The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-15 00:00:00

matter entirely in his hands, and did net blow c
the amount of the claim until it was made. When
it became known he saw that it was extravagant,
bat it would seem that be was restrained
by a high and chivalrous feeling from
interfering, and so exposing his attorney's mis-
take. We daresay most shareholders will agree
with the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE that, admirable as
this conduct may have been, Mr. SURGET could
not be expected to know Mr. PARSONS'S motive in
thus permitting himself to be misrepresented.
As a man of business, it was natural for him to
assume that he had placed the matter in his attor-
ney's hands in order that the latter should do as
much as possible for his interests. At the trial Mr.
SCRIMS had undertaken by his pleas to make good
the truth of his charges ; but as to the communi-
cation of the fact of the purchase to the Board,
and the direct action of Mr. PARSONS in the pre-
ferment of an excessive claim, the evidence was
defective, and the plea of privilege was dis-
allowed because reporters were present. The
jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages, 251.
0: course, if the chairman of any company in
which the gentlemen of the jury may be share-
holders, appear to be acting adversely to its inte-
rests, they will not expect to find a SuaosT eager
to champion their cause at the risk of an action
for damages.

THE NAVY ESTIMATES FOR THE YEARS
1864-64.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning the above estimates were presented
to parliament. They show a net decrease of
303,422/. The total sum required to be voted for
the service of the year, including 314,230/. for the
army department—conveyance of troope---is
,110,432,610/. The last vote was 10,736,032/.
The decrease in the estimates takes place in the
following items :—For wages to seamen and
marines, 47,3041. less is asked ; for victuals and
clothing to ditto, 112,8671. lees ; and in the matter
of naval stores, for the building, repair, and outfit
of the fleet, &c., the sum for the storekeeper-
general of the navy is reduced by 169,9511., and
that for the comptroller of the navy by 195,1371. ;
half-pay to officers is reduced by 21,551!. ; civil
pensions and allowances by 949/. ; medicines and
medical stores by 11650/ ; wages to artificers abroad,
752/., and the scientific branch by 685/. The
total of these items of decrease is 550,8481. ;
but against this is to be put an increase in other
particulars of 247,4241., distributed thus
:—Admi-
ralty office, 3,283/. ; coast guard service, 1,0231. ;
her Majesty's establishments at home, 9,258/. ; her
Majesty's establishments abroad, 1,2961. ; wages to
artificers employed at her Majesty's establishments
at home, 162,4381. • new works in the yards, tte.,
16,000/. ; miscellaneous services, 2,9501. ; military
pensions and allowances, 7,0961., and army depart-
ment, conveyance of troops, 44,0801., leaving the
net decrease, as we have stated, 303,422!.
A statement prefixed to the estimates shows that
the net amount of expenditure for naval services
for the year 1862-63, after deducting extra receipts
and repayments paid to the Exchequer, was
11,532,5651. 13s. Bd. ; the net amount for 1863-64
was 10,462,3221., and the estimated net amount for
the forthcoming year is 10,169,022/.