The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-11 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Joss 10
The accounts ef the potato do not vary. They are
generally encouraging, though the stoutest supporter
of the anti-blight theory, the Cork Southern Reporter,
is forced to retreat a little from its former ground.
This is, however, compensated by accounts from
several other districts, all detailing health and pro-
arms. It is well, however, to eschew excessive confi-
dence in a matter involving such consequences, and
on which so little can be said with certainty.
Anotherimportant circularhas beenjustissuedby the
Board of WoArs to the district engineers. It directs
them. by orders of the Treasury, to cause "all works
leenseneed wider 9 & 10 Viet., c. 107, and for which
=had been made at extraordinary sessions
he 15th of August next" This order has
reference to works which shall not have been com-
pleted by that date; these the engineers are recom-
mended to put in such a state as that they shall re-
ceive as little injury as possible from the discontinu-
ance. Such mason-work as bridges, on roads which
are likely to become important thoroughfares, are to
be transferred to the respective county surveyors for
completion, at the expense of the counties in which
they are situate.
A very remarkable proof of the consideration of
the government for the rate-payers of Ireland, and of
their desire to aid those who manifest a realness to
do their duty to the destitute poor, is recorded in the
Mayo paper of yesterday. The distant gni=
the Union of Westport, the enormous
thrown upon the relief funds for seppart, and the
expense necessarily to be incurred, are-alesedy on the
records of parliament. The rations daily distributed
were fixed by the inspector at 26,000, and the ex-
pense for three months would necessitate a rating of
12s. 6d. in the pound. The government have taken
the case into their consideration, and, with great
generosity, advanced, as afree 02, to the Union of
Westport sem equal to 10s. in the pound of rating,
leaving 2s. 6d. only to be raised as a levy off the
union property.
The gentry of Roscommon have had a meeting
recently to deliver their sentiments upon the present
" important crisis." They recommend public works
and drainage to employ the people; but they do not
say that they are ready to bear the burden of either,
nor do they say anything of their readiness to apply
for any of the monies advanced to Irish landlords by
parliament for improvement of their estates. Besides
the above recommendations, the Roscommon gentle-
men—Lord Crofton being their spokesman—call for

a legislative measure to compel suspicions persons to
"account for mutton and wool found in their posses-
sion." Such is the Roscommon remedy for the ills of
Ireland.

WALES•

- • -----
EXPERIMINTS MITE OUN-COTTON.-011 Monday, as Sir
J. J. Guest and a party were trying en experiment with the
cotton at the limestone quarnea, near Dewing, by some
mishap an explosion took plane while ramming it in the
hole, by which Mr. Rbys Rhyne, agent, Aberdare works, was
severely injured in the face and eyes, and another poor man,
a miner, was entirely deprived of sight. It is stated that the
explosion took placl in consequence of forcing the cotton
down with an iron rod, the bore of the hole being too small.
In the limestone quarries of Cie Ebbw Vale and Tredegar
Ironworks, experiments with the cotton and gunpowder, on
Tuesday, were, on the contrary, highly successful. These
took place in presence of a great many gentlemen, aid about
200 quarrymen. The day was beautiful, and shot after shot
was fired to the number of from 18 to 20, commencing at
3 o'clock, p.m., and not ending until half-pest eight in the
evening. The success of gun-cotton was complete ; in every
instance the manner in which it raised the immense MANS
of rook from its bed, tearing it open in fissures in every di-
rection and rolling large fragments over the precipice,
celled forth the admiration and applause of thole present.—
Hereford Journal.

• PROVINCIAL.
LANCASITLICE.
ADOLF SCHCTz, the young German, charged at Mantises•
ter with forging letters ot credit from a bank at Vienna, upon
certain houses in England, was brought before the
magis-
trates at Manchester, for further examination yesterda;e
evidence tendered before was corrected to some extent. It
appears that the hones in London from which he obtained
1,9001., was that of Messrs. Buse and Bibeth, merchants, 35,
Lind-street, and that the letter of credit he presented there
as well as that one he obtained 1,8001. upon from Mears.
Merck, Manchester, were both forgeries. He hod presented
the original letter of credit first at Cologne, and obtained
2001. upon it, and afterward, at Aix-la-Chapelle, obtaining
1,7004., which, with the charges, made the full amount he
was entitled to draw. Both the letters of credit presented
in England being thus proved to be forgeries, the difficulty
the magistrates laboured. under at the former examination,
in having no evidence as to which was the original and which
the forged document was removed. The forgeries were proved
by Mr. George Bests, who appeared on behalf of Messrs.
Buse and Bibeth, and were also admitted by the prisoner, who
was committed for trial at the next Liverpool assizes.

hint arts.
THE ROYAL. RICTURES.—We have authority to
date that the two royal pictures, by Winterhalter, vcrn be
removed from St. i&IIICS'a Palace on the lot of July next.
Platt.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Madame Persisni being,
as we are sorry to learn, very much indisposed, her part of
!farina in the " Barbieri di Siviglia," was assumed hat
evening by Mademoiselle Alboni, the above opera having
been announced for that evening before Madame Persiani's
Madlle. Alboni, we understand, has performed the
pert in Italy with groat success ; and her reception in it last
night was highly favourable. Her execution of the music left
nothing to be desired. Wt have been accustomed to hear it
rung by a soprano voice ; and the effect produced by a voice of
another register is different, even when the pitch is not
altered. Alboni sang the " Una rocs poop fa" considerably
beneath the usual key ; and her rich low tones enhanced the
beauty of the sir without diminishing its fire and spirit.
She introduced a profusion of embellishments, some of
which were of a highly original kind; and the whole
air was a piece of the most brilliant and finished
execution that can be imagined. In the same
of the "singing lesson" she chose a messo-eoprano
air, " Il soave e bel contento." which was a favourite eon-
certeong of Paste's. It has little merit in itself, and, though
Meal°. Alboni sang it admirably, it did not make much im-
pression. The fine duet, " Ducque io eon," was charmingly
sung. Its light and airy divisions were given by her with
the utmost delicacy, the most beautiful articulation, and the
most arch and playful facility; and as Rancour, part of it
was sustained with equal effect, it was received with than-
den of applause. In the dramatic representation of the
character, Muffle Alboni was less successful. She was defi-
cient in feminine grace and delicacy, and neither looked nor
acted like the young girl of condition, who, though brought
up in seclusion, has gained the affection of a high-born
Spanish cavalier. But she was arch, lively, and amusing ; end
her vocal and dramatic performance, taken together, formed
a very delightful entertainment.
Mn. STERNDALE BENNETT'S CONCERT.—Mr. Ben-
nett's concert, which took place yesterday morning in the
Hanover-square Rooms, was by far the best benefit concert
of the seamen. He had a strong instrumental band, consist-
ing of members of the Philharmonic orchestra; and the
metes performed, both vocal and instrumental, were gene-
rally of a high order. He himself played his fourth concerto,
which was performed at a late Philharmonic concert a
week worthy to be classed among the finest compositions of
the age—grend and simple in its form, pure in ha style, and
risimmdbundaliaits details. It was admirably executed, and
meshed with the warmest applause. His overture, " The
Wood Nymphs," was applauded with equal was*. Set-
ting aside its descriptive design, white wanmen ourselves
malls is peones it is a very fine sisse demential moats,
sod would dose disereet to any &kg. Mr. Boni
nut Henries played the first movement of esioden irk%
eftessito hi D miser, a most iaterestbg spedium stag
tormair nmeetor's ,•le • and • selection from Muddelthda
ohne Wools." The vocal pieces were
by MAIM Donn Gres, Miss Dolby, Madame Orr keens(
le.
enes, Mica Ramdard, Herr Pisehek, and Mr. Hobbs.
room won completely full.
M. TuaLauto, the celebrated pianist, took leave of
the public of Copenhagen on the 31st ult., at a concert white
he gave in favour of the charitable establishments of that
city. The Wag sod Queen were present at the concert, and
at its conclusion the King sent for M. Thalberg and pre-
sented him with the insignia of a commander of 'the royal
order of Danneberg.

•
CNITERRITT AND CLERICAL.
Oxream, Jona 10.—AS • ~tonna Wass wandag tha
lowing degrees us authimß Va.:—Dollow at Inetnity: Per. H.
Weibeday, pelinipd at Paw bs 114 grind . Demme
d Moeda s 0. T. Planhew. 0. Jain% ; E. D. Dm&
mama Desbake atNi. J. C. Fu
DENM& d
lets: J. I. T. Darsr. IL IOW; HA Had ; Tim C.
llennallA Paw. 3. S. Wad (gremilamp.),,L OA A ad W. W. Houk
Wax; lime. M. team Urals•• Ere. IL. Maher and T. P"
WON% nesemmet Est. atreen, illow at An Soak; nee. it:
Denim ra irk out* GILL E. C. nedte TIWO7. grand
Day.W. Meshes and Bev.T. IL Maio, Jaw Rev. T. C.
and Na A. Toyer, grand amt., Maim •. Rev. T. J.
OdllllBolo.
an, ;E. Inuckleaten.
Na • W. IL Williams, New
Inn; A. Onsles, Magd. Han; Sawa. maaltaand comp., SAL
Drahalle at Arta: N. E. Wm. wed amp., •T. C. Soothe,
lakimmte taheedersatOrae; Hon.°. F. Begin and T. Tre.
ChrlatCh. ; 3. W.latim,St.teha'a ; W. T. Saw* and Rev.
8. 10.LEill.
reLainaarroms.Onsaannitunanew4Da=se.
6=Thia
saisbri:sem4surtl.rizi. tEmakmp.trom.d
smai=Dudnin, WA doled egionstarwm.
&mama Ton men Anwasenware or Scireer..—Cireit
ut inn IMlngsmia at Miami As the approaching meeting
enwai et rim eaddent In that city meet
&ft itannendlagmen ma% at Oa Climmelts, to rawer in.
art. amnia randra asinimandlannem an Eng aaoaut eamealsd with
Abe imanag.

'NAVAL.
Peememes,lwoh 10. The Mawr Boyd trumped, Lint
Hurls, hew lweeeles is thirty dam =wed se lehheet this
sionewt Ile ell he wand le 110 seemed.
DWORPOIM 3.113 Lim* et, Lleet-Cew. o.3llweit wee Wks
Weselea sulpha he the ple e siatt‘pisa .1.8 aisle
In MAL allllil we awl
des Wiwi k a thew ewe tee Woe weet et Meath
peke of et lie yet Is want le la Aided see repent l'.6lllll.helie
✓esew. Iklemet Wig et Pestweltih We le beweled ea We
lide bet, eke assigetel In thie port le be Mei he We powleat
tea iseeteeeessa7 paid* le le be omelet weft • sewher et
e=„Mle itezpsee et tehemehle silo mama.
.I.7=L
K et
the wales he. wide ilhinelt7Liwieelles et the Seri
Mariam is the Fe* st eelhe Ith Yet ,
TY Wela7 et - wish elemeeie the weft= wets
the melt Inekeeter, eanwee tellmeuet haltered blew.
=awl otrogtereeSZUrr maks ea gem et bean
The lettain et wowswing Chwouse
Hey, es well w the ow meting Si ho= en In e pew we of
---- .

SPORTING.
HAMPTON ItACEL—lhowoor.
The woolag E to
0t goomplimeat either to her W-
PM), or Wag ^ the " grol"
day. ollehbohdor le spathe Wont h letra= y Desk hewer,
Is the walk owl es he webs, yeoballey vspeaktewegh
la the offaV awl et the IMWIRRIn tweet sat f 111111
lb' lOW Wag OS he rolk Ilts ma, eel tho wig. the weld
=WM We Meet Hwy Wail we aumord. tbs aint=
Owns ewe eer lep *ea IW tap et Sr wens to the
Is UK lbw WM& the eetssere Wine Iwo et a "grad*
Wiese Wags awe hew moped ebb bereft et every moll
11a Ws bet to Its aim wo wee sat mast be ear
raseoiler taterteg as Poly bole Woes et the spirt es it wagger
te dwarf& elawnM WIMP Why tee Whig, gel
with gee Wier ilhowsed et time, Pat Ihe Meg boot ter
Plots sweet ma min otter Ave oeMotik ail it vet was Aka
beim lito leshregese race we imolehi >tlewiltleWyebow
rzteeelzmiltbrtbosizergoanhomteamerktetegosellindllt.
very esepliees drsear•laws, se Mien raw
animas *gibe his Wee, bog ilea be Aid me tram diawat
osethes. ere Vett It mg bow bese so ; bet it Is ow WO le di
that We patio alike was wyerew spiel lei Piet It yes
set Mewl by Ilse Awl resell a/ the Wis. Belem tenwewoOl
04.111111111, SMOG le rya wok 5 ft., with lb WWI; bar
Take% he Rh; ale, OW 411 i. T.T.C. (3 subs.)
Itt. w" Iholeeet. Inb j•E="
tic o.2bmWes ets Bream W Elicirasien, eat 41h ( 2
Wel Mosihneres West are, Sot 4th(Creech) 3
le 4 as West lime (9 ,) and 3 to 1 each agot the others.
BreggliViiklesnlinlngleld ',with the had, sod cot oat the work
to thellolowe, Were MalfroOe wag le Wee, hod it on bee own way,
sad we Wares Ingllts. Tho metre wr Mosepubotod at starting,
'Manse mood We hens as la 1 aft I sea
grin's RAM fle 1/0 rim; tor 9-yr olds, Ist Mb; four, eat Ilb ;
We, list Mb; Is ad opekleaMb ; the winner to be sold for 500/.,
&e. Heats; tweaks.
Mr. 011iver's Blind Rooney (Owner} 0 I 0 I
land Warwick's Abend (Planner 1 2 0 2
Mr. Payne's Marquis of Conyngbam
Mr. Smith's c by kinky *Mach cot of the Chelsea
Lam (Crouch} 2 die.
Mr. Clarites Mlles's Boy (Wskefield dia.
Mr. Drew's Cameo (W. Evans dts.
Betting—MK had : sto 2 angst Mimi. I to 1 oast Marquis of
Conyugham, and 4 to I art Mina'sßoy. Mite's Boy madetbe running
to the up turn, bat taking the wrong side of the two pot., gave up
his place, and shortly after rendered an objection needless by bolting.
The litany Moloch cell went on with the running to the dinune.
where Attlee' took it up, and won by three lengths. Cameo was
restive at the post, and did not get off. Run in 4 min. 2 acne.--Second
heat: 2to lon Aliwal. Blind Hockey male .11 the !unfair's,, and
after a sloes race with Aliwal from the stand, won by a neck. Run
In 4 min. 2 tom—Third heat : the betting began at 2 to I on Blind
hockey, but under went a sodden change, and left off at 2 and 3 to I
on Alt..]. This movement led to • suspicion of foul play, that the
manner to which the beat terminated nerved to strengthen. The old

berm eras doe Towhee all the way. and keg before
Comte the deem bed Ile young eine dead bas3r tibest.
ass Obi kr aim" ne; b• Mb
e
glom OWN* the meta lel Met Is id& ad mom Ida bona by
ebeisgbereeag—be mom weeded le win by • sack I The rens
wee Met awl get Me at Ile bat, led t..& tt • Yet beet. The
gruel IMO( venom ening; fed*, rider et Mid litakey, an
remdeglegarde. yea me* able/ad by eileed gaelbeee• with
bolsi nes Mira the me UM keit meg ram la 4 oda. V ewe—
pee* beat 5t04 et SW. Meciey, "be made poi rm.., tem
gag W me; eel after • Om rear iqp Ur Mem% IRS by seek.
Ites be 4 Ws. I we.
beelellms. Puts of 23 BOWL. dud a• ergegebbee of 5 we.
nib I tat 5-yr ea; let 3lb; foe; OM Mb ; Iva selseweede gat ISb.
The oder, le be mid for 100 soft Hera) lf eine ; (le We.)
Dube et berixtb b t by earl% eat of
Eammalls. (1. Nora) 1 0 1
Mr. Illiells's Rowland
Mr. OiliMertalab I by 'encase.; out Si 2Wtein"l 0 1 2
(Pleasel 0 2 0
4.6........abweel Dana .. ...
~..c.Be2 0 3 0
Mr. 2 0 0
Mr. Deilles (iialecirl) 0 0 dr
Mr. ages Skim lan
Vt. Wes Chivy Mee. (Bentxl 0 die
Mr. Illeilea Selena (Crouch 0 dr
21r. Wadverra The Mot
Mr. WEIN. Legmells (Hutchinson) 0 dr
The Are beat yes we by four length; Ike second by a Dock, and
tbe third by a kWh.

Entrlltatutc.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Tx Conerrrez or Parruzosa—Preaant: The Earl of Shaftesbury,
lilsidthraalripee Lord Cloncelkw, Lord Lyndhurst, Ltwd Brougham,
, Lord Cardigan, Lord de Manley, and the Bishop of
SL Marti.
Tux EARLDOM oe Pairrit.—The claimant to this, which
is a Scotch peerage, is George Drummond, Duke de Melfort,
and Count de Lumen, in the kingdom of France. Evidence
in 'rapport of his claim was taken on the 23rd and 30th et
July, 1846, and on the 20th of April in thin year ; and the
latter proceedings were reported in this journal. Mr.
Fleming, the counsel for the claimant, attended now tel
sum up the evidence on kis behalf —The Lord Advocate We
tended on behalf of the crown.—A witness, a Roman
catholic priest, was present, to produce a book reladas
to the burial of a collateral relative of the claimant is
Antwerp; but not having been sworn while the house eat me
a former day, and the committee having no power to tweet
him, his examination wee postponed.
Mr. Fleming then proceeded to sum up the 'videos,
already taken, and expressed confident hope *et the
claimant would be found by their lordships entitled to the
said dignity as the heir male general of James, the first led
of Perth, and that his right thereto was not barred see
affected by the attainder, of some of thou who bad enjoyed
the dignity. The dignity of Earl of Perth was
. granted to
the said James, first earl, in 1605, and was limited to him
and his heirs male. The letters patent, or other instrument
of creation, could not, after the most diligent search, be dis-
covered, but it was clear that the successions to the dignity,
and to other peerages in Scotland, would of itself prove that
the dignity was limited to the heirs general, and not to the
heirs of the body of the first grantee. John Drummond, I
the second earl, sat in the Scotch parliament by that title, as
proved by the parliament rolls there, and died in 1662,
leaving two sons, James, his succorer, and John, who was, in
1686, created Earl of Melfort, to hint and the heirs male of his
body, and third was the direct ancestor of the claimant.
Jamee, the earl, died in 1675, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, mho named James, fourth earl. Ho was
Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the reigns of Charles 11. and
James 11., and taking part with the latter at the revolution
he was obliged to depart the realm. Joining James 11. at
St. Ciennehm he was by him created Duke of Perth, a this
wide a recognised in him and his descendants in Frame
why, mad Is not claimed at present. He left three sons, end
died in 1716. James, the eldest son, was attainted the pre-
ending year by an English act of parliament. He enjoyed
all his titles in France, hut in England the earldom of Perth
was dormant. He died in 1720, leaving two sons, James,
who died abroad without issue, in 1746, and John, an officer
in the French army, who was attainted by an act of the
English parliament in 1746, and died soon afterwards with-
out lame. ()Ishii death, and the dm& et him two uncles without
issue, the tine of Junes, the fourth earl, who wasattainted in
1715. ha beineditbeenitiosaof Pertb,as the learned
cows's,' mead he the bob male of their great-uncle
John, Earl of bakes mentioned, who was created
Duke de Malkin in France, end was then the heir male
general of the first Earl of Perth. A decree of forfeiture
was passed against him in Ikedand, in 1695, with a saving
clause in favour of his Uwe by his first wife. He and his
issue were accepted by the Kings of Feint* as Dukes of Mel-
fort in that kingdom. The proofs as referred to, showed that
his descendants by his first wife became eztinct in 1781,
and that the present claimant's father was his great-grand-
son by his second marriage. The claimant's father was the
youngest of four brothers, the last of whom died without
issue in 1840; whereupon the claimant, whose father died
in 1826, made the present claim. He was himself born in
England in 1807. Mr. Fleming, after going through the
roof of the claimant's pedigree, called the attention of their
lordships to the questions of law arising upon the two at-
tainders ter high demon, first of James, eldest son of
the fourth earl, in 1716, end secondly of his son
John, in 1746,. and also upon the judgment of for-
feiture paned in the parliament of Scotland against
the claimant's direct ancestor as before stated. That was
not en act of the parliament, but a mere judgment affecting
the property of the party. end therefore, as he submitted, it
did not interrupt the claimant's right to the earldom, which
was then vested in the fourth earl, and remained vested in
him till his death in 1716. As to the attainder,, the end
one which could be at all supposed to affect the earldom wee
that of 1715, because, if the person then attainted thereby for-
feited more than his life estate in the dignity, that party's
son, attainted in 1746, could dot have inherited any dignity
to be forfeited ; and again, if the father's attainder merely
forfeited his life estate, the son's attainder could not have
any greater effect, and therefore his attainder owed to have
any effect after his death, while lei=cr 1747. The '
only difficulty in the case, therein", en the ilbet
of the attainder of 1715. But when that act of attainder
was pared, the dignity was not in the person attainted,
but in his father, who lived to 1716. Suppos-
ing, however, the dignity was affected by that
attainder, the effect of it was confined to the
attainted and his lineal descendants, and did not toucKatire
collateral heirs, who, upon the extinction of the attainted
line, became the heirs-substitute of the first created earl, ac-
cording to the limitation of the dignity, and who did not
claim the peerage through the &Minted line, but only made
their pedigree. The learned counsel engaged the attention
of the committee up to half-pest 3 o'clock, with a very
powerful argument on the question, cider the cases of •
great many existing English as well oot& peerages, which
were involved in similar difficulties, but held by the commit-
tees of the house not to have been affected by them.
Thursday, the 17th inst., was appointed (or hearing the
Lord Advocate observe on the ewe. Tuesday, the 21st, was
appointed for the further hearing and concluding the claim
to the Crawford and Liz.dsay peerage, which has been a
',ft time pending.

EQUITY COURTS.
Before the Master of the Rona.
WOOD V. LORD LONDONDERRT.—RIORT TO ERN? le.
SERVED ON GRANT OF WAY-LEAVE.—The question in this
ease related to the right of the plaintiffs, Mears. Wood and
Philipson, to a portion of the rant reserved to the defendant
()renews, and under the grant of a way leave by the latter to
the Marquis of Londonderry, in 1844. It appeared that in
1823, a Mr. Hutton, being entitled as tenant for life of two
farms in the county of Durham called the Wardenlaw and
Dean-park farms, with remainder to his wife for life, and the
ultimate reversion to himself in fee, agreed to grant the mar-
quis a way-leave over them from his collieries, at a rent of
4001. for a term of sixty-three years • and the marquis
was to have power to determine it' by giving twelve
months' notice at any time. The marquis constructed
a railway, called the Seaham railway, but no lame
was granted in pursuance of this agreement during
Mr. Hutton's life-time, and he hating died, leaving his
wigs surviving, a suit was instituted to administer his estate,
sod lathe course of tieproceedinpa reference was directed to
the master to inquire whether it world be beneficial to the
wife that a lease of the way-lave should be iguana ward-
hag to the agreement. He reported that it *iota, mod a
lease was in 1833 granted for 21 years oily, densmoinade
upon notice by the Marquis. But it contMoroi an ammo
for renewal, although the agreement of 1811Tele rehereite
in it. Mrs. Hutton died in 1836, and Mr. Buboes Mobs
were then sold in the suit, and Wardenlaw them wee put up
in one lot, and bought by the defendant, Mr. Graisso, sad
1821., part of the rent of 4001., which was apportimeed to
, the Wardenlaw farm, was put up in another upsurge lot,
and bought by the plaintiffs. Reforms to the law of
was mats in the particulars of sale, hat sat to the agromoot
of 1823 and the 1821. was stated to be lot the rent
reserved by the lease for 21 years of 1833. In 1844
the lone *11833 expired, and Lord Londonderry gave notice
to riatorobsa the agreement of 1823, end came to terms with
Gloom Is a further grant of a way-leave, not merely to and
from his collieries, but for general gammen, at an increased
rent. The dispute was whether the plaintiffs were entitled
to any part at this rent, which was claimed for them on the
ground that the further grant was nothing more than a re-
newal under the agreement of 1823, and that Oregson was a
trustee for them. On the other hand it wu insisted for
Gregson that all the plaintiffs were entitled to against him
was the rent of 1821., during the lease of 1833, and that the
agreement of 1823 was at an end. The argument was not con-
cluded —Messrs. Turner and Toiler appeared for the plain-
tiffs ; Messrs. Roupell and Hake for Chevron ; and Messrs.
Kindersley and C. Hall for Lord Londonderry,

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
Sitting. In Banco.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL v. HITCHCOCE.—RILHICTION
OP EVIDENCE TO CONTRADICT A WITNESS WHO CPON
CROSi-EXAMINATION DEPOSED TO FACTS LIKELY TO
RAISE A COLLATERAL Isauz.—This VOA an information
filed by the Attorney-General for the recovery of a large
amount of penalties for frauds perpetrated upon the
cedes department, by the defendant having used
a secret and unregistered cistern for making malt.
At the trial before the Lord Chief Baron a man named
Spooner, who had been in the defendant's employment, and
was the principal witness for the crown, was asked, upon
cross-examination, whether he had not said to ens Cooke
that the officers of excise had offered him 201., or more if he
required it, to say that the cistern in question had been used
by the defendant ? He denied that he had been offered the
bribe, and it was then proposed by the defendant's counsel
to produce and examine Cooke, to contradict him. The
Lord Chief Baron refused to receive that evidence, and a
rule for a new trial war subsequently obtained, upon the
ground that it was improperly rejected.—The Attorney.
General (with whom were Mr. Watson, Q.C., and !dr. 3.
Wilde) appeared to show cause yesterday against that
rule. The question sought to be pat at the trial had
the effect of raising a collateral issue, and had no
direct bearing upon that which was raised between
the parties. The defendant could not prove that the
witness had been bribed to give the particular piece of