The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-18 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

SALE OF LOUPE PHILIPPE'S GALLERY OF
SPANISH PIC IVRES.

The third and last portion of the Spanish pictures
of Louis Philippe are now on %kw, and will be put
up for sale on Frid iy and Saturday next. The artists
represented in this remainder of a most interesting
collection are Bayen y Subias, Bocanegra, Itoelas,
Rai', L Valdez, A. Vargas, Goya, Burma°, Bcllini,
Campana, Caravaggio, Carducho, Correa, Collantce,
Cordoba, J. Gomez, S. Gomez, Gomez de Valencia,
P. Orrente, Navaretti, Zurbaran, A. Cano, Carmona,
Cieza, Coello, Velazquez da Silva, Ribera, Bosco,
Gaspar Crayer, Alfaro y Gomez, Antolinez y Sa-
vable, A. del Arco, Ayala, L Giordano, Guido, F.
Herrera, Valdez Leal, Pateda, Pareyra, Perez, Po-
bnco, Prado, Nluraks, Moreno, Cerezo, Cespedes, and
Charavito.

PEACE SOCIETY.

Last night the 37th anniversary of this society-
was held in Finsbury Chapel. In the absence of Mr.
Hiudley. M.l'., the chair was taken by HENRY PIPIE,
Eel. The meetiad was very numerously attended.
Amongst those present were Mr. Sturge, of Dirminstam ;
Rev. Professor Stowe, Bev. J. Sherman, (ter. J. Burnet,
Mr. Ward (Montreal). Mr. J. Dell, M.P., Mr. A. l'sllatt,
M.P., Mr. Alderman Wire, Mr. S. Gurney, Re.
The CRAIRX.I.N, in opealeg the business of the meeting,
said that the society was founded in 1815, under the title
of the London Peace: Society, and of late considerable in-
terest had been attracted to the question by gentlemen who
did not belong to it. This was encouraging, became, it
showed that the Christian and philan•hropie views of its
founders were beginning to be appreciated. (Hear, bear.)
It was not merely that war abstracted from industry a great
number of men who might be employed for the advantage
of their fellow-men, but that they were trained for pur-
poses most opposed to the progress of mankind. If soldiers
had been trained to become the messengers of Chris-
tianity and the pioneers of civilisation, the face of the
world would be transformed in an incredibly short space of
time. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. Mr. Rico nos gave a digest of the report
which had been presented to the society at the morning
meeting. The last annual report stated that the society
had been making efforts to prevent the Militia Bill from
passing into a law. In this object they were unsuccessful,
as the bill was carried by a majority of 72. After the bill
became law, however, the society, learning that efforts were
making to induce young men to enter the militia, circu-
lated handbills and placards, showing that enlistment was
voluntary, and that those who entered the militia would be
subject to the lash. This they did by pictorial represente-
d me' and great complaint* trope in consequence. Lord
)Derby'sy's government instituted prosecutions against the
parties who made these placards public. About 60 gentle-
men signed a letter to the Home-office, stating that they
felt it to be their duty, in the name of the Peace Society,
to assume the responsibility of these acts. They believed
then, and they believe now, that they had not ex-
ceeded the limits of free discussion. The result
showed • that they were right, for they understood
that Lord Derby's government, before leaving office, re-
solved to abandon the prosecutior, and the affair ended
merely by saying that the Peace Society were a set of ami-
able fanatics, who were far too good to live upon this earth.
(Laughter.) The society had steadily persevered in spreads
leg abroad peace principles by means of lectures, tracts, and
public meetings. Previous to the last general election the
evil effects of the war system and the war spirit had been
promulgated far and wide amongst the electors and people
of this country. Amongst other things it was shown that
more than half the members of the late House of Commons
were either officers of the army or navy or directly con-
nected with them. What the relative composition of the
present House of Commons was they had not time to exa-
mine; but this they did know, that many old members had
lost their seats in consequence of their votes on the militia
' question, and he believed that, a large increase of votes
would be found in favour of Mr. Cobden's mo-
tion on the subject of arbitration. After referring
to the Kaffir war, which had been steadily opposed
by the society, the report alluded to the Burmese war, the
object of which was condemned as alike trifling and iniquit-
ous. Mr. Cobden had given notice that he would bring
the question of the annexation of Pegu before parliament
next month, and at a period when the renewal of the East
India charter was under consideration, a more important
question could scarcely be discussed within the walls of the
House of Commons. Another point taken up by the so-
ciety was the war panic, which they opposed in every way.
They called a meeting in connezion with this subject in
Manchester, and in despite of the hostility of almost the
whole of the Loudon press nine hundred gentlemen an-
swered to the appeal made to them ; they succeeded in
• effecting a marked and immediate impression on the public
mind by the timely publication of Mr. Cobden's masterly
pamph:et. (Hear, hear.) After explaining the distinction
between the Peace Congress and the Peace Society, the
report stated that a junction had been formed between
them, and they resolved to raise 10,0001, of which 8,0001.
had been already subscribed, and they entertained no doubt
of raising the remainder very shortly. The society had
offered prism of 2501. and 1001. for the two best essays that
should be written on the evils of war and the war system.
The society bad also appointed a deputation to the Earl of
Aberdeen, who received them most cordially, and told
them that he had nothing so much at heart as the promo-
tion of peace. They might calculate, therefore, on the
support of the head of the present administration. la
America the principle of arbitration bad been recognised in
a most able state paper, and a deputation had been named
to wait on Lord Clarendon, with the view of urging upon
him the propriety of inserting an arbitration clause in all
public treaties between this and other countries. On the
whole, the I...eiety believed that it was making real and
substantial progress. The very violent* of the abuse to
which they were subjected was a proof of this. And in
future, as in the past, they would continue to oppose war
in all its shapes as contrary to the true spirit of Chris-
tianity. (Cheers)
The Rev. C. Stovnt moved the first resolution, to the
effect that war was opposed to the essential spirit of Chris-
tianity and had inflicted many evils on the world.
Mr. BeitCLLY Fox, of Falmouth, seconded the resolu-
tion. . . .

With such an array of names it must be rather
surprising, to those who do not knon something of
the history and conditions of development of the,
Spanish school, to find how little variety there is in
the subjects and treatment of this large assemblage
of paintings. A large maidri'y of them are simple
and certainly for the most part powerful illustra-
tions of the bad physical results of over-fasting and
long vigils upon the appearance of the human
animal. If this be to paint religion, certainly no be-
holder of these pictures will dissent from F.
Schlegel's praises of the enthusiastically religious
character of the Spanish school. But we trust that
many of our readers have availed themselves, and
will yet avail themselves, of the preselit opportunity
of forming a just opinion upon the subject for them-
selves. 'their couclusion, we think, must be that
Spanish painting sins religious more iii form and
from obligation than from merit and in essence. In
no modern nation has art been so much bound down
to conventional laws as in Spain. Forbidden to
paint from the nude, and having the notion instilled
into them from the earliest years that female beauty
was a work of the Devil, little was left for the Spa-
nish painters to do besides the representation of well-
draped monks and friars fasting and praying with
all their might against their own dangers from the said
work of the Devil. Beauty of any kind was rarely
an object with any of the very early schools of art;
but it seems to have been the absolute antipathy of
the early Spanish painters. What they did, how-
ever, they did for the most pert truthfully enough ;
and, had they done nothing else, we should have
mason to thank them fur having perpetuated upon
canvas the religion of the cowl and the cloister with
a self-evident faithfulness and a predominant hide-
ousness sufficient to prevent the world from ever
again falling into Mat syle of godliness.
In the present collection there are a great number
of good pictures, but few great ones. No. 347, by
L. Valdez, is "The Infant Jesus on the knees of the
Virgin, in the uniform of a captain-general." A
painting affording a curious proof of how a serious
meaning would sanctify a ludicrous symbol, in the
eyes of the Spanish artists. No. 339 is a portrait of
Don Alvaro of Bazan, by Caravaggio. No. 419,
"An allegorical subject," by Bosco, is a very extra-
ordinary work. This painter, who in his usual style
out-Fuselis Fuseli, has in this work attained an alti-
tude of the grotesque and incongruous which we
should really and truly have supposed, before seeing
'this picture, to be a sheer impossibility to the human
mind. It would be vain to attempt a description of
a work containing several hundreds of figures, each
one of which has its independent and inconceivable
grotesqueness. We confess that a good long gaze
upon this wonderful performance did not enable us
to catch a glimpse of the allegory or the hundred
allegories which it may contain, and which must be
understood before the tainting can be regarded with
other than the confusion of spirit with which we
sometimes awake from a chaotic night-mare. The
drawing of many of the figures is extremely good
for the date of the work. Bosco painted in the
latter half of the fifteenth century; and assuredly
there were not at that time many artists who could
have surpassed him in some of the details of this
picture. We should like to see this work in our
national collection. Bosco, though not much heard
of here, is made much of in Spain, and several of his
pictures are prized as among the gems of the
Escarial. The only objection to its being placed in
our present gallery is, that no one of the rooms is
large enough to hold the mob of gazers, who, in
seasons like the present, would be attracted by its
infinite fun, mystery, and astounding extravagance.
No. 432. "St. James," by Guido, has enough in
it to justify its being attributed to that
master, but little more can be said of it.
No. 407, St. John, by Velazquez di Silva, is a good
picture, but in a very bad condition. No. 409, "St.
Joseph," by Ribera, is a very fine half length of the
saint. The force of the painting is scarcely inferior
to that of ltembran dt, and the character of the head
is good, which is more than can be said of moat
Spanish saints. No 414, " Si. Peter in Tears," a
half length by the same artist, is also very good.
415 and 416 arc two large paintings by Zurbaran
from "The Legend of the Bell." A hasty glance
gave us the notion that they were very poor affairs.
Nos. 449 to 463, by Zurbaran, are a series of " Mis-
sionaries," all more or lees characteristic and merit°.
zing. They afford excellent examples of the finely
tats aged white monastic draperies for which Zur-
bona is famous. They are all small pictures, but by
the masterly way in which this element of effect is
boiled, they affect us with an almost colossal ma-
No. 463, " The Assumption of the Magda-
by Ribero, contains a lot of powerfully
plated, but disgusting - looking angels. The
Magdalen hereself is more pleasing. No.
469 is " The Carrying of the Cross," by Morale',
and the catalogue tells us that the head of the Saviour
is "full of divine character," which, however, we
failed to discover. The finish is very high, and the
, convulsed grasp of the hands upon the crushing
I weight of the cross is powerfully given. 470, "The
IVirgin supporting the body of Christ," is as painful
a picture as the artist, the same Morales, probably
I intended it to be. 490, " St. Isidore the Ploughman,
by Velazquez di Silva, is a powerful but hideous
work. We would recommend the bead of ;the saint
as a study for that of any extraordinarily remorseless
villain for whom our young artists may find them-
selves at a loss for a model. The last nine pictures
in the catalogue are called Murillos, and concerning
some of them there can be no doubt whatever. We do
not believe that 494," St. Francis carrying the Cross,"
is a Murillo. The next, however, from thesame subject,
has a decided air of authenticity, although the ex-
pression of it is above that master's low average of
dignity. No. 497, "St. Bonaventura writing his
Memoirs after his death," is a striking execution of a
poor, though piquant idea. The ghastly figure, with
the expression of living death finely depicted on its
face, is trying to remember the events it is engaged
in chronicling. No. 498, "St. Thomas de Villanera;
is, as the catalogue states, " a very masterly study."
No. 499, " St. Felix, of Cantalins, is fine, but there
is not sufficient matter in it for the grait surface of
canvas. The saint, like all Murillo's children, is
good. Children, however common, are seldom vul-
gar ; but Murillo should have spared St. Catherine, if
he was unable to obtain a better model for her than
the gross creature is No. 501.

Professor STOWE, in supporting the resolution, observed
that, though the world had been cursed by Ood for man's
apostasy, yet the evils of mankind arose from their own
choosing. If mankind would only abstain from war,
drunkenness, and slavery, by far the greater part of the ills
that afflicted mankind would be put an end to for ever.
(Hear, hear.) In America they had the advantage over
England in respeet to temperance. England had the ad-
vantage in respect to slavery, and both were rowing pretty
much in the same boat in reference to war. There could
Ibe no doubt that all the argument was on the side of
those who were iu favour of peace, temperance, and liberty.
Every one allowed that this was so as between individual
andindividual, and it was a blasphemy against Ood
to maintain that the same was not true between
nation and nation. (Hear, hear.) The more he looked
into the New Testament, daemons he found in it a spirit of
peace, of freedom' and of temperauoe ; and if mankind
only followed that spirit they would have no slavery, no
drunkenness, and no war. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was put and adopted unanimously.
Mr. S. GTIENZT moved the next resolution, to the effect
that the meeting viewed with regret the opprobrious
language used by a portion of the British press towards the
French government, as calculated to rekindle ancient ani-
mosities between the people of the two countries. He
thought that every friend of peace must regret the feeling
which had at one time existed in this metropolis, against
not merely the ruler, but the people of France—a feeling
which prevailed to • fearful extent, and was unhappily
fostered by the public press in the country. (Hear, hear.)
It was in some degree to meet that feeling that a deputation
of London merchants had gone over to France to
present a peace address to the Emperor of the
French, signed by 4,000 of the inhabitants of this
metropolis. He had no doubt whatever that this
step which had been much impugned in some quarters, had
been productive of happy results. (Hear, hear,) He had
no doubt that it very much tended to allay the irritation
which existed on both sides of the Channel—en irritation

which was ;cT strong at one time that the Emperor of the
French declared he could not answer for the result. It
had been said that the deputation acted illegally in pre-
seating that address; but he had yet to learn that an ad-
dress preeented by a portion of the people of one country to
the ruler of another for the promotion of peace was illegal
or unlawful. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of Ellenborough
had declared in the Hones of Lords that he viewed their
conduct with disgust. Bat the meeting ought to know that
it was the Earl o Ellenborough who had devastated India,
and that for this very reason he had not been permitted to
remain in that post (Cheers.) He would fearlessly leave
it to ;the people of England to decide whether the conduct
of the Earl of Ellenborough, or that of those who had
I presented the address to the Emperor of the French, was
the most disgusting. (Cheers.)
The Rev. W. 0. CONDAR, of Leeds, seconded the mo-
tion, which was supported by other gentlemen, and carried
unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

A RELIC OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
We read in Oalignani. M. Fockedey, the only
one of the deputies of the Nord to the Convention, wise
voted against the death of Louis XVI., has just died in the
commune of Idarcq-en-Barmul, near Lille, at the age of
91. lie was president of the general assembly of the else-
tors of the Nord, which met on the 4th of September, 1792,
at Quemoy. to 'end twelve deputies to the National Car
anima. The meeting was held in the Old Church, and ft
had e&y been just opened when the Jacobins of the plane
mitered in a body to destroy the tomb of the Count de
Flandre, under pretext of taking the lead to cast balls.
IL Fockedey rose, and amidst the cries of those dope.
dean appealed to public feeling, and eventually compelled
dim to retire. The honest electors rewarded him
tat his courage by choosing him their representative
Is the Convention. When the trial of Louis XVI. nun
sa, M. Fockedey delivered en energetic speech frem the
tribune, one phrase of which raised a tempest against his.
"The Convention," he said, "represents rather an arena
of gladiators than a meeting of legislators, and if the as-
sembled nation could be present at our deliberations, It
would drive us out with whips." When the Vale was
come to, M. Fockedey ascended the tribune amidst tM
imprecations and under the very poignards of the masa
culottes, and voted against the death of the King, after-
wards for an appeal to the people, and lastly for delaying
execution of the sentence. This was like pronouncing his
own death warrant, and M. Fockedey, with all the royalist
minority, amounting in number to more than 200, ware
about to be put to death in the very place, they having
been summoned to hold an extraordinary aitti% fa the
evening, when Beurnonville, the Minister of War, succeeded
in saving them from the trap which was laid for them. At
the end of the year, exhausted with fatigue and grief, 11.
Fockedey resigned his post, and returned to Dunkirk,
where fresh dangen assailed him. " Tremble," said the
electors of the Nord to their deputies, "if you have all
laboured for the salvation of the people—tremble to ram
to your country, for we have sworn to punish all traitors."
He was d by the revolutionary committee of Dula
kirk, and after being detained in prison for a month, be
was about to be removed to Arras, to be tried by the sea,
guinary Lebon, when, on the eye of his departure, the
arrival of the representative Isere, on a mission in the Nord,
saved him as if by a miracle.

MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES. i
Mesa Punch.)
The ceremony of marriage seems to be getting '
more difficult than it used to be ; for we seldom find that
it can be performed in these days by one clergyman, with-
out his being "waisted" by another. A recant advertise-
meat seems to show a rather unusual amount of difficulty
in tying a nuptial knot, which might have been a porter's
knot, to Judge by. the quantity of parson Tower employed, '
in bearing the weight of it. We move the advertisement—
merely
omitting the names—thou we shall perhaps offend '
the parties by suppressing what they have been so ready to
publish.
.. On the 15th inst., at St. Mathew's, Brixton, by the Rev.
—, assisted by the Rev. and the Rev. —, the
Rev. —, of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, chaplain of
, to Eliza, youngest daughter of —."
Here arc three reverend gentlemen engaged in the task
of uniting in matrimony a solitary couple—a fact that offers
to the ill natured the temptation to remark that the young
lady must have been rather difficult to get off, since it took
no less than three clergymen to marry her.
As the price of advertisements is about to be reduced,
we shall expect to see the names of the clerks, sextons, I
beadles, pew openers, and others included as " assisting "
the person by whom the marriage ceremony is performed ;
and indeed there are frequently so many names brought in
to the announcement of a marriage, that we often give the
lady to one of the two or three reverends concerned in the
affair, instead of to the bridegroom. We constantly ex-
perience great difficulty in sorting the couple really mar-
ried ; and when the underlings are dragged in, as wt expect
they speedily will be, we shall now and then, b.; mistake,
find ourselves congratulating a young lady of our acquaint-
ance on her marriage with the beadle, or some other
" party" named lat the nuptial astaesaotatent.

GLASGOW AND BOUTII-WESTERN RAILWAY.—
Traffic for the week ending May 14,1853:-I'awengere,
dm., 4,622/. 10a. Od. Corresponding week last year,
4,1141.18 x. 44. luaus, 4771.105. bd.

TIIE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING MAY 18, 1853.

PROPOSED NEW MERCANTILE AND
MARITIME COLLEGE FOB LONDON.

A public meeting was held yesterday alt the
London T to consider the desirableness and Dist
means of establishing a mercantile and maritime coll.-pp
and was very fully attended. In the absence of the Lord
Mayor from indisposition, the Earl of HABILOWDV was
called to the chair.
Mr. ANDIII.3O:f read a report of the proceedings
of • committee which has been formed to carry out
the establishment of a Mereentile and Maritime Col-
lege, of which the following is the substance :
It stated " that much interest had been long
felt among the mercantile classes in the reform
of our commercial laws, and a spirit of inquiry into the
principl, which govern commercial law awakened ; and a
great want had been felt of an institution where the
knowledge of these and other branches of education might
be within the reach of the classes whose interests were
affected. Referring to the growth of our mercantile ma-
rine, it was urged, that its success depended on the intelli-
gence and moral character of those in whose charge it was
placed, and that competition with other countries rendered
it necessary to raise the standard of information, the tone, '
and habits of seafaring men. In connexion with this, the
necessity of • trade museum was urged ; the formation of
which was suggested to the merchants of the City of Lon-
don by the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition, and
which should contain specimens and samples, and the
means of acquiring statistical and commercial information.
It stated that no comprehensive library of reference on the
subjects of commerce, banking, &c., now existed in the
City of London ; and that watt ought to be supplied.
Those were the causes which prompted a few individuals
to form themselves into a committee, to consider in what
manner the establishment of a mercantile and maritime
college could be accomplished ; and with this view they
had prepared a statement which had been widely
circulated, and the object in question was found
to be one universally desirable and worthy of
support. Before founding • new institution attention
had been directed to Gresham College, which wu
now in existence, and it was thought desirable to consider
how far the trustees would be induced to enlarge its opera-
tions. That was the object of this meeting. Gresham Col-
lege was ence the seat of learnieg and the liberal arts, and
the cradle of the Royal Society, which originally had there
• library of 2,000 volumes, besides • repository of instru-
ments, books, etc., but which had long been transferred
to another place. The college had at length bean levelled
to the ground by the authority of an met of the legislature,
in consideration of the payment of a ground-rent of 8001. •
year, the trustees contributing 13001. to the demolition.
I Another small building had been since erected in Gresham-
street, where occasional lectures were delivered. It was
hoped that the result of this meeting would be the formation
of an institution worthy of the City of London and of Sir
Thos. (heehaw, and placed under such management as was
thought best for the promotion of its objects. The govern-
ment had obtained • site in the centre of the City at a small
groundmento and it was thought that was a claim for
its liberal assistance towards the foundation and support of
an institution intended to raise the standard of education
among the officers of our mercantile marine. It was hoped that
the enlightened part of the Common Council and the Mer-
cer's Company would be induced to appoint a committee of
inquiry into the whole matter, and see how they could best
co-operate for the attainment of the object in view."
Mr. THOMBON Hs-utsr, jun., moved the first resolu-
tion, to the effeet—" That the importance of the City of
London as the focus of the mercantile interests of the em-
pire, and the nursery of the largest mercantile marine in
the world, demands that it should possess among its other
institutions a Mercantile and Maritime College, which may
supply sound and extensive information on all branches of
practise' science, and afford the means of acquiring a know-
ledge of the principles which govern the various relations of
commerce."

Mr. F. Mumma., M.P. for Limerick, seconded the reso-
lution, which was agreed to.
Mr.W. CRAWFOIII) moved "That such a college should
also possess a trade museum, to contain samples of produce
and manufactures, chart% and models, a reposiun, of sta-
tistical general mercantile and legal information from all
countries, and a commercial banking and scientific library."
Mr. A. GILLISPIE seconded the resolution, which wan

also adopted.
Mr. Ouvalas, M.P., moved that a committee be formed
for carrying out the above objects, to consist, together with
many others, of the Earl of Harrowby, Mr. Thomson
Hankey, F. Russell, Esq., M.P., Baron Rothschild,
M.P., B. Oliveira, Req., M.P., A. Gillespie, Esq..
J. Dillon, Esq., J. W. Gilbert, Esq., F. Bennoch,
Esq., W. Crawford, Esq , S. Morley, Esq., H. A.
Matheson, Esq., J. G. Hubbard, Eiq., W. Hawes; Bag ,
Alderman Wire, sta. He alluded to the fact, that on
the day before, the Excise-odic., the former site of
Gresham College, bad been sold for a sum of 108,0901. He
believed, however, that the putchaser, Mr. Tite, would be
inclined to cooperate in the objects of this meeting, and it
was poesible that the institution might have any building
attached to it on the original site of Gresham College.
Mr. ROBBILToUN seconded the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
It was also resolved—" That the committee be recom-
mended to take into consideration how., far Gresham Col-
lege, or any other similar institution in the City, may, by a
proper adaptation to the requirements of the present time,
serve as the basis of the Mercantile and Marine College."

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSION.
CANTERBURY, M. 17.

I Yesterday the commissioners re-assembled at the
Guildhall. The inquiry, as may be supposed, continues to
excite • great degree of interest here and in the vicinity.
Mr. Plumptre Crippo, one of the unseated members, was
the first witness examined. He stated that he was returned
at the last election, but was unseated on petition. He and
his family bad been long connected with the city. Was a
candidate in 1837 with Mr. Bradshaw, and an averment
was made whereby Mr. Bradshaw was to pay 1,000/. end le-
(Mr. Crippe) 500/. They had • joint committee, and wit-
ness was to be the winning candidate if only one was to
come in. It was a very near contest, and the committee put
Mr. Bradshaw ahead of witness by a few votes, although
witness had been previously ahead of Mr. Bradshaw. At
that time he was not so intimately acquainted with the way
in which elections at Canterbury were managed. In 1817
he was again a candidate with Lord Albert Conyughavn,
and his (witness's) canvass for three days vest him 3001.
In 1852 he came forward again, and provided 8001., and at
the end of November 250/. more, irrespective of the
expense of defending his seat, which cost him
1,8501. He gave the 800/. to Mr. Burr, 2.501.
to Mr. Kingsford, but had not had any account rendered
him of the mode in which it was expended. Had heard
that a large portion of it was expended in colour tickets.
Did not know if any of the funds he provided were given
in direct money-payments to voters. Did not ark for any
accounts. Went abroad immediately after, and did not re-
turn until the session began. The 300/. spent during the
three days' canvass was, he understood, spent partly in the
payment of old outstanding registration and other accounts,
and a candidate for Canterbury was generally expected to
clear those accounts. Was promised pecuniary help at the
last election by political friends, and they had a similar
fund to that of the opposite party.
Mr. Anstey—Who was the manager of that fund?
Mr. Cripps—Mr. Forbes Mackenzie.
Did Mr. Forbes Mackenzie promise you a sum of 5001.?
—He did.

And he has not paid it ?—Yes, ha has. I expended it in
my own name at the time of the election, and was after-
wards paid back the 5041.
Have you any knowledge out of what resources that sum
was paid?—No, I have not. I believe there is such a fund
on both sides. I did not contribute to that fund, but the
money was paid Into my bankers, the Commercial Dank,
after the election, when I was abroad. .

Mr. Richard Filcher, steward to the Marquis of Conycg-
ham, examined—Was steward to the estate of the marquis
at Byrons, and had taken an interest in the elections for
Canterbury since 1830. when the marquis became possessed
of it. The expense of the election in 1835, when Lord
Conyngham and Mr. Villiers were returned, was, on the
part of Lord Conyngham, including a six weeks' canvass
1,4001. Mr. Vilders paid 1221. for colour men's tickets,
and a total of 3201. was paid by Mr. Birch for colour
men's tickets. The election in 1847, when the candidates
were' Conyngham, Villiers, Bradshaw, and Gipps, cost
1,2121. Lord Conyngham paid 7211. He concluded the
remainder was paid by Villiers. There was 458/. left un-
paid. Witness suspected there was improper expenditure
at that election, and that both parties bad recourse to their
old tricks of bribing. Witness on that occasion remem-
bered being called on to see Mr. Masters in a mysterious
way and to paying him 251., but he did not know what for.
At the election in 1862 Sir Wm. Somerville, son-in-law to
the Marchioness of Conyngham, was a candidate. Witness
waited on Sir William at the Fountain, and told him he
was prepared to render him every assistance. He informed
him that the opposite party were having recourse to their
old practices of colour tickets. On that occasion Sir Wm.
Somerville said, "Filcher, I will lose my election before I
will do these acts of bribery—it was giving messengers'
tickets that lost Mr. Strutt his seat for Derby." (Laughter.)
Mr. Anstey—Do you know if any sum of money was
found by the Marchioness of Conyngham for the expenses
lof Lord Clinton's election ?
Mr. Filcher—Certainly not; such a thing could never
enter the head of man. It is absurd.

Mr. John Brent and Mr. Alfred Sevin were exa-
mined with reference to the system of coloured tickets.
Maurice Saunders, relieving officer to the Canterbury cor-
poration, said—He was entrusted with money by Rutter, in
1847, to be employed for the purpose of direct bribery. At
that election he bribed Beer with 51., Phillips with 34,
Dyson with 21., and Wood with 31.
Mr. Pont deposed to having been employed as treasurer
at the election in 1847, and stated that one Bennett had
40W. and Smithson 3001., •and that with it they bought the
votes of a large number of voters. Both of them had left
Canterbury since. The money was paid into his account
under the soubriquet of " Brown," and two or three days
before the last election a gentleman came to his house and
said he had a parcel for him for the purpose of the election.
He said his name wu Arbuthnot, and witness afterwards
found he was a clerk to Mr. Gipps, banker, in London.
The parcel contained three begs, with 100 sovereigns in
each. Witness saw Mr. Butler Johnstone is London after
this, and he gave him 7001., and witness received in all
1,7001. At the last election there was direct money bri-
bery as well as bribery by colour tickets. Witness had
from prudential motives destroyed all accounts after notice
was given to the Howie of Commons that there would be a
petition. A person named Edmonds " managed," or, in
other words, "bribed" the Whitstable voters with 701. or
804 A man named Smith bad for many years the ma-
nagement of the colour tickets. Thought there was as
much dirty work done on one side as the other.
After some further evidence the proceedings were ad-
journed till this

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