The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-05 00:00:00

RABAT EASTERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the proprietors
in this company opposed to laying oat the enormous sum
contemplated by the directors on new lines, which is all to
be ,raised by preference alarm, was held at the London
Tavern, Bishopegate•street. Mr. G. limns was in the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the promedinp, said that
they would no doubt remember that there was a great We-
nn= at the last meeting when two amendment' were
proposed, and the chairman (Mr. Love) suggested that if
the report was adopted, the dividend would not be delayed,
and the amendment of Mr. Gamin could be put as a sub-
stantive motion; and Mr. 1•3•0 further said that if that
motion was agreed to, the directors would religiously want
it out. The reeult was that the report was almost unanni-
mously adopted, and the motion of Mr. Gazelee was
arrnd by a large majority. To the surprise of the meeting,
Mr. Bidder, a director, rose and demanded a poll. The
object of the present meeting was not to take that
conduct into consideration, , but to give the share.
holders an opportunity of consulting together en
that the', should become better acquainted with
each other's opinions, and in the event of their coinciding,
to pass resolutions giving them effect. The object was
to promote the welfare of the company, and when they
saw that the Great Eastern stock was depreciated fifty
per cent., he did not think the directors were justified
an recklinsly and heedlessly rushing turther into debt by
raising money on preference shares at five per cent.
interest He hoped, therefore, that they would not sanc-
tion the Finsbury Extension. With regard to the recent
poll, he wished it to be understood that aa the
agreement with the chairman had been broken, the
daunting shareholders bad abstained from voting.
Mr. WADDINGTON, after some comments OD the exten-
sion system of the board, expressed a hope that the
shareholders would defer passing resolutions of a strong
character until the next meeting.
A Samuniounathen proposed the following resolution :
" That this meeting is of opinion that in the present
position of the Great Ezstern Company, and under the
circumstances in which it is now placed, that no further
extension is requisite, and therefore ought not to be allowed
to take place, and that the only means open to the share-
holders tore pvent the directors from carrying out such ex-
tensions is for all those shareholders opposed to further ex-
tensions to join in preeentiog a petition to the House of
Lords against the Finsbury extension ; and, if it should
be necessary, against any other extension bill introduced
into parliament by the Great Eastern directors in the pre-
sent session."

Mr. MITCHELL seconded the motion, believing that it WAS
one of a most dceirable and bnsine.s•like nature.

Mr. Crane LAWs hoped that the ordinary shareholders
would restrain the directors from making further exten-
sions, for their dividends were already too small. The March
and Spalding Extension was intended to open up the north,
sod in eking that the Great Eastern Company would have
to fight old companies, who, paying good dividends, could
carry at ► lesser figure than the Great Fatten company
could.

After looms conversational diecnaeion, in which a few
minor suggestions were made, the motion wee carried nem.
con., and the meeting wee adjourned until next week.

Tint SOCIAL Evll.—Yesterday an interesting
meeting of the landed poetry of Portland-place and it. vici-
nity took place at the rooms of the Church of England
Young Men's Society, Charlotte-street, Portland-place, for
the purpose of taking such steps as might be deemed neces-
sary to give greater efficacy to the objects of the above pre-
ventive amodstion which is in oonsexios with the Beryls-
bone Female Hon);. Mr. Thomson Blakey, Y.P., was in
the chair, sad was supported by the Rev. E. Yardley Wil-
mot, the rester of All -Souls ; the Bev. W. Calpal3, rector
of Trinity ; the Hon. Arthur Kinnainl, Y.P. Sir J. AMMON
Bart.. S. B. Sony, Fin. W. Acton, Em., W. Sheen, Fel.,
the Rev. D. W. Merles, ho. The chairman observed that
the effort, of the preventive meociation had been directed
to the suppression of immoral houses in the two distrbta
and although, in consequence of went of efficient support
on the pert of the parochial authorities, they were not
ambled to affect so great • good as had been anticipated, at
the same time he (the chairman) was convinced that the
women themselves who walked Regent-street and Portland-
place were much hatter conducted, and by no mesa so great
a nuisance to persons returning home at night as formerly.
The report as to the Rome for 1862 stated that daring the
put ear 54 young women bad been resident for various
in the Beene. The Bev. E. Eardley Wilmot, the
W. Camas, Sir J. Anson, and other geethnies ad-
dressed the meeting as to the continuation of the operations
of the society, and ultimately the matter was referred to
mointittes to draw up a report on the subj.* to be pm-
mated et • future meeting.

ILato Inttlltgentt.

COURT OP PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
MARCH 4.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
_ CRISPIN V. DOOLIONL —BPRCIAL JURY.

- - - ---•
The Queen's Advocate, Mr. Serjeant Sbee, Mr. Dowd*.
well, Mr. Hansen, and Mr. C. Turner appeared far the
• tiff; Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Claude, Q.C., Dr.
Spinks, and Mr. 8.. E. Turner for the defendant.
This ease, which had occupied the attention of the court
since the 13th ult., was an interest suit. The plaintiff.
Francesco Jose Cortes Crispin, claimed to be the natural
sou of Henry Crispin, of Barbara Julia Cortes, born on the
god cd October, 1816. By the Portuguese law an illegiti-
mate son is entitled to the whole of his putative father's
=y if he dims intestate, and to two-thirds of it even if
left • will. In the present ease there was said to
be between 150,0001. and 200,0001. worth of property in
England. The object of the suit was merely to mve the plain-
tiff a locus staudi, in order to contest • will which had been
propounded by the defendant, a sister of the deceased.
The story of the plaintiff was one of • very romantic and
remarkable character. At the beginning of this sectary
there was a rich Ergltsh tradesman at Faro, a town in the
province of Algarve, Portugal, named John Cris Me. He
had three sons and two daughters—Jose, Henry. William,
Theresa, sod Maria, who afterwards married Dr. Doglionl.
a Portuguese physician. In 1809, when Henry was about
33 years of age. he formed • liaison with the girl Barbara,
who was then 21 or 22 yews old, and be had by her two
children. The Bret, born in 1811, died two years after.
The plaintiff saw the light oo the 2nd October, 1816. At
midnight on the Ist Hoary Crispin went to the scrivener
of the municipality, named Sabha., and after telling him
that Barbara was about to have a child by him, which
would be deposited in the wheel of the Foundling
Hospital, begged him to engage a nurse for it, and
promised to pay for its support. This Sabbo agreed to do.
Crispin was present at the birth of the child, and took
it to the wheel himself. Oa the 4th Sabbo bad it baptized
by the name of Francesco, u its father bad desired, and he
had it placed under the care of Maria de Carmo, the wife of
the sexton at the church of San Pedro. Opposite the entry
in the church register appeared the following note:—"Die4
16th Oct., 1822; and a little lower down was written, "The
said foundling passed to Maria Theresa, wife of Antonio
Jose da Costa, of this city, lit July, 1818." These notes,
itas co 1 wntended, were false ; forthough it mistrue that the
child at the age of two years was named to hie maternal
grandmother, her real name win " Maria Thereat Cortes
and there was no such person as " Antonio Jose da Costa"
in Faro between the years 1817 and 1827. There had already
bees snits in the Portuguese court of first instance and
the court of appeal, both of which had decided that the
entries were forgeries. Crispin had written many letters to
hie paramour, but as she could not herself read, she had
only preserved one, which ran thus:—" Barkers, don't let
our FISDOSICO go to school; beer to go with me to the
garden.—Henan."
On the other side it was denied that the plaintiff was the
eon of Barbara Cortes at all, and that at any rate he was
not the son of Henry Crispin. It was true that Crispin had
frequented the house of Barbara's father, who was • barber,
and who had other daughters visited by young men. He
had undoubtedly had a child by her, but that had died ;
and it was contended that be had never bad a second. The
whole story of the plaintiff was in fact absurd. It was
absurd to suppose that • rich English merchant, who had
( panty acknowledged an illegitimate child, should never-
t'heless allow it to be placed in the Foundling Hospital,
to be brought up on the miserable pittance of Gs. per mouth
allowed by the municipality of Faro. It was absurd
likewise to suppose that that child, if he had any
real sense for alleging that Maury Crispin was his
father, would have slept upon his rights from 1828 to 1850.
The truth was the Crispine were a charitable family, and
knowing that their brother had had some connexion with
Barbara Cortes, they had made her • small allowance by way
of alma. This circumstance bad been taken advantage of by
some persona who had got up the suit on speculation.
The Queen's Advocate replied on the whole cue ; and
The learned Judge summed up.
After an absence of 20 minutes, the jury returned into
court, and found a verdict for the plaintiff.
Sir C. Cromwell complimented the jury on their vigilance
and attention during the whole of the protracted Fe-
uding.

TEM ME ON BATCRDAY.
Sir 0. Creswell announced, with regret, that in conse•
quince of the state of public business it would be out of his
power to adjourn over Saturday next.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—MAaca 4.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd.)
LK RE PAUL JERRAILD.
The bankrupt was a printeeller, of Fleet-etreet. This
wee the sitting for examination and discharge. The liabili-
ties are said to be something considerable, but a resolution
was come to by the creditors to take the proceedinp out of
court, end ultimately to swami, the bankruptcy, on pay-
ment of a composition of Bs. In the pound.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—H=77ORD, Mesa( 4.

The business of the above circuit commenced yeeterday
by the opening of the commission for the county of Hert-
ford by Mr. Justice Wightma•. In consequence of
there having been the unusual occurrence of holding •
winter gaol delivery for this county, there are very few
on.. in the gaol calendar, and none of the charges appear to
be of a heinous character. The MUG list 13 not yet made
up, but it is said to be likely to be • light one.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Williams.)

Caroline Burns, 15, a diminutive-looking girl, was
charged with the wilful murder of her male illegitimate
child.
The jury, after a very short consultation, found the pri-
soner Not Guilty of the murder, but convicted her of the
minor offence of eedeavounng to conceal the birth. They
at the same time recommended her to mercy on account of
her tender age and her previous good character.
Mr. Sleigh said he thought it right to inform his lordship
that the mistress of the prisoner bad very kindly offered to
take her back again into her service and to look after her, if
the court passed a slight sentence of imprisonment.
The learned judge said he should not pan sentence upon
the prisoner at present, but would consider what was best to
be dons for her. .

JoAle Aldrett, 50, draper, was indicted under the new
Bankruptcy Act for misdemeanour in having unlawfully,
after having been duly adjudicated a bankrupt, embezzled a
portion of his estate, namely, the sum of 1001., with intent
to defraud his creditors. The indictment also alleged that
he had put forward certain fictitous statements of losses and
payments with a view to account for his property, intending
thereby to deceive and defraud his creditors.
Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. F. H. Lewis conducted the prose-
cution. Mr. Laxton was counsel for the defence.
The defendant carried on business as a draper in a small
way at Woolwich, and it appeared that during last year he
was in difficulties, and on the 24th of September he was
daly adjudicated • bankrupt upon his own petition. He
was then required to undergo the usual examinations before
the Registrar or Commissioner of the Court of Bankruptcy,
and io the course of these examinations the defendant repre-
sented that he bad sold his stock and furniture •
few months before his bankruptcy, and that on
the 24th of June he bad received a cheque
1311. 7s. in payment for a portion of hie pro-
perty upon the London and Westminster Bank.
He then represented that he bad paid 1001., part of the
proceeds of thin cheque, to his father-in-law, who resided in
Suffolk, to cover a debt he owed him, and the only ques-
tion involved in the present inquiry was whether this was •
true statement or whether it was not fictitious, and merely
put forward to account fur the sum referred to, and to pre-
vent the creditors of the defendant from obtaining posse*.
don of the money. The evidence that was adduced in sup-
port of this suggestion was that the stamp upon the agree-
meet for the supposed loan of 1001. alleged to
have been repaid on the 24th of June was not
issued until some time afterwards, and also that
certain bank notes that were given in exchange
for the 1001. Bank of England note bore endorsements, to
fictitious mime, .in the handwriting of the defendant. It
transpired in the course of the inquiry that the present pro-
secution had been instituted by Messrs. ?swoon and Co, of
St. Paul's-churchyard, who were creditors of the defendant,
and that the Court of Bankruptcy had declined to interfere
in the matter, so far as to be responsible for the costs, but
alsoit appeared : that the Isatexaminationof the defendant was
adjourned sine die, with liberty to the creditors to prose-
cute the defendant if they should think proper to do so.
Mr. Lentoo. on behalf of the defendant, contended that
there was nothing to show that the transaction alleged to
have taken piece between the defendant and his father-in.
law was not a genuine transaction, and that the money was
not really repaid He alsourged that nothing was morenatural
than that the defendant, when he found himself in diffi-
culties, should have attempted to save his own relations at
the expense of his other creditor.; and he said that although
this proceeding could not be justified morally, still it would
not constitute any legal offence.
The jury returned • verdict of Guilty, but sentence was
deferred.