The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-08 00:00:00

Yesterday) the members of the committee again
met, Mr. E.'Ellice in the chair. Present lion. F. Char-
ter, Sir B. Hall, Mr. A.:air, and Mr. Stuart. Th., coin-
mittee-room was more than usually crowded. Mr. J. Bell,
the sitting member, and Mr. Alderman Carden, the unsuc-
cessful candidate, were present throughout the proceedings.
The lion. Chairman, in opening the proceedings, in-
quired whether either Waggctt or Howard, two of the mis-
sing witnemen were forthcoming
Mr. Serjeant Wrangham, counsel for the petitioners,
replied no ; but that IW. reward had been offered fur
Waggett by advertisement.
'I he Committee then ordered the room to be cleared. In
about half an hour, on the public being reathaitticl, Henry
Edwards was ordert it to 1., called in, and the Chairman
whirr 'Aug him, said that it wits the wish of the committee
that h,- should he in attowlisoce instil told to go away.
1 he Chairman iminirial ut Mr. Merewether whether any
and what steps had been taken to eerie the witness Howard
with a summons to :Abort before the committee iu addition
to the Speaker's warrant ?
Mr. Merowether replied that the person who had been
looking alter Howard was now 011 the track of the witness
Waggett, and that consequently they had not yet bean able
to rood n Blue to the oloscosery of Howard.
'1 he Committee then directed that the witness Lines, who
was committed to the custody of the serjr ant-at-arms for
.opt and prevarication on Saturday, should be tolled,'
the chairman cautioning him emphatically to answer in a
atraightforward manner.
William Lines, examined by Mr. Clarke, said that, on
the "erasion ul his coi ii iiig up from St. Albans to London,
he went in the tly to lendull's Hotel, Old Palma-yard,
with his wife. Mr. Blagg, and Mr. Richardson were
in the fly. Had voted at tile last election for St. Albans.
(The WILMA; was here ordered to withdraw.)
Mr. Serjeant Kinglike, on behalf of the sitting member,
uhjected to questions of this character being put to the wit-
-111.4 at all. The witness was place.l in a peculiar and nun-
inahous positron. The law was clear that a wane.s could
not be coon;ielleol to answer any question that might involve
him in penal consequences. fhe man was in ,nobly on
the grotonot that he had prevaricated and misbehaved him-
self, nod lie (the learned counsel)--first, cbjected to his
being examined at all ; and secondly, because the witness
was in custody and under duresse. This view of the ease
had been held by previous election committees.
'floe room has mg been ekared, the committee were in
dulls rativn for about half an hour ; wool at the expirations
of that p. nod intimated that they had deterntimcd on re-
calling the witness Lines.
Line, was then *objected to a lone examination, in the
course of which lie detailed (as gist a us previous evidence)
his leaving St. Allwoluo fur Watford, and being taken bath'
to M. Albans by Nlss-rs. Illogic awl Edwards, where he
was locks d up, but did not know why. When he went to
St. Albans on one nee .14011, a week before the election, he
had no intention of voting for Bell or any party. Went to
the George, where he was locked up ; it was to enjoy hint
self over a pint and a pipe. (Laughter.) '(here wen: a
great many other people going in and out ut the George.
Was two hours in St. Albans on the ...evasion of the week
before the election, unit* spent the time in going about the
town. had only id. in his pocket. Saw Richardson on
the oceasioon, moil promised his vote to Doll. Ilad never
been to the house in Cliecpwrotreet. ('the witness, having
reverted to his former style of prevarication, was several
flues cautioned by the Chairman.) Nobody spoke to him
shunt his sole.
Mr. S•:-j. ant Kinglakc declined to examine un behalf of
the sitting member.
Thomas Atkins, another of the atrvondeil witnesses,
labouring maned St. Alloans, was then examin“l—Voted for
though at the former election he voted fur the
" blues," well Mr. !leptons. Despised to having been taken
from St. Alloans to Watford and hock again with Lines, by
Blagg wood Edwards, and hail es ov since then till he came
up to London been at Brisket Wood, where Edwards lived.
Was soot for by Edwards to Cheops r-street, awl asked if
he would vote for Bell, which witness, though he had sorted
for le) years for the "blue" party, said he would do.
(Laughter.) Haul a little tonversation with his wile about
the election, as it rather troubled her mind. She told him
some person hail left sonic cans.uwing cards, but slid not get
a birthing.
Sandi Atkins, wife of the last witness, deposed to the
ranee-sing yards in quistion having been left, but nu mes-
sage with them. lhd not kiaiw who the man was who
brought the canvassing cards. Knew Ililleard, the school-
master, but did not know it was be, Knew nothing about
it. In reply to several other questions the witness pertina-
ciously, and amid laughter, adhered to the declaration, that
"She knew nothing about it, :Mil had uutloing to do with
the election." lull not like elections, there was such Con-
fusion, and did not like getting drunk. (Laughter.) Had
served the blue party fur ill years, rind they hal now
served then a nasty trick to bring them up there to be
reprimanded. 'flue blue party took her Ineitianil away
from limo, after the electiou. She did not inquire, and did
not know what hail become of him. (Laughter.) The
witness continuing to persist in evasive and indirect tes-
timony,
The Don. Chairman said, really we cannot endure this.
It is mom prevarication. Yuu an old woman, and we
are willing to snake every allowance, but we must have
direct answers.
Sir B. Hall- It is disgraceful that the committee, with
other ilnpurtalit duties too perform, should have to sit here
to be trifled with in this way.
Witness—Knew Braising, clerk to Mr. Lowe, the local
agent of St. Atkins, who brought the auuiuwm f.ir her
husband to attetol before the committee. Her husband bad
two sovereigns from the blue party for his expenses to
sable him to come up to Loudon ou this inquiry, but did
sot nceive anything sluriug election time. Lid nut tell
him that her hn.lsaiul hail out revived mora than others
received at the last election.
The lion. Chairman (the evidence being clused)—Go
way, woman. (Laughter.)
Henry Brabant exannued—Corrolvorated the last witness,
mid deposed to her having told him that "her husband had
enceived no more than the rest, or no more than others at
the Mat election."
Mr. Serjeant Kinglake—The attorney's clerk is contra-
dieted by two witnesses.
'flee Chairman—We have our own impression. The com-
mittee now wished to know what course the petitioners in-
tended to take.
Mr. Mercwether stated that they had n w adduced live
of the abducts it a itnesses— Howard, Brandon, Biggs,
Atkins, and Lynes; and the tither four—Skeggs, Birch-
niore, Waggett, and Forster, were not forthcoming. Ile
therefore, to suggest that the c tilittee should adjourn
and report the state of things to the house, to deal with as
they might think fit.
Mr. Serjeant Kinglake opposed on behalf of the 'sitting
member, recapitulating; what bail taken place since the
first meeting of the committee. The main object of the
committee was to inquire into the merits of the petition
against the return of the sitting member, but nearly all
their time had been consumed in an investigation that hail
been engrulledou it, with reference to the alleged abduction
of witnesses with which he had nothing to do.
After some further discussion the room was cleared, the
committee having been in deliberation a short time. On
the re-entry of the public,
'five Chairman said they, had come to the determination
of adjourning until Thursday, to go on with the general
case, and that they should make a special report to the
house with reference to the case of Waggett.
During the deliberations of the committee Mr. Rickards,
the Speaker's counsel, was sent for by the committee.
The committee adjourned at shout three o'clock.
a

2:OItUE JIINL., Edit 11,1ey, Berkshire, sur 33
-
2s
(401I0E STOCKSIIIRIGF, Oxfonl.4.treet, draper.
JAHLEH HILL, Ilekenibe IttostUS, DeVOlndiire, linen draper. T.;
JOHN IPLEAN, U3OllOOl, COODUN3ieII merchant. lo
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
MALCOM Smirit, Atli, agent. Ii
R.912:13T CUT/I Bricr,.)s, Dunfermline, manufacturer.
ANI,IIAW BAITER, lo..Wer Kirke!nig, InTergerden, corn it.
dealer.
JnIIN M.LINNAN, I.3lltlale, I: Land of Skye, deceased. so
I6j
WILLIAX luare, 61alr.r.e, unieer. R.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE I se
DURING THE PAST WEEK.

Rana the Mar:. Law Erpresx.)
Though a larger quantity tot rain fell in March titan is 4ta
generally deemed desirable in that month, the reports from v
the agricultural districts are, on the whole, of a satisfactory 2i
character. 'fhe preparation of the Ntil tnr spring cowing lo
was, in consequenev of the mild, ripen nature of the season,
t.
eoinntencad curlier than usual; and previous to the setting- "ru.'
in of the wet weather a verse hogs amount of work had been 1.; !
assomplisliell. 'The interruption to field labours, owing to K.
the nun exlserienced nom about the middle till tie Iris• the el'
close of March. has therefor,. not been of such serious in- 9s-
eonvenienve its might otherwise have been the ease ; and a 31 I
comparativt ly sliort period of dm weather would probably a
suffice to enable fanners to finish the stalling of the laud. v
Within the last few slays the work has again been actively
re:AI/11U' in toot parts of the country, the showers which !It •
have fallen from time to time having heen followed by 2‘.. I
deying winds. 'rise accounts rt sleeting the general op. so
pearanee of the autumn-sown wheat an likewise favour- at.,
able, and the prospects for the future are thin for by no 20
means eli-conniging. That the trade has been more or Se '
ley influenced by the weather during the last fortnight eon- 10
not he inn se. •I
; and we are inclined to think that the 52, I
slight improvement which has been established in the value
of wheat lia, been principally caused by fears of a wet, un- is
genial spring. 'flue oecurrenee of anything calculated to lisp
create unea . ..... in reference to the growing crops would 00
or course hate a more derided etfect ; whilst a few weeks of 111.1
really menial weather would he very likely to arrest the up- '"•I
ward movement. 14,
'rho arrivals of foreign grain, pulse, mid flour into the so
tufted Kingdom have- been Ina alinnilant the last week or la
two than for some time prey' , ; and a great part of what 2
WC, bellies. received having be ai landed, the pressure on
i the different markets has been decreased. 'There has, how- Li'
'ever, been less activity in the trade during the interval se
' which has ehesseel since we. last addressed OUT 1% adorn, titan m
the week immediately preceding, and prieel have remained
I nearly stationary at the leatlina consuming tow us.
At sonic of the markets iu the rural districts rather
inert wrist supplies hese been bionaht forward by the a
growers; notwithstanding which, somewhat higher terms so
have been realised; and though, as already remarked, 10
business has nut been brisk, the g. rwral tone lon been de- st.
cidedly healthy. Tice deliveries of barley and oats by the .25
fanners have hanlly kept pace with the demand, and :it `..
several important markets a further small rise has been
established in prices.
I In Ireland very little variation appears to have taken 30
Ilace in quotdions. The pressure of foreign wheat and
ndian corn seems, however, to hare diminished, and for 20
both articles full prices had been made in retail. The
recent slight rise in the setae of Oats on this side of the „,„
channel had induced holders to raise their pretensions, and
there is consequently little or nn margin for profit on ship- so
mutts of this grain from Inland to our market..
'Very little increase has taken place in the arrivals of
wheat coastwise into the port of London, only 3,157 qrs. 24
having been reported up to this (Saturday) evening. 'I he 17
show at 'Mark-lane, by land-carriage samples from the
neighbouring counties, has likewise been small; but buyers •
base acted with to much caution as to prevent the shortness
of the supply being telt. On Wednesday the Essex and
Kent stands were nearly bare, and the transactions were
necessarily on a retail scale • in which position of attitirs
quotations rentained nominally unaltered. On Friday we
had a run or two fresh up front Essex, and some of the mil-
lers appear to entertain the notion that the deliveries are
likely to be out a more liberal scale next week. There was, 2,
at all events, les., inclination to purchase, and the trade So
finished very languidly at last alon.lay's currency.
The arrivals of Wheat front abroad hare been quite mode- 40
rate; but, having previously a considerable quantity on 23
board ship, WC have experienced no scarcity. Most of our
large millers have still stocks of foreign Wheat on hand, 121
and the country demand having been ou quite a retail scale 24'
throughout the week, the transactions have been altogether fe
unimportant; sellers have nevertlftless remained firm, and
good qualities were quite as dear at the close as in the cont.
meneement of the week. We have just now very little
Polish Odessa or other southern kinds of Wheat offering
' and the operations in these• descriptions, free on bused., ,
have been inconsiderable since this day se'nnight. The
off,•rs front the Baltic have, on the other hand, increased ;
and, though there has not been much inclination to pur-
chase, a few bargains have been closed. Good qualities of
lower Baltic red have been offered at 395. per quarter cost
and freight, and some very serviceable high-mixed Dantsie IS
at 40s. per quarter free on board. 61
The sale tor flour has been slow; but the upward move-
ment which has taken place of late in the price of wheat SI
has prevented any decline in the value of the manufactured 3
article. The receipts from France have been less abundant 7i
than but week, and the finest samples have been held very 61
firmly at previous terms.
English barley has not excited much attention • and, 10
should the weather set in warm, 'the inquiry for Malting 20
sorts would fall off materially. The supply has quite 3
kept pace with the demand this week, and on Friday the ,
turn was rather in favour of the buyer. Foreign Barley
has been in steady demand fur grinding ; and, though there so
was rather less doing towards the close than in the early 12
part of the week. the recently-established advance was It
finale maintained, really good heasy parcels being held at
20s. 1141. to 21s. per qr. IM
IL
The value of Malt has undergone no change requiring
notice. The business done in the article has been of quits t
I a retail character, but needy buyers have had to pay full
GRANT OF HABEAS CORPUS BY MR. JUSTICE prices. 1,1
WIG lITMA,N 'TO TILE PETITIONERS AGAINST' The total arrival of oats, including 11,410 quarters from '
LINES. ! abroad, has amounted to only 18,818 qrs. This supply
Yesterday, at ten o'clock, Mr. James, Q.C., with Mr. shows a small increase as compared with that of last week; •
Illagg and other gentlemen, attended before Mr. Justice but the quantity is much short of what is required fur the
Wightman, at Judges' Chambers, Serjeants'-inn, and weekly consumption of the metropolis. kite principal
applied fur a writ of habeas corpus against Lines, which dealers have nevertheless held off, and seem determined to
was granted by the learned judge on production by the' use up their stocks closely rather than buy in so hare a
parties of the warrant, of which the following, granted by market. 'The transactions were on a retail scale both on
the Serjeant.at-arms, on Saturday, is a copy, on when Wednesday and Friday; the lately enhanced terms being
Lines was given in custody on Saturday to the Serjeant-at- paid with evident reluctance.
mss: I
tendency of prices has been downward.. Grey and maple There has been little doing in boiling peas, and the
" House of Commons St. Albans Election Petition Conn
inittee.—Whereas the select committee appointed to try peas have been held firmly at last Monday's currency.
and determine the merits of the petition complaining of an Nothing of interest has transpired in Indian corn afloat.
undue election for the borough of St. Albans have this day I
ordered that William Lines, of St. Albans, having been TILE FOREIGN CORN TRADE.
guilty of prevarication and misbehaviour before the said I The slight advance which has taken place in
committee, be' committed to the custody of the Serjeant-at- • prices of wheat in this country during the last two or three
arms attending this house:. Now these presents are there- weeks has not been altogether without influence on quota-
fore to require you to take into your custody the said Wil- Lions abroad; holders having been induced by the some-
liam Lines, and to keep him in such custody until twelve what more encouraging accounts from hence to raise their
ocloek on Tuesday next, April S. for which this shall be pretensions. There dues not, however, appear to hare been
your sufficient warrant. Given under my hand, this sth much inclination to buy ; and sellers having asked higher
day of April, Edward Ellice, jun., chairman of the said prices than the limits of the English orders had permitted
committee.—To the Serjeant-at-arms attending the House being paid, comparatively few purchases had been made for
of Commons, or his deputy or deputies."
The habeas corpus on the above warrant, slid to be in- 1, exrnanzig. advices of the 27th March inform us that the
formal, was made returnable at half-past three o'clock in weather had continued mild, and that the river navigation
the afternoon, when Mr. Justice Wightman was at cham- ' had been so far cleared of ice as to lead to the belief that
hers. Mr. James, Mr. Blagg, and others, were in attend-' large supplies of wheat would come down before the expi-
ance, and waited until a quarter past four o'clock ; but ' ' ration of another week. This, which under ordinary or-
neither the Serjeunt-at-arms, with the witness Lines, camstances would probably have had the effect of causing
speaker's counsel, nor any one representing the house, ap- a dulness in the market, had produced no influence on the
pc al. The parties then retired, intimating their inten- ' minds of holders, who had shown more disposition to raise
lion of serving a peremptory notice on the Serjeant-at- ! than to lower their pretensions. About 90 lasts of wheat
arms for to-morrow, and, in the event of that not being bad changed hands during the week; viz., 50 lasts fine
cOtoplied with, applying to the court for an attachment. mixed at 375. 6d., 20 lasts mixed of 601bs. weight at 375.,
The clerks at Judges' handlers explained that this was the and a parcel of ffillbs. old in granary, not sweet, at 38s. 6d.
first within their recollection of contempt of. and non- " per qr. Two vessels had been chartered for Guernsey, at
appearance to, a writ of habeas corpus. The witness Lines 35., and one for Newcastle at 2s. 3d. per qr.
was well provided for in his " prison " from Fendall's At Konigsberg, on the 26th ult., prices were almost
Hotel by parties in connexion with the sitting member. nominal, scarcely anything having been done in either
wheat or spring corn during the preceding week. High
mixed wheat, of 6111bs. weight, was then quoted 365.;
mixed, weighing 611b5., 345. 6d. ; and red, 335. 6d. per
qr.. free on board. Barley was worth front 15s. to 171.,
and oats 12s. 9d. to 13a. 3d. per qr., according to weight,
condition. &c.

COMMISSION SIGNED BT THE LORD LIEUTENANT
or HAMONOTUNWHIRR.—David Ainslie, Esq., to be Lieut.
in the Berwick, Haddington, Linlithgow, and Peebles-shire
Regt. of Militia.—Gazette.