The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-11 00:00:00

PRIVATE BFEINES&

The following bile werere;fr,Moolad time :—Athenry
and Ennis Junction Railway (Extension of timel ; Man-
chester and Milford Railway, and the Southampton and
:Tetley Railway.
AFFIRMATIONS BILL. _

Sir J. TRELA WNY rose to move the second media,
of this bill lie maid that so far as the general prin-
ciple was concerned the actual state of the law
upon the subject was that no person could give
testimony in our courts of law unless he took an oath.
But there were various instances where the law had been
altered in this respect, and affirmations received in
lieu of oaths. By the Common Law Procedure Act
affirm►tious were permitted in civil cams where
persons held certain religious opinions, and that
privilege was afterwards extended to witnesses in
criminal cases; but as the alteration dui not "-
tend to Scotland, this anomaly existed—namely,
that by the law of Scotland all poisons in crimi-
nal cases must take an oath. With regard to civil
disqualifications, a man had only to say he was an infidel,
and he was at once relieved from giving evidence. He pro-
tested against each an absurdity in the state of our law.
There were two classes of persons who wised to be allowed
to affirm instead of taking an oath—those who were of
' certain religious denominations, and those who held no re-
ligious opinions at all. The object of the present bill wee
to assimilate our law to the law actually in force in India.
The ATTORNEY.GIENERAL said it was his intention
to move, in place of the hon. and learned member opposite
(Mr. lekialion), that the bill be read a second time this
day six month,. (Cheers.) If truth was important
anywhere it wee so in the administration of jus-
tice, and he regarded oaths as a security that the
truth should be spoken. (Hear, hear.) The hon. baronet
was mistaken in supposing that the bill would be only an
extension of previous legislation, for all previous relaxations
of the law relating to oaths contained an important reserva-
tion. He then entered into &history of oaths in thin coun-
try from the earliest periods down to the present time,
showing that in all the changes which had been made
there had been an assumption of religious belief in the
witness whom testimony was to be taken. That was the
principle of oaths, and this bill would be a departure from
tt. They all knew how reluctant some witnesses were
to kiss the book. That showed a defective moral sense
which would prevent a man from telling the truth if he
had simply to affirm, though cot from telling it under the
pressure of an oath. (Hear, hear.) The proposed change
would be productive of no benefit, and might koct to ee-
-1 rims evil. . .

•--....
Mr. ROEBUCK said it was a lamentable thing that when
any reform in the law was proposed, that reform was op-
posed by • practising lawyer. (Laughter.) Though it was
lamentable, however, it was not surprising. Law in the
hands of a practising lawyer wan not • science, bat a matt.
The result of the present state of the law was, that in many
cases the evidence of the truth-telling man was rejected,
and that of the liar accepted. (Hear. hair.)
[Left speaking.]

SERIOUS LOSS OP LIFE DURING THE
ILLUMINATIONS.

During the time of the illuminations not fewer
than twelve fires took place in different parts cf the metro-
polis, and how the engines were enabled to pale through the
crowded streets without causing an accident is astonishing.
We regret to state, however, that a fearful number of acci-
dents took place through the pressure of the crowd ►nd the
passing along of vehicles. Besides more than 100
persona injured in the City, we have to tanned the loss of
seven lives, which took place between Fleet-street and the
blansion.house. Each of these persona was a woman.

About seven o'clock p.m., a fire broke out in James-
place, Bath-street, City-road. About half en hoar later, • j
fearful scene took place in Mansion-house-greet. Not.
withstanding the arrangements made by the City police,
it was impossible to get the people to walk up oa one side
of the street., and down on the other, but stream after
stream of men, women, and children kept pouring in each
direction. At last they were mareely able to move, and all
of • sudden a female named Phoebe Crystal, about 45 years
of age, of Bridge-street, Hammersmith, was forced
down, and another womea earned Charlotte Don.
oven, of 27, Fort-street, Spitalfields, with her hus-
band and • little oluld, fell over her. The three
persona and also the child, could be seen lying on the ground
and struggling violently, but to stop the populace appeared
impossible. The child was held up and was received by
some one in a passing omnibus, and was thereby saved.
Jost at that moment • cab horse fell at the side
of the woman Crystal, and the animal plunged
one of his fore legs and kicked her skull in.
By great perseverance on the part of the police the three
unfortunate individuals were dragged out through the crowd
and taken to Bow-lane Poliorstatioa. Dr. May promptly
attended, and at once pronounced the two females dead,
and the man seriously injured. It is at present impossible
to give • correct list of the others injured, but in
Guy's Hospital is lying • boy named Wm. John Harvey,
aged 8 years, who has received a compound fracture of the
bodes of the head and lacerated wounds of the knee-joint.
This poor little fellow, it is thought, fell from the pressure
of the crowd and got trampled upon. John lifsephersoo,
aged 3D, has received a severe fracture. Esther Tol-
hunt, aged 38, has also received serious injuries.
Harriet Chad has received • fractured tibia and fibula.
George Lewis, aged 44, has got has back and arms crushed ;
and George Poole, aged 19, has received sundry fractures.
On Ludgate-hill, in Fleet street, and at the oorner of
Farringdonetrest, the pressure of the crowd wag frightful.
About 7 p.m. the Farringdoe-street engines were taken out
to a fire at the large factory of Mann. Rand, Thorpe, and
Co., in Cardiogton-street, Hampstead-road. Whether the
alarm of fire caused the crowd to rush faster
towards Farriogdon-street is not quite clear, but
on. thing is certain, that a tensile about
5 feet 2 inches high, respectably dressed, was forced down
and trodden upon. She was picked up and car-
ried to • publie-house, and from there to St. Bar.
tholomew'e Hospital, where she was found to be quite
dead. She was cheesed in black, wore • black broonlx,
and hail 10s. 20. in her pocket. The body lies to
be identified. At the same moment • woman, about 26
year aof age, and, from an envelope found in her pocket,
supposed to be named Mitchel, of Union-place, Unioa-
sliest, Hackney-road, was forced down and trampled upon.
After • desperate struggle the poor creature was dragged
oat, and taken first to the police-station and afterwards to
Bartholomew's Hospital , w here she wee pronounced to Indeed.
Another female, supposed to be named Harding, was forced
doers and was trampled upon. She was respectsbly dressed,
5 feet 6 inches high, and about 40 years of age. When
received into the hospital, life sou found to be extinct.
Another female, making the fourth at this particular per.
hoe of the road, was also forced down, and when taken to the
hospital was found to be dead. This body also remains to be
. I identified.
I A vast number of persons with crushed ribs and coda-
- ' sions were also received into the same hospital, and it took
the whole staff to attend to the injuries. le the Borough
r several parsec's were severely injured in attempting to
, cross the road.

Mew was acti7sbigTeaszieeiieloay ; sad by far less
than the at number of drunk end disorderly mess. In
all of them the Isms defence was set up, vi,.,—that they
mild not help enjoying themselves oe the Prime of Wales'
wedding day. There was not a single person met to prison,
far mast of the cases were discharged, sad in three where a
Iles was inflicted is was at once paid, and the neenons left
the mart. All the night charges were disposed of by 11
o'sbek, and before that hour as Menday and Saturday
lest
XARLBOROUGHZTRIRT.
PORING TOCCO'S, ASSAULTS, ITC., AT Till ILLIJIIIMATIOSS.
Henry Rof, plumber,lof 2, Westbourmpuir, was charged
with assaulting King, 247 0, Relent, 135 C, and Butcher,
109 B ; sod Henry Hades wee charged with attempting to
rescue Koff, and moulting Prised, 237 G.
The defendant Roff was making a great noise sod dim-
imbues in Pinaffilly, and was requested to go away by
Lag, when be struck him on the breast a violent blow,
and got a large crowd round the officer, and it took seven or
eight constables to take him to the station. On the way
there Koff behaved with the greatest violence and kicked
Relent and Butcher in the most violent and dangerous man-
nor,reedering the latter incapable of doing duty. The de-
keine Haden attempted to get Buff away from the con-
Midas by peaking persons on them, and cc Prima taking
him We misted, he struck Prompt a violent blew.
Rod said be was tipsy, sod Haden that be was earry.
Mr. Tyrwhitt mid that baked of moulting the police it
was the duty of every me to assist them, for they were
only carrying out the regulations intended for the comfort
of everybody.
Rod was flood 10s. in two ems, and DX in a third, or 41
days' imprisonment is default ; and Haden was fined 20a., or
14 days.
Janes Till, of 28, Queen-street, Pimlico, was fined 10.
for andouille; Watenon, 144 C. in the Haymarket.
Chaska TAarston, of 91, Keasiugton Gardens-square,
coachman, was fined 20s. or 14 days for amultiog Sergeant
Stevens, 236 A.
George Clark and George Harris, were charged with at-
tempting to pick pockets in Regent-street.
Barrett, 16 L, having given evidence, prisoners were re-
manded fora week.
William Griffiths was charged by 163 B with loitering in
Pall-rnall for the purpose of committing a trilogy.
163 B and 288 B having given evidence, prisooer was i
remanded. FOREIGN-OPTICZ, MARCH 6. —The Queen haft
David Hearn was next charged with picking the pocket ' been pleased to approve of Dm Francisco Martinet Rolla
of a lady in Regent-Meet. as Coned at Cardiff, sod of Don Joaquin de Anodes* as
Harris, 304 A, proved seeing the prisoner try several
Mosul at Malta, for her Majesty the Queen of Spain. The
WWI pockets, sod an taking him into custody he dr°Pr''' QUeea hassle) been pleased to approve of Mr. John Freaks
a ports moment. as Opera at Cardiff or the Argentine Republic.
Remanded.
mursauff and Thu.. Marshall. af whituchapo, ' Mn. J. STUART MILL AND THE UNION AND
Breencheasemongers, were charged by O'Brien, 363 0, one of the EMANCIPATION HOCISTT.—The following letter has been
mounted police, one with letting off fireworks among • line nosived.llbLitLPotter,toisbereply to torejbu:ilitattohfatio.Mr.
Mill
of carriages, and the other with attempting to rescue his should
dents of the aborn.• society :Planed
" Blackheath Park, March 6,
brother.
Mr. Tyrwhitt, deeming the detention the defendants bad 1663.—Dear sir,—l shall be happy to be associated in the
undertone sufficient, discharged them, manner you propose with the Manchester Union and Eman-
cipation Society. The proceedings of the society axe already
DILMOLISHENCI TRS ILLUMMATION LAMPS AT THE HAYMARKET doing a great good, both in this country and in America ;
THEATRE. and the moral effect produced by the noble attitude of the
John Henry Simpson of 34, Fore-street, Cripnltgl* Lancashire operatives is likely to he fruitful in permanent .
medical student, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with Tasout.-1 am, dear air, very faithfully yours, J. S.
being drank and disorderly, and destroying a number of T. B. potter, Bag..
illumination lamps at the Haymarket Theatre, the property PoLrouerlitc-Brou . —Mr. Henri Drayton has
I of Mr. Buckatooe, the lessee. secured W. S. Woodin's elegant hell for the purpose of
The defemisint was seen by • constable to go up to the
beroinortzau....ii out his new entertainment entitled, i'ederals and
lamps and make several blows at them with his stick, break- , which has been written and arranged expressly
inga number of them. for him, interspersed with pictorial and musical ,
A person in the employ of Mr. Blckatorie proved the
Sioux. The first representation will take place this evening.
amount of the damage to be at least 15s. Two hundred of the deserving poor, principally
Mr. Tyrwhitt ordered the defendant to pay the damage
soda fine of 2s. 6d., or 14 days imprisonment in default. of a very 00 "awed Pai°d in life, were mull.' with as
LAMBETH. excellent diaper and tea at the Westmoreland-street
schoolrooms, Pimlico' at the expense of a committee of the
Sala 7111 ILLUMINATIONS. influential tradeoneeof Warwick-street, Pimlico. A musical
Mr. Elliott, the minim magistrate, was occupied for an
entertainment was added to the 'absenteel cheer of which
hour in hewing and diaposing of charges_ of drunkenness. partook in ha.r the prise,
of Wales's
wedding day.
The parties charged were persons who had been to the City they
At the Queen's Concert Ro me, Hanover-souare •
and west-end of the town to Miami the splendid illumine-
was • crystal star.. of eight points, with the Prince of s
pions, and who in the exubentecie of then pleasure sod *a./
loyalty got o drop toe much.. The magistrate, making feathers, and Dim" in the centre, encircled with
allowance for the asseelea, itiseharged the prisoners in rubia•
are where nothing bob dmokeeeses was charged. In New Burlington-street, Messrs. Robert Cocks
sad Co., Music Publishers to the Queen bad a crystal sear of
eight points, with the Prince of Wales's feathers, mid " lch
Messrs. Goods, of South Andley-street, have been Don" in the metre, encircled with rubies.
appointed to mpply.thwa pat. of wale. with imitoo. Messrs. Day and Sons' great building had three
factures. The diment service sow in progress will be a tows 01 P• jets lion tits 0010its4 tunnounOd by a twelve
marvel of workmassbtp, and will rival the Meat specimens foot gas star.
of the old Svres. It will be for fifty poem, and will be Her Majesty's Newsman, King-street, St. Janice's,
executed entirely of the Sent pate tendre porcelain' and had • Priem of Wales's feathers and motto in centre ; en
cannot fail to be looked open re future generations as a each side, connected by festems, two Brueswiek sure; at
triumph of the wheelie et linglamrs manaketeriag thilL the bees • chain of hideous The whole in variegated Ismite.