The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12, 1848.

the King, in tbe CSJI3 of vacant bishoprics, to issue his license
tsetse dean and chapter, or the prior and convent of the
iiimestery in the case of an abbot, together with a letter
wive., containing the name of the person they were re-
gainedchoose • and enacted that the dean and chapter, or
wmr* and to '
c
dconvent, should elect such person and none other.
Xyd in use of default for twelve days, what was the penalty?
Certainly not that of preemunire : there was in feet no pe-
aty at all ; the only consequence being that " the King
would then nominate the bshop by his letters patent."
Then as, to the construction this sou-traction related
to nothing about the case of an election. The act
id itee, henever such presentation or nomination by
-tie King's lettere patent shall be made, then the
geekbishop or bishop shall, with all speed, invest
asd consecrate." There was to he no confirmation in
this case. This had nothing to do with the case of an
election; "and shall perform all the necessary ceremonies
withene peocuriog or ebedning any bull from Rome for the
' That was, they were to make ne ipplieetion to
keine, but at once proceed to invest. And, if the dean and
chapter, or prior and convent,t after receiving the letter
mum elected the party nominated then, eccording to the
aueceueot, the election would stand good and effectual to
intents and purpottes. If they did not elect they incurred
no revelry, but the King nominated and presented, and the
Dam cumulated should be adopted by the title of Lord
belies, elect, and, on taking the oath of allegiance to the
King (fiirmerly it was to the Pope and to the King)—the
King signifying the appointment by letters patent, the
molihishop and the metropolitan should at once proceed to
isvest the party so nominated. In the case of an invest-
ment by nomination, coutinnation was not required, but, in
the cam of an election confirmation was necessary. He
came now to the ith section of the act, under which, strange
is A appeared to him, the court seemed to think they
wculd incur the penalties of premature by refusing to cons-
firm. This section was, " and be it further enacted, that if the
prior and convent of any monastery, or the dean and chapter
many cathedral church, when the see of an abbot or bishop
is within the King's dominions, shall, after license delivered
to them, neglect to proceed to the election, and signify the
same according to the tenour of this act within twenty days
next after receipt of such license, they shall incur the penal-
ties of preniunire." This would explain the distinction
which was manifest throughout the act. lf the dean and chap-
ter proceeded to the election within twelve days, and did not
chosen the party named in the letter inissive, but came to no
election at all, or chose another person, there was no
penalty, the only consequence was that the crown in that
ease would nominate and present ; but if within twenty
days they did not proceed to elect at all, then they incurred
the penalties of premunire. Now what was premature !
what was the meaning of the term ? Premature meant the
setting op of the papal against the royal authority. And
unless tle court should be satisfied that by refusit g confirma-
tion in the present Case they would be setting up the autho-
rity of the pope against that of the Queen. tho penal-
ties of premanire were merely fanciful, and had no
more to it, with the question, than if the statute had
never been passed. It after election the archbishop,
bishop. cr any other person (including their wor-
ships), in reference to the coutirmatioa, should " admit,
maintain, or execute any censures, excommunications, inter-
dictions, inhibitions, or other process or act, of what nature,
name, or quality soever, against the due execution of this
act "—that was to say, that the consecration should be made
in all respects without reference to the see of Rome—" then
they would incur the penalties of premature." lie had told
them what premunire was—and they were aware that there
were many other act/ of Rome for securing patronage against
which its penalties were directed. One was the practice of
granting ecclesiastical benefices by anticipation or by provi-
sion,LS it was called, 'which meant granting them during
the life of the incumbent. Many acts had been passed
against this practice, beginning with the reign of Edward
111. down to Richard 11., in the sixteenth year of whose
reign seas pared the statute of premanire, which enacted
that if 111 V person should procure from the court of Rome
or elsewhere, any bull or process of excommunica-
ton or otherwise, affecting the king, his crown, or
Questioning the legality of hei reign, the party so offending
should be put out of the king's protection, and his lands and
tools be forfeited ; that process of premunire should issue
against him, and he himself brought up, wherever found, to
answer lei the charge. The name of /ironware was obtained
from the tint words of the writ " Priemunire tackle," but
the offence of premunire was the offence of setting up the
papal authority against the crown ; and the only possible
urcamstauce under which the penalty of premature could
be incurred under the act of Henry VIII, would be some-
thing whereby the papal authority was set up in derogation
of that of the crown. Such had always been the construction
of the act since its passing. Since that time there had been
but few precedents as to how bishops were consecrated.
During the reign of E tweed VI. there were none ; for in
that reign en act passed making archhishepr:es and bishoprics
donative by letters patent. Harley was the first and Barlow
we; the lest in that reign ; but there were no pre-
cedents showing that the realm of England was re-
cognised by the Pope. In Burnet there were menages
showing that there was a sort of practice prevaihng
sato this statute of Henry the Eighth, in the case of Cardinal
Pole, who came to England as legate latere, but who, if
elected, was not confirmed during the life of Creamer, who
was burnt in 1456. On the day after that martyrdom, how-
ever, the investment and consecration of Pole proceeded.
This' was all that was ascertained on the subject, as regarded
the reign of Queen Mary, though there was little doubt that
the consecration of bishops was carried on as it had been
previous to the loth of Henry the Eighth, viz., under the
authority of bulls obtained from the Pope of Rome. We
bad some knowledge of what was done in the case of Parker,
the first archbishop appointed in the reign of Elisabeth, who
having alter much entreaty consented to take the office, the
range trelire was sent on the lith of July to Canterbury, and
the chapter being summoned, the prebends did according to
not sn unusual compromise, refer the matter to the dean,who
named Parker according to the Queeu's letter missive' the
chapter confirming the appointment, and on the 9th of Sep-
tember the great seal was put to a warrant direct-
ing certain bishops to consecrate him. The mat-
ter was delayed, however, till the 6th of December,
for what cause he could not say, when four of the bishops
named in the warrant met at Bow Church, where all who
objected to the election, as well as the witnesses to prove it,
were cited to appear. Could it be supposed that these four
bishops would have cited objectors if they did not intend to
hrearnalttilee:ll.,f oprrthemstwiteare
winoguldthtcamve after,,,en niccuhacietAit,ioniLhaet
weld not be supposed for a moment. The statute was
opposed to such a view, and precedent was opposed to it.
No one coming to maintain any objections, the election was
confirmed. There was one other precedent to which he
wished to draw the attention of the court, and this one was
perhaps even more conclusive than the others. Collier, in
Mating the manner of confirmation, stated that if there
were ties' objectors they should be admitted in
due form of law. In the case of Bishop Mon-
tague an objector, of the name of J- nee, appeared to
support his objection, but it was overthrown in consequence
of not having been made in due form of law, GI was the case
with the objection against the Bishop of Manchester the
otter day ; and more particularly because the exceptions
had not Leen given in writing by an advocate, signed by a
procter ; and the objection felling to the ground, the confir-
mation proceeded. Same inquiry afterwards was instituted
as to the conduct of Dr. Rivers, in the matter when that
emineht civilian admitted in effect that the objection would
have stood had it been properly made; but he never sup-
pled he would have incurred the penalties of premature
had he permitted it to be gone into, neither did parliament
think so It was impassible that it could be so. He
submitted that whether taken on the farm of the
statute, or the legal interpretation of the statute, or
whether taken on the meaning of the term premunirc it was
obvious that by admitting the exception in this cane, sup-
posing it to be made in due manner and form (which was
sot what he was then contending), their worships would not,
es they appeared to serpent. incur the penalties of }trcn a.
sin, and, admitting such exception to he made in due legal
founs they were bound alike by reason, by law, and by pre-
cedent to receive it.
Dr. RAMAN° followed on tho same side, and added that
Herr a mackery,where opposers were cited to appear before
a court of law or justice, when they did so appear, to
law to hear them, on the ground that there was no autho-
ft in the court to do so. (This elicited a loud cry of
"He ir, hear," which was instantly checked by the officers
of the court.) He would not occupy their time by arguing
thin point, but would proceed to call their attention to the
legal view of the question. The statute under which they
were now acting was a penal statute, and required
to Fe construed strictly. The court was required
to see that the bishop had been in due form
sleeted. The court, therefore, were bound to inquire whe-
ther the election was by proper authorities of a fit and
peeper man. At present the court did not know what the
opposers' objection was. Supposing the objection was that
he was a person under legal disabilities—Jew, infidel, or
heretic, convicted of treason or of felony—would they object
him in such a case ? They were not to assume what the
Objection might be. They were acting the part of the bishop ,
login ev.dence ; they were pronouncing all parties not ap-
manrg t be contumacious; they were pronouncing a
solemn decision ; and yet refusing to hear opposition. Let
them look on the co• 'quences of the working of
jasnc,. They were doing act in derogation of the com-
mie law of England, of common right, and of common
mann. Ile trusted, therefore, that they would be heard in
an scriesiastical court, into which they were cited.
Dr. R. PitILLIMORE also spoke on the same side, and
mated the case of the Jones' oloectinn against Bishop Mon-
tague as a precedent in favour of hearing exceptions when
Imali; tendered.
Ddr. LIATIOItn, who appeared for the Dean and Chapter
Miler, ford, was not called upon to reply. The VICI.II-GENERAL, notwithstanding the able argu-
ment of the learned gentleman who had addressed the
Coen. was dearly of opinion that the objections to the cue-
Ihmation could not be entertained, and that to do so would
be direct)) to oppose the provisions of the act of parliament.
Hew es also of opinion that the commissioners would incur
the penalties of premunire if they did not proceed, in obe-
dienet to the royal mandate, to confirm the lord bishop elect.
He might observe in reference to some observations of Dr.
Addams that the act prescribed no particular mode of pro-
floodieg in the matter—none beyond the form which had ,
been ?.ct,d on for years, and by which objectors as well as '
*Masse. were cited to appear. But, if objections were to
be admitted, bow they wen to be received, in what manner
they were to be maintained, and with what result, was no
where laid down, so far as he could find, in any writer or
seithority on the subject, so far as regarded this country.
llket'er any such right existed in any other country he was
Kt able to say. In the present case, hr-ever, he believed
Ihe mart was bound by the statute iaw of the realm, which
lift theta no alternative hut that of confirming the election
ef the lord bishop elect, certified as that election had been
the corporate seal of the Dean end Chapter of the
What're: Church of Hereford.
Dr. Leenixerox said, the question to he decided was
verdant the parties who attempted to appear to oppose

the confirmatio
before the co

in were entitled to appear and be heard
-"neers of his Grace the Archbishop
would

Canterbury ? Now, it they were entitled to appear, it _
almost of necessity, follow that they would be entitled
to be heard, and that their objections must be con-
sidered and disposed of by the authority of the same tribunal.
But what power that court would have to examine into mat-
tens relating to the doctrine, life, conduct, and proceedings
of the party chosen since the passing of the Church Die-
ciplino Act, he entertained the most serious doubts. He
apprehended that it would be impossible for the court under
any circumstances to enter into the consideration of any feet
or circumstance comprised within the provisions of that sta-
tute. But it was not necessary to follow up those considera-
tions. It was the duty of the court to look to the statute
law of the land for the regulation of its conduct. Now, the
statute which bad been so often referred to, and which had
been read in great part by Dr. Addams, woe a statute passed
at the commencement of the reformation, a statute

memorable for ali its provisions and not less so
because it restored to the Crown of Great Britain
its undoubted rights, and put to sleep for ever
the pretensions of the Bight)? of Rome, a statute to
be held, therefore, in reverence, and carried into effect to the
full extent of its spirit and intentions. What were the words
of that statute ? After stating that it was not plainly ex-
pressed in previous acts, in what manner archbishops and
bishops should be elected and invested, it enacted in ex-
press terms that the said acts in everything should stand in
their full strength, virtue, and effect, except that henceforth
no person should be presented by the see of Rome ; and after
confirming the former acts in all parte but [hie one, it de-
scribed minutely in the 4th, sth, and 6th sections the form of
proceeding which should be adopted, which was, that the
crown should imueithe conge, (retire to those parties who had
the right to elect the bishop, together with a letter missive,
containing the name of the party: to be elected. They
need not enter into the discussion of what would
have been the course had there been no election,
inasmuch as there had been a person presented to the com-
missioners under the corporate seal of the Dean and Chapter '
of Hereford, and beyond they could not go. The statute
then went on to direct that the archbishop and bishop should
confirm the said election, and invest the person elected to
the office and dignity of a bishop. If these were the only ,
words on the subject, they were clearly directory to the
archbishop, whose commissioners they were, to confirm and
invest. It would not be becoming in them to enter into a
discus-ion or refutation of the various cases cited, or of the
question whether or not they would incur the penaltii a of a
pneniunire by receiving the objections. It might be that
they would, and that perhaps was the prevailing opinion.
But when they were directed expressly by the enactments
of a statute to perform • certain duty, they were bound
to conform. He would briefly advert to what had been
termed precedents in this cue. From the time of the
passing of the act of Henry VIII. only two cases had
occurred which could be said to savour of precedent for this.
As to the cue of Parker, he was unable to account for what
had been said by DrAddams. that it threw any light on the
present ; and certainly it was not possible for ,lawyers to re-
' ceive the construction of a statute from the book which had
been quoted, that of Dr. Burnet, who, though • man of
great ability, was not a man versed in law. As to the cue
of Laud and Mt ntague, that had arisen in the worst possible
times; and what period was that when that of Montague
had arisen ? At a period when p irliament was usurping
the rights of the crown and the crown was trenching on the
rights of the people. It was evident then that that prece-
dent occurred (it precedent it could be called) when no
reliance could be placed on the decisions of any court
whatever; for what right had the House of Commons
to inquire whether Dr. Rivers had or bad not done
his duty in regard to the confirmation of Bishop Mon.
tague ? And was it not likely that that learned person was
actuated by a fear of encountering the wrath of the House
of Commons, in those days no light matter, and that so he
put the construction en the refusal to admit the articles of
exception, viz., that they were not properly drawn up and
signed ? But were they to come to the conclusion that be-
cause Dr. Riven so rejected them, that had they been cor-
rect in point of form he would have received them, or that
the mere inuendo which he used in rejecting them was to fix
him with a positive opinion ? Therewere other matters which
had been referred to, as to the form of election and the alleged
inconsistencies in the statutes. It would be in vain to deny
that there were inconsistencies, but the time when the
statute passed was one when this country was merging from
popery to the reformation, when practice and principle, too,
were in course of change, and when the sovereign was na-
turally anxious to retain the ancient forms as far as possible,
but at the same time to secure in his own hands the real
power. Without saying whether or not the penalties of
prerniunire would attend the refusal to confirm, he (Dr.
Lushington), ae one of the commissionere, deemed it his duty
to refuse to receive the objections now offered, and to proceed
with the confirmation of Dr. Hampden, tne lord bishop
elect.
Dr. Donsos had only to express his entire concurrence in
the opinions which had been expressed by the other com-
missioners.
On the demand of the Proctor for the Dean and Chapter
of Hereford all persons cited and not appearing were pro-
nounced contumacious. The usual form of calling upon all
objecton to appear and declare their objections was re-
ceived with almost general laughter.
The Pnocrou.—The Lord Bishop elect is now ready to
take the oaths required in his behalf.
The VICAY.GENERAL directed the oaths to be taken.
The Loan Meteor elect kneeling, then took the oaths of
allegiance, supremacy, and simony.
The PROCTOR—I porrect a definite sentence in writing,
which I pray to be read and given.
The Vit.:Alt-GENERAL read sod affixed his signature to
the usual sentence, declaring the election to have been
rightly and lawfully made and celebrated by the chapter
of the cathedral church of Hereford of the Rev. Rena Dickson
Hampden, D.D., socketed, a man both prudent and discreet,
deservedly laudable for his life and conversation, of a free con-
dition, born in lawful wedlock, of due age, and that there
neither was nor is anything in the ecclesiastical laws that
ought to obstruct or hinder his being confirmed Bishop of
Hereford by authority of her most excellent Majesty our so-
vereign lady the Queen.
The Paocron then said—The lord bishop, elected and
confirmed, and myself, pray a public instrument and letters
testimnnial to be made out of and concerning the premises.
The VICAR-GENERAL—We do decree as prayed.
Thus terminated the proceedings. The bishop was loudly
cheered on leaving the church and on proceeding along
Cheapside in his carriage.—lt is reported that application
will forthwith be made to the Court of Queen's Bench for a
mandainue, to compel the Vicar-lieneral to allow "an
appearance " to the objectors in the case of Dr. Hampden.

THE CHAItGB OF NEGLECT AGAINST A
MEDICAL OFFICER.—INQUEST.
Yesterday Mr. Carter, coroner for Surtey, and the
ry impeached on the 3rd inst. to inquire into the death of
Elisabeth Hopkins, the reputed wife of a man named
Jan Howard, who died a few hours after her confinement
on the 29th ult., as it is alleged, through the neglect of the
medical officer of the union, Mr. Berncastle, re-assembled
at the Gun Tavern, Croydon, for the purpose of pursuing
the investigation. The proceedings were adjourned from
Friday last owing to Mr. Neville, the medical gentle-
man appointed to make the post mortsm examination,
having omitted to open the head of the deceased.
Mr. Neville now stated that the heart and lungs were per-
fectly healthy, with one exception—an adhesion of the left
lung, indicating former inflammatory mischief. There
was a general fulness of the vessels of the brain.
The brain itself was firm, and no inflammatory action had
been set up. Witness considered the condition of the brain was
the natural consequence of excitement and consequent ex-
haustion. The deceased appeased to have been a very
healthy woman, and witness found no appearance of disease
which might account for death.—By the Coroner: He be-
lieved the deceased to have died from exhaustion arising
from protracted labour.
Examination in chief: Witness had heard the history of
this affair, and had no hesitation in saying that he should
not have felt himself justified in throwieg up such a patient,
or indeed any case, after having once undertaken it. Wit-
ness could not say whether the deceased might not have
been relieved earlier—ln reply to Mr. Richards, eolicitor
for Mr. Berneastle, witness said he did not think it would
have been prudent to use instrumental aid from what he
had heard of the ease. Mr. Richards was proceeding to
question Mr. Neville on other points, but the latter gentle.
man objected to reply to what he described a speculative
question, and asked on whose behalf Mr. Richards appeared ?
—The Coroner explained that Mr. Richards represented ,a
gentleman whose name had been very prominently brought
forward in the affair, he meant Mr. Benicastle, and he
thought Mr. Richards on his behalf was fatly entitled to put
any legal question which might apply to the death of the
deceased.
It was proved by Mrs. Arthur that Mr. Berncxstle had ad-
ministered to the deceased three doses of secala to force her
" pain:' before he finally left her. On being questioned no
Olt. point Mr. Neville said, after administering secala he
should not have left the patient at all until she was delivered.
Mr. Richards said Mr. Bernca..tle was ready to be ex-
amined, and to state f.ll that he knew of the affair.
The Coroner said he could not examine Mr. Berneastle
after what bad transpired. If Mr. Berne:tette chose to make
any statement, however, and was prepared to meet the
consequences of that statement, he should not object to
receive it.
7.1 r. Berneastle said, on the night of Monday, the 27th
ult., he was called to see deceased, who was described as
being in labour. Oa reaching her cottage he inquired whe-
ther she had got a " parish order." She said " No," and
witness told her that she must immediately procure one.
Somebody was sent off to Mr. Smith, the relieving officer,
while witness was there. Witness made an examination,
awaynding that the labour was not likely to come on, went
for two hours, and was again sent for at half-past 12.
Found no progress had been made and returned home at
1 o'clock. Went again at half-past 9on Tuesday
morning and remained until half-past 10 Inquired
about the " order," and found it had not been
obtained. Went away, and was sent for again from
the workhouse at half-past 12. About 2 o'clock,
Witness thought secala a proper medicine to administer.
Remained with deceased nearly two hours, but the wale
teak no ,ff,ct, and having fifty other urgent cases witness
left, remarking that, as the case was anurgency one, if wanted
he moat be sent for to his surgery. The witness Arthur
came for him about seven o'clock. Up to this moment he
had considered the patient a parochial one, but as he was
leaving home, about half-past seven, haying told Mr. Bet-
tomley, his partner, where he was going, that gentiemsn
told him he must not attend that case, as the woman had
got no order. Witness immediately went to the relieving
officer, and mentioned the subject, asking whether he should
go on attending Mrs. Howard. Mr. Smith said decidedly
not, on account of the parish. The board of guar-
dians bad refused the order. Witness did not wish
to fly in the face of the board of guardian?,
and returned home, when ha found that Mrs. Arthur

had again been to seek him, and that Mr. Bottomley
had told her Mrs. Howard could not be attended. The same
night, about half-past 11, witness met a man and a girl in
the street as he was going home, The man said his name
was Howard, and that he wished witness to come and see his
wife, who was very bad indeed. Witness remonstrated with
him for running after him, u be bad not obtained the order,
and bade him go and get some other doctor, telling him
there were twenty in the town, every one of them having
fewer patients than himself. Witness named lour doctors,
upon which the man left, and shortly after returoed with Mr.
Dale, asaistant to Messrs. Fletcher and Neville, with whom
witness had a few words conversation on the subject of the
case, the result being, as witness understood, that Mr. Dale
would take charge of her. Witness called at Mr. Neville's
surgery next morning, and ascertained that the case had
been got over at an early hour after Mr. Dale was called in.
Witness then believed be had fulfilled all his duties to
humanity as a medical practitioner, and contended that he
had no control over her after treatment. He believed Mr.
Dale could not have considered the cam a dim& tons oae, or
he would not have allowed fifteen hours to elapse after
leaving her before she received • second visit. if there had
been danger there had also been great neglect. Witness
bad heard Mr. Baker state that before deceased
died she was black in the face, and very much
convulsed; aad looking at the state of the brain
he confidently believed that deceased had died from puer-
peral convulsions, and not from exhaustion. These convul-
lions arose in many cases and in every class of life, and the
post mortem appearances exhibited were invariably the same
as described in the present case.
Dr. Chalmers, knowing the history of the case, and having
been present at the post mortem examinaion, should say
that the congestion of the brain discovered was c ,used by ex-
citement arising from the protracted labour, which would
also produce great debility and exhaustion, A very similar
state of the brain might be produced by puerperal convul-
sions. Witness had been 46 years in practice, and did not
consider it either prudent or judicious to leave a patient from
four to twelve o'clock in the state deceased was described to
have been. _

Mr. Tipple, surgeon, of Mitcham, considered Mr. Bern.
castle fully justified in leaving the deceased as he had done,
as she had no order ; and further, that be thought he had.
been very kind to give up so much time to her.
After some further evidence of an unimportant character,

The Coroner charged the jury.
The court was cleared at nine o'clock, and jury re-
mained in deliberation,until half-past eleven, when, strangers
being admitted, the Foreman announced the following as the
unanimous verdict .—" That Elizabeth Hopkins, alias
Howard, died from exhaustion, resulting from protracted la-
bour; and that Mr..Berucastle has shown the greatest in-
humanity towards the deceased in leaving her when in la•
hour; and that we (the jury) consider him a very unfit
person to act as a paochial medical officer."

CAPTAIN HosKEN.—A paragraph appearcd in
Lloyd's List of Monday, to .the effect that the steamer
Guadalquivcr had gone ashore at Nueritae, while on her
passage from New York to Havana. Captain Hoeken is
named as the commander. • A Liverpool correspondent re-
quests us to state that he is not the captain of that ship. He
merely took her out to New York from Liverpool, and thin
resigned his command into the hands of hcrnew owners. lle
returned to England immediately after.

COLONIAL BANK.—Yesterday the usual half-yearly
meeting of proprietors was held at the London Tavern, Mr.
Colvile in the chair. The secretary read the statement of
the account, from which it appeared that the circulation
amounted to 236.1371. 19s. 2d. ; the deposits, and other lia-
bilities, to 671,1581. 17s. Id. ; and that the profit on the
last half-year was 22,23t11. 2s. 10d. The directors stated in
their report that in consequence of the state of the money
market at borne, and the operation of the act of 1846, for the
admission of slave-grewn sugar at reduced duties, in con-
travention of pledges which had been given, the business of
the bank was not so extensive aa it otherwise would have
been. The comparative price of British plantation sugar at
the commencement and termination of the year 1847, showed
the ruinous depreciation which had taken place in the prin-
cipal product of the West Indies. In the beginning
of the year tho price of British plantation sugar in
bond was from 33e. to 425., and at the end of the
year it was only from 19s. to 255. A fall of 51 per cent. was
the consequence of the change which had been male is
1846. The directors, fearful of the injury that would result
from that measure, had sent out instructions to their ma-
nagers in the Weat Indies, to be extremely cautious ; but
the fall in prices was so heavy, that it baffled all ordinary
calculation. The consequence was that many bills were
dishonoured or in abeyance, from which the hank must
suffer loss, but to what extent it would be impossible to any
at present. The pressure was for some time very severe on
the branch hanks, in consequence of a monetary crisis at
Barbados and Jamaica ; but all demands had been met by
the branches, and shipments of specie had been made them,
of which they were now in receipt. The directors, under the
present aspect of West Indian affairs, did not feel them-
selves justified in recommending a dividend, hut that the
22,2361. profit on the half.year he carried to the reduction of
the bad debt account, which would reduce it to 7,1951. The
report, in conclusion, stated that if the act of 1846 was not
so amended as to enable the IVest Indian Islands to be cul-
tivated with a profit, these colonies must be ruined; and it
called on the proprietors to lade the government to make an
alteration in the act.—The report was then received.
—Mr. Cripps, M.P., and Mr. Nattan were elected
directors. A vote of thanks was passed to the directors, and
the meeting separated.

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW TAX.—Last evening
public meeting, convened by the parochial committee of St.
Pancras, was held at the Rose and Crown Tavern, Colville-
place, Fitzroy-square, for the purpose of considering the best
means to be adopted to obtain a repeal of the window duties.
Letters of apology having been read from Lord Duncan, Sir
Benjamin Hall, Lord Dudley Stuart, J. Hume, Esq., M.P.,
who had promised to be present, the chairman (Mr. N.
Crouch) congratulated the meeting upon the fullness of the
attendance, and said he did not at ell regret that the subject
they were met to consider had not been taken up by the
aristocracy. It was a matter that the people intended to
carry out, and it was, therefore, for them to be earnest in
their endeavours. He thought the time had now arrived for
government to seethe absolute necessity of repealing the win-
dow duties, and he trusted that meeting might prove part of
an effectual crusade against a law so obnoxious. Mr.
Hetherington moved, That no sanitary measure can be
effective unless it includes a repeal of the window duties,
which duties are the causes of disease, misery, and death;
that the window tax operated most unfairly and unjustly
upon the industrious classes : that petitions be presented to
parliament ; and that Sir Benjamin Hall be requested to
present the same. The resolution was carried. Several
other resolutions, embodying the sentiments of the meeting,
were passed, after which thanks were voted to the chair, and
the meeting dispersed.
SKETCH OF AN IRISH LANDLORD, DT ONE OF
THEI(SELVES.—At a dinner given to Mr. Howe, one of the
agents of the Dufferin estates, Lord Dufferin said :—" An
Irish landlord is unlike any other landlord under the sun.
He lives in a peculiar atmosphere of his own. The daily
conditions of his life, and the occasional conditions of his
death, arc totally dissimilar from those of other men. lie
is a complete genus of himself—an erratic body in the social
tyska'. He may be described as an individual who does
not get rent ; as a well-dressed gentleman who may be shot
with impunity, the le,ritimate cockshy of the immediate
neighbourhood; a superficial index, by which to mark the
geographical direction of the undercurrent of aseassinatiou ;
a cause of bewilderment to coronas, and of vague verdicts
to distracted juries; a subject for newspaper paragraphs,
and a startling text for leading articles."
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY AND THE LONDON
AND WETIMINATEN BANK--The Railway Magazine says:
" Sometime ago our readers will remember we mentioned,
in our City article, that a large metropolitan railway had
had its bill for 2,000/. refused to be discounted by the Bank
of England. As it often happens in rumours, when one at
the time cannot apply to the proper parties to furnish the
particulars, the rumour was partly true and partly false. In
the principal part, the sum of money, and the refusal to cash
the company's order, it turns out to be true; but not in the
bank, not exactly in the document. As there has been a
great deal of talk, and occasionally continues to be among
railway men upon this matter in and about London, we think
it right to lay the following particulars on which we have no
doubt, for they have been corroborated by two parties, before
our readers. The Eastern Counties have nearly, or quite,
from the beginning of times, banked with the London and
Westminster Bank. The introduction of one to the other
came through Mr. Henry Bosanquet, the first chairman of
the company who bad a connexion with the bank as a
director. The account has no doubt been a very profitable
one to the bank, which, it must be admit;ed, until the ex-
traordinary conduct which, closed the connexion, has acted
liberally ; but, of course, always with a very good eye to
number one. On massy oecasious, and when the company
were far from being in the position in which they now are,
er having the same prospects and means of repay-
ment, the bank has made large advances, as it has
been usual with other banks to do with other comps-
flies. The money was always honourably repaid, and
we have no doubt has been very beneficial to the
bank ; for these institutions rarely to anythiunr, even
to assist their friends, without assisting themselves. On this
day (a Saturday) it seems there .118 a bill of three months
coming due, and payable to the Eastern Counties Compau),
of 12,500/., from another company, very respectable, and
in good odour. It was the first instalment of a certain debt
due to the Eastern Countirs. This bill the Eastern Coun-
ties had had discounted by the bank, and then possessed a
cash balance at the bankers' of some 8,0001., and they drew
a cheque for 2,000/., which on the Saturday the company
band• d over to an eminent contractor, believing, then, thiy
would have a balance at the beak of 6,000!., besides the ex-
pectation of paying in on Monday the two largest days' traffic
receipts for the week.. Unfortunately, however, the bill for
12;5001. was not paid, and the bank, which had advanced here-
tofore many times the amount of the entire unpaid bill, and
which might fairly have expected on Monday from the Satur-
day and Sunday's receipts alone more than 2,000/., refused
to cash the cheque, notwithstanding the 8,0001. cash in hand.
without, as we understand, giving any previous intimation
to the company. The holder immediately posted off to the
offices of the company, where, as we hear, the board was
then sitting, and the deputyhairman, • mon of considerable
property, and another director, also a man of ample means,
returned with him to the bank to ask an explanation, and to
offer Mr. Hudson's security and their own fur any amo..nt
until Monday, when the money should be repaid. if the bill
was not taken up, and the tzatfic receipts did not cover toe
advance. They represented to the manager that he had
ample security in his hands; that they were willing to give
their and their chairman's security to a much larger sum
that it was then pest five o'ciock ; and that they could not
at each a time of the day, when all the hanks were
&lied, be able to raise the money. Nor did they forget

to represent the inconvenience it would be to the con
tractor, or to remind the bank of their former conduct ;
but all would not do. Mr. manager stood as firm in his re-
fund. At length, the gentlemen finding arguments and
words thrown away, went, late as it was, to the private
banker of one of the attending directors, who, on a repre-
sentation of the circumstances, cashed the cheque imme-
diately ; and the Eastern Counties account, which the Lon-
don and Westminster Bank has had since the year 1835, was
forthwith removed. The account is now with Messrs. Beni-
sons and Company. Assuming the statement to be true, we
think everyone will agree with us that it was, to my the
least of it, extraordinary conduct. If the company bad been
new to the bank, had never been assisted, had not honour.
ably repaid their drawings ; if the bank had not in its bands
security on another company of known stability for six times
the chiquc, exclusive of the 8,0001. hard cash, and if it could
not have had security of the directors to twenty times the
amount, there might have been some reason in its refusal;
but under the circumstances represented to us, we can see
neither rhyme nor reason for BO gratuitous an attack on the
railway company's credit."
RAILWAY ROBBERY.—A robbery took plate on
Monday between the Paddington and Bristol stations of the
Great Western Railway Company. The loss sustained is
imagined to be from 1,5001. to 2,0001. It appears that the
property, consisting of gold and silver money, was inclosed
in an inch thick iron-bound deal box, nailed dawn and ad-
dressed, " Messrs. Idsicock and Company, bankers, Taun-
ton ;" the weight of it was about 12011 w, and oa its being
sent i.fr by the quarter past 10 o'clock mail train, it was put
at the bottom of a Peat in a compartment of a carriage in
front of which was the guard's teat, and behind was another
compartment in which were four or five well-dressed men,
some of whom got in at Paddington ; they alighted at diffe-
rent stations on the line, and upon the arrival of the train at
Bristol it was found that the box above. mentioned, after
being taken out, forced open, and emptied of its contents,
had been replaced in its original position. No implement hy
which the plunder might have been effected could be found.
Information of tke occurrence was communicated to the prin-
cipal officen connected with the railway, and every exertion
is being used with the view of tracing out the guilty panics.
Billing, the guard, was yesterday afternoon in the custody
- of Mr. Burton, one of the inspectors of the Great Western
Railway Company's police, who had come up from Bristol
upon the business.