case, that they had sold the property to the wife and daughter of King. Mr. Snowball, who appeared for King, said that his client had been only three years in Liverpool, having been previously a pilot at Yarmouth, and was a man of excellent character. A man named Roxborough, who resided next door to King in Hanover-street, and who was a plumber and metal dealer, went to reside some time ago in Birmintham, and when going away he gave a com miss:on to King's wife and daughter to purchase metal for him, and it was proved in this instance that Mrs. King and her daughter did purchase the property from. the female prisoner, and entered the transaction in a book. The male prisoner was absent at the time. These were the facts of the case as given pro and con, and his worship said, although there was great want of caution on the part of the prisoner King, yet he did not think he was guilty of felony, and therefore he would discharge him. Mr. Bluck, who defended the female prisoners, then asked what the charge against his clients was ? and Mr. Wvbergh replied, the charge was for not accounting for their legal possession of the property, Mr. Block having a dd ressed the bench for the prisoners: they were sent to jail for one month each. WRAT'S IN A NAME ?—A young woman, named Mary Anne Parker, was charged with having fradulently obtained £5 from Mr. Thorn, publican ' Denison-street. It appeared that a seaman, named Dearborn, who is on board a ship called the Sarawak in the Crimea, was attached to two young women, or p3shaps they were attached to his money. Roth of dies , : females went by the name of Mary Anne Parker, but it di I not appear that they knew each other. When the sailor was going away he told both of th em h e wou ld remit money to the care of Mr. Thorn, and it anpears he kept his word, for some time ago an order for £5 came to Mr. Thorn, which he gay-3 to the prisoner, who duly acknowledged the same. It seems, however, that the money was intended for the other " fair one" of the same name, and on discovering this, Miss Mary Anne Parker, No. 2, gave Miss Mary Anne Parker, No. 1, into custody on the charge. These were the facts of the case as they trans pired. but his worship said he could not deal with the case in its present form, and therefore discharged the prisoner. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) VIOLENT ASSAULT.—A tall, thin, wild-looking fellow, named Samuel Murphy, was c h arged b y Henry O'Hara, his father-in-law, with having violently assaulted him. The complainant's nose was broken, his face cut, his mouth, and the entire part of his countenance, so much injured, that it was bandaged up," and covered with blood. He said he lived in 20 Court, Oriel-street, and in the same house as the prisoner. On Monday evening the prisoner was heating his wife, when the complainant interposed, and told him it was a shame. The prisoner rushed at him, swearing he would serve him worse, and then heat him until he presented the state in which he now appeared. In the fight, the complainant lost 255, hut he could not tell whether or not the prisoner took it. The prisoner said his wife was the complainant's daughter, and her father took her out and made her drunk, and then left her lying on the fiagway in a most beastly state. He (the prisoner) came up, carried her into the h.ouse, and then upbraided bim with his conduct; the complainant was drunk and fell, and, after that, a brother of the prisoner had a fight with him ; but the prisoner denied having struck the com plainant. The case was adjourned to this day, to pro cure further evidence. THE PRICE OF THE Pm.—" A VOYAGE PREVENTED!" A very stout man, named Patrick Daly, was brought up by detective officer Kennedy. who said he found him begging in London -road. The prisoner was a.profes sional beggar, but, in order to avoid the law, he used to carry matches. At last Kennedy watched I im, and caught him begging. On his person were found three letters. Two of the letters were from the prisoner's wife ; one dated "Ireland, Oct. 28," and acknowledging the receipt of £1 3s, and praising the Almighty for his goodness to him, and stating that all the money due to them, they were getting in as fast as they c ou ld. Th e next letter was dated " Ireland, 23rd December," and was from the " loving wife" of the said Patrick Daly, and acknowledging the receipt of 165., and informing him that all the money due had been got in, except the price of the pig, but that would soon be got in. The third document was from Thomas Daly, and dated 6th January, in which the writer implored the prisoner to I go home, and at the same time acknowledging the sum of 165., and assuring him in the most positive way that it was his own real son, and nobody else, that implored him to go home for a while, as he had done so well here. " Do come to Cork, for sure it's your own son Thomas that implores you :" thus ended the epistle. In reply to Mr. Mansfield, the prisoner begged to he sent to Dublin, and that he would then make his way to Cork, as he intended to go out to the States, and purchase a farm. The intended voyage was, however, delayed for a month, f or w hi c h period, with the addition of hard labour. Mr. Daly was consigned to the mill, the magis trate telling him by that time the price of the pig would have been got in, and a portion of it might be sent to him to pay his passage to Dublin. POCKET-PICKING.—A youth, named Joseph Kelly, was charged with picking the pocket of a lady, in Church street. The lady caught the prisoner in the act of taking her purse, when she handed him over t o t h e police. He %%as committed fora mrntli. VIOLENT ASSAVT,T.—Cdia ViZ ird was charg e d w i th having assaulted Lucy Noble in a violent manner, by striking her on the head with a poker, and inflicting a serious wound on her head; and also for ro bb ing her of 2s. 6d. The affair took place in a house of ill repute. The prisoner was committed for one month. , SELECT VESTRY.-YESTERDAY. The usual fortnightly meeting of the select yes try was held in the board room, workhouse, at ten o'clock yesterday, Rev. Rector Campbell in the chair. The following gentlemen were present :—Messrs. Woodruff, Chesney, Bold, Fairhurst, Satchell, Crawford, Rawle, Gardner, Luff, Denton, Mellor, Whitty, John Jones, Owen, Bradley, RA il stow, Shaw, Clatke, &c. The minutes of the last meeting were read. worekrottsn coMmiTfitE, ta rend . I The minutes of this committee's proceeding appeared that the numbers admitted during vagrant sheds were 197 males, 110 females, 29 children, in all 336. The number of sick cases in the hesaizal on the 5,1, ItosiN li4 to the week to tt TRAM REPOR -lUESDAY There has been a fair b us i ness i n Cotton to day, y, hold ers o ff er f reely, but and prices are quite ma i n .. I are the e t t r e a a d d e y p i u n r c htheir ase d d e m m o a d e e d r e a , t e l tained. The sales—including 150 Pernambuco, 6k.1 to 7,11 • 20 Bahta. bid ; 20 Maranham, 6d ; 100 Ervptian, 6.d to bid; 500 Surat, 31d to 41d—are reported 6000 bales, of which 1000 are on speculation and for export. PIG IR.ON : There has been no change in the market to igy, the closing quotations for warrants being 77s Gd, c as h. `e shipments last week were 9800 tons, against 7100 for 3 ing week last year: COTTON 0. r.esp 200 barrels coma; American have been sold at TA LOW Quiet. I March, 6S ►SAGO FLoO a new Colonial Minister instant were 673, including 49 fever and 57 number in the house upon the 9th ins Mr. Shaw moved the adoption of the minutes, which, afte The tota Ent was 2536 some unimportant conve rsation, was carried INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS COMMITTEE, • The minutes of this committee were read, and their adoption moved by Mr. Woodruff. Con a'ning nothing of any import ance, the minutes were passed without any conversation. L RELIEF' COMMITTEE The minutes of this committee contained the following letter from Mr. William Earle Liverpool, 18th December, 1355. Dear Sir,-1 received a note from you two dap; ago, requesting me to pass some lunatic paupers to the asylum. I was unable to attend, having other business; but had this not been the case, I should have had some hesitation as to meeting your wishes. The fact is I have not approved, on the two last occasions when I have been called on to act, of the certificates as to the lunacy of the paupers being signed by the medical men of the parish. I mean no disrespect to these gentlemen, but there are most serious objections to it. I hardly think it is a system which would be approved of by the Poor Law Commissioners; but unless the law compels me to adopt it, I, as an individual magistrate, shall decline doing so. I have no wish to conceal my sentiments upon this subject, I am, dear sir, yours truly, WILMA:II EARLE. Mr. Bradley moved the confirmation of the proceedings. Mr, 'Whitby asked what had been done in reference to the letter of Mr. Earle? Mr. Bradley said it would be taken into consideration, and brought before the attention of the vestry, at the next day of meeting. The proceedings were then confirmed. PINANCE comaturtg. The proceedings of this cotinnittee contained the following correspondence between the Poor Law Board, Mr, William Jordan, of London-road, and Mr. Hart : Gentlemen, 48, London-road, Liverpool 6th Dec., 1855. other ratepayers, that great abuses have crept into the system of administering outdoor relief to the paupers of this town, I shall feel much obliged by your answering the following queries for our satisfaction t-- Ist. Can one member of a quorum of three s which should sit daily, transact business in the absence of the other two 2nd. In case none of the members of a quorum attend, can any member of the select vestry act in their absence? 3rd. Can the select vestry delegate their authority to any individual member to act in their absence ? (Signed) WILLIAM JORDAN *geers, London. I am, &e., To the Poor-law Commis Poor law Board, Whitehall, 17th Dec., 1856. Sir,—l am directed by the Poor-law Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th inst., and in reply to your inquiries to state that Article 3 of an order issued by the .00r-law Commissioners to the parish of Liverpool, ou the 22nd March, 1841, provides that no guardian elected for that parish shall act in virtue of his office except as a member, and at a meeting of the board of guardians. The operation of this order, which related to the board of guardians, as then constituted, for the parish of Liverpool, was afterwards ex tended to the select vestry of the parish by an order dated 30th July, 1842. 'Fite board further desire to refer you to the statute 7 and 8 Vic. cap. 101, sec. 4, regulating the mode in which guardians elected under the local acts shall conduct their proceedings, by which it is provided that such guardians, in all matters con cerninuthe relief of the poor, shall act as a board at a meeting, and not individually.—l am, &I , Cou ItTN EY, secretary. To V. Jordan, Esq., 43, London-road, Liverpool. 48, London-road, Liverpool, 22nd D.c., 1855. My Lord,—l am honoured by your lordship's communica tion of the I 9th, in reply to my letter, dated 6Lh iostant, by which lam informed that it is illegal for any yu , mber of the select vestry of Liverpool to act in his individual capacity. I now beg to inform the Poor-law Board that lamia a position to prove that individual members of that body are constantly in the habit of performing duties, particularly in the adminis tra'ion of outdoor relief, which can only legally be performed by a committee or quorum appointed by the full vestry ; the consequence of which is that the outdoor paupers of this extensive parish are (oftener than otherwise) quite at the mercy of an individual, instead of having their claims for relief sub mitted to a committee, as specially provided by law for their protection. I can also prove that instances have lately occurred where the names of paupers have been struck eff the relief list by one member of the select vestry, have had their names restored shortly afterwards by another member, who also ordered all arrears of relief to be paid to them, no change whatever having occurred in the circumstances of such paupers during the period in which relief was discontinued. It is also notorious that individual members of the vestry are constantly in the habit of giving orders, and making suggestions to the workhouse o!ficials, which appear to have quite as much weight with those gentle men as the orders of the entire vestry. If the Poor-law Board will cause an investigation to be made into these matters it would hn ca aa AuG or justice to the poor, and give great satisfaction to th e oratepayers.—l have the honour to remain, ex., (Signed) WILLIAM JORDAN To the Right Hon. Lord Courtney, S ecre t ary to the . Poor-law Board, London. Poor-law Board, Whitehall, 2nd January, 1856. Sir,—l am directed by the Poor-law Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ult., in which you allege that individual members of the select vestry of the parish of Liverpool are in the habit of performing duties in the admin istration of the relief of the poor which cannot lesplly be performed by them. I am directed to state that your letter will receive the consideration of the board, who will make inquiry as to t'te circumstances which you have brought under th , ei s r e n cr o e t ta ice ry . 7 l am, &c., (Signed) To W. Jordan, Esq., &c,, &c. Poor.law Board, Whitehall, 2nd January. 1856. Sir,—l am directed by the Poor-law Board to transmit to you, for the consideration of the select vestry of the parish of Liverpool, the accompanying copy of a correspondence which has taken place between Mr. W. Jordan, of London- roa d, Liverpool, and the board. an d t. . the board be furnished with any observations w,q which the tnat select vestrymay may be desirous of making on the subject of this correspondence.-- I am, sir, your obedient servant, To Charl es Hatt, GREN LE L. BERKELEY, S E3q., V viL Vestry Clerk, Liverpoole cretary. Mr. Owen expressed a hope that this correspondence would induce a better attendance upon the part of members of the quorums Mr. Denton said the statements contained in the letters to the poor law board were all matters of hearsay. It was agreed that the quorums should in future meet every Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Whitty asked why no account was rendered of the cost of the removal of English poor to other unions ? He had made this enquiry upon a former occasion, and was told that the information would be given in a short time, but it had never been given since. Mr. Hart said the business was going on every day. He was collecting the information from different parties and would lay it before the board. The proceedings were then confirmed A report from Mr. Wylie was laid before the board, in com pliance with a motion of Mr. Denton, cf the number of assessments revised during the last six months. The report stated, that 739 assessments had been altered in I IS streets, but that no numerical statement could give any estimate of the number of assessments which required to begone over. THE RELIEF ADMINISTRATioN COMMITTEE Mr. Denton moved the following resolution :—" That th e report of the proceedings of the special committee on the relief department, as presented at the last meetin g of tie board, be apnroved and adopted, including the appointment of Mr. John Evans, as superintending relieving-officer, at a salary of £3OO per annum, and the duties assigned to bin) by the committee; the appointment of Messrs. Penn and Bennett as assistant clerks, at a salary each of 25s per week ; an" the appointment of an outdoor Inspector, at 4150 per annum wi h the duties specified in the s a id report. " , T' lie resolution was seconded and carried. , Mr. Shaw moved that the consideration of 'applications for the situation of outdoor inspector, be referred to the finance committee, as Mr. Denton's committee might now be c•in sidered to have report to the board. Mr. Denton seconded the motion. Mr. Woodruff moved, as an amendment, that the vestry meet specially next Tuesday, and that the candidates be received, and the appointment made by the whole board. Mr. Luff remarked the fact, that out of sixty seven candi dates for the office, there were only fifteen belonging to Liver pool, and over fifty from outside Liverpool. A division took place, when there appeared eight for the amendment, and ten for the motion. The motion was accordingly declared carried, and the subject referred to the finance committee. tie names of persons and The Chairman. , mentioned the fact, that there were now in the industrial schools thirty able-bodied boys, fit for sea service. This closed the business of the vestry. ; 67s 91 to 683 spot and Nfarch, 664 arch and April, 63= 6I Aura to June; last three months 62s 3d; delivery 404 arri -U. PA Lx OIL dull, at tiPIRITS OF TURPENTINE Small sales, at 36s for American OLIVE 01- _ CREAM OF TARTAI Malaga retailing at a shade under £52. • Discoloured at 100 s to 103 s. £5 5s bid for best 2nds ; taken in at £5 100. nore encriirv. IMSTON GALIM Small ;ale; at 23g Ind, at 60s to 61s. A. little done at £34 to £35 per ton. mall lots offer ander 21-1 for beet finest qualities 'BE : Thes markets ye no transactions to notice, s are con- led to 'eas ; W, COMMOII 400 ba , 1000 bigs small grain Bombay realized ,e, went off at £l4 180 bales Bombay at , at 323 per c 18 103 to £2l 6 t forward, only 50 THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA PROVINCES. Topics of anythinc , beyond a local interest ha v e no t been very abundant' of - late in the Canadian journals, although to define the exact point at which the local merges into the general, would at once be difficult and presumptuous. There are some subjects, indeed, which in their immediate influence are limited t o cer t a i n local ' • - " ' " ' may involve, a far wider —with the con trade between Thus it Canada and some island The views with the theory, of of the colonists most but their plans do not ( the practice, that prevails in th. of commerce cisely similar; imperial systerd Its objections to the change proposed. They are in print, and found irksome, to say the lea then ? Is there to be a collision ? We think no writers are a litt too prone to utter tt e stated liscussed. What Certain' s. We hale awhile and argue' PE OIL in more de EXICAN FIT GEDDA offers, to arrive, at 21s, lid GLASSES, Let us wait the question temperately with nA.- of any empire was justified in expecting hono4 and liberal, treatment from the head of that empire Canada ought to look for i government. There is not the smallest n It ever any portion ihle, ay such at the hands of the irn riai Lo fly off at o pre= of trade, and the xns of intercourse, have t upon_independenee, when things do r cisely to our mind consequent extension of th taken a strong hold of tl -- e , ....... ‘,.uatuian mina. Dia a few' schemes are in agitation, and not a few of them are set on foot, with the view of benefitting particular places or 'districts. What then? Is not the good of the whole made up of the good of the parts ? Is not rivalry wholesome ?—ln saying this, we have before WI an article , fontreal Gazette on the subject of increasing the trade facilities of the river St. Lawrence. The advice giver is eAcellent. Do not have too many irons in the fire. With one project for an Ottawa and Georgian Bay Canal, another for a railroad, and the Hon. John Young able advocacy of an enlargement of the Welland Canal, and the junction of the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain by water communication also, it must be owned that there is danger, of too much being attempted. Though we have just penned a brief but merited eulogium on the worthy head of the Hudson Bay Company, we must mark the pregnant though short comments of the Globe of that 2011 - Dec. ~ on th e expect nd the American gi n-eo touched in these column The subject had alludes to the in the Orezod The Ghb, 3 plated sale of property and rizi itory ; and then, anticipa'ting a time who the C ome A to dispose of its Canadian possei;!ions• lders against the supposition that the Companj IR, as we say, a pmy may see cautions itP ~ 1 iwful owner of the soil. The — theme But the topic, that has lately swallowed up whole columnd of cotetnporary sheets, is the grand Railway Festival at Toronto, on Thursday of last week. It is altogether too late in the day for us to record the 'good things that were said and done, the crowding of the assemb!ed guests, the wit and eloquence of the speakers at the afternoon's banquet, the grace and beau. y of the women at the bill 4 who al ways so thoroughly appreciate increased communication between place and place. The Fete, we are glad to read, Was brilz lia , itly successful, Loyalty and liberal neighbourabip werd happily blended. Tu us here resident, the marked feature s erns to have been the presence, and thejoyous participation of so myin visitors from this side of the borders. May the intercourse at the social board and in the saloon give rise to many profitable and agreeable relations l We can but add that this influx of Americans into Upper Canada Wail balanced in the other division of the province by a gathering of the New England Society lof Montreal, on Saturday evening last. Truly, St. Jonathan is a Briareus. }rum New Brudsw ie assent to the Prohibit or y Li quor Law has b een reeeived,, and the law %sill go into operation. No such impediment—as has here arisen f rom t h e a l leged interference of such a law with the riihts of trade conferred by treaty with foreign countries—is anticipated in New Brunswick. We shall watch the result; as we shall also be curious to know the result of the Railway Mission to London, which we have hitherto omitted to chronicle. The Attorney-General of the Province is deputed by the Executive, and the Hon. ?dr. Robertson by the European and North American Railway Company. Need we say that we wish them success' —New York Albion DERELICT DISCOVERY-SHIP BROUGHT INTO PORT After dealing with sad naomentoes that concern out' fellow -creatures and our fellow-countrymen, the sympa thies are not quite so acute, when turned upon the for tunes of a deserted ship. Nevertheless, the story is an interesting one, though, in the shape in which it now comes to us, it loses the charm of novelty. We know already (vide the Albion of the Bth Dec.,) how an enterprising Am rican master of a whaler had boarded and taken pos- RNcainn of R XI A . Boned in the ice, in the summer of last year, by Captain Kellett, in obedience to the order of his senior officer, Captain Sir Edward Belcher. All the particulars of that affair have long since been recorded in these columns; though the drifting of that crewless and unguided vessel, through successive Straits, and over a course of a thou mil- san —des, was unseen of human eye. Such a voyage. however, is not an absolute mystery. When. with Lieut. De Haven, U.S.N., Dr. Kane first explored the wonders of the northern deep, it will be recollected how the tiny schooners were borne along, for months, embedded in a frozen mass. But the circumstances are familiar, and need only be recalled. A curious question—that of salvage—is suggested by this hardy whaleman's lucky adventure. National vessels are not supposed to be abandoned, in the ordinary marine acceptation of the term. The Queen might claim her property. It is not, however, possible that so un generous a course would be adopted, unless the full esti mated value of the prize be paid over to the salvors. This will probably be done. Naval etiquette might not relish the idea of the broad arrow beino. treated without respect; an I so, we presume, Captain Baldington and his crew will divide the spoil, in money, amongst them, and the Admiral on the Halifax and West India station, will be ordered to Resolute.—New take York char Agelbio of n her Majesty's discovery -ship . TUE QUEEN'S PRESENT Ta MISS NIGIITINGALIS.—The design of the jewel is admirable, and the effect no less bril liant than chaste. It is characteristic and emblematical— being formed of a St. George's cross in ruby red enamel, on a white fiel,l, representing England. This is encircled by a black band, typifying the office of Charity, in which is in scribed a golden legend, " Blessed are the merciful," of from course, in allusion to the merits of Miss Florence Nightingale. the recipient. The royal donor is expressed by the , l w et h t m e imt rs e. nfgland. p " r V es . se i d l. ;IP 0 o surrounded th o centre byof thea crown s t.a George's es e? diamonds, ss which,lalas2e rsanyr.slpoofsedg namel, otlod represent emanating the 1 , 0 r; . i o t i 1: 77 e ~.f i, Z r r ‘Eo _ o. , their shield , form a framew'ork for t ig banded with a ril enal,el (►the colonr of the ribbon for the O r i n on which, in go&dt•n litters, is inscribed " Orin patm branches:nata )n of blue medal), eot r i." At the et tTl e r c e n e brillia nt stars of diamonds top 0 the , , nectintzheslu,;ll)lolel3. illustrate the idea of the light of Heaven :shed upon the labours of Merry, Peace, and Charity, in connection with the glory of a nation. On the back of this royal jewel is an inscription on a gold t a bl et, written by her Majesty , which stamps upon it a value inappreciable, as recording it to be a gift and testimonial in memory of services ren , lered to her - brave army by Miss Nightingale. The pwel is about three inches in depth by two and a half in width. It is to be worn, not as a brooch or ornament, hut rath er as the badge of an order, the most precious from the manner of its conferring_th e most t,ingular in the merit of its receiver—the most illus trious in honour that has yet issued !from the fountain of all honours•—the Crown of England. We believe the credit of the design is due to the illustrious consort of her IMajesty, and we understand that it was manufactured by Messrs. Garrard, the Crown jewellers. the fore m ee ',1119