The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1855.

been remarked, us fact which tells against the oom-
mon jury system of Ragland, that in cues of dis-
puted bills, the plaintiff is almost certain to obtain
a verdict, that a gentleman who defends an action
against a tradesman who has overcharged him, is
almost certain to lose it : and people abeount for this
by pointing to the composition of the common juries
which venally try such cases. These juries con-
sist of tradesmen whose sympathies 'are na-
turally with the plaintiff; and who are not
likely to have very definite ideas about the
line where moderation in tradesmen's bills ends and
extortion begins. The discussion of this question is
likely to bring the advocate of either side upon very
tender pound. I shall therefore decline to advance
cny opinion ; but referring this objection to the Eng-
lish common jury system to that of exhibition juries,
I may unhesitatingly affirm that hundreds of exhibi-
tore view with extreme suspicion the verdicts made
upon their goods by rival producers. This suspicion
will be weakened by the prudent precaution taken by
the imperial commissioners to exclude jurymen from
the list of candidates for prizes; but some suspicion
will always linger, nor do I see how i's cause is to be
altogether removed. The constitution of industrial
juries is, indeed, at once the most difficult and the
most onerous duty an Exhibition Commission kts to
perform. It is natural for manufacturers to look
doubtingly at juries in which they find their rivals in
business, and I fear that this unpleasant feeling will
be found to exist still more strongly in regard to the
exercise of the powers of selection and rejection by
the local committees. In addressing the prefects of
departments, on the composition of these commit-
tees, Prince Napoleon said : " Your choice should fall
upon the agriculturists, manufacturers, tradesmen,
professore, artists, sod other men whose. technical
knowledge may enlighten the committees upon all
interesting points of the locality." These are un-
doubtedly the men able to furnish reports on local
agriculture and manufactures; but whether they are
likely to be unprejudiced judges as regards the claims
to space of their neighbours and rivals is a
question open to the gravest discussion. lam not
certain that well-known retired manufacturers alai

others no longer actively engaged in commerce would
not have better satisfied the tender susceptibilities of
rival claimants.

However, the constitution of the Paris Universal
Exhibition having been definitively drawn up, it
will become all foreign exhibitors who may confide
their interests to it to do so in a generous spirit.
They may rely, with safety, upon the chivalry
of the French nation, which will, I believe, be rather
inclined to overestimate than to depreciate their
deserts. Receiving all foreign exhibitors as guests
whom they have invited to a contest, they will treat
them with the most chivalrous, the most unbounded,
hospitality. Every foreigner who may reach Paris
next summer will feel that he has come as an invited
guest—so warm and generous will be his reception.
With regard to Englishmen, assuredly their visit
will be a long holiday. A warm band will grasp
theirs at every turn—the hands of men whose bro-
thers are fighting side by side with their brothers
far away. And thus the contest of peaceful industry
will gather a glory and a charm from Alma and
lokermann—the olive will look all the sweeter from
the sturdy laurel which has been planted behind it.
And is it the merest cobweb of a Lucy to think that
from the fraternisation which in May next will
glorify the Palais de l'lndustrie the brave armies of
the two nations will derive new hope, new vigour?
that they will see in this fraternisation an assurance
that their allies in arms will still be their allies when
the standards of England and France shall be folded
up, and every regiment shall have returned home, a
catalogue of glorious names upon its triumphant
banners? And so let all Englishmen tome, with
confidence in the chivalry of their allies, to the peace-
ful campaign, of which the imperial commissioners
will, I hope, be the worthy generals.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE
RAILWAY.—The directors of the Manchester, Sheffield, arid
Lincolnshire Company announce that their aLe,ients the
hail-year, ending December 31, 1854, are now made up
'and in proems of audit. They exhibit a total reveuuo from
all 11911TC*4 of 273,7381. 2s. 4d.; • total expenditure of
448,8021. 18s. 10d. ; and • balance, including the balance of
12,7371. 4s. 4d. from list half-year, and stores bbl lure,
8,8121. lrre. 1 ld., of 131,4851. 3r. 9d., available for interest
and el•e:clend. The debenture interest emouuts to
65.6171.1•. 4d. ; the cocci annuities to 13,731/. 4.. 33.;
nientend en ill per cent. shares, to 23,6501. ; and dividend
en 10!. 71 per cent. shares, to 32,7001., making a total of
125,7311. os. 74.2 which, deducted from the net balance as
above, leaves 5,753(.18..2d. available. The directors iniew;
to Teo immend t t the shareholders to poy the usual dividend
on the els percent. shares, and to issue deferred dividend
warrant+, payable *litho passing of the Preferential Arrears
Bill, which will be before parliament this *easier), for one
lon
dividend at the rate of 71, per cont. per annum
lon the 10!. preference shares, and fir Gl. per 100/. steel.,
!or at the ra c of 3 per cent. per annum on the No. 1 quar-
ries and mdivary share capital of Vie company, leering a
Unice to he carried forward to the next moment of 6001
7e. HI The report and amens will be ready for
i••sne to the shareholders in exlanso about the 10th iusamt.
The conip.ny. claim for Vie mail packet service beteeen
(lull and New Holland is not yet brought into scccknt to
toe credit of revenue.
THE LATE MYSTERIOUS POISONING CASE AT SA-
1' LtsllUßY.—Sttgeant Udell and Wm. Price, the suspected
parties, were brought before the magistrates en Wednee-
isy afternoon, end received a farther r• mend. On Satur-
day morning the two prisoners were placed before the
mayor erd magistrate, when the Superiutendent of Police
:toted that due Inquiries had been made at the various
pable houses between Bristol and Salisbury. Nothing sus
pieietis, It wee stated, had marked the prisoners' de-
meanour. On the contrary, they bad been uniformly kiud
to the deceased. A letter was also reed from Mr. Herapeth,
which stored that although the strongest tests had been
emp.yed, he had cot been able to dm slier any traces of
poison. In his opinion death was caueect by inflammation
of the stomach. Tnil bring the case, Goa magistrates were
of opinion that there was no cause for di toeing the pri•
Boners loager in custody, and they were therefore dis-
charged. _
CASUALTIES.—AIida (kuff), Petersen, of this port,
from Nyekjobicg for London, lying in the Anger C..nal,
outwarebound, was driven on shore on Ren Strand, during
a heavy gale at N.W. in the night cf Dee. 26, and flied;
crew, materials, and pact of cargo (oats) slightly bamegag.
saved. The remainder of the cargo is expected to he saved
out all deraged.—Thisted Dec. 31. Flora Kock, Dorn.-
marsiel to IVcymoulh (cargo oats and beans), aft( r losing
both anchors and chains, was driver ow shore on the dyke,
near Ncuharlingersiel ; crew saved.—Nordea, Jan. 1.
Itethilde (Prussian schooner), ?die, from Konigsberg to
Hull, we. erseded and wrecked et Orarup yesterday;
ma ter and four men saved; three men drowned; cargo
Octave and vetches) not expected to be save i.—lljerting,
I_o. 3. Norms, See berg, of and for Tonsberg from Lon,
_ .