The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-16 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JANUARY IG, 1858.

proved of all the suggestions which had been made by Dr.
Livingstone himself; who had explained to them his plan
of operations, and had also informed them of the names
of the gentlemen who, after consultation with the Royal
Society and the Geographical Society, he had fixed upon
to accompany him. The council had in consequence
passed a resolution expressing their entire approbation of
Dr. Livingstone's project and of the persons he recom-
mended as his scientific companions. Those persons were
Commander Beddingfield, R.N., well known for his ex-
ploration of the Congo and other African rivers, and who
had volunteered on this new expedition ; Dr. Kirk, a well-
known M.D. of Edinburgh, who would go out as the eco-
nomic botanist of the expedition ; Mr. Richard Thornton,
of the Geological School of Mines, who was to be the
mining geologist; Mr. Baines, who would go out as the
artist, for which he was in every way qualified, being a
first-rate artist, and having travelled in tropical regions and
in Australia; and Mr. Livingstone, Dr. Livingstone's
brother, who would attend the expedition as associate and
companion, and take charge of the little establishment
which the doctor hoped to fix for a time at the confluence
of one of the tributaries to the Zambesi. He had further
to state that the council had expressed a very decided wish
that, considering the unhealthiness of the delta of the
Zambesi below Tile—that was, for the last 250 miles—
the expedition should be forwarded on from the mouth of
the river to Tete in a decked steam-vessel of light draught,
and that the steam-launch now in preparation should carry
the party on from that point.
Sir R. Murchison also stated that communications
had been received from Dr. Baikie, M.D., and Mr.
May, R.N., giving some details of their journey in
connection with the Niger expedition :
One of them, which was dated Sept. 20, 11;457, stated
that the expedition had completed an elaborate survey on
the trigonometrical principle of a portion of the river and
surrounding country from Idda—the point where the high
land commenced—that the natives were exceedingly
friendly, and that the writer, Dr. Baikie, if supported,
could do anything ; that he had already received grants and
sites for missionary stations ; that he had already estab-
lished a school, and hoped soon to have a Christian church
in that part of Africa, aiding that the expedition had dis-
covered two or three small tributaries of the Niger, hitherto
unknown. Another letter, dated Oct. 29, reported that the
expedition had been wrecked by their vessel striking on a
sunken rock twelve miles above Rabba, but that the whole
of the party were alive and well. Another despatch bad
been received from Mr. Ray, who had made a successful
journey from Rabba to Largos, and had everywhere met
with a kind reception, and reported that there was now
a regular monthly post established between those two
places. The president also wished to inform the society
that the Admiralty had ordered out Mr. M'Gregor Sand's
new vessel, the Sunbeam, which would sail on the 18th to
the Niger to relieve the expedition, and to take the place
of the vessel which had been lost.
THE VACANT SPACE AROUND ST. PAUL'S is threa-
tened to be partially covered by lofty warehouses.
The Institute of British Architects on the 4th inst.
passed several resolutions against any such applica•
tion of the vacant ground, and finally suggested that
a portion of the increasing revenue from the coal-
tax, which in 1856 amounted to 70,8131., showing an
increase from 1851 of 12,279 t., should be devoted to
the purchase of the ground.
A FIRE broke out on Monday morning at 49,
Gray's-inn Lane—a coffee-house in the occupation of
several families. An old couple, a Mr. and Mrs.
Older, one of whom was bedridden, on the third
floor, were unhappily burned to death. Home, the
Bedford-row fire-escape conductor, made a gallant
but unsuccessful attempt to rescue them. The poor
old couple, clasped in each other's arms, would not
separate—Home could not carry them both—the
room was in flames—and Home to save his own
life was forced to jump out of the window, thirty feet
from the ground. He sustained severe injuries, and
lies in a precarious state in the Royal Free Hospital.
of`

Sat)] and Volke.

iIITARY TERM commenced on Monday last, when
the Lord Chancellor held a general levee of the Bar,
and entertained the Judges of the several Courts of
Common Law and Equity to breakfast, at his man-
sion, in Upper Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. At
one o'clock, the Lord Chancellor and the Judges pro-
ceeded in state to Westminster-hall, via Park-lane
and Constitution-hill, and on their arrival at the ball,
which was crowded with spectators, they took leave
and proceeded to their respective courts, and com-
menced the business of the term by hearing motions.
Sir Cresswell Cresswell, Knt., received his patent as
the Judge of the new Court of Probate, and was
sworn before the Lord Chancellor. Mr. Romilly,
Clerk of the Crown, administered the oaths. The
sittings of the court will be in Doctors'-commons.—
Mr. Justice Byles, the newly appointed puisne judge
of the Court of Common Pleas, in the room of Mr.
Justice Cresswell, was recognised in Westminster-
hall. He was greeted with the most enthusiastic
applause by the bar and the public. Seldom, per-
haps, was there in late years a greater manifestation
of public feeling in reference to a judicial appoint-
ment. The court was crowded with persons who
were probably anxious to witness the ceremony of
swearing in, but in that expectation they were dis-
appointed, inasmuch as the oaths will not be ad-
ministered until a future day.—With respect to the

63

new Divorce Court, the judges of this tribunal are
the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice of Eng-
land, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the
Chief Baron, the Senior Puisne Judge of the Common
law Courts, and the Judge of the New Probate
Court. What is styled by the Act " the Full Court"
will, in effect, consist of the Lord Chancellor, Lord
Campbell, and the Judge Ordinary (Sir C. Cresswell).
The " Full Court" will decide petitions for divorce—
that is, dissolution of marriage, subject to the review
of the House of Lords, and suits of nullity subject to
no review. It will also determine all applications for
new trials, bills of exception, special verdicts, and
special cases, subject to no appeal. The " Full
Court" will further receive and determine all appeals
from the Judge Ordinary, and their decision on such
appeals will be final.—" The Judge Ordinary's
Court."—This judge will have full authority, either
alone, or with one or more of the other judges, to
decide petitions for judicial separations, restitution of
conjugal rights, and jactitations. Petitions for
restitution of conjugal rights will probably be rare.
Jactitation suits have been long in desuetude, and
ought to have been abolished. The Judge Ordinary's
chief business, either alone, or with one of the ether
judges, will arise from petitions for judicial separa-
tion, which will give the wife an independent statue,
and in general secure for her the custody of the
children—advantages unknown in the ecclesiastical
courts. Every decision of the Judge Ordinary is
subject to the review of the "Full Court" by the
shortest and simplest process, and the decision of the
"Full Court" will put an end to litigation. The
mutability of the judges, and the novelty of the
duties to all of them, except the Lord Chancellor and
Lord Campbell, are things to be regretted. It is
expected, however, that these two noble and learned
lords will assist as much as possible in settling
principles and forming a practice.
THE REV. R. Moir, upon the nomination of the
Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, M.P., was elected Chap-
lain of Berkshire Gaol, Reading, at the first meeting
of the Epiphany Sessions, on Monday last. The
salary is 2501. per annum, with a residence. There
were twenty-eight candidates. A decision upon the
question of the superannuation allowance to be
granted to Mr. Field, the late chaplain, was postponed.
THE "FUGITIVE SLAVE' TRADE threatens to be-
come popular. A lazy Dutchman, who gave the
name of Charles Williams, was brought before Mr.
Combe, at Southwark, on Monday, charged with
begging in the peblic streets. It appeared that his
"custom of an afternoon' was to lie on the pave-
ment at Newington Causeway, with a printed card
in front of him, describing him as a fugitive slave,
who had been flogged and red-hot ironed, and he ex-
hibited a heavy iron ring which he said bad been
fixed round one of his legs, the whole concluding
with an appeal to the Christian public to assist him.
His wife, "a neat little woman," stepped forward
and said it was all false about his being a fugitive
slave. He bad been a sailor ; but since he hd
returned from his last voyage he got his liveali-
hood by begging. Mr. Combe asked how many
times be had been in prison. The wife replied that
be was convicted at Marlborough-street about a year
ago, and sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment.
" At that time he used to lay about Leicester-square,
and many a day he brought her home as mach as
21." Mr. Combe told the prisoner that be was a
gross impostor, and as a caution to him and othersdays
with hard labour.
ANOTHER EXPOSITOR OP' THE CREDIT SYSTEM as
applied at Oxford took place o* Monday, in the In-
solvent Debtors' Court, before Mr. Commissioner
Phillips. Mr. Edward Seratton, the insolvent, owed,
in the aggregate, 96,448.7., of which 49,6761. were
without consideration, and 12,2551. more than once
entered, leaving the debts for value 34,5171. On the
other side be bad bad and doubtful debts to him
5,8001. He had become entitled, under the will of
his father, Mr. John Seratton, of Rochford, Essex,
to a considerable property, and bad spent large sums.
The insolvency was attributed to the amount he had
paid for interest, discount, and bonuses, with the
debts incurred without consideration. There was
one item in the proceedings of " 30.0001: as having
been paid between 1848 and 1853 for discowere
t,
interest, and bonuses, on money lent. There
about 130 creditors on the schedule, and six debtors.
The Commissioner went over the various debts on
the schedule, which exhibited the usual list of
tobacconists, and tailors, and hotel and stable keepers,
and jewellers, &,c. ; while the bill transactions showed
that insolvent bad transacted extensive business
with Joseph Joel, Leon Solomon, Allessa.ndro Stapler,
and others—some at 60, 70, and 80 per cent. M.
Commissioner Phillips wondered how any person in
their senses could have transactions with such per-
sona. Mr. Sargood remarked that they took 601. on
a 1001. bill, and it some times happened that 401.
was charged to renew such things, and the whole
1001. went. As no creditor appeared to oppose, Mr.
Seratton was discharged with "an admonition" from
the learned Commissioner, who d
never in his life seen such a schedule.eclared he had