The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 17, 1848.

leaving nothing in the cellar. (Hear, and laughter.) He
was sorry to hear that the directors had been blamed for
making money cheap, but he thoosht the fault was owing to
the act of 1844, which same parties considered a self-acung
manure, which would adapt itself to all emergencies.
Mr. Ald. SALOMON' said that last year he and some friend,
around him had set the increased dividend ball in Motion,
and he hoped that on the present occasion he might be
'Dewed to say a few words on the subject. He should
support the resolution of the governor, because he did not
think it would be advantageous to interfere with the deci-
sion of the court of directors on so small a matter as a dif-
ference of 10s. in the dividend ; and he trusted, therefore,
that the original resolution would meet with the support of
the proprietors. With regard to the " Rest," he would state
that, between the years 1832 and 1844, it never exceeded
two millions and a half, and subsequent to 1844 it did not
exceed three millions; and that, on a capital of fourteen
millions, wee, he considered, ample. He therefore trusted
that the motion for an increased dividend would be with-
drawn. He also hoped that, before the close of the business,
some information would be given to the proprietors with
reference to some points which were mooted at the last oourt
concerning the future election of governor, deputy-gover-
nor, &c.
Mr. FIBLDER said, that as it appeared to be tne wish of
tho court that he should withdraw his motion, he would do
so. (Hear, hear.)
The Goveunom then put the original resolution that •
dividend be declared of four and a half per cent. for the
half year; and in clomp so be said that the whole had been
put in the shape of a dividend, because, had aey part been
given by way of bonus, parties having a life interest only
would have no claim to it.—The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
The GOVERNOR then informed the court that the dividend
warrants would he ready and payable en Thursday, April 8,
and then stated that with reference to the allusion that had
been made by a proprietor to what had taken place at the
last half-yearly meeting, he had to state that the attention of
the directors nod been directed to the system hitherto pur-
sued on the election of candidates for re election as directors,
and to he elected governor and deputy-governor. Hitherto
it had been the custom that each of the directors in rotation
should offer himself to fill the office first of deputy-governor
and afterwards of governor, and those directors who were
unwilling to offer themselves retired from the direction.
That practice had been found to be inconvenient, and would
in future be abandoned; and in future gentlemen would be
elected to the governorship, not on the principle of rotation,
but those would be chosen who were considered best quali-
fied to fill that situation, without regard to seniority in
the direction. The names of the candidates would in future
be advertised twelve days before that on which the ballot
was to take place, and the new candidates would be distin-
guished from those who were recommended for re-election.
Mr. De WINTON gave notice of the following motion for
the next court day:
Bans of England, March IG, 1848.—Notice of motion, on or
between the 10th sod 25th of September. Os the third Thursday in
nest September, at a court of the proprictots to consider the dividend,
&c., I will move that the bye-laws and regulations for the election of
the gore nor and deputy-governor, and the directors, and for the
general management of the Bank of England, be then considered,
with a view to their amendment.—J. P. Do W INTON.
The GOVERNOR said that in order to consider any altera-
tion in the bye-laws, it would be necessary to appoint a
special court for that purpose.
Mr. THOMPSON moved, pursuant to notice, that for the
future the salaries of the different clerks of the establish-
ment should be paid in full, without deducting the income
tax.
The GOVERNOR said the suhjea was one of internal ar-
rangement, which was rather fir the considerr ion of the
court of directors than the proprietors.—The motion was
then withdrawn.
Mr. J. Pti.enea, after alluding to the late insolvency of
BOON of the directors, and the great inconvenience occasioned
thereby, moved that in future no proprietor should be eli-
gible.to the directory who was not willing to declare that he
was in possessi-n of property to the amount of 100,0001. over
and above the amount of his debts and liabilities—The mo-
tion was not seconded.
After soma considerable discussion, and a motion by Mr.
Levy, that the consideration of it should be deferred to
March 1840—(laughter)—the governor intimated the course
the court of directors intended to pursue at the next vacan-
cies for the election of directors, due notice of which would
be given. The intermediate proposed resolutions having
been withdrawn, a most cordial vote of thanks was passed
to the governor, the deputy-governor, and the court of
directors, for the ability they had displayed in the manage-
ment of the affairs of the corporation. The governor ex-
pressed hie acknowledgments, and said that it was the
desire of himself and his colleagues to advance the interests
of the blank of England lor the general good of all. The
court was then declared to be adjourned.

GALLANT AFFAIR WITH A PIRATE SLAVER.—A
letter from the coast of Africa save " The Philomel,
Commander W. C. Wood. and the Dart, 3, Lieutenant-
Commander E. A. Glynn, have had a smart affair in their
boate, with a felucca pirate, under Spanish colours. The
weather being calm, the Philomel and Dart sent their gig!,
under command of Lieutenant Wharton, to board the chase.;
but on the boats nearing her she fired on them, and with ouch
precision as to render the gig of the Philomel hors de combat,
and the boats returned to their ships. The gig, temporarily
repaired, and with the accession of the Pbilomel'e pinnace,
again proceeded in chime of the pirate, and soon succeeded
in boarding her, though opposed to • fire from their gun,
and also from musketry (the boats are said to be riddled),
but, fortunately, only two or three of the men were hurt
(one, however, has since dud of his wounds). After being
boarded, the piratical crew ran below, but continued to fire
musketry up the hatches fir some time afterwards. Several
of the pirates were killed. She proved to be a Spanish
piratical slaver, mounting one long IS•pounder (an English
gun), with a crew of 36 men. kid reported to hare been
a desperate affair, and that it was almost miraculous that
the boats escaped with such a slight loss in killed and
wounded."
THE PLEA OF NSA late number
of your journal you gave an account of the trial of Martha
Prior, for the murder of her infant, and connected with it
is a statement of what Lord Denman amid to the jury. I
have always regarded Lord Denman as one of the most able
and upright judges that ever sat on the English bench ;
his decisions have been cleat and constitutional; but
in the present instance, if your report is correct, I
think he talked very much beside the question. The
woman had been delivered of this child, and since
her delivery she had required the attendanoe of a me-
dical practitioner; and from what he observed of his
patient he ordered that she should not be left, that her child
should be kept from her, and that no dangerous weapon
should be within her reach. Nothing can be clearer than
that he thought there was an aberration of reason, and that
whilst so suffering there was danger df the woman doing
either some injury to herself or her child. The precautions
unfortunately were not attended to. The poor woman ob-
tained her child and a razor, and the child was
killed. The surgeon gave evidence that, is his opinion,
the woman was insane, and Lord Denman thought proper to
reflect upon this evidence, asking the witneeb if he considered
the crime was committed under • sucklat impulse. Now,
Mr. Editor, this questioa is, as it appears to me, quite irrele-
vant. Death iodic; ed by a sudden impulse is not murder
but maaslaughter, or it may even be quite accidental ; but if
any time, however short, intervenes, between the supposed
determination and the actual inectien, that legally con-
stitutes murder. Suppose two men quarrelling near the
house of one of them, and the owner of the house killed
his opponent, that might not be murder ; bat if he stepped
into bis house and got a stick or poker, and thereby
inflicted a deadly stroke that would be regarded as premed'.
toted murder. But surely, in the case of Martha Prior, this
distinction did not apply. Let it be conceded that she was
bent on killing her child, provided it had been previously
ascertained that she was acting under delusion or mental im-
becility induced by illness, she was fully entitled to the
benefit of the plea of insanity; and if in this case repre-
hension wee anywhere due, it was due to the
nurse for leaving the patient, or to those by whose order
the nurse was removed. I acknowledge myself opposed to
capital punishment in any case; still, I quite admit that
Lord Denman may be right in condemning all attempts to
evade what is law by pretended pleas of insanity. But in
this cane there was no pretended plea. The woman had
previously to the alleged murder been pronounced by the
surgeon as being unfit to be left alone ; and had she been
convicted and executed, this act I conceive would have been
a very foul murder committed under the colour of law.—
CLIKINS, Chieheater, March 16.
DAMAGE COMMITTBD BY RIOYEBS.—Sir,—In con-
firmation of the very able remarks that appear in your
journal of this day, we send you particulars sf the course
pursued in consequence of the damage done our property on
the 2nd November, 1830. The notice (copy of which in en.
closed) was served upon the High Constable of Westminster.
After such service it was exhibited three fellowing Sundays
on the outer door of the parish church of St. Cherie
Hanover square, during the hours of divine service ; and
as it does not appear that any change has l,een made in
the act of parliament, I have been induced to take the free-
dom of giving you the information, trusting it may be useful
to those parties who have so seriously suffered during the
late disgraceful riotings.--GEOROE ALMOND.-1, Old Bond-
street, March 16.
COPY.—We hereby give you notice, that we intend to claim com-
pensation from the Inhabitants of the hundred of Ossuelton, = ac-
count of thedsmage which we have sustained by means of the doitruc-
don by a number of person' riotously and tumultuously assembled
together, cc Tuesday the 3d of November inst., in Old Bondotreet, in
the push of St. George, Hanoveroquare, in the county of Middlesex,
of 93 panes of glen affixed to the frames of and belonging to the win-
dows, doors, and other parts of our house, and also of the frames of
the said windows, sad further by the atatraction of articles of
from the said windows of our hoses, mutate at the cornerWOritlif
Head-street and Piccadilly, to the amount or value of twenty-nine
pounde, aix shillings, and threepence; and we hereby require yon
within seven days after your receipt of this notice to exhibit the
same to some two justices of the peace of the county of Middlemen
aforesaid, residing in or acting for the said hundred, in order that
they may appoint • time and place for bolding a special
petty sesions to hear sad determine our claim for com-
pensation, by virtue of an act passed in the seventh and
eighth years of the reign of King George the Fourth, intituled "An
aetforconaolldatang and amendim the Laws in England relative to
Ali
against the Hundred," and you are required to give as
notice of the day, hour, and place, appointed for holding sea petty
seekon. within three dap after the justices shall have appointed the
same. Given under oar bends this sth day of November, in the year
of our Lord, 1130.—T0 Mr. William Lee, the high constable of divi-
sion In the Hundred of Omuhrtoa, in the county of Middleman. Served
tmonthe raid high constable, co the nth day of November, at al,
ftsg-cifose. .

A NEW SOURCIL OP NEVENTIF..—Sir,—In these days
of deficient revenue, there is one source of supply which the
Chancellor of the Exchequer might advanterougY avail
himself of—unclaimed deposits in banks, If heritable or
moveable property be left without a legal heir, or no heir at
all, the crown steps in and takes all. Why should it not
also reoeive money In banks ? In a saving's bank tarried on
fora few years in Edinburgh, the unclaimed deposits at the
period of dlmalution amounted to some thowands, and were
appropriated to the belittle& of a church. Ora the whole

country the sums similarly left in other banks must be large,
and must prove a fertile source of revenue to these establish-
ment'', who, according to the common understanding, re-
'Peres them for their own use. The collection of these
moneys would not be difficult. Sir K. Peel's set has already
made bankers familiar with returns, and every year an ap-
pearance could be made before a government officer, when a
statement could be given in of deposits lying unclaimed for
seven years, which, with interest for that period, would be
worth collecting.—K. J., Edinburgh, March 14.
INQUESTS, YESTERDAY.—MYSTERIOUS DEATII OF
YOUNO LADY FROM POISUN.—By Mr. Carter, resumed at the
King's Arnie, Roupell-street, Lambeth, touching the de Hi
of Mae Emma Wintle, aged 20. The deceased, on Wednes-
day week, complained of pains in her right leg, and before
retiring to bed she bathed her feet and took a couple of pills.
Early the following morning she was nixed with vomiting
and purging. Her sister, who slept with her, therefore in-
formed her father, who seat for a surgeon ; but on hie arrival
life was extinct. Mr. Brady, surgeou, who had made a post
motleys examination, stated that, from an analysis of the
oontents of the stomach, he ascertained that the deceased had
died from the effects of arsenic. The father said
that he could not tell how the poison should
IMO into the deceased's stomach. Elie had never
stated that she intended to destroy herself, but
on the contrary, was always exceedingly cheerful ;
and she was • well conducted, moral person, and had no
male acquaintance.--The Coroner said the cue now resolved
itself into one of the greatest importance. When the jury
last met they bad no idea that the deceased had died from
the effects of poison. From what had been adduced at the
present inquiry, it was quite clear that the deceased had
either been poisoned by another party, or had taken it by
some miachance, or had purposely destroyed her own life.
He proposed that the jury should again adjourn
the cue for a week.—Adjourned acoordingly.—Mon-
DER or A CRlED.—Before Mr. Carter, at the Fenn
tan, Camberwell-road, on the body of a male child
about an days old, whose name is unknown, which was
found brutally murdered on the night of Tuesday, the 7th
instant, in tho outhouse of No. 4, East-lane, -Walworth.
Evidence having been given as to the finding of the bo.ty,
and that of a medical gentleman having proved that the
child had been born alive, and that it had been strangled
before haying bees thrown into the soil in which it woo
found, the jury manimouely retuned a verdict of wilful
murder against ss person or panne unknown.