The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 184 a

point of attendance, was the best of the season, the theatre
being crowded in every part. A great disappointment, how-
ever, took place ; Grisi, who was to have performed Donna
Anna, was prevented from appearing by sudden indisposi-
tion, and Madame Cutellan undertook the part at a few
hours' notice. It says much for the strength of the eats•
blishment, that it contained a second performer capable of
sustaining so arduous a part. After Grill, Castellan's per-
forename was weak, being comparatively deficient both
in vocal power and in impassioned energy; but still it was
respectable and pleasing, and, as such, was well received.
She would have done well to leave eut the long and difficult
air, " Non mi dir," which is never sung except by perfor..
men of the highest powers. Mario appeared for the first
time this season. lie did the greate•t possible justice to the
part of ()Mario ; that is, he faithfully preserved all the insi-
pidity of the character, while he sang the music most charm-
ingly. The "II mio Worn" was every way exquisite, and was
enthusiastically encored. Madame Persianis Zerlina, as
usual, was delightful from its naive simplicity; but she was
scarcely so happy as usual in her vocal performance. She
was tem perfect, both in voice and intonation, than
she was last week in Rosin, and she introduced
some ftoritstre, which, in Mozart's music, might
be dispensed with. Rostra was but an indifferent Leporello.
He was hard and dry, without the geniality of Lablache ;
and the music of the part is by no means suited to his voice.
Though last, not least, we mention Temburini, the most per.
feet representative of the high bred libertine that has been
seen in our day. His performance last evening had all the
qualities, both dramatic and vocal, which have bet n so
often and justly extolled. The opera was got up with the
completeness and magnificence which characteris' e this
theatre;notwithstanding the great blan made by the
absenoe of Grisi, it wee a noble entertainment.k

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL
ONTO/in, ArittL 13.—This morning a chapter meeting of
the dean and canons of Christ Church was held, when the key. \V.
Jacobson, M.A., late Ace-principal of Magdalen-ball soul public
orator, was Installed reeius professor of divinity, to which is annexed
a canonry of Chrht Church and the rectory of Ewelme, Oxfordshire,
in the room of 1/r. Hampden, translated to the see of Hereford.
011PORD AND CANON/DOI ON IC EMPTY .—The number of
members oa the boards et Cambridge, according to the "Cambridge
Caleodar,..lust published, exceed this.c on the books at Oxford by 748;
end the members of the senate exceed the members of convocation at
Oxford by 488. The /allowing are the total numbers: Cambridge
Members of the senate, 3, WO ; members on /be boards, •,768. Oxford:
Members of convocation, 3.179 ; members on the books, 6,020.
CA NBRIDOR.—The Vire.Chaneellor has given notice that
the examination le
for the TyrwhAt's Ibrew Scholarships will com-
mence on the second Wedricedity in May next.

Tne BISHOP or Snook ANo MAN held an ordination on
the 9th that., in the pariah church of St. Michael, when .1. P. Serjesnt
was ordained a &soon, and has Since beim Ikenscd no curate to the
Rs.% it.forbert, perpetual chaplain of St. George's Chapel, Douglas;

NAVAL.
ADMIRALTY, APRIL IS.—APPOINTMENTS: Lieutenant
W. P. Warren, to WstcrwPcb- Surgeon R. T. C. Scott, Assist nt-
Rurgeon P. resell, Acting A.i4tant -s u rgroa D. lit• Ewan, Masurs'
Asaistunt .1. May, Claim' APPilO.llt. Itunn, Naval Cadet J. S. Barlow,
Boatswain N. Bingsten, and Carpenter C. Brood, to Beatings—Mate
T. M. Campbell, to Sharpshooter—Second Monter F. Sand, to Dee—
Assistant-Surgeons T. N. Perches, confirmed to President; J. Lif-
etime, confirmed to Wellmley—Kidsbipman G. Grey, to Victory; T.
A. Close, to Kingdom.

MILITARY.
The Ist battalion 12th Foot passed through London yes-
terday en route from Port mouth to Weedon, to be stationed at the
latter place. The 17th Foot, wbkh han been here kW* Flaturday last,
also left yang/Tidy for remkrt. Tne 2nd battalion Royals, at Newry,
and the 13th (Prince Alpert's light infantry), at Bier, will shortly
exchange Quarters.

SPORTING.
NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING—Tacoma.
SWEEPSTAKES Of 100 SOTS. !SCR, h ft, for 3-yr-olds ; D.M.
(6 mite.)
Col. ARIOD'i Corsican (F. Butler) 1
Lord Olasaan'sc by Don John. out of Impertinence (NMI 2
Woe in a canter by two length. Run in I In. 37 see. D.M.
EEPSTAKES of 60 SOTS. each, h ft, for 3-yr-olds ; 1.11.1
(7 sem) (Nat) I
Duke of Richmond's Ilornpipe
Mr. Wigram's Kerman
Lord Exeter's Hecuba (Veldt 3
Run la 1 ra. me.
War ha a canter by three lengths. 44
SUBSCRIPTION PLATE of 601. ; 3-yr-olds, fist 121 b ; four,
est 71b ; Are, get ; Mx and aged, 9st Mb. The winner to be sold for
300 emu. (CA.)
Mr. W. A. Johnston's Blackball ..-'.(ter)Prinee) 1
Duke of Bedford's INNUIUSI ((Nat) 3
I
land Orford's Craftsman
Lord Exeter's Ociambia. (Ssettiokenew 1
Run in Im. 42 see. Ma whirr wee edam&
SWEEPSTAKES Of 50 110•11. each, h ft, fir Sir-olds Crite-
don mune.
Duke of Rutland's The Fiddler
Mr. Drinkakra Good Boy
(Nat 3
Mr. Ilussey's Telegraph
LATEST BETTING.
TWO THOUSAND OUINEAB STARER-4S to 4 agst Blase,
(t), 7 to 2 agst Fletcareber.
ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.-5 to 2 eget Prairie

Bird.
CHUTBR Cap.—Lightning backed at 20 to 1, and Maid
of my soul at 25 to I. No other Gunge.
DENNY.-900 to 110 agat Surplice (t), 12 to 1 eget
Lesdatone (t freely), 2010 1 apt Esale's Plume (t), 25 to I east
Fiddler tag 30 to I apt Beshormigh, 3.5 to I apt The Stinger, and
50 to 1 t Great Western (t freely). The Fiedler was backed very
freely at 30, 20, and 25 to I.
Okce.-10 to 1 eget Prairie Bird (t).
ENTRIES FOR FRIDAY —H DICAP. T.Y.C.—Carrrna,
Cocoa Nut, Prussic Mid, Millwood, Tuffrail, Bt. Ann, Montilla, Clerk
of the Council.
Ilswotcee. D.M.--Marquis of Conyngham, Sagacity,
Bt. Antonio, Duplicity.
Sir Oliver walks over on Friday, Mr. Combo withdrawing
his stake.

ato intelligence.
EQUITY COURTS.
Before the Vlce-Chancellor of England.
Tun WEST Courier/au RAILWAY COMPANY R.
MOWATT.—BILL FOR THE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE
OF AN AOREESIF.NT TO PURCHASE SNARES.—Thu
was a bill filed by the West Cornwall Railway Com-
pany against the defendant, Mowatt, for the specific
performance of an agreement entered into by the de-
fendant for the purchase of 4,935 Aare' in the railway, and
to restrain the defendant from proceeding against Messrs.
Denison, bankers, far the recovery of a sum of money de-
posited by the defendant as security for such shares. It ap-
peared that when the railway was projected it was agreed
that there should be 2.3,000 shares issued, at 201. per share ;
4,935 of these shares were unappropriated, and the defendant
entered into an agreement to purchase the unappropriated
shares at 151. per share, and 41. a share ens to be deposited
with Messrs. Denison as a security for the purchase money.
The defendant refused to complete the purchase, and this
bill was consequently filed. A demurrer was put in by the
defendant, for whom it was argued that the company had
no power to sell the shares at a price lets than
201., the amount fixed by act of parliament, and that the
Messrs. Denison ought to have been made parties to the
bill.—Mr. J. Parker ari Mr. Toiler appeared in support of
the demurrer, sod Mrd . Ilethell an for the
' railway company—Before the arguments were concluded, it
I was suggested that the better course would be to have the
case decided by a court of law.—The Vice-Chancellor
agreed .sith this suggestion.

WESTMINSTER COUNTY COURT.
Before 1). C. Moylan, Esq.
CLRROW v. LORD ',A:IIIEL% A DREAD BILL.-Thin
was an action, brought by a baker living in Marylebone, to
recover of the defendant the sum of 121. 25., the balance of
22/ 2s. for bread and flour.—The plaintiff st'ted that he
I supplied Lord Suffield, whilst he re..ided at St. John's-wood,
with bread and flour to the amount of 221. lie had applied
to hi, lordship for payment, and was referred by him to his
solicitor, Mr. Kerr. That gentleman paid him 101. on ac-
count and promised to pay the balance in a day or so. This
was not done, and he was compelled to adopt the present
proceedings against his iord.hip.—The Judge basing ascer-
tained that the summons had been properly served, made an
order for the payment of the debt and costs on the 16th of

May.
ALLEN V. LORD COTTENHASS.—TRE LORD CHANCELLOR
IN THE COVNTY Count —ln this cue, the plaintiff, a cab-
man, sued the noble lord for 51. damage done to a cab
through the negligent and wilful driving of the defendant's
I servant. The circumstances of the case did not transpire, as
the money with the costs were paid into court before the
case was called on, anA the plaintiff of course being satisfied,
it was unnecessary to trouble the court with the details.

been given to him absolutely—which was not intended:
but rather than alter the will a codicil was
prepared by which he was prevented from anticipating the
annuity. There were numerous bequests to charities, and
the will then appointed Mr. Wind° (who had succeeded to
his business) and Mr. Dowding executors and residuary
legatees. After this will was executed the testator changed
, his mind, and another codicil was prepared and executed on
' the 24th April, and after that another on the 13th May. On
the 2Eth June Mr. Slack was ver sevously indisposed, and
Mr. Dowding called upon him tot nquire after his health,
and was admitted. This was on Sunday, and at that time,
although so very ill, his mind was upon his affairs, and he
than mentioned to Mr. Dowding, for the first time, the fact
of a mortgage !security which he held, and which he had
omitted to mention in his instructions. A codicil was im-
mediately suggested Dowding that all straight, and on the fol-
lowing morning Mr. prepared the codicil, and sent
to Mr. Slack to say that his clerks would wait upon him at
twelve o'clock to see the codicil executed ; and amordingly,
Abut twelve o'clock that day, two of Mr. Dowds clerks
wiotnessed Mr. Slack's executioa of this the fourth
This was Monday, the 30th June. Shortly
after the clerks had left a person named Racket
called to see Mr. Slack, not having seen him for
some time, and remained with him until bed time. She
went again the next morning and found Mr. Wintle there,
and they both remained the entire day until his death, which
took place on Wednesday the 2nd July. No one except Mr.
Wind's and Mrs. Recker therefore had an opportunity of
conversing with Mr. Slack after execution of the codicil on
the 30th June, until his death. Mr. Slack had requested
that his will should not be proved until six months after his
death. We now come to that part of the evidence which
connects the other prisoner; with the forgery. Stephen Ford,
the father of the male prisoners (and who was apprehended
with his sou, hut died in prisen), resided at Colerne, in
Wiltshire, at which place Mr. Slack bad considerable pro-
perty, and was lord of the manor. Stephen Ford had been
employed to collect rent* and levy distresses for Mr. Slack,
but latterly Mr. Slack bad conceived a great dislike to
Stephen Ford and his family, and had forbidden them the
house. Mrs. Garland was very intimate with the Fords,
and interfered to effect a reconciliation, and on the 20th
June endeavoured to bring Stephen Ford intothe house, but
Mr. Sleek refused to admit him. Daniel Davis Ford, who
is the man charged with having written the will and codicil,
and with having forged the names, was a process server, and,
although a very indifferent scholar, had a remarkable talent
for imitating the signatures and writing of others. His or.
thography. however, was of the very worst description.
John Ford. the other son, was a cabinet-maker in Bath, but
had aplied for relief under the Insolvent Debtors Act
other prisoner, Lewis, had been a tenant of Mr. Slack,
renting a farm of shout 2001. per annum, but for about three
ears bad paid no rent, and at the time of his death was
indebted to the estate in about 7001. In the year 1844
Daniel Davis Ford applied to an accountant named Pitt
Carruthers, and told him that a will might be made
for Mr. Slack, and suggested to Carruthers to assist him
in the scheme, but he refused. At Mr. Slack's funeral,
whirls waa attended by his tenants, John Ford although
uninvited, made his appearance. Mr. Wintle
was there,
and addressed the tenants, telling them that he hoped every-
thing would go on as before. When he left, John Ford
said, " Mr. Wintle may do as he pleases, but there are some
papers coming which he knows nothing of he then went
on to say that on the Monday before Mr. Slack's death he
had been sent for to attest a will et 11 o'clock at night, that
he should get nothing himself, but his father would benefit
very largely by it, and many of the tenants had legacies left
them, and Mr. March, the son of the solicitor of Bath, would
be a gainer of many hundreds. After the funeral, the Fords
called upon Mrs. Garland, at the testator's house; they were
at first refused admittance ; one of them said it would he
greatly to her advantage if they could see her, and some
few days afterwards they came again, and remained closeted
with her until late at night. She bad had no oppertunity of
seeing them since the death of Mr. Slack, as she remained
confined to the house during that time, and there-
fore the Fords were entirely ignorant of the
fact that Mr. Slack had executed a codicil on the 30th
June. The first that the executors beard of any other will
than the one in their possession was from Messrs. Iggulden,
of Doctor'-commons, deputy-registrars, who wrote to them
to say that they had received an anonymous letter inclining
a will, subsequently proved to he in the handwriting of
Daniel Davis Ford, dated 30th June, 1845, of which will
Dowding,Wintle, and Stephen Ford were made executors
and residuary legatees. The letter was dated from Bristol,'
Dec. 16, 1840. The orthography was bad, although the
writing was good. The letter also enclosed a paper contain-
ing a statement of the affairs of the testator, dated in 1843,
and which must have been obtained from Mrs. Garland.
When Mr. Dowding received the communication from
Messrs. Iggulden, he went to London with his clerk
to see the will, and both of them, immediately they saw
it, declared the signature of Mr. Wm. Slack to be a forgery.
It was evident that a great part of this will had been copied
from that which Mr. Slack had executed in 1842, but was
ill wk. • suit was instituted in Doctors'-cammons, and
Stephen Ford prayed to be allowed to appear in fornu2
pauperis. The witnesses to the will of the 30th June sent
to Messrs. Iggulden were J. Studley Manning and Mr.
March, a solicitor of Bath. Mr. March being dead, and as
it was impossible to prove the death of the other witness,
tnere never having existed such a person, a difficulty arose
in the way of proving the will. To remove this difficulty
Daniel Davis Ford drew out a codicil, bearing date
the 30th of June, forged Mr. Slack's name to it, and
John Lewis, John Ford, and Henry March were the wit-
news. This codicil was made to appear as follows,—an
attorney of the name of Audley Harvey, since dead, was
enlisted into the scheme, and Stephen Ford applied to him
to search the papers of Mr. Wm. Slack, in the possession of
Mrs Garland, in order to discover, if possible, something
relative to Mr. Manning, and in turning over the leaves of
an old account-book--so old as IS2O—Mr. Harvey called out
that be had found a prize, for there was a codicil to the will.
Mrs. Garland was then called in from another room, and it I
was shown to her. This codicil was then sent up to Doctors%
commons, and thus the defect as to the witnesses to the will
was covered by this codicil, which was dated the 30th June,
1845. This was proved to be in the handwriting of Daniel
Davis Ford.
By this codicil the legacy to Mr. Wintle was revoked, and
Stephen Ford was to have half the property. It also appeared
that John Lewis, when a distress was put Into his farm for
the rent due to the estate, produced a receipt for it up to the
30th June, which also appeued to be in the handwriting
of the prisoner Daniel Davis Ford. On proving the will at
Doctors' commons, Lewis and John Ford swore that the sig-
nature Wm. Slack wu genuine, and that they had seen tes-
tator sign the will.
The respective counsel for the prisonen having addressed
the jury on their behalf, the cue was then withdrawn as to
Mrs. Garland. Mr. Justice Wightman summed up, and the
jury found all the other prisoners Guilty. They were ac-
cordingly sentencld—Daniel Davis Ford, to 20 years' trans-
portation; John Ford, 15 years' transportation; and John
Davis, 10 years' transportation.
The case lasted from two o'clock on Monday until
Wednesday evening.

POLICE.—YESTERDAY.
GUILDHALL —FEMALE PICKPOCKETS.—Ann Kelly,
Theresa Turner, and Elizabeth Robinson, were charged
with picking the pocket of a lady upon Holborn-hill.—J.
Heffington, of the detective force, said that while in com-
pany with a brother officer, they met the three prisoners,
about half-past five o'clock the previous afternoon, in St.
Paul's Churchyard, coming towards Cheapside, upon which
they followed them along Newgate-street to the foot of
Holborn-hill, when the prisoners entered a wax-work ex•
hibition. After staying a few minutes inside they left, and
proceeded up the hill, where observing a lady and gentlemen
lookirg in at a shop window, they suddenly stopped sad
went behind them, Kelly placing herself on the right hand
of the lady, and the other two on each side of her. After
remaining a moment they suddenly left in a hurried
manner, and went towards Hatton garden. Witness
crossed over and asked the lady if she had not been
robbed, and finding that she had lost her purse, containing
four sovereigns and some silver, he and Haydon immedi-
ately pursued the prisoners, and took them into custody,when
just euteriug another exhibition. On being told they were
taken for stealing a purse, they denied that they had done
so, or that they had one in their possession. While en the
way to the station-house with Robinson he observed the
prisoner appear uneasy, and presently she dropped a bag
containing seven keys, one of which was filed so as to form a
skeleton key.—Michael Haydon corroborated liedington's
statement, and added, that when he secured Kelly and
Turner. and was going down Holborn-hill, be saw the
former rather fidgetty with her left-hand,upon which be laid
hold of it, and:took a purse containing four sovereigns and
six shillings. Kelly then exclaimed—" De, for God's sake,
good gentleman, let me go ; I will never do the like again."
She repeated this several times, until he told her that he wee
a constable, when she then said that a gentleman had given
it to her. From Turner he took fifteen duplicates, and
4s. tid, in silver.—Mrs. C. Clinch identified the purse as her
property.—Ald. Sidney committed them for trial.
BOW STREET. —A BEOGINO-LETIER Daemon.—
J. Randall, alias Candy, alias J. Wilson, was charged with
endeavouring to obtain charitable contributions by means of
false representations.—Mr. J. Chit, of 30, Bloomsbury-
square, stated that on the previous morning the prisoner
came to his house, and producing the card of Miss Spiokney,
a tenant and friend of his, residing at Clifton-terrace,
Nottingthill, in order to give some colour to his representa-
tion, said South in t distress, and required an outfit to
go to the Seas ;nth at he was in a trading vessel from
Swansea which was wrecked on the 10th March, and, having
a wife and four children, he was unable to proceed on the
voyage on Monday next. He further added, that Squire
Vivyan. of the Reform Club, bad given him 2.1., while one
of the Miss Spinkneys had given him fis., and the other a
half-erowu, to relieve his wants. Witness having received
information that some cards had been obtained from the
young ladies his suspicions were aroused, and when the pri-
soner callehim as an dhe sent for a Menclicity r, who instantly re-
cognised old offender, and took him into custody.
William Horsford said that when he met the prisoner at
Mr. Clift's house be observed to him, " Well, Randall, here
you are again ; I thought you had left off this trade after the
caution I gave you on a former occasion." He then
searched him, and found a certificate purporting to be signed
by the members of the Veterinary College, St. Pancras,
who had subscribed 291. for his relief —Mr. Hall ordered the
prisoner to hard labour for three mouths!, giving directions
that the conviction should be returned to the quarter ses-
sions, thereby rendering him liable for the next offence to
one year's imprisonment and also to be whipped.
MARVLEBONE.— ARTFUL ROBBERY.—Elise Wil-
liams was charged with the following robberies :—On the
previous evening the prisoner entered the shop of Mr.
Thompson, a pawnbroker, Ent-street, Manchester-square,
and there pawned a pair of shoes for one shilling. She
then west away, and just as she had got outside the door she
stole a gown which was hanging upon a nail ; she was Col-