The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-01 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

APRIL 1, 1854.

THE FORGERY OF • RAILWAY PASSENGER-TICKET
wad committed by a man named Patteson, who was
tried for the offence at Liverpool on Saturday last :
The prisoner was a second-class passenger in a train between
Liverpool and Manchester, On its arrival at Ordsall-lane sta-
tion the clerk went round to collect the tickets, and on receiving
one from the prisoner perceived that it had been altered. The
prisoner was taken into custody, and upon being searched types
were found upon him which would form the word Manchester,
and some printer's ink. On inquiry it was found that the ticket
had been one issued from llvorpool to &Withal, the fare for
which was Is. By the alteration the prisoner had defrauded the
company of the fare from Rainhall to Manchester, which was Is.
His lordship asked the counsel for the prosecution whether
it could be said that the ticket produced was a receipt fur money f
Mr. OVENS was not prepared to argue the point, which was of
the greatest importance, because, if it were held to be a receipt
for the payment of money, every ticket issued by the railway
companies for which a greater aunt than 21. was paid would re-
quire a penny stamp.
His lordship was of opinion that it was not a receipt for the
forging of which the prisoner could be convicted under the sta-
tute, and directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
The prisoner was then indicted at common law for
forging a certain printed paper purporting to be a
passenger ticket of the London and North-Western
Railway Company. Being found guilty under this
form of charge, he was sentenced to six months' im
prisonment.
AN EMPLOYE OF THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY, engaged as a cashier at their Lime-street
Station in Liverpool, named William Caitcheon, was
tried on Thursday at the Liverpool Assizes for em-
bezzling the money of his employers. Two separate
charges were preferred in the indictment., referring
to sums of 590/. 10s. and 2511. 18s. id. respec-
tively
It was the prisoner's duty to receive money at the station and
pay
Lilinto the bank, and remit an account to the central station
London once a week. The secretary of the railway thought it
arioessary to send the inspector of accounts to examine into the
prisoner's accounts, which proved deficient. Subsequently he
admitted that the account was false, that he had given HOC to a
person of the name of Goalen, and had used 3461. 10s. which he
had lent to a Mend, end expected it to be repaid in a short time.
In the course of the case several letters were put in evidence,
written by Thomas Goalen, the auditor of the railway company,
which showed that various sums of money were paid to and on
account of Goalen, and in some respects by his authority.
Ccuusel for the prisoner contended that he had acted under the
authority of his superior officer, Goalen, and therefore was not
guilty of felony, though of great indiscretion.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. On this
charge the prisoner was again arraigned, together
with the above-mentioned Goalen. The latter pleaded
guilty, and this further charge was not proceeded with
against Caitcheon, who was already convicted :
Mr. DELBSLEY, who appeared for the company, referred to
the case of Caitcheon, as being rather the dupe of Goalen, and
as having been led into offence. The defalcations amounted to
about 10,0001., caused by speculations into which Goalen had en.
tered. Caitcheon bad a salary of 1201. and Goalen of 0001.
per annum. They each of them had a wife and children.
His lordship, in passing sentence, commented on the evils of
speculation, and said that it appeared that no one could become
rich quickly and remain innocent. The position of each of the
prisoners had hitherto been respectable, and Goalen had been
entrusted with a most responsible office. But the case required
a severe punishment.
The sentence on Geolen was that he be transported
for fourteen years, and on Caitcheon four years'

to a nobleman, and highly connected. The affair is
most mysterious, as Mr. Moore knew nothing of the
ruffian.
A MELANCHOLY COLLISION took place in the channel
yesterday week, the American ship Ann Kemble having
been in contact with the barque Bonettn, belonging
to Liverpool. The Bonetta was bound from Pernam-
buco with sugar for Hamburg. At the time of the
disaster the weather was hazy, and the helmsman
mistook the American's light for the Portland light.
The barque was struck on the bend of the port bow,
and, being heavily laden, went down almost imme-
diately head foremost,. The master, Mr. W. Taw,
mate, and second mate, were the only persons saved.
Eleven were drowned, including Mrs. Taw, the
master's wife.

THE " FRIENDS " IN ST. PETERSBURG.
Mr. H. Pease, one of the late deputation from the
Society of Friends to the Czar, gave a lecture in Dar
lington last week, in which he recapitulated his ad-
ventures and described the impressions which he had
brought away of the Emperor of all the Russias, and
of so much of his empire as he had enjoyed the op-
portunity of seeing. Some of the details thus given
are sufficiently curious; and still more so the conclu-
sions and opinions deduced from them by the worthy
and pacific lecturer :
The deputation proceeded from London to Berlin, where
they remained over one Sabbath. Passing through several
towns famous in history, they at length crossed the Russian
boundary and arrived in Russia. No sooner had they entered
that country than the officials overhauled all their Pere and
books, and examined their passports. At the first
custom-house their passports were again demanded, and their
chests and papers all turned over, in order that nothing
might be allowed to enter Russia which it would not be de-
sirable the inhabitants should know about. An old Dar-
lington Times was wrapped round one of his parcels, which
was no sooner caught sight of by one of the officials than it
was immediately torn up and trampled underfoot They
now had to travel by means of sledges, to which six Russian
horses were attached—but these were notmuch larger than
ponies; some of these sledges were well appointed, and the
coachmen were rather a superior set of men, and he thought
the style in which they were dressed was far superior to the
style of clothing in this country. They sometimes saw as
many as forty or fifty sledges following each other as fast as
possible, and stretching into the distance as far as the eye
could reach. There seemed to be no end to them, and the
drivers of some of them were by no means polite, for, in
their opinion, to upset another's sledge was a good joke.
He spoke from experience, for they were served so on one
occasion at twelve o'clock at night. They usually travelled
two nights out of three during this time. In about fourteen
days they readied St. Petersburg, after being out about five
nights. The entrance to the city is very handsome. An
officer is appointed who examines your passport on going
in, and, after satisfying himself that it is all right, sends
word to the police to say that such and such persons are
staying at a given hotel, as he previously ascertains to what
hotel you are going. Before seeing Count Nesselrode they
bad to undergo another examination ; and here their motives
for coming to Russia were duly inquired into. There were
but three motives that were allowed to influence people in
visiting Russia, and these, as far as he could recollect, were
business, health or pleasure, and science. At this office
they were very civilly treated, and they had no reason to
complain. For this they were indebted to Prince Mena-
chikoff, who had written to Count Nesselrode, saying what
their mission was, and telling him to expect them. After
having gone to the Aliens-office, which they were obliged to
do in order to remain in St. Petersburg, they proceeded to
fulfil their mission. The Emperor was very kind to them.
He was a man of about fifty-six, and was, on the whole, a
very fine looking specimen of humanity. He was a tall
athletic figure, though not stout. There was a very splendid
view front the Enperor's room window. He saw a long
way down the river, and the docks and fortifications were
under his immediate surveillance. There was no want of
everything grand and imposing—gilded flowers in splendid
vases and galleries of the finest pictures met their view at
every step. Here, in fact, was everything that was attractive
and interesting. He could not help remarking a very great
improvement in these large houses in Russia over those in
England—in every part a uniform and moderate heat was
diffused. This winter palace of the Emperor it was impos-
sible to at all adequately describe without appearing to
exaggerate. The reception-room was 800 feet in length,
and took 20,000 wax lights to illuminate it. Here the col-
lections from every department of art were on the most
attibmts 10 ihttS• magnificent scale. These seemed to have been brought
from every part of the world. They ascended one flight of
steps which comprised no less than seventy-two,every one of
A Box or GoLD-DUST, containing 1,000 ounces, which wall of solid marble of the finest description. Here
was stolen from the screw-steamer Sydney, while on were a large number of articles in malachite, and those who
her homeward passage from Melbourne. It is sup- visited the Great Exhibition of 1861 would alone be able
posed to have been abstracted from the hold at the to form any adequate conception of the splendid effect
which large quantities of this fine mineral and gold had
Cape, where some cases of gold bad to be landed.
when brought together. The mines of Siberia, of which
The missing box was consigned to the London the Emperor was particularly proud, were exceedingly rich
and Westminster Bank, and was valued at nearly in this expensive stone. Be was not a very
good judge of
5,0001. fine painting, but here was gallery after gallery filled with
A Fritz, attended with a considerable destruction paintings by the best masters. The effect of the whole was
of property, broke out on Wednesday in the premises admiration and amazement. There was in one of the halls
of Mr. W. Read, eating-house proprietor, High etreet, a very large vessel which had lately been brought from Fin-
Shadwell. The premises were burnt down, and the land, and which was supported on a huge pedestal, all cut
out. of a solid piece of granite. The kindness they met
adjoining houses on both sides seriously damaged
with at the court was far above that usually extended to
before the fire could be mastered. visitors, and they were taken to see the room of Peter the
THE REV. MR. Moonn, of Easton Lodge, Stain- Great. Here was everything that would suggest itself as
ford, was shot at on the evening of Thursday week. being of use to a great king as Peter was. Here were many
The assassin was traced by an Irish bloodhound be- ingenious tools and other things of his own invention, arid
longing to the rev. gentleman. He is a fanner at many beautifully-carved ornaments in ivory and wood. On
Ketton, Stamford. Mr. Moore is domestic chaplain one of the tables in a plain case was an oldsteel pen, which

penal servitude.
THE SITTINGS OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY are to
be transferred to Lincoln's-inn. On Wednesday the
Lord Chancellor announced that he intended to sit
at Westminster on the first day of term as usual;
but, in compliance with what his lordship understood
as the wishes of the great majority of the bar, he
proposed during the remainder of the term to direct
the sittings of the court to be in Lincoln's-inn. His
lordship confessed that he adopted this course with
regret, as producing a separation of the common law
and equity bar ; but, as it was the earnest wish of a
large majority of equity counsel, he felt himself con-
strained to abandon his own prepossessions and make
the concessions they requrred. The Lord Chancellor
afterwards said that the sittings would be continued
at Lincoln's•inn for the next two terms ; it was, how-
ever, an experiment, and he reserved the right of re-
turning to the ancient practice if he found it expe-
dient. It is understood that the sitting will Mill be
held at Westminster on the first day of every term,
when the judges of all the courts have been accus-
tomed to go in procession to Westminster-hall.

299

presented a remarkable contrast to the things by which it
wag surrounded. This pen was the one which the late
Doke of Wallington used, and was sent as a present to the
Emperor by the present duke. Among the curiosities seen
here were some hw lumps of native sulphur and a large
piece of gold as it had been found. Three or four of these
specimens amounted in value to 110,0001., one block of
malachite alone being worth 23,000/. The specimens from
those interminable sources of wealth, the Siberian mines,
were of the most interesting and wonderful nature. The
highest church in St. Petersburg was truly a very tine
buildiug, but although it had been building forty years it
was not nearly finished. Reports said the architect had a
good yearly allowance, and there was no probe .lity of its
completion for some time to come. The great distinguishing
features of this church, as well as of most others in St.
Poterburg, are the long columns of granite which extend to
the roof from the floor. The effeet of these was quite grand,
giving the immense fabric the appearance of being perfectly
safe. Some of the churches had several domes stanching
up into the air to an immense height ; the tops of these
were gilded, so that on a bright day the scene was the most
dazzling they could oouoeive of. The atmosphere there
being very clear the effect of these gliateuiag spires was
exceedingly good. In one of the churches into which they
were shown they saw a screen made of solid silver, which
must have been of great value. The service at the °bundles
in St. Petersburg commenced at four o'clock in the morning,
so that as early as half-past three they heard the hells sum-
moning the people to worship. The lecturer next proceeded
to explain one of the most popular amusements of the people
in St. Petersburg during the winter. He had a model to
assist the audience to understand the media operawdi of this
amusement, which consisted of a tall platform with an ia-
dined plane on one aide. Persons elitubed to the top by • flight
of steps with a small sledge on their back. When at the top
they got into their sledge, and, a lady very often clinging
behind on the gentleman's shoulders, they wade a most
rapid descent on the other side by a slide. To a looker on
this sport seemed most dangerous, as one after mother
came down with fearful impetuosity. The people
in St. Petersburg say they should not be able to do without
this exhilarating sport during the dull winter season. The
young ladies especially seemed to enjoy the fun of going
down on the back of the gentlemen, who in their turn
were pleased to take them down. ( Laughter.) He believed
the reason why Russia had made no more progress in civili-
sation was the way in which she trampled down the press.
He brought with him a number of an illustrated paper
which had passed the ordeal of examination by the Post-
°dice authorities, without in any way benefiting by the
process. Several articles had been cut out wholesale, as
containing something not quite presentable. One of the
articles so cut away had been originally an illustration of
the Emperor, and had no doubt contained something
considered derogatory to his dignity. They were all
aware that serfdom very extensively prevailed in
Russia. Alan/ of these serfs were of the better class,
such as waiters in hotels, and these all bad to pay so much
yearly to their lords. A waiter in the hotel where he stayed
paid his nobleman AL a year, and the income which some
of these nobles received in this way amounted to 300.000/.
To these noblemen the war was a very great loss. There
had already been two conscriptions within the last six
months, each of which would reduce the revenue of some
of these noblemen to the extent of about 10,000/. Very
much to the discredit of the Russians, the barbarous
slaughter at Sinope was performed every night in the theatres
of St. l'etersburg. Mr. Pease then described their interview
with the Emperor. After getting the necessary introduc-
tion, they were ushered into the palace, where a very brae-
ideal of a king's servant conducted them through several
suites of rooms, and up a great many stairs, at the landing
of every one of which was a body of guards stationed,
standing as mute as the wall beside them. After waiting
about half an hour, a messenger was sent to tell them that
the Emperor was ready to receive them. On going into
the room where the ('car was, he rose from his seat and
came across the room about half way to meet them. Baron
Nicho!ay was present during the interview. The Emperor
spoke chiefly in English, which be spoke very well, but
some parts of the conversation and the reply to the address
he addressed to Baron Nicholay in French : the reason why
he did so was that the Emperor knew better tbe full import
of the words he used in that language than in English. The
interview lasted about half an hour. He expressed a wish
that they should, before they left, call upon the Empress,
which they did. When they arrived in the room where she
was, they found that the Emperor had arrived first by a
private passage. The Empressseemed to be suffering from
111-health, caused pertly from the shock of the rising of the
populace when Nicholas was declared Emperor, and partly
from the unjustifiable attacks which had been made on the
character of her husband by the British press. He at once
saw how painful • subject it was to the Empress and the
Grand Duchess Olga, and he could not but regret the course
which the press of this country had pursued in this respect
—in resorting to abuse and calumny instead of reasoning.
Many of the mostrespectable British residents in St. l'eters-
burg were of the same opinion, and expressed the very
great pain this subject had caused them. All that be saw
of the Emperor led him to a very different opinion of his
character. The people of St. Petersburg almost idolised
him, and he frequently went out amongst them unattended.
Mr. Pease then related one or two incidents which he bad
heard in St. Petersburg illustrative of the kindness with
which the Emperor treated his people, and the interest he
took in their smallest concerns. In conclusion he vindi-
cated the propriety of the expedition. He could not see
anything unreasonable or deserving of ridicule in the
fact of a body of Christians who have been in existence two
hundred years, and who have averaged 20,000 in number,
who have always cherished the belief that liberty can neither
be advanced, nor national disputes settled, by the sae of the
sword, and who had always endeavoured to be good citizens,
sending two of their number to endeavour to brim about a
pacific settlement of the present

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