The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

PHOTOGRAPHY A CRIMINAL DETECTOR.

Irma to Chaste Doily Nail.)

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We lately tilled attention to the efraumstaioa that
Ceptaia Smelt, the superintendent of pollen in Glasgow,
ane/noised the introduction of &system of taking the por-
traits of the thieves end vagabonds who posed through his
hands, by the ;photographic process, for the peeper of faci-
litating their detection and of bringing them to point., in
the event of their removing to other /realities. We was
thee shown an earnest of that gentleman's intentions in •
very authentic likeness of an old Welab beggar, who had
bees picked up for sorbing. Binee that period, however, the
subject has been in abeyance.. From the first we saw it was
bent with difficulties, but we hesitated not to say that
thaw would disappear before the progress of the art, end
that photography wtnld eventually be t dto goad
amount in detecting sod repressing crime A shut
time ago en Edinburgh contemporary very clearly pointed
out the choose which crime had assumed since the intro-
, duetion of railroads and steamers. It had become mush
more migratory and peripatetic In its character. New
Blames of thieves had sprites up, designed to suit the
changed habits of the people, on the plunder of whom they
esisted. Ooe clue continuously travelled by steamer,
while soother was closely attached to railway sea-
tloas. This. never confined their operations to one part
of the country for any length of time, but were con-
I tinselly changing their habitats to avoid detection. Oar
contemporary proposed to meet this growing and
dangerous evil by establishing a national police, to
be composed of men who, without assuming any
distinctive uniform by which they could be reap
nised as police detectiees, might travel anywhere and
everywhere over the great channels of conveyance through.
out the country, and who would make it their study to
dodge, hunt down, and bring to justice those migratory
prof.saional thieves. The scheme is plausible, and well
fitted to root out the evil, but it is nevertheiese yet far
distant, for it could only be introdu ed by a considerable
change in the present police machinery of the country,
I which we see no early prospect of obtaining. As an ap
proxinetion to this system, however, the photographic
plea offers great advantages, in illUtration of which we
might give a ease which occurred last week, when a
young man and woman were convicted before one of
our police courts of shoplifting, and sent for sixty days to
prison. The offence was a grave one, and the award was
the extreme limit the magistrate could give. The prisoners
were total strangers to the police. One gientlenian how.
ever, connected with the detective force, perhaps frcm zoo.
five, of curiosity, communicated a minute description of
them to the Dublin police, suspecting from the accent of
the prisoners that they came from that city. The result
proved that the man had been no less than eighteen times
in prison in Dublin, twelve of these for thefts, and the
woman six times in prison for the same offence; in short,
that they were professional thieves, who had just changed
the scene of their predations from Dublin to Glasgow.
Had this been known before their can was disposed of
they could have been dealt with u habit and repute
thieves, bat under the present system they may pan
on from one locality to another, reaming the 011017//
of the petty courts, and being treated a persons
brought up for the first time, instead of being
transferred ta the highest criminal court in the country,
and disposed of in terms of their deserts. Now, the aid
photography would give in discover'ng the real character
of such offenders will be at once apparent. A mutual
interchange of portraits of noted thieves would fnrm a most
valuable and interesting pertinent of the police establish-
ment of • great city. The question of expense will soon
disappear before the following evidence of one who has
tested the photographic process in the way we have indi-
I rated : Mr. J. A. Gardiner, the Governor of the Bristol
Gaol, has just addressed a circular letter to the governors of
others of her Majesty's gaols in the United Kingdom, in
which he states:

" The advaLtsges which I have myself seen derived from
the use of photography as an aid to the administration of
criminal joetice are such that I am induced to make an
elf irt to procure its general adoption throughout the king
dom. The importance of being 'babied in the cases of all
hardened criminals to prove previous convictions must be
too self-evident to dwell upon ; neither dose it require ergo-
ment to show that the difficulties hitherto in the way of
such proofs have been always numerous and often insur-
mountable. When the convict has been sent back for •
second time to the same gaol the required evidence has
been easily procurable, but it is well known to all who have
been concerned is criminal administration that the most
cunning, the most skilled, arid the most daring offenders
are migratory in their habits ; that they do not locate them-
selves in a particular town or district, but extend their
ravages to wherever there is the most open field for crime,
or where the chances of plunder most present themselves ;
i that this is the case will be attested by the police of almost
every large city, whose experience wilt havetailed to connect
the most extensive and best planned robberies with their
resident known thieves. A knowledge of the foregoing troths
induced me a few years ago to desiderata some mode by
which descriptions of committed prisoren suspected of pre-
vious coevictions might be circulated among the governors
of leading gaols, but numerous difficulties at first presented
themselves ; periodical visits of inspection might be useful,
hut theillfinould have two great disadvantages—first, they
would withdraw the.governor or confidential officer too fre-
quently from his gaol duties; end, secondly,they would entail
expenses which the counties could not bear. Written de-
scriptions, in very marked cues, might be effective; but
as in the great majority of instances it would Wfound int-
poesible to make them sufficiently precise, they would only
tend, where persons were sent to identify, to frequent die.
appointosints and useless expense. Photography then sug-
gested itself to my mind, and it became at once apparent
that if I could devise some means of making the operation
sufficiently sudden, I might, in Kona of cases, even with-
out the koowkdge of the prisoner, procure his likeness, a
very icon of himself, of which, being capable of multiplica-
tion to any extent, I might transmit a copy to wherever it
might promise to lead to useful results. Twelve months'
continuous steely of the system has enabled me to perfect it.
I have now an apparatus in my gaol which I use daily. I
have rendered it most subservient to the object for which it
was designed, and through its use have brought to justice
several hardened offenders who, being unknown in my
neighbourhood, would otherwise have escaped with inade-
quate punishment. J. H. came into the Bristol gaol upon
commitment for trial a perfect stranger to me and my
officers ; he was well attired, but very illiterate ; the state
of his hands convinced me that he had not done any
hard wore, while the superiority of his apparel over his
attainments led me to suspect that he was a practised
thief ; I forwarded his likeness te several places, and soon
received information that he bad been convicted in
London and Du'lin. The London officer who recog-
nised him by his portrait was subpcenaedu a witness, picked
him out from among thirty or forty other prisoners,
and gave evidence on his trial in October last which lea the
Recorder to sentence him to six years' penal servitude.
J. D. came to the gaol wholly unknown. His person end
manners induced me to suspect that it was not his first
appearance in a place of confinement; and having mode
several copies of his portrait, I sent them round to the
governors of diffmnt prisons. He was recognised as having
been convicted at Wells; the neomeary witness was cob-
pcenaed, his former conviction proved, and he was sentenced
te four pram' penal servitude. I could mention several
instances in which some most notorious thieves,
strangers to this part, have been brought to profer
punishment. Such having been my own experience, I now
appeal to the governors of other gaols to aid me in carry-
ing out the system upon a broad and a national scale
The cost of an apparatus complete will not exceed 101., and
it may be worked at an expense of about 51. per annum. I
have only to add my wish that you should bring this com-
munication under the notice of your visiting justices, and
to u., should the authorities of any district consider that I
can help them, by instructing their officers in the exercise
of this most useful art, I shall be happy to do so."
It is almost unnecessary for us to add that the letter of
Mr. Giardinar is worthy of very serious consideration ; for
everybody will BIN the force of turning the most recent
coveries of science to account In ameliorating an evil of such
stupendous magnitude, and which stares us in the face in
the record of preceedings in every criminal court in the
kingdom.—Glaagow Daily Mail.

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT
WISTERN RAILWAY.—On Monday an adjourned inquest
was held upon the body of Elisabeth Herniate, who had
been killed by the tyre flying off one of the wheels of • rail-
way engine. It appeared that the deceased and her master,
Mr. Lees, boat-builder. were standing on the platform of
the Swan Village station, when the 8-5 p.m. express train,
going at the rate of 40 miles an hour, from Birmingham,
came up. Just as It reached the plain where they were
standing the tyre of the driving wheel flew off„ knocked up
part of the platform, a heavy splinter from which appears
to have struck the deceased so violently on the head that
she was conveyed bleeding into one of the waiting rooms,
where, despite medical attention, she died half an hour
afterwards. Her master was struck down senseless, bat
sustained no serious injury. It appeared that new tyres
had been put upon the wheels of the engine a short time
pieviously, and the driver of the engine stated that
he examined the engine before starting, and saw
nothing out of order. Thomas Chellingworth, civil
engineer, said the tyre was 2j inches thick by 5g inches
breed. Winien found it bad been broken through, but
net at the weld. The fracture had been straight across,
and in consequence of this it could not have been broken at
the weld, as the latter was in the form of aV. The thick-
ness of the iron woe sufficient for a tyre. The outside of
the iron, of which the tyre was composed, appeared good,
but in the interior of the iron the fibres had not extended,
and there was a flaw in the iron; where the defect existed
the iron could not hold together. He was of opioion that
when the tyre was placed on the wheel the flaw could not
have been detected, and it would not in all probability
have been seen by thine who rolled the troy.—John Thomas,
who placed the tyre on the wheel, was next examined, and
proved that no defect was visible when the iron was put on
the wheel. Verdict, " Accidental Death."— Wolverhamp-
ton Chronicle.

THE RECENT POULTRY SHOW AT MANCHESTER.—
The Manchester Guardian says that this show was, pecu-
niarily, • perfect failure. Instead of • surplus In hand, to
be given in aid of the Patriotic Fund, there is • heavy defi-
ciency to be made good by the members of the msmmittes,
out of their own pockets. Before the show oesmerweed an
offer was made, as • speculation, to gin SPX fee the
four days' receipts; but the committee bad eatssiated that
the receipts woeld at least amount to 8001.. if set to 1,0001.
As it is, only 1851 ware taken during the few exitibi-
tioo. The committee, is their report, walla
of She abessee of the wealthier alarm

THE BOAR] OF TRADE RETURNS.

The Board of Trade lleturns for the month and
eleven months ending the sth of December last were
issued yesterday. The total declared value of the
exports of British and Irish pm:duce and manatee-
lures (including only the "enumerated articles ")
'during the month and eleven months, follows:
For tn. Month. For 11 Month,.
18.54 ...... .• £6.771,772
1853
1852
Including the " unenumerated articles" (which
have recently been included in the return, so far as
regards 1854 only) the month's exports in 1854
are raised to 6,608,4981., and those of the
eleven months to 89,747,8331. Confining our-
selves to the fairer comparison afforded by the
" enumerated" list we find that the month's exports
show the heavy decrease of 1,836,9881., compared
with the corresponding month of 1853, and a decrease
of 261,2581., compared with the same month of 1832.
The inference to be diawn from this comparison is,
that the war, coupled with the glutted state of the
Australian markets, is giving a decided check to our
exports. On the other hand, the exports of the
eleven months of 1854 have been only 1,710,6771. be-
low those of the corresponding eleven months of
1853, in spite of the enormous expansion of exports
by which this last-mentioned period was distin-
guished ; whilst a comparison with the eleven
months of 1852 exhibits a difference of no less than
13,793,704', in favour of 1854. On a general review
of the year, therefore, the comparison is highly satis-
factory, but the immediate tendency is evidently to-
wards a diminution of activity.
The leading items of export for the month are
stated as follows :
Month ending 6th Dee.
1852. 1863. 1864.
£. E.
Cotton manufactures 2,045,735 2,940,902 1,773,959
Cotton yarn
Linen _ _

,
... manufactures ~ 313;477 449,473 300,109
Linen yarn 111,460 90,358 80.466
Woollen manufactures 627,912 786,674 4(8.830
Woollen yarn 111,708 83,9,56 159,429
Silks (of all kinds)
Metals (of all kinds) 837,422 1,239,883 940,690
Leather, unwrought an
manufactured
Haberdashery and mil
liner,
Hardwares and cutlery . 744,681 3.37.138 290,921
Ones and calm
Boor and ale
Machinery and millwork 116,514 236,526 149,919
Stationery •
Wool
Oils

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The only exoeption to tho general decrease, as
compared with the same month of 1853, is in woollen
yarn and coals. The increase in the exports of this
latter article may be due in part to the requirements
of our naval expeditions on foreign service. The
diminution of activity in the Australian trade is
clearly traceable in the falling off in such articles as
have been chiefly in favour in those markets.

Annexed is a statement of the quantities of the
chief articles of food taken for consumption during
the month:

Month ending f:th December.

18.52. 1853. --ifiii.
Cocoa lbe. 240,777 414,642 443,173
Coffee lbs. 3,509,150 3,000,329 3,368,975
Wheat qrs. 405,446 412,628 114,907
Flour cots. 169,807 294,213 43,719
, Currants nom. 30,923 12,130 32,602
Butter cots. 20,608 35,310 38.443
IRics meta. 90,634 62,986 66,967
Pepper lbs. 3.52,793 298,233 467,260
Rum gals. 298,534 2)9,069 330.965
Brandy gals. 161,310 165,343 167,86.5
Sugar, unrefined,certa. 622,606 690,647 955,569
Tea lbs. 3,910,639 4,707,287 6,304,604
Tobacco lb.. 2,391,719 2,511,642 2.661,041
Wines gals. 615,413 600,716 626,429
The inferences to be drawn from these figures are
satisfactory, the ability of the population to consume
such large quantities:of foreign and colonial produce
furnishing ample proof that the general prosperity
of the country is unimpaired. The increase in coffee,
pepper, sugar, and tea is remarkable. In cocoa,
tobacco, wines, and other articles of luxury the
movement is also favourable. The consumption of
foreign breadstuff. continues unusually small, owing
to our good harvest. The large increase in the
quantity of sugar and tea taken for consumption ap-
pears to have been partly caused by an apprehension
that an increase of duty might perhaps be enacted on
the meeting of parliament.
As regards sugar, we append a statement compiled
by a practical authority :

AUDAR IN ORIAT BRITAIN ♦ND IRELAND, THE TWELVE
MONTIIB ENDED DEC. 6, FROM GOVERNMENT RETURN..

1852. 1853. 1854.
Raw tons 358,830 365,595 442,554
Refined tons 15,771 17,581 20,146
Molasses tons 10,419 17,611 19,001

Total tons 355,020 400,787 431,701

DUTY PAID.

1852. 1853. 1954.
Raw tons 314,046 364,312 398,978
Refined tons 14,036 10,707 14,905
Mohan' tons 14,898 15,750 17,091

Total tons 372,980 390,769 •430,974
Note.—Bdolsetes reduced to sugar at the rate of 1 of the
forcer to of the latter.

• N.B.—About 10,000 tons of this quantity has probably
been paid duty on in the beginning of last month, in expec-
tation of an increase of the rates, and bag not yet gone into
consumption.

ROYAL SANTIAGO MINING COMPANY.

The half-yearly general meeting of proprietors
was held yesterday at the company's offices, Old Broad-
street.

Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, in the absence of Baron Goldimid
took the chair.

The report, which embraces the principal items in the
statement of accounts, set forth that the quantity of copper
ore obtained was 495 tons and 33 tons of precipitate, of
which 252 tons of ore and 15 tons precipitate have been
sold, and produced nett 3,229/. The barque Sir Isaac Lyon
Goldemid was despatched in November with coals and ma-
terials fur the use of the mines, and will return with a
cargo of about 420 tons of ore, &c. A part of this cargo is
taken into the present account at the estimated nett pro-
ceeds of 3,1841. and makes with other items the total re-
ceipts, 6,4131. The monthly accounts in working the mines,
transport of ore, con of timber, materials, Ac., amount in
the aggregate to 10,8451., Including 1,7501. for
rent of pertinencise and for a cargo of tim-
ber. The sinking of Taylor's shaft, and open.
ins the ore ground east and west of the shaft have
been vigorously pushed forward. The late letters from the
superintendent report the ore to be less concentrated in the
lode in the bottom of this shaft than it was, and to the ex-
tent of 6 fathoms to the east, and 6 to 6 fathoms to the
west of it, the lode is now yielding but from 2 to 4 tons per
fathom. Considering, however, that over +5,000 tons of ore
have already bran obtained and shipped by the company
from the Perseverancia group of mines, and the confident
expectation of Captain Treeweek, the late menage?, that
this course of ore in the lode would at 70 fathoms in depth
probably much exceed in productiveness the upper levels,
and be found remunerative, the directors are of opinion
that it is for the interest of the shareholders that the open-
ing of the ore ground to a greater depth should be prose-
cuted with vigour, and that the shoots'of rich grey ors found
at Ooldsmid's and Discovery shafts should be followed and
tried in depth. The available capital of the company re-
quires to be augmented to give *Met to either of the opera-
, none and the directors have no alternative but to make •
call ofi 20s. per share on the 7,000 shares of the company,
payable on or before the lath March next.
In reply to a question from a proprietor,
Mr. TAYLOR said that the negotiation with theCobre com-
I piny, for the purchase of a portion of the Santtpgo pro-
perty, was at an end, and that no arrangement had been
effected. The terms offered by the Cobra company were
not such as he expected they would have been, knowing
the value that their land would be at some future time to
that company. With regard to the position of their affairs,
they had been obliged to ask for temporary assistance, and
it was quite necessary that the directors should replenish
the funds of the company. They had, therefore, thought
it right t." announce their intention of making a "call of 11.
per share, which would carry them over another twelve-
month, and enable them to prosecute the mine with vigour.
With regard to the weeks, they had gone on tolerably well
with the exception of the interruptions caused by the twist-
ing and finally the breaking of the shaft of the new steam
engine, bat which had been replaced; much hindrance,
however, to constant returns of ore arose from this eirnatn-
'tans', and from two falls of ground near Taylor's shaft.
It was the 'opinion of the :directors that the mine was far
too valuable to abandon ; it being in the immediate vicinity
of the Cobra, which wu one :of the richest mines in the
market.

After vote of thanks to the chairman end directors, the
meeting separated.

MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAT.-Tralo for the yea
I midis; Deo. 21,1851, 1601., 1853, 1501.

II

IST. GEORGE THE MARTYR, SOUTHIY4RX.

THE VESTRY CLERK. •
In the Daily Kew, of Tuesday, there appeared a
statement of the circtonstarces under which an official in-
quiry Lilo certain charges against Mr. Joho Day, the vestry
clerk of this pariah, was being tarried on. They wore briefly as follows :—A SIM of 11. le , balsrce of costs incur-
red in the county court in an action against a man named
Bradbury, for the maintenance of his wife, and another
sum of 41. 13s. 102. for stationery, fur which credit wart claimed by Mr. Day, were disputed, on the ground that no
such sums were entered in the account books of the parish.
Mr. Day, however, produced certain papers purporting to
be vouchers for those sums duly passed by the parish offi-
cers and auditors. The different churchwardens and over-
sears from 1849 to 1852 were called as witnesses et the first
sittings of the inquiry, and their evidence went to the effect
that they had none of them any knowledre whatever of the
vouchers in question. The evidence of the auditor went
to the extent of his doubting the authenticity of the signa-
ture of his initials in the documents.
The case: on the part of Mr. Day, was then proceeded
with and resumed by adjournment yesterday.
A number of witnesses, seme parish officers, during
periods ranging from 1336 to 1654, and one or two in-
habitants of the parish, were called ; among them were
Messrs Clothier, Mathews, Withers, Cheri. e Anderson,
West, Boxer, George, Knighton, and Colgate. 1 heir evi-
deuce was all directed to the same point., and was in sub-
stances as follows:—The different parish officers stated that
they had every opportunity of seeing the manner in which
Mr. Day kept his accounts. The practice of their boards
was to have vouchers for all sums claimed by Mr. Day be-
fore the money was ordered to be paid, and when it was
paid it was by cheques only. No money could have been
received by him unless vouchers were produced and passed,
and cheques given for it. The cheques and counterfoils
might have been signed by all the members of the board
present, but it was usually done by three of '
them. There were little incidental expenses, such
as special acts of parliament and summonses which,
in the course of the current quarter, Mr. Day
might be ordered by the boards to pay for, so that
there was a little running petty cash account between him
and the parish. Those petty accounts were brought before
the boards in the shape of bills; the items were read by the
chairman, and put to the board for passing. That was done
once a quarter, and when they were pained a cheque was
drawn for the amount. Mr. Day was generally most sects-
rate with regard to his parochial accounts, which related to
a sum of between 20,0001, and 25,000/. a year. All the
cheques were countersigned by him. So many vouchers
came before the board in a year, that it was impossible any
one could remember them all or any of them, unless there
was some special fact connected with some of them, which
was likely to fix it in the memory. Except as regarded the
matter now under inquiry. Mr. Day's accounts had
been questioned. Bradbury's ease took place in
1848, and no one could be able to say what
vouchers came before the board seven years ego. The
vouchers now under discussion were shown to the witnesses
who said generally that they were of the kind usually pro-
duced at the quarterly account, and being for stationery and
so on, would be passed without comment. Strong testimony
was borne by the witnesses to their belief in Mr., Day's
honesty and integrity, the generality of them stating that
I they had had opportunities of watching him closely in the
discharge of his duties. It was also stated that the matter
now under inquiry had been made the subject of special
investigation by a vestry called at Mr. Day's request in
June list, wheu the books and vouchers were produced and
ermined so far as a large assembly of persons could
examine them, and the result was the pacing of a resolu-
tion, with only one or two dissentieuts, which entirely
exonerated Mr. Day from the charges made against him,
and declared the utmost confidence in his character and
integrity.
Thee inquiry was adjourned till 1 o'clock this day.

THE FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY
MOVEMENT.

BIRMINGHAM, WIDNISDAY.
A general meeting of the members of Freehold
Land Societies was held at the Betel, in this town,
last night, partly for the purpose 01 presenting a testimonial
to Mr. James Taylor, the founder of these institutions, and
the secretary of the Birmingham &clots from its com-

mencement, but from the active duties of which office he is
about retiring in consequence of declining health. This
circumstance has been de. med a fitting occasion for present-
ing him with a tettimonial, to which the societies established
in various parts of the country have contributed.
Mr. SCILOLEFIELD, M.P., presided on this occasion. Mr
George Thompson, Mr. Dennis. Mr. Beale, and other gen.
tlemen were present from the London societies, as were
also deputations from al provincial towns.

The Crt LIBMAN, in opening the business of the evenings
remarked that they were assembled for the perform..nce of
a double duty : in the first place to celebrate the seventh
anniversary of the foundation of Freehold Land Societies,
and he might say alum, principally to do honour to one who
had proved himself nut only the founder of such institu-
tions, but their best friend in molt difficult and trying
times. In the early career of these institutions many of
their frit nth, as well as their opponents, predicted that tie,
could not succeed. Yet notwithstanding theme predictions
they had met that evening to celebrate the seventh anniver-
sary of their own society, and found innumerable societies
of a similar character established throughout the country.
I. fact, there was not a single instance of a freehold land
society which had not proved a prosperous and successful
undertaking. Thousands of working men traced their
adoption of the principles of temperance, frugality, and
providence, to the foundation of freehold land societies.
The honourable gentleman also referred to the value and
importance of freehold land societies as political agencies.
Resolutions approving of the principles and objects of
freehold lead societies were now moved, seconded, and
suppotted by Mr. Thomas Weeton, Mr. Aldermen Itatcliff,
Mr. George Thompson, &c.
Mr. FELLOW'S, of Wolverhampton, as the representa-
tive of the societies in that town, supported the resolution.
They had (he said) 150,0001. subscribed by working men
in Wolverhampton during the last six years and a half, and
property to the value of a million and a half sterling was
being subscribed for. This was being done in a popula-
tion of 100,000, taking Wolverhampton and the district.
If carried on to a similar Went by the working men in
other parts of the country, en incalculable amount ofgood
would result. Nothing bad done more to promote civili-
sation than these freehold land societies wbieh Mr. Taylor
had set on foot. It was for such thing. as these that a
Milton wrote, a Cromwell fought, and a Hampden died.
Freehold land societies showed how much might by done
by small agency, and be hoped they might go on and

prosper.
Mr. BEALE, of London on the part of six of the most
prosperous of the metropolitan land smetics, joined in sup-
porting the resolution. What had been already done by
the working men in these societies showed how much they
might do for themselves by the exemise of • little sell-
denial, prudence, and forethought ; and Mr. Taylor, as the
founder of these societies, justly thserted the compliment
now being paid to him.

Mr. GEORGE DAwsoremoved the second resolution. In
doing this he bore testimony to the industry and persever-
ance with which Mr. Taylor bad worked out the movement.
He regarded these societies as the nucleus by which great
changes would be effected in the social, moral, and political
condition of the people: he supported them, not because
they were a means by which a man might lay up riches, but
because the working for the money and the self•denial in
saving it made a man a better man for the energy and per-
severance which had been called into action. It was the
process of getting the money which he regarded as worth
more than the money got; on the same principle, the good a
man did with a s►ved sovereign was worth more than the
sovereign itself. By freehold land societies the number of
I little independent hearths would be multiplied. These he re-
garded as the nurseries of the virtues and all true liberties.
He hoped that the day was not far distant when stare,
garters, money, and pedigree, would not take the place of
brains in Old England ; when, in fact, a man would not be
put into a place till he bad proved himself capable; but
that, as in these laud societies, nobody would take anything
which he had sot earned for himself.

Mr. WRIGHT, of &Uhl+, It coaded the resolution, which
as carried by acclamation.

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD then presented the testimonial to Mr.
Taylor. It consisted of a tea and coffee service, handsomely
wrought in silver, and a parse containing 500 guineas. In
a few suitable sentences the hon. gentleman acknowledged
the service which Mr. Taylor had rendered to his country
in founding freehold land societies, and laying down the
principies on which they should beg d. The testimo-
nial now presented to him had been contributed to by men
of every rank. In the list of subscribers there were names
high iu parliamentary history, and hundreds of the poorer
classes, who had so largely benefited by Mr. Taylor's idea.
Mr. TAYLOR, in returning thanks for the prisent thus
made to him, gave a hasty sketch of the rise and progress
of freehold land societies. In the last seven years 2,000
allotments had been distributed in Birmingham alone,
although on the first night the society met only 28 shares
were taken, and gds. subscribed; whereas the subscriptions
in that tows aline now amounted to more than 10,0001. per
annum. _ . .

The proceedings of the evening terminated with a vote
of thanks to the Daii Niles, and such other of the metro-
politan and provincial papen as have helped to forward the

CASUALTY.—Yesterday week a brig was seen
waterlogged near the Hanaways, off the north-west:point of
Guernsey. Three Guernsey pilots put off to her in a Cutter.
They found ber deserted; the formes% and misenmatt
were gene, and at the main top there was a basket of bread,
about 601 be weight, fastened. The name of the brig was
the United Kingdom, bound for Sunderland. She was
laden with timber. It was conjectured that as she was a
Umber laden vessel, and would not sink, that the crew in-
tended to stop in her as long as possible, and that the
basket of bread was fastened to the main top for the crew to
get at it provided she drifted close to any of the rocks near
the Guernsey coast. The boats of the brig were gone, but
the anchors and chains were on board, and nothing ap-
peared to have been taken from her but the boats. The
three pilots attempted to tow the brig, and in doing so the
boat in which they were swamped, and two of them amid
Searle sad Polbrrea wore aolortaaatily drowned.

.

iLaW intelltgenct.

-.-
THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY=
LIBEL •

TUB REV. EBENEZER DAVIES v. DANIEL
PRATT, PUBLISHER OP THE " BRITISH
BANNER."
Mr. Whately, 0.C., mended with this arbitratioa
reesstkay, whoa the pout wu move densely crowded than
es the previous day, It having bora understood that the
plaiadff would be sabjested to atese-oulanatios by Mr.
&dual Wilkins.
Mr. Ballantlne and Mr. Bused appeared for the plain-
tiff; sad Ms. Sequa% Wilkins sad Mr. Evans represented
the defeedast.
Me. Deviso's examination was proeuded with as follows:
Befogs I loft Serbia. I had a sommanicatioa with a Mr.
Pomona, • uhoolmaster there, shoat getting him a wife.
He wee • widower—hie first wife died in the math of
August, 1817. There an very few resident ladies at New
Amsterdam. The population outside of 3,500 person. I
wiestios if there were more than half-a-doses marriageable
ladies resident there. It was very &fink to get • saitable
wife there. The communication from Pb. Foremast wasia
writing. I can produce that letter.
The letter alluded to was then read. It was dated New
Amsterdam, March 15, 180. Mr. Fortnum Meng ex-
pressed his man of the loss of his wife, meat on to my, that
after mach prayer and meditation, he bad come to the con-
clusion that it was his duty to seek another partner, being
influeseed in doing so by four oonsideratione—flrstly, the
want of society and cotafort ; a regard for his own
character ; thirdly, the seussity of having some ens to train
ap his child; and, fourthly, the advising' of having a per-
lOU who could manage the girls' school. He then mid that
he had discovered • suitable person in a lady who had bun
very kind sad attentive to him—a Mrs. Stubbs, a widow.
If be married her he would avoid the expense of getting
eat a wife; but the principal drawback to his contemplated
hippies's was that the lady had Ave children, which was
ho somewhat compensated by the fact that certain
house were settled on the joined* &abbess. The writer
concluded by asking Mr. Davies for his advise wider these
cirenmstaaces.
Examination ooatinwid—Mn. Stubbs was a member of
my church at New Amsterdam. She was a widow. She
was !Wowed lady—slightly eoloared—what they eall •

" cob." - -
Mr. Barnard—What was her age ?
The Arbitrator—Mrs. Stubbs may be alive, and this la
nth'r a delicate inquiry. (Laaghter.)
Witness- fthe was about 35. 1 received another letter
from Mr. Foreman. I received it about the 23rd of July.
I will swear I received it before the 25th.
Berjeant Wiltins—l object to that letter being read,
unless the envelope is prodamd. For all 1 know the letter,
may here been written last year.
The Arbitrator—l think it had better be med.
The following pimp from the Letter, which was dated
June 14, 1818, and addressed te the "Rat. E. Davin, Lei-
cester," was then read : " I mw your company very mach,
and feel very lonely at timer, so L cannot help hoping my
offer et Greenwich may have been accepted."
_ .

Witness—l went to Harwich on behalf of the society on
the 25th of July, 1848. I was on leaving accompanied to
the wharf by a minister, Mr. Hall. He introduced me to
three ladies ; Kiss Tarranqwas one, Miss Smith wu another,
the name of the other I do not remember. A day or two
titer my journey from Harwich I again saw Mies Smith.
In August, 1818. I received ;another letter from Mr. Fore-
man. dated July the 18th.
The following *street from the letter was road:—" My
attempt to find • partner in Greenwich in Miss M— has
failed. I received a very kind letter on the su►ject from
Mr. Lowe by the last mail. On account of illness she has
been unfortunately obliged to relinquish all scholastic en-
gagements. She had received an offer from a young man
who had a lucrative appointment in India, but the match
was broken off by her family, they having been advised by
a most eminent medical man that she would not stand a
tropical climate for six months. Had it not been for this
Mr. Lowe would have used his influence for me. lam
now shut up. I know no one, but Providence will doubt-
less provide the helpmate in his own good time and way."
The next letter was one dated Atignst 31,1848, in which
Mr. Foreman wrote as follows :—" Your jaunt from Har-
wich teems to have been a very pleasant one. I remember
Susan Smith very well, but I fear she Isnot a pious girl. I
do not think her aunt would listen for a moment to her

--..-.--
oomiog here. Having no child of her own, she dotes upon
this Swan. lam sorry Mr. Lows should have treated you
Do coldly. Perhaps he thought you had come to prose the
matter, and therefore did not wish to give you an opportu-
nity. Since I left Caotionslall, a young lady has become a
teacher there of the name of Mies --. I have never seen
her, but in every letter li got from that quarter she is
spoken of most highly. In a letter teceived per Last mail,
her name is incidentally introduced, and it is said, who is
a prise to us.' Her parents I think are tradespeople. She
Is residing at No. —, High-street. Mr. could, I have
no doubt, give you every information concerning her (is
ennfideoce), if you were to write and ask him. I leave it
to you to do as you please, perhaps you may have found a
better."
Examination continued—Mr. Prowl first mentioned the
Greenwich letter to me is January, 1849. I was friendly
with him at that time. I had a disagreement with him in
March, 1819. I was employed by the London Missionary
Societ after Mr. Prone mentioned the Greenwich letter to
me. I went about as their deputation until after the close
of the year 1850.
Cross-examined by Scrjaast Wilkins—When I left the
chapel at Stockport the assamuniainte numbered about
one hundred. The minimum Mimed guennteed to me
was 1001. a year. Beyond that I reselved many presents
boa the people, but constituting as part of my salary,
strictly ao alied. I fleet had a commeniselisa is Menne*
to my grievances with Mr. Ainslie is Ms inseth of May,
18.52. I knew hits as a public man lisdars, bat we bad no
personal acquaintance. Ho same Mme, he was with me
two or three hours. Somithiag wassail float the Welling-
borough letter at that time. I predased the Imperfect copy
of the letter which Mr. Proet had 11111“ In bias. That copy
contained all the objectionable SHIM Mrs. Davies was
In the house.
Seirjeant Wilkins—ln what team? Oa your oath was
she ant in the mute room with yea and Mr. Ainslie ?
Witness—She was not.
&wisest Wilkins-No part of the time ?
Witneee—She was called in subsequently.
Serjeant Wilkins—Where was the copy when Mra.Davia
mum into the
Witasis—l believe it was in Mr. Ainslie's hand.
be east Wilkins—Was that letter commented upon is
Mrs. Havies's preemies?
Witham—Tee.
nerieitat Wilkins—Was the manuscript of the pamphlet
the " Defence of the Innocent," reed to you before it was
published ?
Witnees—A portion of it was.
Sitrjeant Wilkins—Have you say reason to doubt that the
whole of it was ?
Witness—Yes. I have no reason for believing that the
whole of it was.
&view Wilkins—Did not you and Mrs. Davies address
the directors of the society on the 13th of September, 1852,
In these terms:—" We beg most respectfully to call your,
attention to the accompanying pamphlet ?"
Witness—We did.
Serjeaut Wahine—To what pamphlet did you refer ?
Witness—The pamphlet about to be issued by Mr.
Ainslie.
Serjeaat Wilkins—The note says "This referred to a
pamphlet the substance of which is herein embodied. Its
publication was delayed in consequence of a conditional
promise made I. a member of the board. It has now
assumed another form, in coneequentie of intermediate pub-
lications." Now what is the pamphlet?
Witness—That is the explanation.
fierjeant Wilkins—Was there any pamphlet in oilstones
at the time I__

Witness—There was not.
&dead Wilkins--Then I may take it for granted that
the whole of the letter, down to this 12th page, was years.
Was it written by you ?
Witness—No, it was written by Mr. Ainslie.
Serjeant Wilkins—Were the facts supplied by you ?
Witness—Yee.
Serjeant Wilkins—Wu it revised and approved of by
you ?
Witness—it was, with one exception.
fierjeant Wilkins—What was that ?
Witnass—l objected to the use of the words "con-
spiracy" and " perjury."
Seneant Wilkins—Yon objected to this passage: " We
maks no secret of the porno.. for which we want the
afildsvit. We are advised that Mr. Stead sad Mr. Horley
can be placed by indictment at the Isar of the Old Bails
for forgery and perjury, and that Dr. Tidman and
Mr. Front can be included with Mr. Stacey and Mr. llorlis7
is an indictment for conspiracy." You objected to tbs.
passage
Witness—l did.

Sergeant Wilkins—Yon sent that address to the directors?
Witness—l did.
Berjeant Wilkins—Did you receive a reply signed Thomas
31. Coombe, chairman of the board, dated Oot. 8, 1852?
Witness-1 did.
flerjeant Wilkins—Yon replied to him on the 12th of
October ?

did.
Berjeant Wilkins—And he wrote to you again en the fol-
lowing day, to which you replied on the 14th ?
Witness--Yes, I did.
Berjeaut Wilkins—Yon have quelified your statement ,
in rettresee to y air visit to Wellingborough by saying you
believed " you slept at Mr. Beale's. Did you not, in your
COMMUDiIAtiOII with Mr. Ainslie, state most positively that
you bad boon at Mr. Keep's, bat that you had so-
journed at Mr. Beale's?
Witnees—l did.
Serjaant Wilkins—When Mr. Ainslie withdrew from the
last inquiry, did you not state to kiln you were most
anxious to go into the witnese.boz to swear positively to
this ?
Witasse—l did, that I nightwear to my belief and aoa-
Serjeant Wilkins—Did not Ise say th.t he, is a Clifistism
sad a minister, would not pat yea la the witness-bon to per yourself ?
Witnese—No; he said his maidens* ia y vitalitywas
lost, sad that beim the ewe, he would bet pat lee la the
vitals-bow.

mitisall p t Wilkins—Did yea not then slate you wart. Tie' .1
to into the witness-box and eeiseanly tour you I
set bees at Xoeu's /
Witneso—No. That I waa yesersesi M go late the wit-
ness-bee and swear to the best et my billet and solemn cos-
viatica that I was at Bealik.meesing BM I slept there.
Serjant Wilkins—Bach alight ?
Witness—Bach night.
Mr. Serjeant Willdes—Hal sot Mr. Ainslie generously
paid every farthing dike upriser of the last Jacoby ?
Witnees—That does not ogee within my knowledge.
/Wisest Wilkins—Were you called on to pay anything ?
Witaess—No ; it was sot my action.
fierjeant Wilkins—Who pays the expenses of this action?
Witnem—l do.
Serjeant Wilkine—Who supplies the money ?
Witness—l supply the mosey.
Serjeant Wilkins—Who supplies you ?
Witaess—My friends have subscribed a small sum. I
supply the rest.
&dealt Wilkins—To what amount have year Meads
(subscribed ?
Witrive-201. or 301.
Serjeant Wilkins—le that all?
Witness—That is all.
Serjeant Wilkins--Any more promised ?
Witness—No.
Mr. Serjant Wilkins—When was your attention Ant
called to the Wellinghorough letter?
Witnese—On the 27th Dee., 1850.
Mr. Serjeant Wilkins—By whom? .
Witness—By Dr. Tidman.
Mr. Serjeant Wilkins—Where ?
Witness—ln the Mission-house.
Mr. Serjeant Wilkins—Who was present?
Witness—Mr. Prost.
Serjeant Wilkins—Did he not describe the letter as
" loathsome " and " abominable."
Witness—l have no recollection of such expressions. I
believe they ware not used.
Serjeant Wilkins—Will you swear they were not ?
Witness—l will not.
Serjeant Wilkins—Did he not say he bad never In his
life read anything so unutterably filthy, and he could
seareely have believed it partible for any man to hem
written such a letter ?
Witness—l believe he did not.
Serieant Wilkins—Will you swear boded not ?
Witness—l will not, but I will swear I did not hear Mar.
Ilneeent Wilkins—Did he not state "he deeply ress
141:is *tusked been polluted by being compelled t•,
to so filthy a production?"
He did not. The first time I heard that ez-
-1411 w before the congregational board—and that
as
wee tried.
Se4eant Wilkins I repeat my question—Will you
swear he did net say so at the interview on the 27th ?
Witness—l will not. I will swear I did not hear hiss.
Serjeent Wilkins—How far were you from him ?
Witness—l was at a considerable distance—at a reepectial
distance.
Seejeant Wilkins—" At a respectful distance I" Did be
not state, that having read that letter, he felt himself dis-
qualified from taking any part in the forthcoming inquiry
in referent* to the &shies charges and the Greenwich
letter ?
Witness—He had not been asked.
Serjeant Wilkins—Answer my question, air.
Witness (emphatically)—He did not.
Serjeant Wilkins—Did not Dr. Tidenan describe the
character of the letter at all ?
Witness—He did. He said that " after yea had preached
at Wellingborough on the Sunday night you wrote to your
wife • letter highly discreditabe to your moral feelings;
such • one as I thought you could not have written or she
received."
Serjeant Wilkins—What answer did you make to that ?
Witness—That I had no recollection of anything of the
kind, no idea to what he alluded.
Serjeant Wilkins—Did you ask to see the letter?
Witness—l did not. I was about to leave the room when
he mentioned it.
Serjettat Wilkins—When you said you had no recol-
lection of it, did not Dr. Tidrnan say, " Then, I am afraid,
Davies, this is not the only letter of the kind you have
written ?" _ _ _

..... _
witness—l whey. not.
Betisant Wilkins—Will you sweat he did not ?
Witness—l will not. _ .

man Wilkins Did not Dr. Tidraan say your
offence is aggravated by the fact that you wrote it on the
Sunday night?
Witness—l believe not.
Serjeant Wilkins—Now, turn to page 25 in the pamphlet.
You will find this paseep : . .

" You charp me with having made unfounded statements
in reference to that matter (the Wellingborough letter).
I have done no such thing. I gave the simple statement of
the cue which on the day I named you gave me—via., that
Mrs. Davies in 1846 bad received in the waiting room of
the Mission•house a letter from myself written at Welling-
borough—that she read it in that room, and carelessly
dropped it—that it had been picked up by one of the sub-
ordinates, and given to her again, but not until it had been
copied—that yen had never seen that copy, but that Mr.
Prout had read it to you. Such was your statement. I
Lave added, se I did to yourself, that neither my wife nor I
had any recollection whatever of the letter in question—
that it might be mine or it might not; if mine, that my I
belief was it had either been ' Grahanted' or purloined ;
if not mine, that it mut have been a fabrication.
Believe me I have no wish to give any representation
on the matter but such u you gave yourself—that is bad
enough, and in support et which I have the black and
white' if your temporary colleague. I do not deny the
authorship of that letter. I have. I neither deny
nor admit, for I remember nothing about it; but if you
bring from his hiding place the vile person who did the
atrociou deed—if he will sign an affidavit as you propose,
and prove the authenticity and the circumstances of that
document, so u to convince me it is mine, I shall not deny
it; and therefore I request that that may forthwith be
done."

Istbat your composition ?
Witness—lt was under the direction of Mr. &obeli.
Berjeant Wilkins—You say, " I gave the simple state-
ment of the cam which on the day I named you gave me."
What day was that?
Witness—The 27th of December, 1830.
fierjesnt Wilkins—Did not Mr. Prost describe the letter
as most disgusting ?
Witness—l do not think he made any remark about it.
fierjeant Wilkins—Will you swear Mr. Front did not
describe it as filthy and abominable ?
Witness—l will not. but I believe he did not. If I bad
been aware of the character of the letter, I should have
asked for it, and Banat assuredly I would have denied it.
Serjeant Wilkins—Aye, aye, so you say now. Had you
a second interview at the Mission-house with Mr. Prout
that same evening ?
Witness—l bed. _ _ _

tierit7int you not deny the anthonhip of
that letter then?
Witaese—l did not. I had not seen it.
Barlow Palos—Did you not ask for a copy?
Witasso—l lid not.
Sedsest Ilfilkise—Did you net remise a copy from Kr.
' Prom est mining
Witsem—l AL
--- _ _ _ - _ _

fie;justlhthe—Did set Dr. Tidman and Mr. Pratt et
the istmwirses the Mb imam you, that though the know
ledge ef the helm mid sot but influence their feelings,
they weld set dodoes it to anyone whatever
Witmer—They did net
Bmieset Wilkias—When did you nest me Dr. Tillman ?
Witsue—Os the lit of January, 1851.
Serjesat Wilkins—At that time the letter had been read
to you.
Witneu—lt bad.
Berjeant Wilkins—Did you repudiate the letter on the lit
of January ?
Witness—l did not.

tie;j;;;II you ask for a copy of It?
Witness—l did not, I had been advised not to say any-
thing about it.
Serjeant Wilkins—Did you ask Dr. Tidsan if he would
bring up that Wellingborough letter before the committee
which was to sit on the following dsy ?
Witness—l asked him that on the lit.
Berjeant Wilkins—Did not Dr. Tidal= my," I will not,
Davies? you know I promised never to sayanything about
it ?"
Witnsse—He did not. He said, " No, certainly not"—
neither more nor less.
Serjeant Wilkins—On the 27th of December, 1850, did
you go to Dr Mamie ?
Witness—l did.

tierjean t Wilkins—Wu he a friend of yonn ?
Witness—Hi was the nearest friend I could get in the
distress of mind I was in.

Berjeentlilikin;-I;ie still a friend of yours ?
Witnese—l hale not spoken to him for two years.
fierjeant Wilkins—Did yon on that omasion say t Dr.
Kuehl one word about the letter having been faisated or
forged ?
Witness—l did.

tie; ;;SSI Wilkins—What did you say ?
Witness—" And what think you, doctor, even the pri-
vacy of my correspondence with my wife has been violated."
I made the statement which Dr. Tidman had made to me,
and then I added that if there had been any letter of mine
written at that time and deserving to be so characterised, it
must have been " Grahamed" or fabricated.
Mr. Ballantine—What do you mean by " Grahamed."
Berjeant Wilkins—Oh, we all know that (Laughter.)
Here is your letter of July 29. Yon wrote this, " I have
added, as I did to yourself, that neither my wife nor I had
any recollection whatever of the letter in question; that
it might be mine, or might not ; if mine, that my belief
was it had either been .Grahamed ' or purloined; if not
mine, that it molt have been a fabrication." Did you
write that ?
Witness—l did.

Wilkins—Wu not your only orniplaint to Dr.
Massie that your letters had been intercepted ?
Witous—lt wu not.
BerJeant Wilkins—Did you see D. Massie spin after
you hail rewired a copy of the letter ?
Witness—l did.
Berjeant Wilkins—Did you show him the copy?
Witness—l did not.
fierjeut Wilkins—Did you explain the nature of it to
him?
Witnees—l did not. He could not hear me. He took
out his watch, and said he could not wait, u he bad only
five mutes.
fierjeent Wilkins—Did you ever deny the authorship of
the letter to Dr. Meals ?
Witssese—l did set, except In the words that I Imo used