The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-02 00:00:00

•,..e•1MM..g.21,Mr•M.2 WEST INDIA AND MEXICAN MAILS. (FROM OOR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SOUTHAMPTON, AUGUST 1. The Royal Mail Company's steamship, Magda lena, Captain Abbott, arrived here this morning at eight o'clock with the usual mails. Her dates are —Vera Cruz, June 30; Greytown, July 5 ; Col on , July 9; Havana, Demerara, and Trinidad, July 10; Jamaica, July 12 ; Barbadoes, July 12 ; Antigua and St. Kitts, July 14; and St. Thomas, July 17. The Magdalena brings 164 passengers, among whom are the Hon. W. Shortland (Governor of Tobago) and lady, Sir Charles Payne, Bart., and Mr. Payne, Captain Harolayne, Captain Crofton (frOm Trinidad), the Hon. Mr. Bowen, Count Ferleaux, and the Hon. Mrs. Bingham, &e., &c. The freight brought by the Magdalena includes 7 13,620 dollars in specie on merchants' account, 5 37,470 dollars in gold dust and bars, 12,887 dollars in platina, 44 serons cochineal, 8 serons jalapa, 38 8 packages of auriferous ores, 104 cases cigars, 49 bales tobacco, 488 serons bark, 24 turtle, 50 bales sarsaparilla, and 122 packages sundries. The total amount of specie brought by the Magdalena is 1,263,377 dollars. Yellow fever is increasing very much in the West Indies generally, and more par ticularly amongst the shipping; at St. Thomas', Jamaica, Havana, a very sickly season is expected. The Royal Mail Company's ships were beginning to feel heavily the prevailing disorder. Demerara intelligence to the 10th ult. states that several new and important measures had been introduced by the Court of Policy. The weather was very favourable for the growing crops, and the young canes had made surprising progress. A feud of blood was raging between two tribes of the aborigines on the Courenty coast, and one of the tribes had claimed the protection of the Govern ment. Trade among the merchants was dull. Produce scarce, and freights moderate, with a difficulty of obtaining cargoes. Commercial mat. ters at Trinidad remained about the same. The imports during the fortnight had been moderate. Produce was in very good demand; there was little unsold. The weather was favourable for the young crop. The weather at Barbados had also become propitious, yet rain was still wanted. Business was dull, and the health of the country continued good. From Jamaica we learn that Lord Courtenay was expected to be the successor of Sir H. Barkley. The Legislature was prorogued until the middle of OAugust, but would not meet until the end of ctober. Th e co l ony was tranquil. Little change commercial affairs, Exchange for 50 days 11 per cent. premium. It is believed that the British squadron of ships, now assembled at Barbadoes, will proceed to Grey town, to blockade the mouth of the river there, and to prevent Walker from getting supplies by American steamers. At Chili, Benavente has been elected president. There has been heavy falls of rain, and Valparaiso has been injured by them. Trade was dull, and flour on the decline. Exchange on London, 45i at sixty day's sight. in At Peru, C as till a ' s government still remains man power. The yellow f ever has declined, but y foreign residents had died of it. Trade was dull. In Nicaragua, Rivas and hie cabinet, with one e xc e pt blis ion he , have declared aT,, fzaint Walk er, and have d themselvos , on, the head quarter of the lib era l s. W alker proclaimed them traitors,s and set up another president. It is expected that Walker will be elected pre sident. It was reported on the 21st June that the forces of Guatemala, with the troops of St. Salvador and Honduras, were already on the border of the state of Nicaragua to attack Walker. Our advices state that the Mexican government has refused to Publish its late treaty with Spain, until the Spanish squadron of ships has been withdrawn, which is about to be done. From Rio Hache we learn that the Radient, of Liverpool, which went ashore on that coast in June last, has gone to pieces, and almost the whole of the cargo lost. The Indians have been plundering what has been washed ashore, and several of the crew have died from yellow fever, brought on by exposure. Among the deaths may be mentioned the death of the son of the captain. The Plata, 12 days from Southampton, arrived at St. Thomas on the 14th ult. The Royal Mail Intercolonial steamer Wye, which was ashore off Guadaloupe, has been floated, and towed into St. Thomas, where she will be immediately repaired. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. birron Ts: KINGSTON, J U LY 10. From the 25th June to the 10th July, 1856, Inclusive :—.4,563 brls, 50 half brls, flour; 1,100 bris Meal; 4,442 bags rice ; 126 trcs, 269 boxes, equal to 745 quin'als, codfish; 91 brls mackerel; alewives, none; 200 bris herrings ; salmon, none ; bread, none; 1,200 kegs, 75 firkins, butter; 700 kegs lard; 1,700 boxes candles; soap, tone ; 328 barrels pork ; 20 bris, 46 half brls, beef ; 30 half bris tongues ; 16 casks oil ; salt, none ; 2 hhds, 153 boxes, 20 brls, tobacco; 1,200 bagi corn ; 3 pipes, 1 hhd., 3 7 qr. casks, wine ; 23 hhds brandy; lumber, P. P., none; ditto, W. P., 13,C00 f eet ; staves, W. 0., none ; ditto, R. 0., non e ; 6,000 wood hoops; 72,000 cedar shingles; Cypress ditto, none. REVIEW OF MARKETS. ALEWIVES.—SaIes at 22s to 245, according to quality. BUTTE R .—St oc k o f American large, and sales nominal. Irish may be quoted at 18d in small lots. BEEP.—Smith's family is being sold at 49s—other brands at a lower figure. BaANDT.—Sales of Martell's at 19s. BREAD..—PiIot and Navy Bread, as also Crackers, are now offered to dealers, home-made, equal to the imported article, at much lower rates than foreign. CORN.—A sale of American has been made at 10s per bag ; subsequently 300 bags brought lOs 6d. CODFISH.---A cargo just arrived has been sold at 20s in tierces, and 22s in boxes. There is a good deal of inferior fish still at market. CREESR.—SaIes of D. G. at 13d. No American a t •market. RERRINOS : None good at market. - 1 7 1 -Ams American abundant and dull—last sales at 71-d per 15. AIL ; A small lot in last cargo sold at 4s 6d. Posy : No salessince our last; but holders have advanced their prices. PIMENTG : None at market-2p per lb. has been offered for two or three crops. RICE : Sales have been made in lots of 200 to 300 bags at 14s 6d—stock large. RUM : Sales at 39 3d, proof 18. SALT : No sales to report. SOAP Sales of Steele's at lOs 6d to 203 for 60 lbs. SunAn: Sales at 21s to 24s per 100 lbs. TOBACCO: continue in excessive supply, without any sales to report. The quantity of leaf at market is not adapted to the wants of the trade. TONGUES : Sales of Irish at 645. EXCHANGES ON LONDON : Jamaica and Colonial Banks. —9O days : 1 per cent premium. 60 days :14 per cent premium. 30 days : 2 per cent premium. Merchant's bill : Par. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. The English brig Everton was lying at Santa Ma r th a . The followi ng is the latest intelligence of the stations of Her Majesty's ships of war :—At Greytown, 11.14.5. Eurydice. At Jamaica, H.M.S. Imaum, Amphion, and tirbado Hermes. Off Cuba, H.M.S. Mari ner , an d E s p e i g l e . A t Cossack, a es, ILA:nd Victor, LS. O rion, Imperieuse, Arrogant, Tartar, ..... THE CONDEMNED CONVICT Buowx.—The woman Brown, the was left for execution at the Dorchester Assizes for the murder of her husband at Broadwinsor, was visited on Monday by her brother and s i ster ; the interview was truly distressing ; she has requested that no one but the chaplain be permitted to see her. She is very attentive to the instructions and exhortations of the chaplain, Who is very diligent in attending!on her. Several petitions hays been got up for presentation to the Secretary of State, signatures have not been praying for a reprieve, but the periling numerous. We understand she has not made formal confession, confession, a l t h ough she a d m it s her guilt.—Sher6o rne J 020% 4 1 . FA X& r 11, ...,..._ , R AILWAY ACCIDENT.—A shocking accident bap. l''ue., on Monday evening to a man in charge of the post ban . at an inte line, during eaediate station of the Lancaster and Carlisle Manchester. I progress of the mail train from Gla=gow to slackened, but nt rpears it is customary for the train to be . the minor post ° steantirely brought 0 a stand, at several of thrown i o t o t h e gua t r iopi, when th e sma ll l e tt er bags are course. On the ni t s van' and the train proceeds on its g e ls, and being son! thalluded to the man arrived rather day, it would appear a t t fatigued fro m h ayma ki ng d ur i n g , the rail s and become drows at he had sat himself down upon Poor fellow is said to have by. The train came up, and the a sittin g posture, and his r meet l iterally cut in t wo , w hil e i n e erns scatt ere d i n every direction (i on ecea thseed.line. W e h ave not learned the name of the THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY. MR. CHARLES MATHEWS IN THE INSOLVENT COURT, The celebrated comedian, Mr. Charles James Mathews, came before John Addison, Esq., the County Court judge, at the Insolvent Court, Lancaster, yesterday. Mr. Mathews was arrested on the 4th of July last, at Preston (at the suit of a creditor resident in Manchester) when going to the theatre there to fulfil an engagement into which he had entered. The arrest took place under rather peculiar circumstances. Mr. Mathews was announced to appear in one of his most popular characters Hopu, in the comedy of " Married for Money," and the house was unusually crowded with a select and fashionable audience. The hour for the commencement of the performance having passed, the audience became impatient, and at length the manager (Mr. Egan) came forward, and stated that circum stances had taken place which prevented Mr. Mathews's appearance, and that in consequence another performance would be substituted, and that any lady or gentleman- who choose, could have their money returned. The announce ment, as might have been expected, caused mach chagrin and disappointment. There was instantly a great rush from the theatre, and in a few minutes " a beggarly account of empty boxes" was realised. • Mr. Mathews, on appearing in court, looked very much haggard and careworn, and few will saw him would have imagined him to be the same individual who, in the mimic scene, has the power of keeping an audience for hours in uninterrupted laughter and good humour. The following was Mr. Mathews' description, as it appeared on the face of the schedule :—" Charles James Mathews, formerly of Gore Lodge, Old Brompton, in the County of Middlesex, comedian, and lessee of the Lyceum Theatre, in the Strand, in the same county. Then of Gore Lodge, Fulham, in the county aforesaid, comedian, and a part of the time lessee of the Lyceum Theatre, aforesaid, and other parts of the time comedian only, and late of the Wellington Hotel, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, comedian, and during the whole time occasionally fulSlling engagements in various counties in England, and also in Scotland." Mr. Sowler and Mr. M'Oubrey appeared in support of the insolvent, and Mr. Harbin, solicitor, of London, appeared on behalf of Mr. Alcroft, of London. According to the statement iu the balayce sheet, his liabilities amounted to £9,781, and his assefs to nil, com mencing in June, 1854, and ending in the spring of the present year It was alleged on the part of the insolvent, that his insolvency ;lad arisen almost wholly from his being misled by friends as to a sum of money to be presented to him by way of capital to enable him to resume the lesseeship of the Lyeenm Theatre. The facts are best set forth in the entry in the balance sheet, dated June, 1854, and are as follows : "At this time a number of my friends induced me, by the representation that they would present me with a sum of £3,000, as capital to commence with, provided I obtained a first-class certificate under my bankruptcy, which was afterwards awarded to me, again to take the Lyceum Theatre, and which I accordingly agreed to do, but the proprietor, declining to wait the result of the promised subscription, and refusing to grant a lease of the theatre without I paid a deposit of about £1,200 down, or gave security for the same, Mr. Allcroft volunteered to become that security to the amount of £7OO or thereabouts towards the required deposit, I finding a sum of .aOO to complete it. In November following I paid to Mr. Arnold, the pro prietor of the Lyceum Theatre, as such deposit, a snm of £1,200, consisting of the £7OO guaranteed by Mr. Allcroft, and the remaining £5OO by myself, this latter sum having been advanced me on engagements that I entered into in the provinces." Then, under date of Nov. ... in the same year, he says:—" In consequence of the non presentation of the sum of £3OOO, and having entered into engagements which I could not rescind, as well as having paid the said sum of £1,200, I found myself with the theatre, and company of performers, without the means of carrying it on without upital, yet unable to withdraw from the engagements or recover the deposit paid. It was there fore necessary to obtain a further sum to enable me to open the theatre. Through the a'sistance of Mr. Allcroft, the Commercial Rank, Lothbury, were induced to advance me a sum of £5OO. I also received loans from various parties, and from bills being discounted, £3,500. I also revived in receipts from the theatre, £5,838 19s 10d." The balance sheet has also the following entries :—" From Noven-ber to March, 1854-5, I paid tor rent of theatre, salaries, and incidental expenses, £7,938 18s 4d. I also repaid to Mr. Al'croft for advances made me (it being rurreed that he should receive the whole of the prlccca3 from the gallery, and sixpence out of every payment for entrance into the pit) £1,221 3s. 5d." In March, 18155, there is the following entry : " About this time, finding that I was only running mrself more deeply in debt daily, I resolved to close the theatre, considering it perfectly useless to carry it on any further." His immense pro fessional earnings are shown by the following entry : Between these dates, March 1855 to July 1856) 1 received from my profession as comedian, about £10,330." It was also stated on behalf of the insol vent that in order to enable him to obtain other monies, he was induced to renew debts which otherwise were cancelled by his bankruptcy, viz :—Mr. Woolf, £5O, Mr. Aleroft, about £4,000, Mr. Roberts, £BO, Mr. Pratt, £lOO, and Mr. Wyatt, £5OO. The in solvent in his schedule, also attributed his difficulties to a considerable extent, to his wife's illness, stating that the medical expenses alone amounted to £4OO in two years, and, the loss of her services during that period to at least £5,000. Mr. Harbin, solicitor, of London, said he was attending on behalf of Mr. Allcroft, who, unfortunately, was Mr. Mathews' largest creditor. The Ju3ge : Is any other gentleman instructed to appear ? No answer. The Judge (to Mr. Harbin) : Do you ask any question ? Mr. Harbin : The only observation I wish to make is that your Honour should order that a portion of the large salary, not at present, certainly, but which shortly the in solvent will be in possession of, should be applied in liquidation of his liabilities. The Judge : That is beyond my power, and it would also be inconsistent with the insolvent laws to do so, as those laws do not give the power to tax a man's future exertions. If those exertions produce sufficient to pay his creditors, then let the creditors appeal to the insolvent court in the matter. Mr. Harbin : Well,' but your Honour might recom mend it. Mr. Sowler said that the insolvent's difficulties had arisen from the renewal of previous debts, and he would not recom. mend him to enter into any arrangement with the opposing creditor. He had already renewed debts nearly to the amount of £5,000 since his late bankruptcy. Mr. Harbin said that that was not quite correct, as regarded his client's debt. Mr. Sowler remarked that he believed Mr. Allcroft was then under confinement. Mr. Harbin : Not at present. Mr. Sowler hoped that before Mr. Mathews was discharged from that court, he (Mr. Sowler) might advise him to be cautious how he renewed debts. He had renewed debts under his bankruptcy, which he was led to suppose he was bound in honour to do, although not bound in law. After some farther conversation between Mr. Harbin and Mr. Sowler, Mr. Sowler remarked that no one could have behaved more handsomely generally towards Mr. Mathews than Mr. Allcroft had done. The Judge : Do you ask any further questions ? Mr. Harbin : No. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Mathews for a considerable period, and am well acquainted with his circumstances, and therefore I have no further observations to make. His Honour, after carefully going through the schedule, addressed the insolvent as follows :—Your debts are con siderably more than is usual with parties coming before this court. One of them is for £5,000, but a considerable number of them are old debts which you have renewed. You allege that your insolvency is owing to an unfortunate contract into which you entered in taking the Lyceum Theatre, which did not answer. In looking through your schedule, I see no reason to believe that that is net the case. I cannot place my finger on anything in your schedule to call for a remand from this court, and as you are not opposed by any creditor I do not see why I should interfere to prevent your discharge. There are some peculiar cir cumstances in your case. You have been a bankrupt, and received a first class certificate, and you have also twice passed through the insolvent court. In the case of an ordinary trader, I should think that these circumstances would require a cautious investigation on my part before granting an immediate discharge, but a person in your profession is obliged to incur considerable risk, and your obligations are contracted with that understanding, and the knowledge on the part of those that deal with you, that your profession is au uncertain one, and your creditors seem to think so by their non-appearance here to-day. You may, therefore, be discharged. the . Joint Stock Companies' Registration Act, showed that there had been established under that act 28 companies. Or these 12 had already been disselved ; and, taking the whole of the accounts which had been returned to the government in an, intellieible shape, bath good and bad, it appeared that about 97 per cent: of the receipts had been expended in losses and charges before any dividend had been declared. Now, he did not know whether many of the gentlemen present had seen the very remarkable statement which appeared in the London Times, of the 24th of hot month—a statement com piled. From that statement some very striking results were shown. Out of nine offices, whose names were given, only three of them—of which he was very glad to see that the Royal Insurance Company was one—showed any surplus of receipts, after paying all expenditure, applicable to the payment of dividend. Of the remaining six cases, the expenditure had been very largely in excess of the receipts. This, he thought the gentlemen present would agree with him, was a very remarkable statement, and one for which he thought he was justified in supposing many of them were scarcely prepared. It also, he thought, showed abundantly that very great care, circumspection, and caution, were necessary in the management of insurance business. With that care and caution which the company had hitherto used, and which, he trusted, they would eand hitherto, show continue to use, he had no doubt that they would, from ' fa yearvon favourable e year, n m ts. a k s e ne very hadsatisfactory been their progress, experine e and hopednot etknow that and trusted he tru had any stedit continuewoulfdortherks to rem a t r obeso.He didmake. He should be very glad to answer any question which any proprietor might wish to ask, and he had now to move that the report just read be adopted, printed, and circulated among the shareholders. Mr: Alderman S. Holme said he had great pleasure in seconding that resolution, as he had in seconding a similar resolution upon a former occasion. The report itself had gone so fully into all the details, and the establishment of the company, that it really left very little for him .o say. There were two passages in that report, which had just been put into his hand, to which he looked with great pleasure. One was, that the company had not only yielded a liberal dividend on the capital employed, but afforded as annual addition of more or less importance to the reserved fund ; and the second was that in which the directors stated that "they have never made a report of the affairs of the company with a clearer conviction that its statements will give entire satisfaction to the proprietors, and full confiden c e to the public." Although h e wou ld not allude to the large dividend, which, including with it the bonus, would amount to a large per tentage upon the paid up capital of the com pany—for that did not come within the sphere of the resolution he had the honour of seconding—yet he should express his conviction that the office was placed upon so durable a basis, that with the prudent management to which the chairman alluded, it must go on increasingly prosperous. He was in hopes that those great losses which sometimes used to swamp the whole premiums of years, in whole streets of warehouses being consumed in their mercantile towns, would not occur again, in consequence of the better construction of mercantile buildings, and the operations of the act under which those buildings were now erected. Allusions had been made to the American business, and he was glad to know that it had been that year a favourable one. He ventured to say last year, that although the account might not be very favourable with reference to America, yet they should not, in an insurance company especially, expect that they were to have prosperity every year, but that they must take an average number of years, and upon that average number calculate the average prosperity of the company. It was a great satisfaction to reflect, on seeing the report, that the accounts being made up to the end of last year the company must be in a position, and doubtless had good grounds for making the remark they made at the end of their report, because half the current year having elapsed, they of course must know the position their accounts were in for that period. The parliamentary returns to which the chairman had alluded he had read, as doubtless every person who had an interest in these companies had done, with very great pleasure. They were documents which were unmistakeable. They showed, at all events, that in a eampany like that there could be nothing like a "cooking" of the accounts, and they showed a degree of prosperity on which they must all look with great gratification. He apprehended that in mercantile or any other business a men who lost £5,000 one year, and gained £lO,OOO the next, would take an average of three years, and be satisfied with the result. Some gentlemen, in conversation with him last year, having expressed a dread of the American business, he then ven tured to ask them to forego their fears for another year, until they had had an opportunity of testing the question ; and he was glad to see, by the report he held in his hand, that that department last year had been a profitable one to a very considerable extent. With reference to the life department, it was also pleasing to see the increase of the number of policies, of sums assured, and of premiums which had been paid ; and when the principle became better known, he doubted not that the business cf an office like that, established now in public estimation, upon such a durable basis, would go on increasingly in a similar ratio to that which the directors had been enabled to show to the pro prietary that year. He believed that office was now established upon a durable basis, and he had the gratification of knowing that, like all institutions which were destined to go on increasingly prosperous—its progress had been gradual to some extent. It was true many might call its progress rapid, but he considered it, for an insurance company, only securely gradual. It had been now in existence eleven years. A transient and brilliant prosperity was not, in his mind, to be compared with moderate profits and security, because experience bad shewn him that in all cases where enormous profits had been realised, an enormous dividends paid, it had been more or less at risk and hazard—and he confessed himself old fashioned enough to believe that to go on slowly but solidly and surely, not like the transient dream he had alluded to, was the best security for the continued prosperity, of the company, and for the directors being enabled to ( - rive that amount of dividend which they were able faithfully and honestly to declare that day. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Holme concluded by seconding the resolution. ' The Chairman then proposed that a dividend of 3s per share, and a bonus of 2s p=r share be declared, both free of income-tax, and observed that the extent of their profits during the past year, fully justified them in dividing that sum—in the first department, the profits on the British branch being £6,510, while on the American branch, they reached the sum of £18,533. That, however, he should observe, did not quite clear what they had written off from the American business in previous years, but was within £2,000 or £3,000 of it. During the present half-year, the American business had not gone on quite as well, there being only a profit of £2,000 after deducting all the losses they had heard of up to the present period. But in re gard to the dividend and bonus, they proposed to divide the money in this way :—The dividend and bonus would both amount to £23,176 ss, and income-tax to £1,545 is Bd. They were engaged in making some necessary altera tions on their business premises in Lombard -street, London, which would cost some £4,000, and that sum they proposed to take not from the capital of the company, but from the net profits of the year. They then proposed to write off £2,000 against the building in Liverpool, which now standing at £17,000, would then stand at £15,000, a sum at which the directors considered they might be allowed to remain. Deducting all these amounts, there would then remain £12,127 19s I Id, which they proposed to carry to the reserve fund. It was stated in the report of last year, that fund then stood at £68,000, and with the reserve now to be carried over to it, would amount to £BO,OOO ; but as it was the opinion of persons well-informed in such matters, that the reserve should at least amount to one year's premiums, he trusted that it would soon swell up to that figure, a nd that it wou ld equal their annual premiums, which now stood at £130,000. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bramley-Moore : M.P., seconded the motion. He observed that the report so fully explained the position of the company, that his duty was a very simple one, and in fact he rose merely for the purpose of identifying himself with it, and also with the statements which had fallen from the Chairman. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The Chairman then moved that the retiring directors, whose names will he found in the report, be re-elected. Mr. Charles Mosley seconded the motion. He considered that the company had been conducted to its present favourable position by the gentlemen who had hitherto the management of its affairs, and he trusted that it would not be considered ungracious on his part, or in any way depre ciatory of their services, if he for a moment departed from the resolution, to call the attention of the meeting to the propriety of occasionally introducing new blood into the direction. He would remind them that when a direction continued for a lengthened period, they became wedded to peculiar opinions and peculiar views, and that circumstance frequently marred the progress of the concern. He did not mean to imply that this had been the effect in this instance, but it was well to rememb er th e t en d ency of such a system, and occasionally to introduce new men into the direction, whose influence and position would be advantageous to the company, The motion was unanimously adopted. Mr. William Titherington and Mr. John Dickenson, were re-elected auditors. On the motion of Mr. David Lamb, seconded by Mr. W. Titherington, thanks were unanimously voted to the directors im acknowiedgment of their services. The Chairman moved that the thanks of the meeting be also given to the directors and secretary of the London branch, and also to the local board at New York, Mr. George Horsfall seconded the motion, and in doing so, took the opportunity to say, that he fully concurred in the remarks whichohad fallen from Mr. Mosley, as to the necessity of introducing new blood into the directors. He could assure them, that since he had been a member of the board, it had been the study of the directors to look for such men who, from their position and connection, would on the direction lead to an increase of the business of the company, The motion was unanimously adopted, The Chairman then moved that the special thanks of the maeting be gi ven to the manager, Mr. Dove, of whose services he could not speak too highly, and also to Mr. Gray, the secretary, and the other officers of the company. Mr. Mosley begged to be allowed to second the motion, and observed, that from his intercourse with Mr. Dove, he was convinced of his ability, and of his peculiar fitness for the important position which he held. As for his courtesy and urbanity, they were known to all. (Hear, hear.) The motion was unanimously adopted. Mr. Dove, in acknowledging the compliment, referred t(t the government returns of insurance companies, and observed, that whenever the Press would more ful'y analyse them, it would be found, that not only in the fire branch, but also in the life branch, the Royal Insurance Company maintained the position not only in success, hut in the moderate expenses with which it carried on that business, The amount of their expenses, including their preliminary expenses, did not exceed 15 per cent. ; but when the government returns were fully analysed, it would be found that the expenses of other c,mpanies varied from 40 per cent, to 80 per cent., and that in some instances, he was sorry to say, they had amounted from 200 per cent. to 400 per cent., from the time of their establish ment. The registration of the accounts of insurance companies, under the authority of government, and subse quent publication, were destined to do much (rood. The public were beginning to understand them, an I would be able to tell how a life company stood ; and, henceforward, he expected that no life insurance company, whose expenses bore a large proportion to its premiums, would command either their support or confidence. In conclusion, he mentioned that within the last month the increase of their business exceeded that of any other month in the history of the company. The meeting then separated. FRIGHTFUL SUFFERINGS OF EMIGRANTS ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DEATHS. The T, tie Californian gives the following account of the dreadful sufferings endured by the passengers who left New York in April last for California, by way of Nicaragua : The steamer Oriz tba left New York on the Bth of April, with some five hundred passengers for California, by way of Nicaragua. On the 16th she arrived at San Juan, and the passengers disembarked. By means of open boats they started up the river, during a soaking rain. The exposure caused them much suffering. When they arrived at Castilla they were informed that the transit across the country was closed ; and after two days' delay, during which they were constantly exposed to the weather, they were told that if they chose they could return to New York ; but only fifteen minutes were allowed them; and as they were compelled to abandon their baggage in case they concluded to go bick three hundred of the passengers determined to push on. They were taken to Granada, where they were detained a month, notwithstanding that an epidemic was prevailing there. Here the most fearful disease commenced to rage among them. In four weeks seventy-nine of the three hundred were buried. During this time they suffered every privation —many were without means, and those who had money were compelled to put up with extortion and robbery it every hand. On the 20th of May, in the evening, news reached Granada of the arrival of the Sierra Nevada at San Juan del Sur, and three hours were given the surviving passengers, sick and well, to get on board the Lake steamer. At the time it was pouring rain and pitch dark. The sick were carried down in the best manner possible. all getting thoroughly drenched. Upon reaching the landing of the Lake steamer they were kept in the rain until all had exhi bited their tickets, which detained them several hours. Finally all were crowded on board, but before morning three of the sick died and were sent on shore. On the Lake steamer the scene is described as having been dreadful. The passengers were crowded together like sheep in a penn. There was scarcely room for the sick to lie down. Fur nineteen hours tl.ey were thus confined, suffering every tor ture of body and of mind ' • several poor wret c h es gave up the ghost on th e b oat , and others died while attempting the journey from the Lake to San Juan. After they embarked in the Sierra Nevada the sickness broke out again, and during the passage from San Juan to this port thirty-three deaths occurred. The sufferings on board the Sierra Nevada beggar all description The officers of the steamer did all in their power to alleviate their suffering., but that was little. No time was last in disposing of the dead, a n d th e body was hardly a ll owe d t o ge t cold before it was thrown overboard. The safety of the living demanded that there should be no unnecessary detention of the dead. The Sierra Nevada arrived at San Francisc ) on the 6th of June. THE CHARGE OF ATTEMPT TO MURDER A CLERGYMAN At the Warwick Assizes, on Thursday, held before Mr. Justice Cresswell, the Rev. Patrick King, aged 37, curate of Aston Juxta, Birmingham, was charged with having, at Lapworth, on the 30th of May, unlawfully and feloniously attempted to drown and suff.)cate one Arthur Dawson, with intent then and there feloniously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, the said Arthur Dawson to kill and murder. Mr. Bittleston was for the prosecution, and Mr. O'Brien for the defence: Mr. Bittleston commented upon the lamentable nature of the case, made more so by the circumstance of the person charged being a clergyman, and he urged them to form their judgment entirely upon the evidence given, dismissing any prepossessions from their minds. Walter Wood said, lam a farm servant at Lapworth. I found a child by the side of a road, about eighty yards from my master's house. It was near a pit with water in it. I afterwards pointed out to Mr. J. Wild and Mr. Eborall the exact spot where I found the child. It was on a bank sloping down to the water. There is a cart hovel at the top of the slope. It was about•five o'clock. I fetched Eliza Haddleton, a fellow servant. We looked to see if we could find anybody, but did not. We fetched the young mistress, and then Haddleton took away the child. It was lying on its back, sideways, towards the water. Cross-examined: I made no mark when I found the child. By the Judge : The hank was grass, rather long. It had not moved from where I first saw it when I went back with Eliza Iladdleton. Eliza Haddleton : I am a fellow servant of last witness. On the afternoon of the 30th of May my attention was called to a child by the last witness. It was on a hank sloping towards the water. I afterwards pointed out the place as near as I could. I took the child away, after telling the mistress. Soon afterwards I gave it to Sarah Gilks. By the Judge: The road leads to Lownsomford. A great many people go that way. My master has a large farm there, and four servants. Sarah Gilks : lam wife of Abel Gilks, of Lapworth. I went to Mr, King's, of Lapworth, on the afternoon of the 30th of May, I reeeived a baby, which appeared unwell. James Wild, constable, Solihull, said—On the 24th of June last I went to the house of Mr. Bing, of Lapworth, and thence to the place pointed out by Wood and Haddle ton. It is about ninety odd yards from the house. I measured the distance from the spot pointed out, to the edge of the water. It was about three feet seven. In my lodgment the incline was about a foot. The body was fcund about eight feet from the track of wheels. It was about five feet from the hovel. It was short grass when I saw it. I measured the depth of the pond. It was eleven inches at the edge of the water, and got gradually deeper till it was seven feet. By the Judge : The slope continued upwards as well as downward, Sarah Gilks recalled : I afterwards gaVe the child to the governor of the workhouse. The Judge spoke to Mr. Bittleston, who intimated that he did not think the full charge could be sustained. His Lordship then observed to the jury that the intention to murder by drowning appeared out of the question by the description. Whatever were the other facts of the ease, it was essential to make out that whoever put that child upon the bank did so for the purpose of its rolling into the water. The slope, it appeared, was on ly one f oot, and it certainly seemed that a child not more than a month old would be incapable of struggling sufficiently to get into the water. It would not be safe for them to say that the placing such a child in that position brought the prisoner within the !boas of the act of Parliament, He 'should, therefore, ommend them to acquit him. The jury accordingly found a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner then pleaded guilty to a common assault. His Lordship said that in so serious a matter he should take time to consider what sentence should be passed. THE COURT-MARTIAL ON LIEUTENANT J. F. DOUGAL.— Lieutenant Dougal, 90th Highland Borderers Stirling. Militia, who was lately sentenced by a general court martial, held at Edinburgh Castle, to be cashiered, has, in consideration of his youth and inexperience; received her Majesty's gracious pardon. GALLANT ACT OF AN OFFICER OF THE PE➢iBROKE.- Shortly after leaving Bermuda, in the middle watch, a seaman fell overboard. The second master, Mr. Scudamore, without a moment's hesitation and in the darkness of the night, instantly plunged into the sea, and held the drowning man up until further assistance was rendered. SALE OF MR. MARE'S WORKS AT BLACRWALL.—The freehold and leasehold property, with fixed plant and machinery, forming the iron ship-building 'works of Mr. Mare, at Blackwall, was disposed of by public auction, on Wednesday, at the Auction Mart, under an order in bank ruptcy. It was stated that the property cost Mr. Mare £160,000. The attendance was very nomerous. There was only one bid, £55.000, from Mr. Rolt, M.P., to whom the property was knocked down. DISASTER TO HER MAJESTY'S STEAM-TRANSPORT PEASE vERANcher E,—Her Majesty' s steam -ship Perseverance, in leaving moorings, under th e C oradino Heights, at about a.m , on the 21st July, on departure for England, with 410 invalids from the East, Shaved the shores too closely and ran bow o n t o Isola, or Senglea Point, where she con tinued hard and fast on the departure of the mail at noon on 23rd, notwithstanding the discharge of her troops, stores, fuel e , water, &c., and th e united steam force and power of th Magicienne, Dragon, Argo, and Sheerwater, to move her. A number of cables, hawsers, and warps have been parted in the attempt. Serious injury cannot, it is feared, but have been sustained in her bottom and keel, although the rocks are by no means rugged. LONDON GAZETTE. BANKRUPTS.—JOSEPH EYSE, and RICHARD WHIP% PEN, George yard,' Milton street, city, carman. JAMES GATHERCOLE, Eltham, Kent, envelopemanufacturer and. wan e m anufacturer. THOMAS STERNBERG, Northampton, i merchant. J ONATHAN BIRCUMSHAW, New Lenton, Nottinghamshire, l ace manufacturer. WILLIAM BUTTON, Leafless, Erith, Kent, builder. DUNCAN HAIRS, Saint Martin's lane, West m i nster, seedman and florist. BENJAMIN BRows, Burton, S omersetshire, grocer and baker. HENRY PEARD REED, and RICHARD IVENS, Bristol, ship brokers, oil and colour merchants, and sailmakers. JONAS SMITH and BENJ IMLN CRANE, late of Great St. Helens, city, and of Sebastopol, Crimea, Russia, Europe, dealers. FREDERICK WILLIAM MOSS, Vauxhall walk, Vauxhall, veterinary urgeon. THE ROYAL. INSURANCE COMPANY.- ANNUAL MEETING -YESTERDAY. The ordinary annual meeting of the Royal Insurance Company was held at the Head Offices, North John-street, at eleven o'clock yesterday. The Chairman of the Company, Charles Turner, Esq., presided. The Manager, Mr. Percy M. Dove, read the notice calling the meeting, and the ANNUAL REPORT In presenting to the shareholders of the Royal Insurance Company statements of the result of its business,, it has happily been the unvarying theme of the Directors hitherto to announce a profit at the conclusion of earl, successive year, which has not only yielded a liberal dividcild on the capital employed, but which has afforded an annual aiiditimi of more or less importance to the reserve fund. It is satisfactory to add that the only variation in the duty of the directors on this occasion is to present a statement exhibiting a still more favourable result than it has ever been their good fortune to announce for a like period of time, since the commencement of the business of the'establishment. FIRE DEPARTMENT.--•The fire premiums received for the year 1855 amount to £130,060 lis 11d. Although this sum exceeds by only about £1,600 the amount collected during the preceding year, it yet displays, more strikingly than even the advances of former years, the power of extension which the company continues to preserve. The truth of this state ment is demonstrated by the fact, that the increase of revenue referred to has been obtained, notwithstanding that, by the extinction of some agencies altogether, and by the increased care, if possible, exercised in others, at least £20,000 of revenue has been voluntarily abandoned. The probability of the continued growth of the company, arising from a corres ponding increase of the confidence of the public, needs but this further illustration, viz., that notwithQtanding the continued exercise of these principles of cautionary vs.riction, the premiums for the first six months of the year 1856, excoed by more than £lO,OOO the amount for the same months of the past year. But the result of the account, as it appears by the balance to the credit of profit and loss, will, it is hoped, be received with equal satisfaction to the announcement of the progressive increase of the gross revenue. Although the losses on the home business have been heavy, and materially affect that branch, yet, on the othor hand, the absence of any losses, beyond a very moderate average on the American account, leaves a balance of profit on tho entire transactions of the twelve months, ending December, 1855, far exceeding that of any former year. The decision Of the directors to extend their business as widely as the dictates of prudence would permit, and controlled alone by the restraints adverted to, has already tended to produce that greater uniformity of periodical result which it was expected to effect. The small profit attending the English business during the past year would probably have produced some diEcouragement at this time, if it had not been fully compensated by the satisfactory result of the American business. Whilst the British branch, irrespective of interest, shows a profit of only £6,510 18s sd, the profit on the American branch reaches a sum of £18,533 is 9d,—the interest for the year amounting to £17,805 6s sd. LIP?, DEPARTMENT.—With respect to the life branch, it is hardly a matter of surprise that the additions made to the exist ing policies in that department in August last, in the shape of a bonus of unusual extent, should have attracted the attention of the public, both of the United Kingdom and elsewhere. It is, however, beliesfed, that few could possibly have anticipa`ed such an increase of business as has accrued to the company since that time. The following is a statement respectively of the new life business effected in the year immediately preceding, and that which followed the declaration of the bonus : No of Policies. Sums Assured. Premium? In the former year. viz , to June, 1855, Inclusive.. In the latter year, viz to June, 1856, inclusive 396 46166,864 3 4 464,567 18 11 654 £288,681 14 1 e 8,370 16 10 Showing an Increase of 258 W 121,817 10 9 £3,852 17 11 Comparing these amounts, it will be found that the premiums on new life assurances, for the year ending 30th June last, exceed those for the year ending June 1855, by no less than 83 per cent., whilst for the purpose of showing that the impetus given to the business was not of a mere transitory kind, it may be useful to add that, for the last three months of the present year (viz, kpril, May, and June,) the premiums on new policies actually show an advance of 243 per cent, over the amount for the same months of the preceding year. The increase of the annuity and endowment accounts (hitherto forming but small branches of the business) presents a still more striking contrast, comparing past years with the last twelve or eighteen months. The purchase money for annuities received in 1855 exceeds that of the preceding year more than three-fold, whilst the amount of premium for endowments received even within the last six months is 297 per cent. in advance of the entire year 1855. GENERAL.--The progress and the results of the business, both fire and life, for the six months recently expired of the preoent year, which are Hut included ill the accoun;s which will be read to you, are equally satisfactory, During that period, the losses, contrary to the result of the preceding year, have taken place far more in America and other foreign parts than in this country. Yet, notwithstanding this circumstance, both the American and British branches have each yielded some profit in the time, insomuch that the estimated amount to the credit of profit and loss towards the account of the running year, including interest, is £23,920. It is, however, worthy of notice, that the anticipations of the amount of profit to accrue during those six months, were much disturbed by the occurrence of successive losses within a week or two of its termination. Indeed, the experience of the company has, in this respect, and on more than one occasion accorded with that of insurances offices of older growth ; though in the case ofthe Royal Insurance Company, it is gratifying to add, but to a very moderate extent. It has however taught the useful lesson that in such establishments, more perhaps than in any other, the principles of a continuous prudence can never with safety be abandoned, even for a single moment, as the contingencies of a few days may to a great extent, sweep away the expectations of a year, DIVIDEND AND BoNus : It will he remembered, that in declaring the additional bonus of is 6d per share out of the life profits last year, the board of directors carefully guarded against any expectation being raised that the result of a valua tion only to be made quinquennially should form an annual precedent. Nevertheless, the profits of the year under review have been so satisfactory, the directors consider that they will not be violating the principles of just prudence in now propos ing to the proprietors that, in addition to a dividend of 3s per share, a bonus of 2s per share be declared, both free of income tax. When it is borne in mind that this division of 5s per share is made on original shares of £2 paid up, not more than eleven years since, it is conceived that no argument is needed to prove, that the institution has fully realised all reasonable expectation of its success that may have been formed by the proprietors. BOARD or DIRECTORS.—The only change in the board during the past year consists in the appointment of Thomas Darnley Anderson, Esq., as a director. He, together with the following directors now retire, and are all eligible for re election, viz :—Ralph Brocklebank, E sq ., Mi c h ae l B ousf i eld, Esq., Thomas Dover, Esq , Robert E. Harvey, Esq., Wil liam John M arr ow, Esq., F ranc i s M axwe ll , E sq. RESUME. —lt is now shown by the result, that it was not without full consideration of the favourable aspect of your affairs, as respects the future, the directors ventured on the anticipation in their last report : " That the two great branches of your business would henceforth act with reciprocal benefit on each other, and that the success of each would be equally favourable and progressive." Indeed, there is abundant evi dence to show that the favourable notices which have been taken of the company during the last year, to an extent entirely without parallel, consequent on the success of the life fund and the large bonus it has been able to afford, have not only procured to that branch an increase of business to the extent announced, but has given a fresh impulse to the fire de plrtment. It has, in fact, created a large addition to a revenue which had already arrived in magnitude at a point to which only some two or three out of all the numerous companies established in the empire, durin g the last 150 years, have attained. It is believed that the statement of the growing extension of the company's receipts could not have had a more perfect corrobo• ration than that which has opportunely been presented by the " Government Returns of Assurance Companies," published under parliamentary authority, within the last few days. An inspection of the accounts contained therein will reveal the fact, not only that the Royal Insurance Company far exceeds in its fire business all other companies subsequently estab lished, but that, with the exception of one London company founded under the auspices of the legal profession, the amount of fire premium stated in this report to have been freely declined by this company in the year 1855, exceeds, in itself alone, an entire moiety of the largest, and is actually more than the total revenue of most fire insurance companies established within the last eleven years. The directors have never made a report of the affairs of the company with a clearer conviction that its statements will give entire satisfac tion to the proprietors, and full confidence to the public. 26th July, 1856. CHARLES TURNER, Chairman. The Chairman said, he thought no statement was required from him to elucidate the report, which placed before the proprietors so fully and clearly the situation of -heir con cerns, and he thought—indeed he had every eo-al ea p e _ that on the whole they would be well satisfied with the position which the Royal Insurance Company had attained, and would consider that position, at least, some proof that the board of directors, the manager, and the officers generally, had attended to their duties and to the pro prietors' interests. With respect to the life business he had scarcely any remark to make. The business had gone on making very satisfactory progress. The result of the division they made last year had been productive of very great benefit to the company, and in every respect the life business was going on fully as well as the mo , t sanguine expectations could have predicted. With respect to the fire business, it would he very wrong of him to complain of any want of success, because he believed that their success had been greater than that of almost any other company which had been established. (Hear, hear.) But v y et, at the same time, he thou g ht, considering the very high vsition which the Royal Tnsurance Company had attained, there might, perhaps, be felt some little disappointment at the general result of the business. But, in truth, his experience taught him that which was so fully confirmed by the returns made to government—that fire insurance was a business which was not attended with the very extraordinary profits some parties might expect, who were only imperfectly acquainted I with the subject. The returns made to government under POLICE CO*URT.-YESTERDAT 1MM1M.M1M......a,,.. (BEFOI tE MR. BENN.) IA "BIG DRINK" PREVENTED.—John Gibney, a man in the employment of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, was charged •with stealing a large jar full of port e 7 from some casks at the Clarence dock. The prisrme; hld the jar containing the porter hidden under som e oii_ c sloths, and whey he got an opportunity, he was taking :t away. He was sent to gaol for fourteen days STREET RoßßECY;—Daniel Grady was charged with having knocked dow -a and attempted to rob John Dalziel, of his watoli, in Sh:tw's-alley. The prosecutor was the street, when he w as a tt ac k e d standing at the corn er or ' by the prisoner and an o ther person (not i n cus t o d y ) , and both endeavoured to rob him of his watch, but he , 3 held the prisoner until assist ant . arrived. The pris oner was remanded. 'fliere were a few public-house and beer-house cases disposed of, but the details were totally devoid of interest. __. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD. INTERESTING TO P A WNBROKERS.—Mr. Mason, p awn . broker, of Grafton-stre e t, app e a r ed on sum m , ons to an swer atn . ant the complaint of a l a b ourer na me d Wi Kennedy, under the foll ow i ng c i rcums t ances. Th e co , napl pledged a watch an d c h a i n a t d efen d ant ' s office so,.‘le time ago, but when he went to release it, a few days sinct.'l he learned that it had been given up to his wife, from w).'om he is separated. Ile gave no authority to his wife to Obtain it, and be accordingly now summoned Mr. Mason for the value of it. Mr. Aspinall appeared for the defend ant, and stated that the woman had come to the office and reprevnted that she had been sent by her husband, who she said had unfortunately lost the ticket. In proof of the latter statement she produced a magistrates' c , rtificote, upon which the watch was given up to her. Mr. Mansfield under these circumstances dismissed the summons, and rocom. mended that the woman should be prosecuted for the false representation. A MODERN CHESTERFIELD AND A DOUBTFUL R.LICRIVAN. —Capt. M'Lean of the Gilbert Munroe, lying in the Canning dock, was summoned by Constable No. 110, for having a light in the cabin beyond the prescribed hour. and also for not having a watchman to guard cotton which was expoved on deck. Captain M'Lean : It is my first visit to Liverpool, and I regret to say, sir, that it will not he a pleasing reminiscence of my debut here, to be thus subjected to these pains and penalties. (Laughter.) Mr. Mansfield : But the dock regulations must be preserved. Captain M'Lean : The dock regulations ! They seem to me, sir, to be traps to enable people to get their hands into my pockets. (Laughter.) lam a stranger here, and the light was only ten minutes burning. The Policeman : It was more than an hour beyond the time, and when I told him of the rule, he said—" I protest against all rules and regulations of the dock authorities." (Laughter.) Capt. M'Lean : I have now, sir, a most important question to put to the constable. Have I the permission of the court to ask it ? Mr. Mansfield : Certainly. Captain M'Lean : Now, constable. do me the favour to attend to my question. (Laughter.) Had you, seeing the light, came into my cabin in a gentlemanly manner, and said—" Sir, you are a stranger to our port; you are now, from ignorance no doubt, violating its rules; the regulations are so and so, and if you continue to violate them, it will be my unpleasant duty to lay informations against you, and your unpleasant necessity to pay the penalty—had you said that, do you know that as a gentleman I would have received your admonition with respect, and have thanked you for your kindness ?" Police man : I don't know it —indred I doubt it. (Great laughter.) The captain was for the moment quite "taken aback" by the scepticism of the constable, and in silence submitted to the nominal find of ls. which was imposed. Policeman : As to the other charge he was asked by several watchmen to take them, but he answered that he required " a sober and discreet person"— (lahter) —and he feared they were no t t h at. Captain M'Lean : But I have a dog whose sobriev cannot be doubted, and his discretion is equally great. (Laughter.) nr. Mansfield : But his discretion would not have p:evented the cotton from' taking fire. A fine of is was also imposed in this case. Captain 111'Lean : I am afraid you will have to take my person. 1 have got no money. Perhaps the witoess, as my particular friend, would lend it. (Laughter.) The con stable's sceptrcism as to the wisdom of makinr, the advance under sach circumst ances , appear i ng to be of the positive character, Mrs. M`Lean, who sat by her husband, supplied him with the requisite amount. The captain, whose flowery e'oquence and Chesterfield manner, caused much amusement in court, then withdrew. COUNTY COURT-YESTERDAY (BEFORE JOSEPH POLLoCK, ESQ., JUDGE.) To WHOM D() A. SHIP'S SWERPINGS BELONG? —AUSTIN V. STEVENS.—In this case, the plaintiff, Thomas Austin, of 51, Summer Street, purchased from the defendant Stevens, the mate of the ship Clarissa Bird, the cotton pickings and the corn sweepings of the cargo, for which he had paid the sum of £B, the mate promising that they should be delivered at the dock gate. On the faith of this promise the sweepings were taken at an additional cost of £3 4s, but were stopped at the dock gate by order of the merchant to whom the cargo was consigned. As it was understood that the plaintiff was about to go to sea, application was made for immediate payment, which was granted. On the other hand the defendant requested to have the case fully gone into, but his Honour refused to accede to the request, and after reprobating the conduct of the defendant for taking the money, and not refunding it under the accusa tions, ordered immediate execution to issue for the amount claimed, and for £2 8s 21 the expenses incurred, or fourteen days' imprisonment. The amount was paid into court. A CAPTAIN NOT ALWAYS LIABLE.—MONTGOMERY V. TOBIN—This was an action to which some little importance was attached, as the decision involved a question as to the actual liability of the captain of a vessel. The plaintiff is Mr. James Montgomery, who formerly carried on business on his own account, bat is now trading under the firm of Montgomery, Fox, & Co., ship-store dealers. The defendant is Captain James Tobin, formerly of the Henry Gardner, but now of the Ocean Chief, the Black 1331 i liner, which is to sail on the sth instant. The claim was for £2 14s 9d, for sherry, whiskey, &c., in October and November, 1851. Mr. Rime conducted the case for the plaintiff. A person in the employ stated that the order was given, and the goods were delivered on board the Henry Gardner. From the way the business of the establishment was conducted, ho believed that the order was given by the defendant verbally —or when orders were given by the owners, they were invariably given on printed forms. He had searched all the papers, and had been unable to find any printed order, therefore he assumed that the order was given by the defendant. The delivery of the goods was admitted. Captain Tobin was then called, and he said : All I have to say is that I know nothing whatever about the matter. I never gave any order for the articles for myself, for this reason, if I had, the plaintiff would not have let me bad them, as I was a stranger to him, I believe that the plaintiff had a written order, and that OA goods were supplied to the owners. His D:o nour Do you mean that you gave any order yourself Captain Tobin : I never gave the order for myself. When the order was given it was on b ehalf of the owners. Unfor tunately, I have lost a great d ea l hy the failure of the owner of the Henry Gardner, and I suppose that the plaintiff, fail. ing to get the amount from that source, had applied to him. His Honour said there was not the smallest tittle of a case against Capt. Tobin, in fact, he bad no right to be brought here, after a lapse of five years. His Honour then nonsuited the plaintiff and awarded the costs of the day to the defendant. THE SLAVE TRADE.—In the Court of Admiralty at Sierra Leone on the Ist of July, the case was heard of a brigantine, name unknown, captured by her Majesty's ship Teazer, off St. Paul's Loando, between which and Congo she was observed standing in for the land. She is a remarkably fast vessel, and is fitted with a slave deck, about 150 water casks, a quantity of rice, Indian corn, calavances, &c. The space between the slave-deck and the ceiling is 27 inches !it is supposed she would have carried away from 500 to 600, human beings. She was condemned. l sortly fake place betwe en L ord Raglan MARRIAGES SN HIGH LIFE.—A m a t r i niOnial alliance is n r d a the d L w G i e h l orgiana Lygon, (lau ghter of Licut - G eneral and r ne La n d d y the Earl Beauchamp. A marriage is also on between the Hon. and Rev . George *Wellesley the lapin Windsor, and the Hon. Miss Montagu, daughter' Dean of of Major- General Lord Rokeby. TnE PATHER Or " THE COMMONS ."--The forthcoming dinner to Sir C. M. Burrell, Bart., M.P. the Father of the House of Commons, which is to he given in West Grinstead Park, on the ] 4th August, to celebrate the fiftieth annives of the occup a ti on by Sir Charles of a seat in sary Parliament for Shoreham, will, we believe, be of a most substantial and extensive character. There is no other instance on record of a member of the House of Commons ocellny'ing the same seat for half a century. Instances are tcoown of members, such as Mr . B yng, o f Middlesex, occupying seats for so long a period, but during that time they have not represented one constituency, but have sat for three or four places. THE WESLEYAN Co FEHErics. —At the Wesleyan there were three candidates for the Conference, which commenced its sittings at Bristol, on Robert Young, the Rev. John Wednesday morning p ß r o e w si e d r e s nt e sb. n i d p — the th ß e ev ii . ev i. B. West. The election fell upon the first-named, gentleman. The Rev. Dr. Hannah was appointed secretary. STEAM COMMUNICATION *WITH AFRlQA.—Accounfs from Lisbon state that a concession has lately been granted to a M. Philoppon for three separate lines of steamers from Lisbon to the Al g arv es, Azores, and Africa, and that the project is about to be introduced on the London market. MURDOCK, THE CONDEMNED CONVICT.—In the case of Murdock (now under sentence of death) for the murder of Weller], the Hasti ngs gaoler, at Lewes gaol, Mr. Sanders, theo gove ff's rnor, has recei ve d a commun i cat i on from the sheriace, stating that ther e i s no prospec t whatever of a rep;ieve, and that Tuesday, the sth of August, at twelve o ' clock at noon, is the time fixed for the execution of the criminal.