The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

it, nobody bas time to read it, nobody could read it,
except a German professor who was afflicted with a
monomania upon the local politics of Hull. It should
be the first duty of commissioners under such cir
cumstances to present the houses with such an
epitome of the results of their labours as could be
read by mortal men and paid for at a reasonable
cost. Let them by all means be remunerated for the
labour of condensation—it would probably be the
most tedious portion of their duty, but a little money
spent in this way would save the public an enormous
loss. It is high time that a stop should be put to
such a waste of the public money."
A POST-OFFICE RETURN, showing the comparison
in correspondence during the last fourteen years, has
just appeared. Taking only the lastfour years, we find
that iu 1650 the number of letters delivered in the
United Kingdom was 347,000,000, being an increase
on the previous year of 9,51.0,000. in 1851 the
number was 360,500,000 ; increase, 13,500,000. In
1852, 370,500,000; increase, 19,000,000. And last
year 411,000,000 letters were delivered, being an in-
crease of 31,500,000.

THE ESTATE OF MESSRS. THOMSON, BROTHERS,
AND SONS, of Clitheroe, who suspended payment some
three weeks since, is expected to yield a dividend of
13s. 4d. in the pound.
THE RAPID RISE IN THE PRICE OF SULPHUR iS telling
upon the Cornish mines, which contain mundic or
other sulphurets. For the Devon United Mines,
which are said to be rich in sulphur ores, an advan-
tageous offer has just been made, promising a hand-
some profit to the proprietors.
THE MANUFACTORIES AROUND GREENWICH have
been visited lately by a Government
.official, who has
placed the Ordnance mark upon some machinery on
the premises of one of the most eminent firms. The
machinery in question, it is said, was intended for
the Russian Government.

THE FIRST PARLIAMENTARY PIPER OF THE SESSION
contains a Government balance-sheet of the public
income and expenditure. It is shown that in the
year ended the 10th of October last the net income
was 54,508,3511. 3s. 5d., and the expenditure
51,320,9271. lls. 6d., leaving an excess of 3,247,4231.
Ils. lid. In the year ended the sth of January last
the net income was 54,430,3441. Os. 6d., and the ex-
penditure 51,17.4,8391. 14s. lid., excess 3,255.504/.
14s. 7d. The. Exchequer balance on the sth ult.
was 4,485,2291. 18s. 4d.
THE COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS have deter-
mined to hold an Educational Exhibition in the
month of June of the present year, when the con-
ference of the representatives of its various affiliated
institutions, now amounting to 335 in number, will
take place.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LIVERPOOL
CHAMBER OF COM➢LERCE, held on Monday, attracted
unusual atttention, on account of the importance of
the matters discussed in the report. Among them
the subject of most general interest related to the
proposed changes in the law of partnership. A
special committee on that subject had been appointed,
who presented every full report, in which the desira-
bility of an entire change in the principle of the law was
enforced, on the grounds that it is not uniform in its
application; that it prevents parties not personally
engaged, or desirous to engage, in business from ad-
vancing a portion of their capital as partners to other
persons capable of taking the active management of
trading or other concerns, except at the risk of in-
volving their whole property ; that it restricts partners
in existing concerns, desirous of retiring from the
active management of the business, and yet willing to
continue to the junior partners a portion of their capital,
from doing so without exposing themselves to a risk
greater than theylwould think it prudent to incur;
that, on the one hand, it discourages persons of limited
means from employing their savings, or small
capitals, in associations, and, on the other hand,
deters persons of larger capital and experience from
forming partnerships with persons of this class ; and
that an unlimited liability to pay partnership debts
interferes with that liberty which every person, or as-
sociation of persons, ought to have to make contracts
with third parties, or any conditions mutually agreed
upon.
TILE NUMBER OF PAI:PERS RELIEVED IN IRELAND On
Jan. Ist., 1853, was 141,822, and on the Ist January
last, 100,746. The decrease was 41,070 in the year.
The poor-law valuation on the 29th of September last
was 11,300,4121.
ON THE CPEW OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIP Thetis
being paid down at Devonport on Saturday last, sums
varying from 17/. to 401., in all to 190/., together with
other property, were deposited with Mr. Stokes, R.N.,
the superintendent of the Sailors' Home in that port,
for safe keeping.
AT THE HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE SUBMARINE
TELEGRAPH COMPANY, held on Wednesday, Lord De
Manley in the chair, a dividend at the rate of 8 per
cent. per annum on the 75,0001. of paid-up capital
was declared. The number of messages bad much
increased over that of the previous year. 2( 0/. was
voted to the directors for their past services, and their
future remuneration fixed at 600/. a year,

• SATURDAY,

ONE OF THE LARGEST DIAMONDS KNOWN was de-
po gted on Wednesday at the Bank of England by a
London house, to whom it was consigned from Rio
Janeiro. Its weight is 254 carats, and its nominal
value, according to scale, 280,0001. It is said to be of
the finest water, and without a flaw.
A COMPANY, under the title of " THE PORT TEN-
NANT PATENT STEAM FUEL AND COAL COMPANY," has
issued a prospectus, for the purpose of raising a
capital of 50,0001., in order to use, as it is stated,
"an economical patent process," by which fuel can
be placed free on board at Swansea at Bs. 9d. per
ton, the present price at that port being 14s. per ton.
The advantages of the steam fuel over coal are said
to be, freedom from spontaneous combustion,
economy of space in stowage, less waste either by
friction or decomposition, and saving in wear of
boilers and firebars.
THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING THE REPEAL
OF THE TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE gave a soirée on
Wednesday to celebrate the repeal of the advertise-
ment duty, and to do honour to Mr. Milner Gibson.
The fête was held, under the presidency of Sir J. V.
Shelley, at the Whittington Club, where tea was
plentifully provided for those who chose to avail
themselves of it. After that came music, much ap-
plauded, and then the speeches, which were con-
tinued until an advanced hour of the evening.

THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE GOVERNORS met last
week, under the presidency of Prince Albert, a► d
arranged the scheme of instruction to be organised
in the future institution. At this meeting we are
informed by Mr. Talbot, the hon. secretary, that it
was resolved that the religious education of the pupils
should be conducted in uniformity with the system
pursued at the military school at Chelsea, and the
naval schools at Greenwich—that is to say, accord-
ing to the doctrines and principles of the Church of
England, but dispensing with any compulsory
attendance on the part of Dissenters on religious
services and instruction. The financial statement
then presented showed that subscriptions to the
amount of 105,0001. had been promised, of which
87,3541. was already received, and the expenses of
collecting, printing, advertisements, were 2,0301.
Large as the subscribed sum appears, Mr. Talbot.
states that it is hardly sufficient to found and endow
the institution in an adequate manner, and the libe-
rality of the public is still invited on its behalf.
THE fact that the French have taken possession of
New Caledonia has already been announced. It is
stated that the geological formation of those islands
gives promise of gold, a prospect which seems
to have allured our neighbours to make themselves
owners of the group.
THE HEALTH OF LONDON continues to be satis-
factory. Lastweek's return by the Registrar-General
showed a mortality of 1,204, being almost identical
with the corrected average for this season. The re-
gistered births were in number 1,050-857 boys, and
798 girls. The average is 1,470.
LORD PLUNKET (the Bishop of Tuam) took the
oaths in the House of Lords on Monday evening as
one of the lords temporal, and took his seat on the
Opposition benches, behind the Earl of Derby. There
are now three bishops in the House of Lords who are
lords temporal, viz., Lord Auckland, Bishop of
Sodor and Man ; Lord Riversdale, Bishop of Killaloe ;
and Lord Plunket, Bishop of Tuam.
111‘Kxv, the royal piper, and Smith, the royal
policeman, who both wunt mad a few days since, aro
pr nounced incurable. The one is sent to Bedlam,
and the other to St.. Luke's.
PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL is now thrown open
to the public free of charge, from the hours of 10
a.m. until 4 p.m. every day, by order of the Dean and
Chapter.
THE MEMORIAL TO LORD ABERDEEN on the urgent
necessity for a system of agricultural statistics has
been completed, and it is understood to be one of
the most powerful as regards signatures ever pre-
sented from the city of London.
A SPECIAL COURIER arrived in London on Thurs•
day with despatches from our ambassador at Con-
stantinople.
THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL
EXHIBITION will take place on the sth of June, and
four following days.
SERGEANT STEPHENS, one of the Commissioners
of the Bristol District Court of Bankruptcy, and a
well-known authority on the bankrupt law, has re-
signed his office, which he has held for many years,
on account of protracted indisposition. This vacancy,
it is stated, will not be filled up.
DEXTROUS SWORDSMEN have several times suc-
ceeded in the feat of cutting a sheep in two at a sin •
gle blow. A private named Downing, in the Dor-
chester Yeomanry Cavalry, bad doubled the per-
forniance, severing tw•o sheep at one sword-stroke.
This coup be repeated last week in Sherborne
market, in the presence of a distinguished company.
THE statement is confirmed that the officers em-
barked on board the Retribution, had succceeded in
making a plan of Sebastopol. A draught of the plan
had been published and sold at Constantinople, and
copies sent to Franca and England.

I

FEBRUARY 11, 1854.

THE CITY FREEDOM was presented on Thursday
to Mr. Layard, M.P., the celebrated Assyrian traveller.
A Court of Common Council was held for the purpose,
and the presentation made with much formality and
complimentary interchange. The Lord Mayor gave
a dinner at the Mansion-house in the evening in ho-
nour of the occasion.
THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY
ACCOUNTS for the past half year have been made up,
and show the feasibility of adividend of 5/. per cent.,
with a balance of 85,000/. to be carried to the credit
of the next half year.
six EVERARD HOME, of H.M.S. Calliope, died at
Sydney, N.S.W., on the 2nd of November last. Sir
Everard was the senior officer on the Australian
station.

Sairf anb.

THE LATE ELECTION AT DERBY.

Tliz DEBBY ELECTION CASE, kncwn as that of
" The Queen v. Beresford and others," had been re-
moved from the Central Criminal Court to the
Queen's Bench, where it stood for trial on Thursday.
The grounds of action were based upon the allega-
tion that one Morgan had bribed certain electors of
the borough in question, and with this person, and
the illegal acts he was said to have committed during
the last election, it was sought to connect the various
defendants, or some of them, under comprehensive
though indefinite charges of conspiracy. When the
cause came on, however, Mr. E. James, as counsel
for the prosecutors, who were nominally inhabitants
of Derby, stated that he had no evidence to offer in
support of the indictment. L')rd Campbell, there-
fore, instructed the jury to return a verdict of Not
Guilty, which was done accordingly:—
Sir F. THESIGER said he could not allow this matter to pass
without, on the part of Mr. Beresford, denying in the most dis-
tinct and unequivocal language that he had anything, directly or
indirectly, to do with the course which the prosecutors bad
adopted, and that nothing iu any way had been done by him (Mr.
Beresford), or on his behalf, to prevent the most minute inquiry
hr.o, and consideration of, the whole of the case; for he was
m let anxious that the fullest investigation should take place.
Mr. Beresford was there, although labouring under the conse-
quences of a serious accident, but he came to the court anxious
to meet the charge, for which there was not the slightest founda
Um. The charge contained in the indictment had been sus-
pended over Mr. Beresford for months, necessarily giving him
great uneasiness and anxiety of mind, and it aas only until late
on the previous night that he hart received a communication that
it was not intended to adduce any evidence in support of the
charge. Up to this moment he was ignorant of the grounds of
the charge, and of its sudden abandonment, lie had done all in
his power to afford every facility to have the issue tried. Great
delay had taken place as to the trial of the cause, because it 'was
said that it could not be proceeded with before the meeting of
Parliament, as several documents were required which could
only be given on application to and leave of the house. No
attempt bad, however, been made ou the other side to obtain
those documents. lie was of opinion that not the slightest sus-
picion could he entertained with respect to Mr. Beresford.
There was no ground for the charge ; and from the course which
Mr. Beresford had adopted there was not the slightest imputa-
tion on his character ; and he was ready and anxious to have left
his case to the consideration of the jury.
Mr. JAMES said no compromise had been effected, and no such
charge could be made against either party.
Lord CAMPBELL said that, under the circumstances, it might
have been supposed that the course pursued was suspicious;
but, from what had transpired, the public mind would be satisfied
that no corrupt compromise had taken place.

MR. Pntuarrs, an extensive horsedealer, was
severely injured in the late accident at Hornsey, on
the Great Northern Railway. Besides much physical
suffering, he was confined for a month by the effects
of his injuries, and afterwards obliged to leave town
for change of air. All this while his business was
uravo dably neglected, and he consequently com-
menced a suit for compensation against the company,
who paid 2281. into court; but this not satisfying the
plaintiff, the cause was tried in the Queen's Bench
on Wednesday. His case rested principally on the
extent of the business profits which had been sacri
ficed during his confinement. On this point he said :
1 am very extensively engaged in the foreign trade for the Bel-
gian, French, and Sardinian Governments, and all over the Con-
tinent. At the time of the accident I was on a preliminary
journey before my long tour of a month. I was to have been at
Bowdon and Morin:esti° fairs. 1 had heavy foreign commissions
for stallions. The Belgian Government allowed me 251. com-
mission for each horse. The Nice of the horses averaged from
1501. to 4001. each. I have always obtained from eight to tell
horses for them annually. The confidence is placed in me per-
sonally. I had orders from Prince Bauveau and others. Mr.
Allen, a great dealer, of Melton. Yorkshire, had died, and his
stud was for sale. I expected to buy a great many horses at that
sale. I had commissions from several French noblemen for
stallions and brood mares. I had to procure from eighteen to
twenty trade horses for • person in Paris, at 101. a horse com-
mission. I also wanted to supply my own stock. The whole of
these profits were lost to me. I could not attend to business in
consequence of my illness. I became acquainted with the merits
of race horses by attending races. I could not attend the Don-
caster meeting. My returns are about 40,0001.
The plaintiff's cashier gave evidence to the effect that
his profits during 1851, on 187 horses bought and
sold, were 8,4501. In 1852 he bought 260 horses,
and obtained a profit of 5,0001., and in last year only
222, at a profit of 4,300/. The jury gave him 150/.
beyond the sum tendered.
Ma. Jam'Es BOHN, late a bookseller in St. James's-
street, received an immediate certificate at the
Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday, with a compliment