The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-01 00:00:00

.

• •_

nadirs lave beat wounded. General °Hess is still
O ~
steelwhere he enlists fresh soldiers. Till now the
C has protected hia against the order of the Dia
make the Pasha of Janina to have him condo
General Grissiottis is still alive. The co
of Ipasn has mat hint 800 drachms. ..

COLONIAL.
CANADA.—Uozeirc.--Exemerea Fier--.A fire,
more destructive than any which occurred situ the memo
rable conflagratioa, has taken plies in Quebec. The
Chronicle says : It began in the /omega in the rear of a
house in St. Johnureet, and communicated with isitraordi.
ash rapidity to a paint and oil store in front, which was
soon one attest of flame. The aurroundag houses were
speedily enveloped. Stretching across the "Reset, , the lire
laid hold of a large building occupied m a dry go* store,
which was completely burned. In nevi-street, it extended
to and consumed a dwelling-house of the ordnance depart-
ment, and destroyed the intervening tenenteneWbangarcls,
and the like. A large stone house, being covered with tin,
and having a good substantial coupe-fess, fortunately
escaped with a considerable scorching, the hangards in rear
havin been consumed, and the wooden windmill—frames
buried. Fortunately the weather wan calm, otherwise the
destruction of property, great as it has been, would have
been tenfold more.

Irbe Court.
Yesterday afternoon the Queen Dowager, the Duke
of Saxe Meiningen, the Duchess Ida of Saxe Weimar, and
Prince Gustavus of Saxe Weimar, arrived at Osborne on •
visit to the Queen. The Earl of Denbigh, Master of the
Horse, was in attendance on the Queen Dowager. The
august party crossed from Gosport in the Fairy, commanded
by Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence.
Yesterday, at half-past twelve o'clock, the Queen
Dowager, accompanied by the Duke of Savo Meiningen,
and the Duchess Ida and Prince Gustavus of Saxe Weimar,
left her residence, Marlborough house, for Osborne, Isle of.
Wight. Her Majesty was attended by the Earl of DeubigL,
and the Duke of Saxe Meiningen was attended by the gen-
tlemen of his suite. Her Majesty and her illustrious Tilltora
proceeded to the Nine Elms terminus, and left town by the
London and Benth-Western
The Princesses of Saxe Weimar, attended by Lady
Gore, Hun. Miss Hudson, Miss Gore, and the Rev. J. R.
Wood, honoured Mr. Murforirs panoramas of Cairo, Athens,
and the Himalaya Mountains, with • visit yesterday.
The Princesses Hannah and Emilie of Saxe
Weimar, accompanied by Lady Gore, the Hon. Min Hud-
son, and the Rey. J. Wood, honoured the Royal Polytechnic
Institution with a visit yePterd.tv
Despatches were rec,iveu yesterday at the Colo-
nial-office from the Governor-General of Canada, and also
from the governors of the other North American provinces.
—Despatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial-
office fur the Governor of New South Wales, and also for the
Governor of New Zealand.

MARRlAGE.—Yesterday the marriage of Mr. George
Granville Verne& Harcourt, M.P., eldest eon of the Arch-
bishop of York, and the Countess Dowager Waidegrave,
daughter of Mr. Braham, the celebrated vocalist, took place,
by special licence, at the village church, about a mile distant
from Belhus House, Sir Thos. Leonard's seat, near Ocken-
don, Baez. The bride and bridegroom, with a select dale
of their relatives, proceeded to the church, just before noon,
from Belhus House, when the marriage ceremony was duly
performed; Lord and Lady Norreya and a select party being
witnesses of the sob run rite. The marriage was conducted'
as privately as possible, and after partaking of a &Yaws the
hon. gentleman and his bride departed fur Numbs= Park,
the Archbishop of York's seat, near Oxford, where they
pass a short period, prior to their departure on a continental.
tour. It is the thir 1 matrimonial contract the lad 7 has
entered into since 1839. The hon. bridegroom is in his 63d
year, and had been a widower during the last nine years, his
first wife being a daughter of the late Earl of Luean, by
whom he had an cod_r child, Lady Norreys.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—The marriage of the
Marquis of Kildare, eldest son of the Duke of Leinster. and
Lady Carolina Levraon Gower, third daughter of the Duke
and Duchess of Sutherland, was solemnised yesterday at
Trentham, Staffordshire. The Duke of Leinster and Lady
Jane Fitzgerald arrived at Trentham early in the week from
Carton-house, Maynooth, Ireland, in order to be present at
the nuptials, and • large cirle of the relatives of the bride
congregated at the ducal seat on the interesting occesion.
The wedding party left the Duke of Sutherland's mansion
for the new church at Trentham about half-put 11 in the
forenoon. The religious solemnity was performed by the
lion. and Rev. Henry Howard, Dean of Lichfield, brother
of the Earl of Carlisle. The bridal party, at the conclusion
of the ceremony, and after the cue registry of the
marriage, adjourned to the mansion, where a sump-
tuous repast was prepared in the grand dining room. The
noble marquis and the fair bride subsequently left Trentham
fur Lilleshall, near Shiffaall, Shropshire, one of the Duke of
Sutherland's seats. The Duke of Devonshire was prevented
from being present by the arrival of distinguiehi.d company
at Chatsworth, and Viscount Morpeth was also to have been.
•
there but for his recent accident.
APPROACHING 'MARRIAGES.—We learn that the
Hon. Spencer Cecil Ponsonby, fifth son of the late Earl of
Ilessboroush, is shortly to conduct to the hymeneal altar the
Hca. Louisa Dillon, third daughter of Viscountess (Dow.)
Dillon, and • sister of the preterit Viscount Dillon. The
ceremony is to be solemnis. el in the course of the ensuing
month.—A marriage is definitively arranged between Miss
Felicia Susan Lygon, eldest daughter of the Hon. General
Henry Lygon, and niece of the Earl Beauchamp, and the
Earl of St. Germane, and the Bev. Charles Cavendish, third
son of Major.Oeneral the Hon. Henry Cayeadi.l.-Ihe
marriage of the Bee. Captain Charles Elliot, third son of
the Earl of Minto, and Miss Antiphon, daughter of Sir
Edmund Antrobus, Bart., will be solemnised towards the
ease of next mosth.—A matrimonial alliance is currently
rumoured in the higher circles of society—the parties being
a noble lard of considerable wealth and the youthful daughter
of a wealthy commoner.

REGISTRATIONS
CITY OF LONDON.—The court resumed its sittings
'wards ,aad sornpletediehe revision of tholist for the wards
of Bread etreel. Queenhiehe, and Vintry. The cases heard
were onuses/Sy void of barna.
The following is the remit of the day's revision :—Liberal
lelainse elbwd, 17; disallowed, 19. Conservative claiae
I allowed, none; &mellowed, L.—Liberal objection, sustained,
1.41 i failed, I& Conservative, sentained, 70; bled, 23.
Cistercians by both parties, sustained, 13; failed,.2.
The court will proceed to-day with the, parishes in the
wards of Bridge, Candlewick, and Walbrook..

WEsTmneens.—The lista for SI. Georgrieperish were
poseeeded with.—Arthur Thellmon, Esq., of Thatos-muare,
chimed to be regntased. It appeared he hed‘lot hie
in Eaton-perm to Mr. John Thorrold, reserving to himself
the right of osoupatien of a cellar, and of acceseen a rapboard
in a passage leading to the kitchen.—Mr. Arbour appeased
in support albs clam, and contended that an occupation of
this nature by the legal tenant of a house was such a poses.
aka as entitled the claims's* to a vote.—Ms Haggett re-
ferred to the decision of the court in Smith's cam, and which
woo similar in its eissumatenoes, anal material'd the* the oc-
enpution was insufficient. The claim was rejected:
la the caned Dr. Lankiest's, which was heasd'on Wane,-
day, and which turnedon the non-payment of a rate on the sth
April, which, had net been made till the 29th of that month,
but the mods of 'trilling wheat was regulated. by • local act,
the barrister said that the act we. oddly wended, but ha
thought ha must admit the claim.
Mr. Daggett signified that he would not essmeente the ap-
peals in the cases of Smith and Steele, of which he had
given notice.
The lints for St. George's were gene through, and the court
adjourned to thisday, when than for St. John's and St.
Margaret's will be taken.
The molt of the day's revision —2
expunged ,
178; retained, and objections withdrawn, 2S.

DINBIGHSTHRZ.--Oh Monday last.— Grant, Esq.,
barrister appointed to revive the list of voters for the county
of Denbigh, held his court at the Wynnetay Arms Inn, in
Anshan, hr the townships of Coed Cbristionydd and
Christionydd Kendrick, in that part of the parish et Ituabon
which is included in the Llangollen polling district. Mr.
Hayward, solicitor, of Osirestry, appeared for the conserva-
tives ; while for the liberals there were Mr. Hughes, Mr.
Wright, Dr. Lewis, of Wrexham, and several others. The
list contained 22.8 objections made by the co:mei-retiree and
overseers, out of which Mr. Hayward succeeded in expung-
ing no less than 201, leaving only 27 names to be retained.
The liberals made 27 objections ; but the barrister decided
that the notices were not only informal, but that they were
not delivered in time to the overseer, and, consequently,
not being gone into, they remained on the register un-
disturbed.

THE NEW SHERIFFS.
THE PRESENTATION.—The ceremony of presenting
the newly-elected sheriffs for the City of London and
County of Middlesex, W. Cubitt, Esq., M.P., and C.
Hill, Esq., took place yesterday, at the Court of Exche-
quer, according to ancient custom. The procession
reached Westminster Hall about half-past two o'clock, soon
alter which the Cursitor Baron (G. Bankes, Esq. , M.P.)
took his seat on the bench. The Recorder then introduced
the now sheriffs to his lordship in a laudatory and eloquent
address, in the course of which be stated that Mr. Cubitt
began business in the humble occupation of a carpenter, and
by his own industry and prudence had become a builder of
great eminence, having oonstructed man noble edifices,
amongst others the Fishmongers' Hall, in which he would
that day, no doubt, receive the congratulations of his fellow-
citizens, whose esteem he had so justly won. The learned
gentleman then described Mr. Hill as a stockbroker, who had
had the good fortune to acquire an independency early in life ;
and, alter complimenting him on the high estimation in
which he was held by the citizens of London, proceeded to
pan a high eulogium on the late sheriffs (Aid. Challis and
Mr. Kennard) for the urteous and able manner in which
they had performed the coarduous duties of their year of office.
Sonic technical forms having been gone through, the Candice
Baron expressed her Majesty's approbation of the choice
which the Livery of London nad made of gentlemen to fill
the high and important office of sheriff for the ensuing year ;
and, having made some judicious observations on the nature
of the duties which would devolve upon them, he concluded
by bestowiag his meed of praise on the sheriffs. The usual
ceremony of counting six horse-shoes, sixty-one holo-nails,
and chopping two bundles of sticks (in pursuance of which
custom the corporation of London hold certain estates in
Shropshire) was then performed by the senior alderman who
had not passed the chair ; after which the members of the

corporation withdrew, proceeding in the City state barges to
Blackfriars-bridge.
TR' BAIMOST.-1.11 11•011`dallt• with 11•46.1 t •0140111 a
grand banquet was given in the evening, to which :he prinel-
pal members of the corporation and of the guilds of which
the new sheriffs are respectively members, together with the
Lord Chief Baron, the Curator Baron, and other members
of thejudiciel bench were invited, to celebrate the hangars-
tion. The
e sage d wirer, waa4 banqueting-room of Fish-
mongers' Hall, a building , by a singular coincidence,
was erected 11 Mr. Cubitt, an Of which company he is a
member—which was fitted up for the occasion, and in which
covers were laid for *bout 2.50 guests. The banquet com-
prised, besides turtle and venimon, which were supplied in
profusion, every &limey of the season, and was served in a
manner that reflected ,credit on the providers, Mews. Bathe
and Breach, of the London Tavern, and fully maintained the
character which the weelthy company of Fishmongers basso
long enjoyed for princely hospitality.
The Right Hen. the Lord Mayor presided ; and amongst
the most distinguished of the guests were the Marquis of
Salisbury, the Lord Chief Baron, Mr. Baron Raft, the
Cursitor Baron, the Solieitor-General, the American Minis-
ter (Mr. Bancroft), the Lord Mayor elect, Major-General
Sir J. Lashing on, 14r. MastertnatOLP. for London, Mr.
Coles, M.P., Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., Mr. Chaplin, 24. P.,
the Queen's Itersembrancer, Sir John Lubbock, Mr. Pres-
cott, Mr. Walter, M P., the late sheriffs and underaheriffs,
the present under sheriffs, and the majority of the Courts of
Aldermen and Common Council, the City Solicitor, &c.
The visual loyal and constitutional toasts having been duly
honoured, "The Army and Navy " being acknowledged by
Major-General Sir J. Lushington,
Mr. Sheriff Cueirr proposed " Her Majesty's Ministers,"
combining it with the health of the Solicitor-General, and
remarked that none were more interested in the preservation
of peace than the citizens of London ; and so long as those
ministers exercised the address they had hitherto done
in maintaining peace throughout the world, and promoting
the prosperity of th s great empire, they might be assund of
the support of the citizens of London. (Cheer.)
The NOLICIT011.015•81tAL, in returning thanks, referred
to the return of Lord J. Russell for London as a testimony
borne by that city to bis high honour and political worth. It
was the wish of the present government to maintain peace
throughout the world, to uphold the honour of the realm,
and protect alike the interests of England, Ireland, and
Scotland, which were, in fact, one and the same. (Hear.)
Mr. Sheriff HILL proposed " The Health of the Lord-Lieu-
tenant of Middlesex, the Marquis of Salisbury," coupling
that toast with "The House of Peers."—The Marquis of
Salisbury briefly acknowledged the compliment.
The LORD Maxon then gave "The Health' of the
Sheriffs of London and Middlesex (Messrs. Cubitt and
Hill)," to which toast both gentlemen spoke their acknow.
ledgments.
Mr. Sheriff Cenrrt next proposed " The Lord Chief Baron,
Mr. Baron Platt, and the Judges,' to which the Lord Chief
Baron returned thanks. "The Lord Mayor Eleet " war nest
given, and duly acknowledged by Mr. Alderman limper.
The following tuast, "The American Minister," was limited
to by Mr. Bancroft, in a brief but eloquent speech. he
Cursitor Baron," " The Court of Aldermen,' and vermeils-
other toasts, were subsequently given ; all of which were'
appropriately acknowledged.
A variety of glees, principally from the works of German
omposers, added to the amusement of the evening.

IRREGULARITY IN THE DELIVERY OF THE
QUERN'S Lerreas IN SCOTLAND.—A LOST PACKET.—
During the time the court was at Ardverikie, the whole of
her Majesty's letters, both official and private, were trans-
mitted to .Scotland through the Post-office; none of the
Queen's messengers being employed upon the service, es
upon former occasions. It has already been stated that the
seals of several letters for her Majesty were found to be
broken upon their arriving in Scotland. This, however, Is
not ell; for other letters have been found never to have
reached their destination, and those to which we allude, con-
taining official documents of considerable importance, have
not yet been discovered. It appears that a short time before
the Queen left Scotland, a packet, enclosing official de-
spatches for her Majesty, was sent through the Post-
office to Ardverikie by Sir George Grey, the
Home Secretary. Many of these documents re-
quired her Majesty's signature. Amongst these papers,
forwarded from the Home-office, was the patent of one
of the Military Knights of Windsor, to be signed by
the Queen, upon his being raised from the lower to the upper
foundation. It has been arranged that a new patent shall be
made out. The most searching inquiries have been going on
for some days in the Post-office department, for the purpose
of endeavouring to discover with whom the blame rebut. It
may be mentioned, that several of the letters to pewits in
the royal establishment, upon reaching Ardverikie, had been
so completely saturated with water, that the writing was
rendered scarcely legible.
SOUTH SEA HOUSE.—The quarterly general court
was held yesterday ; Mr. Charles Franks, the sub governor
in the chair ; but alter the reading of the minutes of thi
last court, and the election of parties to form a committee on
the by-laws for the ensuing year, there being no business
before it, the court adjourned.
ZiNcaorr MINING COMPANY.—A general meeting
of the shareholders in this company was held yesterday 'M
the offices, Finsbury-square ; Mr. Hodgson in the chair.—
The directors, in a short report, stated that during the lea
four months many important and valuable discoveries had
been wade which would smelly enhance the value of the
property. The accounts showed a bailors in favour of
the company of 1,3801., and it was anticipated that the funds
would speedily place the shareholdersin receipt of a dividend.
I The expenditure for the four months endive 30th June
' amounted to 10,8001. 10s. 9J., end the returns for the same
period to 12,180/. The mining captain's (Capt. Polhill's)
report gave en encouraging account ol the mining operations,
and stated that the company's prospects were better now than
for years past.—The Chairman said he had recently visited
the mine, and could corroborate these statements. In answer
to questions, he said the present month's ore would product
about 2,0001. In perhaps three weeks' time, the Wheal Pro-
vidence part of the mine would be got into working again,
and some of the deeper levels would probably be suspended.
The premeds of the two months succeeding this
(July and August) would produce a profit of 1,0001. tr.
James said he should be glad to know from the chairman
what were really the prospects of their undertaking. They
had had many flattering statements at these meetings, but
nothing mare.—The Chairman, as a young director, declined
to express any positive opinion, but said he had no doubt
the property would be benefited by the alterations which
the director* had ordered. Recently their expeusea had been
very heavy, owing to the dearness of provisions.—Mr. Lee
thought they ought not to give away their property to keep
people in Cornwall. The expenses of working this mine
wave most exorbitant; and he moved that three efficient
shareholders be appointed to go down and examine the mine,
make a valuation of the machinery, and let them know
exactly how they stood.—After a conversation, in the coarse
of which the chairman stated that another meeting would
probably be held about the end of the year, Mr. Lee
withdrew his motion, in the hype that there would soon be
an improvement in the affairs of the company.—A resolu-
tion, approving the report and accounts, was then adopted,
thanks ware voted to the chairman and directors, and the
proceedings terminated.
• INCELARR OF POPULAR REPRESENTATION.—Last
night a very numerous meeting, convened by the national
alliance for promoting the representation of the people in
parliament, was held at the British School-rooms, Cowper-
street, for the purpose of advancing the objects of the associa-
tion. The chair was taken at half-past 7 o'clock by Mr. E.
Miall, who stated briefly the object for which the meeting
was convened. The first monition was proposed by Mr.
bl'Aubeey, to the effect that the Houses of Commons elected
since the Reform Bill had no claims to the confidence of the
friends of civil and religious liberty, and that the time had
therefore arrived for • national movement, for the purpose of
extending to the whole people theirnatural rights. The great
body of the people of the country were becoming every day
more and more impoverished, whilst wealth was accumu-
lating in the heads of individuals beyond the precedent of
any former time or country. The cause of such an evil was
to he found in the fact that the parole had no sufficient con-
' trod in the state or government. How could that be called
a proper representation of the people, where, as was the cam
st the last election, 13 unsuccessful candidates polled more
votes than 101 who had been returned to euth-
enist ? Sack a representation was a mere mockery.
Mr. Ebenezer Clark secooded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.—Mr. T. Berme proposed the next reso-
lution, which pledged the meeting to advocate a real repro-
sentatioa of the people in parliament—universal suffrage,
vote by ballot, equal electoral districts, payment of mem-
bers, and short parliaments. If the people of this country
had been properly represented in parliament they would
have no state church; education would be left free, and they
world have a good sanitary measure, instead of the miserable
bill that was proposed to the last parliament. Such a mea-
sure was far more necessary to the country than a bishop of
Manchester.—Mr. Henry Vincent seconded the resolution.
He said the object of the alliance was to area a reel repre-
sentation of the people, which was their undoubted and in-
alienable right. They wished to compass it by peaceable
means; and such was the:advance of the people in political
knowledge, that the time could not be far distant when they
would be successful. All they wanted was organisation,
and—however they might be laughed at for it—money.
The pence of the people would carry the object that
was dear to them. They might be beaten back for
a time, but they would triumph in the end, and
the six points would become the law of the land. They
must not be cajoled by whir or conservatives, but must
show all that they were in earnest, by being practical and
going straight forward to their object. A scheme would be
promulgated in a few days which had for its object the
spreading of their principleshy means of lectures and tracts;
the contesting of independent towns ; and, if necessary, the
payment of eight or nine members of parliament. Every-
thing that was passing around them evidenced the spread of
democracy. in this country ; and not only in this country, but
in the various states of Europe, the sound of freedom's steps
was heard. In Switzerland, France, Germany, and Spain,
the spirit of democratic freedom was rife. And in beautiful
Italy—in the City of the Seven Hills herself—homage was
paid to the sacred name of liberty by the Pope himself. He
hoped that her advent and triumph throughout the world
would net be stained with crime or blood. The resolution
was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was they paused.
to the chairman, alter which the meeting separated.
COOKSLAND.—Sir,—It appears from Dr. Lang's
letter, in your journal of the 27tb, that both Mr. Davidson
and myself were in error respecting the lality which that
gentleman proposes to call Cooksland, and recommends for
the cultivation of cotton. This error, however, was a very
excusable one, as Dr. Lang adds, " In North-Eastern Aus-
tralia." Now the north-east coast of Australia only commences
at Sandy Cape, and extends thence to Cape York ; and
no part of Australia south of tie sth parallel a latitude

genn, with any propriety of language, be called Nodhasageri
Anntz.llia. A similar error was made in the design*. el
the peoptie,sd, but now, I believe, abandoned, colony sg No*
Austraha, When I first heard of this I c Included it was
of mune somewhere between Cape York and the North-Weg
Cape; jutted of which, it was attempted at Port Cani,
nearly in the centre of the e.st coast. W e might as well lay
that Boulogne is on the north Coast of Europe. It 'p pm,
from his description that Dr. Latsee's Cooksland Mulmitheg
with what is known iogiew South W.les as " The Hoeft
Bay district." The name of Cooksla.dd is a ease
but might perhaps; with more propriety be ratentrito
whole eastern coast from Cape Howe to Cape Yi.rk; as shoe,.
ing the extent of coast first discovered and explored by twilit*
trams navigator. Iby no means reprobated the formation
of a colony in every part of the northeast oast on
account of the sterility, but only in the tract between Ea.
deavour River and Cape York; to this, perhaps, I might
add the part lately attempted between Sandy Cape egg
Broad Sound, between which two places Port Curtiss Pita.
ated. Port Bowen, a little north of Port Curtis, is, at all
events, hopelessly barren, and a great moss of ate.
rile hills seems d to stretch along the coast to the
south. North of Broad Sound, however, and from
it to Rockingham Bay, the coast had a amore pre-
raising appearance than any other part of the Australian
coast which I have seen. Good land was often found by tie
close to the sea, as soon as we had penetrated the belt cif
mangroves which always margin its hays and inlets. From
the recently published accounts of Dr. Leichardt's arduous
journey, it appears that several important streams fall into
this tract from the dividing range, among others the Bard*.
kin, apparently the largest river he met with. Had the re-
°tatty attempted settlement, under Col. Barney, only goes
an far as West-hill or its neighbourhood, I think they would
have been tempted to make a longer stay before abandoning
the enterprise. The country about Cape Palment.m, with
the many steep and woody Wands fronting it, Was often
really charming in appearance, well-wooded, grassed, arid
watered, and the climate appeared to be delightfua. I am
very unwilling to use strong term., for fear I might
be the means of leading any person astray, but I cer-
tainly think the country between Broad Sound sad
Cape Upstart deserving of exploration, with a view to in
immediate occupation, when once a steamer shall rego.
laid, traverse its shores. Whether its staple shall be cotton,
or wool, or any other commodity, is utterly oat of my pro.
vines to decide. The great range of the tide, however, near
Cape Palmerston, amounting at the springs to 30 feet, and the
deep and secure harboarage about Port Mote in Whitsunday
Passage, together with the abundance and variety of the
' timber, point out this tract as the probable locality of the
future shipyards of that part of the world.—J. Beets. kit%
—Geological Survey, Tapythy Evan, Denbighshire, Sept.

k

DANGEROUS PILING OF WAGGONS.—Sir,—Perrajt
me to call your attention to the dangerous manner of lout
ing hops on the various vans and waggons at this time of the
year. Last winter they passed over London-bridge piled
seven and eight or nine pockets high, to the great danger of
life and limb of passeneers. This morning is passing 11'm
ton-street, Maze pond, I observed a waggon c 'melt:etyma.
termed against the basement of a house, which roust haw
*liken it to its foundation; or, had it been a smaller house,
moot have destroyed it; fortunately, the shutters were closed, -
'I the windows would have been smashed, II this bad
warred later in 9. dig very possibly some person would
We lost their life.—J. TITO:UNE&
THE SERMEN-STREET ASSAULT CASE.—Siv,—.lf
die grievance of which I am about to complain could be re.
dressed without the aid of public opinion, I would not seek
to obtrude myself on the notice of your readers ; but I hes
to impugn the decree of a county court judge—a magistrate
despotic by law, and unless the press intervene, irresponsible I ,
in fact. Some time back a nobleman, alter putting a letter
into the post-office letter- box at my house, entered my shop
and asked for certain goods ; they displeased him ; he 6e•
paraged them in terms, and in a manner that tome appeared
contumelious, and I:ordered him repested,y, and, nodoubt,
an angry tone, to leave the shop. He refused, and I seat fors
policeman to remove him. Whilst this noble pence en
remaining in my shop, not for the purpose of purchuitss te
inquiring after goods, nor for any purpose connected with
my duties as the keeper of a poet-office, but in define el
fy order to quit it, a pp:iceman passed. The intruder ere
out to him, returns with him, and recommences the slims
lion. I then, after requesting him to withdraw (but, is
maintains, without such request) came from 'eked lay
Punter, and pushed him into the street, with that degree d
farce which I judged necessary to overcome the resistance I
had reason to expect from a man more powerful Mannar.
self, but without any wanton • act, and also without the
least injury, in fact, to the person or dress of this
pronage. He brought an action against me in the Wart
nuniter County Court. I felt too strong in the justice of my
erase t 3 seek the aid of a lawyer; or to invoke the isle.
petition of a jury and the result war, that the Mho of the
wart gave • verdict against me of '2Ol. damages, beside. c
was advised that the verdict was wrong in point of law; I
lilt that it was so in point of j
ustice; and I applied by toes
eel for a new trial. The application was refused,..ith oafs,
on three grounds:-Ist. That I used "gross violence"
2nd. That, as a tradesman, I cannot revoke the *Mete—
or, as the lawyers call it, "license"—which, by keeping
shop, he gives to each one of the public to enter it—l
had no right to turn this intruder or anyone elm
out of my shop. And 3rd. That as the keeper of s
post-office I had no right to clear the pram
As to the first ground, lam advised that a man is rear
titled to recover damages even for "gross violence," She
has provoked violence, unless he can prove material upps
his person or property, or acts of vindictiveness; ss to
second, I am told that the permission to enter and :eases
his shop, which a tradesman gives to the public, is lima*
to the purposes for which the shop is kept, and like say
other license may be revoked at pleasure without Naga
assigned ; as to the third, I am informed that the keeps
of a peat-office is not deprived of his rights of one
against persons who enter or are in his shop ir
purposes not relating to the business of the psie
office. If the judge of the Westminster County Gout
is right in his law, there is no outrage, short of pe
sonal violence, which a shopkeeper, especially if he keep
post-office, must not endure in his hop, without rednis; fir
if he may not himself turn out those who insult hiss, •
neither may a policeman, and clearly no setioneas line
the injury will be of a moral and not a material dander.
Take the case of a shop in which a young girl a com-
pelled to serve. Ars the importunities or an grove
seducer to be endured by her, or her parents re
friends, without resistance ? Yet there is no 60
of resistance, says the judge of the Westmissar
County Court; and as, if there is no right of resistaace, se
evidence of the cause of resistance could be admitted it
trial, the person contemplating seduction might Mies la
action, if turned out, and punish the protector of Mersa
perhaps. by a fine of 201. 1 will not trouble you. with (e-
-ther illustration. If, now, the judge of the Weenier,
County Court is wrong in his law, what redress, air, have I'
What redress any tradesman in Writminster, who, belies
that judge, justifies an assault committed in defence of le
possession ? If such redress there is none, it is only throve:
you, air, that it can be obtained.—A. CLaius.-132, Jertays
Street, St. James's, Sept. 30.
INQUESTS, Y ESTERDAY. MANSLAUGHTER.— Be-
fore Mr, Wakley, 31. P., at the Oxford Arms, Ceram
town, on the body of Mr. Thomas Ricketts, aBI,,
retired naval officer, whose death was occasioned him(
been knocked down by a chaise-cart. Deceased, w
at No. 4, Hawley-terrace, Camden-town, on the elm*
of Monday week was crossing the Hampstead•era, sor,
Bayharn-street, at the time that a chaise-cart,la woo
were two men, and which was drawn by a bay pool, lir,
proceeding down the Hampstead-road. The animal iris goel
at a speed of about twelve miles an hour, ether, before the
deceased, who was infirm, could get out of the way, hems
knocked down, and the wheel of the vehicle went owe
him. Several persons caUed to the driver to stop, who locket
back, and whipped his pony, which went at a nor Ma
rate, and he got away. The coroner said the jury could re-
turn no other verdict than that of manslaughter, r the
driver was going at furious speed: while, when called to, Its
ought to have stopped. Verdict: "Manslaughter Will.
some person or persons unknown." The cermet ft'
recta a sergeant of police of the S divided, yr
was present, to use his best exertions to trsee ?2.1.
guilty perty.--SUICIDE PAWL JlALOWlT.—Beforstili
Redford, at the Charing-cross Hospital, on the
of Mary Ann Osborne, aged 16, of No. 401, S
who, in a fit of jealousy, poisoned herself with ansit,
The deceased was the daughter of Mrs. Osborne, 1!..
feetioner, of No. 401, Strand. For some tire pre
had been much in the habit of attending the baJlls us
udi
masquerades about London, especially the St, _
Assembly Rooms, in company with oatmeal young mean y
one of whom, named Walters, she was strongly avert
Latterly she had grown jealous of this pass imesslai_7
adult
frequently heard to declare that she +veil ern.
threats
but these were so often repeated that
If his II."
was taken of them, On TumTuesday&Rentals el
acquaintances on entering the shop saw 11;;
ing out of a large tumbler, and when qu
eAlirarl
what she had taken, she answered that it Irma:
Other persons in the house also heard what stn
nssoinde, obeullyievaul" lark,"h r, nadu supposed
it
was
not
dial assistance was obtained. The deceased wasasat
bought some arsenic, which, as proved by pelten%
and from subsequent inquiry it was ascertained. thria....ste
examination, was the cause of death. In a letter
west
her room the said that her Mends would soon heir 01.1!
ttounbitiimui "I'4 111:1'
death, and that she had been to Cremorne for the lesson
Mr. Walters said he went to Vauxhall a fesvttor;
with the deceased and a ballet girl named be $6Oll
ceased was particularly vexed at the preference aid
for her companion, with whom he danced the whole
Verdict—" That the deceased died from poiwo ; bat
she did not take it to destroy life, and that her life rill
have been saved had proper attention been paid."

STOPPAGJg
ETI 01
NG A RAILWA
MANCHESTER.. Y CALLS.--ZREAT
MET
MA/MESTER, TiltßSDAY.—This day 4 rhb,
meeting •of the bankers, merchants, and traderi o SIP
chester, called by the Mayor, in answer to a rretoiio
signed upwards of 300 et the
"toelading firms iu the to
srt
ss
was held in the Town consider whether sny
what steps can be taken in order to limit the drain upon t*
floating capital of the nation, occasioned by continued rani
calls, and to diminish the pressure which is now so injurioestl
affecting the tilde of the district." The meeting Vol
numerously attended. . Shortly after eleven o'c.ock, •
Armitrtnage, Esq., the Mayor, took the chair, amts
leo
ehee g
The Mayon said that bating !wired a requisition 1001
meroualy and respectably signed, he could net !metal*
call the meeting. It would afford thaws an opportuoitf:
discussing this important subject, and be host all
parties would confine themselves as much as p,t,ible to it
Mr. Thomas Bezutr, president of the Manchester Cig*

:,

ter
bm of Commerce, tame forward to propose the first Imola-
tliwywhkh was as follows :
That maw to*. rimed the potato crop end the general dee-
delay of war Mown In Vilifia meth, an extensiee draisi upon our
reessesohose d Ilea bum either countries, our available
mesa ei =to tarry ea the necessary Meiners of the coon.
try, end met no weeds mw being mole upon it for railway
=individual he thought he might without any impro
appear at that meeting. He bad had like many others
abaafareminto of railways placed before him; but he bad
reakeed them all, and, except in an executive capacity,
bolted sever possessed a single share ; therefore be could
have no settlement in coming forward on that occasion.
Bet, although not personally identified with it, he was not
imassible to the (linemen now felt by those who were mixed
up with them, or to the circumstances which had led to those
disasters which the commerce of the country was now
experiencing. Although railwaja were of great canto
goatee 4o the country, the failing harvest of 1846 had
th
own them that it was at present impossible to
employ tho capital of the country in two directions ; they
could not expend their capital in supplying the people, and
at the same time largely invest in railways. The foiling
harvest bad withdrawn much of the floating capital from the
commerce of the country, and still a vast proportion had
been celled for permanent investment in the various railway
projects before the country. He would for a few
moments call the attention of the meeting to the
tentaths of , the public journals en this subject during the
last two years. The editors of the London Tuner had done
themselves great honour by their continual reprobation of
the speculative and adigested projects which had tom
time to time been brought forward. The press had warned
them of the impending national dilemma, and their own
Chamber of Commerce, seeing the evils of the system, had
%atoned the House, of Commons to take the whole sub-
r •
yeet into their comideration, but unfortunately that peti-
tion bad been unnoticed. The Chamber of Commerce sub-
sequently directed the attention of the board of trade to the
subject, hoping that the government would have introduced
some measure to delay the progress of the various works.
(Mr. Seeley here read the petition to which he bad alluded,
which was to the effect that parliament having sanctioned
the construction of railways, fur which capital could not be
found, great lom and injury to the country would arise, if
the powers of the directors to make calls was not limited).
Had that good advice been followed by the govern-
ment, the country would have been spared much lose. It
might, he admitted, be unwise totally to suspend operations
ma some particular lines, for hundreds would be thus thrown
out of employment, and the peace of the country most pro-
bably disturbed ; therefore, having one great evil to con-
tend with, they must take care not to raise another. It wee
evident the legislature would not interfere with the seta
of parliament already granted, and it therefore re-
mained for public opinion to he called upon to
meth .. the evil. He knew that railway directors
wool 'follow what they conceived to be their own interests;
and • would be difficult for them to obtain pledges from
asi
th to suspend operations: they would do as other men of
busies as did follow their own ideas, though the result of
their proceedings might not benefit either the proyrietors or
the public. He had observed in the Jlanchester Times a
statement that the sum of 13,000,0001. had recently been ex-
pended in fifty of the railways in the country, in addition,
and it was computed that the present market value of these
lines was now about 15,000,0001. less than at the commence-
cleat of the present year, making altogether • sum of
28,000,0001., which might have been beneficially expended,
entirely lust, and which might as well have been thrown
into the sea. If railway directors could not see the fully
of making further calls, he must say they were not men of
business like other people. He had confidence that
the expression of their opinion would give con-
fidence to real men of business, connected with
railways, and public opinion being so expressed, would,
he hoped, effect the objects for which they had as.
scaled. He would conclude by expressing his strong con-
viction that it was necessary that railway operations should
be discontinued. for it was quite impossible to find capital to
carry on the commerce of the country, and have the same
capital in railways. To the honour of Manchester, its
monetary affairs had been well conducted, for the
bankers generally had given good advice, but the
existing system could not be continued without causing
that which he could not contemplate without horror
and dread. (Applause.)
Mr. Alderman KERSHAW seconded the resolution. He
did not pow." • single railway share, but he was there to
sympathise with those who had made engagements in
reilways which they now felt to be oppressive. Rail-
ways were certainly now becoming an important ele-
ment of commercial , success, and no person could
have a word to say against their proper and prudent exten-
sion; but, in consequence of the deficient harvest alluded to,
they could no longer carry on the businesa of the country,
and pay the railway calls in addition ; and the question was,
whether the manufacturing industry of the country was to
proceed, or the railways to go on. Railway calls might be
delayed without detriment to the country, but our
manufactures could not be suppressed without the whole
country feeling the consequences to an extent which
he need not describe. What was the price of money
that day? The difficulty of carrying on their commerce was
rapidly increasing—the failures were daily more striking—
arid the question asked now, day by day, was, what was to
be the end of it ? He sincerely trusted that some scheme
would be devised to protect the commercial interests of the
country. Railway directors might make their
be but they
cat
would not met, or if met, it would be by obtai a money
to do so, which would render railway property itse aimless.
They sympathised with those engaged in railways, but they
only wished those railways to be carried on which were for
the benefit of the proprietors and the interests of the public.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. THOMAS (Rem moved the next revolution :
That le the opinion of this meeting sn attempt under present cir-
cumstances to carry out the tarp number of railway propels sanc-
tioned by the legislature mold be to increase to • serious extent the
existing derangement at our monetary altars—to aggravate an evil
which is parsiping the commercial the country, and depreseing to
an alarming degree the value of every description of investment,
' whilst it is to be apprehended that from the inability of shareholders
In generelto pay the enthi which will have to be made upon them fur
the cdostrucuori of the proposed new railways such works will have
to lie 'emended lf not entirely abendoned, and the roomed the akar e-
bothers eacrificed.
Mr. Oreig spoke at great length. New railway. were now
almost sacrificed to the owners. Some had attributed the
state of affairs to Sir R. Peel's money bill, but new rail-
ways had been undertaken to • large amount tinder
the known circumstances. The first calls had not
been paid in many instances where • fourth call
was now made, and that should be resisted. He
had no objection to the works of old railways going
on, but he had to new ones. The prosperity of rail-
ways depended upon trade; if trade was crippled railways
would be valueless.
Mr. METCALF seconded the resolution. He considered
the present state of the money market owing to the unwar-
rantable carrying out of railways. The sudden transition
of capital from trade to railway speculation had
mused the great primers now felt. They had been en-
deavouring to effect in five or air years what it should have
taken twenty years to accomplish.—The resolution was
paned without any dissentient.
Mr. D. PRICE mom the third resolution:
That In the opinion of this meeting the interests of the country
at tante, and more especially the railway interest, require the pat
ponement of new undertaking; anti this meeting strongly recom-
mends all railway companies to defer commencing new works until
the lines now in course of construction are completed, and to apply to
the legislature for an extension of the time allowed for the construe.
tints of the lines thus proposed to be postponed.
In the course of a long speech he deprecated proceeding
with new railways at present. The trade of the country was
paralysed. Men of the highest honour and integrity, who
have always conducted their business prudently, had been
brought into trouble and danger. He hoped a stop would be
put to railway expenditure, aad they might then expect an
extended trade, and the country to be relieved from one of
the greatest monetary crises they had ever experienced.
Mr. Rawsow, in seconding the resolution, observed that
ROM of the proposed lines were most absurd. They had two
from Manchester to Bury, two from Manchester to Bolton,
two to Blackburn, two between Liverpool and Preston, and
* third making. There were two railways in Manchester,
to connect the east with the west lines. If the money had
been thrown into the sea it could not have been more effec-
tually lost to the community. No more goods would pass
over them than if one only had been made. If the three
different companies would unite, 3,ooo,oool.l:night be saved
in the proposed new Preston lines, sad the public be equally
accommodated.
Mr. J. B. So rot, M.P., "poke in favour of the resolution. fa
January last the capital of the M mehoder and Leeds Com-
piny was 5,500,0001.; since that time they bad made a all
of 1,000,0001., making altogether 6,500,0001., and the
present market value was 4,250,0001., showing a loss of
1,260,0001. from January last. He spoke for some time
imager, after which the resolution was carried.
Mr. Alderman KERSHAW having taken the chafe, • veto
of thanks was passed to the Mayor, and the meeting

POST-OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS.
Sir,—ln the performance of my duties as editor of
a monthly railway timetable publication, I joined the bills
of various companies, so as to present at a glance the means ,
of retching a dintant pert on a trunk line. In so doing, a
comparison of the mail and express trains led to what
appeared to me would be a great public improvement in
epistolary correspondence. As I consider the first step is to
give the idea publicity, that its practicability, advantages, or
disadvantages may be canvassed, I seek the medium of your
columns for that purpose.
To clearly comprehend my scheme it is necessary, in the
Rest place, to give the following tables of the arrival and
departure of the mail and express trains at the principal
towns upon the line which I put forth as an example.
Teams Lmrs Emumee. /Lid- Man_
h. m. h. is.
Leedom
Leeds (arrive at)
York „ 3 35 an. ... 7 30 men. ... I 2 morn.
Darlington 4 35 aft. ... 9 30 night ... 20 morn.
Durham 5 30 aft. ... 10 23 night ... 20 morn.
Nem „aatia „ 8 5 even... 11 0 night ... 1 0 morn.
33errelek „ 8 3.5 night... 2 0 morn. „. 0 aft.
Edlntrot „ 10 ID night.. 5 0 morn. ... 43 aft.
12h.331n. 18h.30m. 16h.45m.
Team twit Earner. YAM Eurasia. Man.
roa LONDOP. h. ro. h. ro. h. m. h. m.
Edinburgh 7 10 morn... 9 0 morn... 4 10 aft. ... 440 aft.
13enriet 9BO morn,. 12 IS aft. .. 630 even.. fl 0 night.
Neweamle
Durham 12 0 DOM .. 353 aft. ... 9 25 night. .11 23 night.
Darlington 1 3 aft ... 430 aft. ...10 13 night ..12 43 morn.
Yo.k
Leede 2 50 aft. 7 45 night ..12 20 MOM— 3 25 man.
London
19 50

138 50 19 43 13 5
By the above tables it will be seen that the morning north
express train leaves London 1 hour and 5 minutes before the
morning mail, and arrives is advance of the mail, at Leeds,
hours and 3.5 minutes ; at lork, 3 hours 63 minutes ; at

Berliners', 4 hours 36 masts; et Duelists, 4 hours 36
Weans; et Newcastle, 4 hours 66 'ldeate' ; at Berwick,
6 hours 251 minutes; and st Edinburgh, 6 hosts 40 minutes.
The express trains from Edinburgh to Leaden, after deduct-
la~ the of starting, ask" in town 6 hours 65
hale the sail. It is sok dote la this place,paren-
tles Orpasseek, the mud Oslo mikes a great number
et gollewhile the seven toils masSUI wry few. Now,
my oeuestiso b to owe the express Masi. esovey a bag
et letters to *lt lowa at which they step, -the contents a
whkat to be delivered inueediniely on the .snivel. Thin
weld rn. ''sdelidenal labour and exposes Post-office,
whisk I refine tole defrayed by envelopes:
say roktatall, paper; ems wait/ hereeerussa
red easily tle sorted met hirtke • I cannot
intimate tie extra-ems weld incur to the
peal daiieresent by sots ea arrangemeat, but as
regards increase of revenue; The pekoe of the express enve-
lopes might range from 11. RI 2s. 6d.; and even at the maxi-
mum which I same I firmly believe would be accepted as e
valuable beim. When we consider the immense monetary
imigertmese of seed correspond/nos to the merchant, and
the relief to the waled in eases of consanguinity, the. pur-
chase of • few hours time at such price would be considered
cheap indeed. As regards newspapers, it is well known
the mail is considered too Itardy a conveyanee, and that an
extra price is given for " express copies," yet they are not
generally sent by express, but mixed, trains. A merchant at
Newcastle, as an instance, by receiving an expo ea news-
paper, can see the state of the markets and write to London
by the mill the same night, whereas, if he waited the deli-
very of the newspaper by post he would be merely sending
off his instructions at the time his agent eau be in receipt of
it in his counting-house in town, seventeen hours in ad-
vance. I shall now proceed to point out the ement state
of communication, and the advantages to be derived in each
town by my suggestion.
Laeve.—Distance by raft, 2051 miles.—A letter paned in
London at eight in the morning arrives at Leeds 650
in the evening, and is delivered the same night. A reply
posted the same night would be sent out in London at three
next day. Thus 31 hours elapse between the pasting a letter
and receiving en answer. By using the morning express
train the letter might be delivered in Leeds, allow full two
hours for a reply being sent by evening mail, to be issued in
London next morning at eight, saving seven hours. A letter
sent by the night mail requires 38 hours before an answer
can be received.
YORK.—Distance by rail, 2191 miler.—A letter posted in
London at eight o'clock in the morning is delivered in York
the same night, leaving time to post an answer, which is de-
spatched et three o'clock in the morning, and delivered in
London about three o'clock in the afternoon-31 hours.
Using the morning express u an auxiliary, a letter would
arrive in York 135 afternoon ; en answer sent by the 145
evening mail, delivered next morning in London at 8, would
save 7 hours. A letter by the London evening snail requires
38 hours before en answer can be received.
DARLINGTON.—Distance by rail 2641 miles. A letter
posted at 8 o'clock morning in London is delivered at 8 15
next morning. A reply by the first mail at 4.50 afternoon
is delivered st 8 next morning in London. Thus, 48 hours
transpire between the communication and response. A
letter by the morning express would arrive at Darlington
4'45 afternoon. A reply by the 11115 night express might
be delivered in London about 9 in the morning; this would
be 25 hones ; or, a reply by 12.48 morning mail, would be
31 hours. A letter sent off by the London night mail can-
not be answered in town in less than 38 hours.
DURHAM—distance by rail 286 miles. A morning London'
mail letter is delivered in Durham shout 7 o'clock next
morning; en answer sent by the first mail 335 afternoon, is
delivered in London next morning at 8 o'clock; thus 48
hours elapse. A letter sent by the London morning express
would reach Durham at 5.50 afternoon ; en answer by the
925 night express might be delivered in London next morn-
ing *boat 9 o'clock, being 25 hours, or, by the 11.25 night
mail, 31 hours instead of 48. A night mail letter is delivered
at 10.30 next day, and a reply by the 3.56 afternoon mail
sent out in London at 8 morning occupies 38 hours.
NEWCASTLE—distance by rail 305 miles. Letters by the
London morning until are delivered at 7 o'clock next morn-
ing; a reply by the 115 afternoon mail is sent out in London
at 8 o'clock next morning, being 48 hours. A morning
London express letter might be delivered in Newcastle at
7 o'clock night, • reply sent by 9 o'clock night express be
received in London at 9 in the morning, or if the rejoinder
were sent by 10 50 night mail, and delivered in town 3 after-
noon
, 31 hours in lieu of 38. A night mail letter is deli-
vend in Newcastle at 11 o'clock next morning, and en an-
swer by 115 afternoon mail received in London at 8 o'clock
morning ; making 38 hours.
Benwick.—Distance by rail, 3701 miles. A London
morning mail letter is delivered in Berwick next morning at
8.30; • reply, by the 12.15 afternoon mail, delivered in town'
at 8 o'clock next morning, 48 hours. A night mail London
letter is delivered in Berwick about 3 afternoon; a reply by
the 8 night mail is sent out in London at 3 next afternoon,
45 hour,; but en answer sent be the 6.30 evening express I
might be delivered in town at 9 the next morning, being 38
hours. .
EDINEUROIL—Distance by rail, 4261 miles. London
morning mail letters are delivered in Edinburgh et 7.30
next morning. A reply, despatched by the first mail avail-
able, the 4.40 afternoon, is distributed is London at 3
o'clock next afternoon ; being between the deepatch of letter
and the receipt of answer 55 hours ; a reply sent by the 4.10
afternoon express might hasten the arrival in London six
hours. The London night mail arrives in Edinburgh at
14.5 afternoon; these letters will be delivered about 6
o'clock; en answer cannot be scut until 9 o'clock next
morning, which will be sent out in London et eight o'clock
the following morning. making in all, between the letter and
reply, 62 hours. I cannot show bow the express trains can
at present be available to greatly hasten the despatches to
end from Edinburgh ; but there is a detention of en hour on
the line, from having to change carriages and passing in
omnibuses at Newcastle, and Berwick also, owing to two
stupendous bridges not yet being completed; when these are
finished, and an hour of time gained by having • 10 night
delivery of express letters at Edinburgh, and • 9 night deli-
very in London,) the correspondence would take 37 instead
of 65 hours, or by using the Edinburgh mail in sending the
reply, 48 hours.
Should the express envelope experiment ever be adopted,
it might be a matter for consideration whether they could
not be delivered on Sundays, for as it is not probable each
expensive leasers would be sent on a Sunday for business
purposes on a blank trading day, there would be little fear
of such desecration of the Sabbath by mercantile communica-
dons. At the same time, it appears cruel to withhold matters
in which the most powerful feelings of the human breast may
be interested. Suppose you were anxious to attend the death-
bed of a relative in Edinburgh, and you posted a letter at
inquiry as to the probable result of an illness on Thursday
night; the letter is received on the Friday evening, an as.
swer is despatched by the first mail on Saturday, it uthis
in London on Sunday, and is not delivered until Ileaday
morning. Thus 86 hours may be spent in deep mesial
anxiety and uncertainty. In placing this suggestion before
the public, I have only called into service the mail and ex-
press trains; but, should the plan be entertained, there are
many other trains that could be made subservient to the
quick transit of letters. Other equally important parts of
the country, through which the railroads pass, might be
similarly benefited as those which I have used as examples
in my suggestion. ENEAS ?decimal's.
No. 111, Fleet-street.

HISTORY OF PRISON DISCIPLINE.
SECOND REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL
ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRISONS.
The earliest steps which were taken in this matter
undoubtedly originated in the public exposure made by Mr.
Howard, of the deplorable condition of our gaols. He has
himself ascribed the commencement of that interest which he
so long and ardently felt in the mitigation of the sufferings
of prisoners to en incident which occurred in the early part
of his life. On his voyage to Lisbon in 1755, which city he
designed to visit immediately after the earthquake by which
it had been destroyed, the packet in which he sailed was
taken by • French privateer. The barbarous treatment
which he with the rest of the passengers experienced in the
Castle of Brest, in a dungeon in which they were all confined
for several days, led him, in the first instance, to seek the
mitigation of the sufferings of such of his countrymen as
were imprisoned in the places where he had himself been
confined in France. This humane feeling gained further
strength and development from what he observed in the
prisons of his own country, and particularly from what came
under his immediate notice, when, some years after,
1773, he was high sheriff of the county of Bedford.
He refers, in his account of the prisons of England
and Wales, to the circumstances with which his discharge
of the duties of that office made him acquainted, as those
which excited him to undertake his humane journeys of in-
spection, in the course of which be visited most of the pri-
sons in England. In 1774 he was examined on this subject
by the House of Commons, and had the honour of receiving
the thanks of that body. Together with the remonstrances
of this distinguished benefactor of mankind, another circum-
stance powerfully co-operated to produce a general desire for
the improvement of our prisons. At the termination of the
American war, the loss of our trans-Atlantic dependencies
had deprived us of those remote colonies to which we had
been accustomed for a long time to ftransport many of our
convicted felons, and imposed on us the necessity of imme-
diately devising a substitute for the system of transportation
which had been hitherto pursued.
The result of this combination of humane remonstrance
and political necessity appears to have been a general desire
that something should be speedily done to improve our
prison discipline. The first impulse to public feeling was
given by the labours of Howard; and great is the obligation
which the cause of humanity owes to the unwearied in-
dustry and ardent benevolence of this distinguished philan-
thropist. His labours were rewarded by that deep and na-
tional feeling of commiseration for the sufferings of prisoners
which followed that faithful exposure of them, which his!
earnest wishes for their mitigation and his truly Christian
courage prompted him to make. But the attention of this
excellent man seems to have been almost absorbed by the
physical sufferings which it was his lot to witness. The very
magnitude and intensity of those sufferings seem to have
prevented him from looking beyond them to a consideration
of the moral evils of imprisonment, which are even still
more dep/orable than the prisoners' privations and discom-
forts, and without a proper remedy for which, even an im-
provement of his physical condition is but too often a
greater incentive to his farther advancement in crime and
vice. The impulse, however, was thus given to the desire
and demand for prison improvement; it was prompt and ,
decisive, and to Howard the praise is most justly due. The
first movement was made by individual magistrates, whose
humanity and public spirit suggested the duty and necessity
of endeavouring to improve the state and condition of the
prisons under their own immediate jurisdiction and control.
Of them magistrate we are bound to mention as among the
foremost and. most distinguished, the then Duke of Rich-
mond, lord-lieutenant of the county of Sussex. It ap-
pears from extracts from the records of that county,

• Thee were the dimensions of the sleeping cern ; the working cello
were 11 feet 2 inches In height

&Telford,

THE EXPRFSS, FRIDAY EVENING. OCTOBER 1, 1847.

- - _
effigingly tarnished VI by W. Y. B=4ll. Tot.
the present clerk of the pease, sad we bey;
given s.Appendix (A), that on the find of Weber,
1776. a ,ioarter sessions at Petworth, it was erthesie M
maaagq,senoa of the Lortarity and insalubrity of*, dill Pei
at Bonham that a nem orison should be crested la ees.
throaty with a pia. prechice,l 1.... the Doke of litielemel.
Ili
that his grace not only fueriehed the Pim, ilia=itself, but also of the gaoler's house, chapel, P.M4
fa-
Hrmary. Hie suggestions respecting a better site, the
attached thereto, and the boundary wall, owepll a
and we find that his attendance and smodlimi &is the
whole progress of the works, until their eempktdeek Is 1779,
were assiduous and unremitted.
To the judgment, perseverance, sad public spirit of the
Duke of Richmond, and to the effectual cooperation of the
magistrates of the county of Sussex associated with his grace,
the public is indebted fur the earliest establishment of a
system which is destined, we believe, at no distant period, to
shed an honourable distinction upon those who were instru-
mental to its first introduction, and a hich is calculated to
confer lasting benefits on our criminal population and upon
society at large. But the strength and prevalence of the
desire for the improvement of our gaga can best be estimated
from the legislative measures which immediately followed
the baboon of Mr. Howard, and the political necessity which
had been induced by the loss of our American colonise. The
first of these was the 19th Geo. 111., cap. 74, an enactment
of great importance, which was the result of the joint labours
of Sir William Blackstone, Mr. Howard, and Mr. Eden
(afterwards Lord Auckland). These distinguished men
brought to the preparation of this Act profound
legal knowledge, diffusive philanthropy, and an ex-
tensive practical acquaintance with the subject. Their
measure became law in 1778. In this enactment,
the basis of all succeeding legislative proceedings upon
this subject, and the theme of admiration and approval
on various occasions in parliament, the principle of separate
confinement of prisoner from prisoner, accompanied with
labour and occupation, and religious and moral instruction,
is clearly laid down and enforced. In the sth section we find
it affirmed, " That if many offenders, convicted of mimes
for which transportation has been usually inflicted, were
ordered to solitary imprisonment, accompanied by well-re-
gulated labour and religious instruction, it might be the
means, under Providence, nut only of deterring others but
also of reforming the individuals, and inuring them to habits
of industry."
Here we have the solitary confinement modified by labour,
and accompanied with religious instruction, enjoined as a
proper mode of punishing offenders, and enacted with a view
to the effects which may be justly expected—sassoly,4ha de-
terring of others the reformation of the individual, sad the
acquisition of habits of industry. And, in order to guard
against any ill effects which might attend an injudicious ap-
' plication of the system, with reference to the health of the
prisoners, the act not only expressly ordaiae, in the 30th sec-
tion, that the offenders shah " be kept entirely separate and
apart from each other," but it also determines the proper
dimensions of the apartments ; enjoining that offenders shall
be lodged " in separate rooms or cells not exceeding 12 feet
in length, 8 feet in breadth, and 11 feet in height ; nor less
than 10 feet in length, 7 feet in breadth, and 9 feet in
height." Thus we are enabled to slow that the principle
of modified solitary confinement was recognised and en-
forced by a positive legislative enactment not less than sixty
years ago, and that it was successfully carried out in the
county
.gaol at Horsham. This distinctly proves that the
system is no novel and untried invention, unsuited to the
character and unfit for the treatment of English criminals.
It also incontrovertibly establishes the fact that the separate
system is British—British in its origin, British in its actual
application, British in its legislative sai.ction.
But the improvements in prison discipline were notlimited
to the efforts of individual magistrates, or to the 19th Geo.
111. cap. 74. for building penitentiary houses. In the year
1781 an act (the 22nd Geo. 111. cap. 54) was passed for
amending and rendering more effectual the laws then in
being relative to houses of correction. The provisions of
this act are so important, as indicating the opinion of the
legislature with regard to the necessity and advantage of se-
parate confinement, that we venture to insert in Ibis place •
few of the clauses which bear upon the subject. The pre-
amble recites that " for many counties the houses of correc-
tion are insufficient in number, or deficient in building, and
the apartments in them are very ill accommodated to the
purposes for which they were intended ; by means whereof,
and from a want of due order, employment, and discipline
in such houses of correction, the persons sent thither fur cor-
rection and reformation frequently grow more dissolute mid
abandoned
during their continuance in such houses."--
Again, "Justices in settling and adjusting plans of new
buildings, are hereby required to provide separate apartments
for all persons committed upon charges of felony, and con-
victed of any theft or larceny, and committed to the house
of correction for puoishment by hard labour, under or by
virtue of the laws in being, in order to prevent any comma-
nication between them and the other prisoners."
The immediate cons. queue* of this act was the construe-
titan of the house of correction at Petworth. We now pro-
ceed to give a short account of the penitentiary home at
Gloucester. On the basis of the 19th Geo. 111. cap. 74 was
founded that part of the act (the 25th Geo. 111. cap. 10)
which concerns the penitentiary house at Gloucester ' • and Ia
making rules fur the regulation of all matters convected with
the treatment of the prisoners, the justices of the peace for
the county (in whom the control over the management of
the penitentiary was vetted) were directed to have regard to
the discipline, provisions, and directions of, the 19th Geo.
111., concerning the two penitentiary houses therein men-
tioned, as nearly as should appear consistent with the more
limited design of the penitentiary house for the county of
Gloucester. The 14th clause of the 31st Geo. 111. cep. 46,
containieg &provision of a similar nature to that introduced
into the 19th Geo. 111., for shortening the confinement of
offenders on the discovery of any merit or extraordinary
diligence, extends to this prison. This penitentiary, as we
collect from the evidence given before a committee of the
House of Commons in 1811, by Sir George Onesiphorus
Paul, through whose active exertions the consent of the
legislature to its establishment was mainly obtained, was
opened on the 25th July, 1791. The number of lodging-
cells originally provided for male prisoners was 32, and for
females 12 ; these numbers afterwards increased to 54 cells for
males and 18 for females. These cells were 8 feet 9 inches by
8 feet 2 inches, and 9 and 10 feet from the floor to the crown
of the arch.* They were floored with paving-atones; the
walls, which are about 18 inches thick, were of brick, and
the cells were arched with the same material. The ventila-
tion was effected by underground flues. The amplain's duty
waste read prayers every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday
morning, and to preach • sermon every Sunday, Christmas-.
day, and Good Friday.
On a review of the foregoing accounts of the prisons at
Horsham, Petworth, and Gloucester, we are naturally led to
reflect upon the early period at which the system of separa-
tion was first introduced, and the seal and judgment dis-
played by those excellent persons who projected and brought
about its establishment. It is also impassible not to be
struck with the beneficial effects which have uniformly at-
tended the system when fairly acted upon, and which ceased
only when the overcrowding of the prisons rendered the
execution of the plan impossible. We find that, under the
operation of the separate system in these prisons, committals
to them became uoprecedentedly few, and that recommit-
tals almost disappeared ; we find the health of the con-
victs excellent, their mental faculties unimpaired, their
labours cheerful and constant, their behaviour or-
derly and submissive, and their religious instruction
carefully attended to, and with the happiest results. When
the system was broken in upon. and suspended b 7 the influx
of numbers, for whom it was impossible to provide separate
apartments, nearly
thereverse of all this took place. Order
was succeeded byinsubordination ; labour, instead of being
voluntary, became distasteful andconstrained ; and religious
instructien, with all its desirable consequences, was either
neglected or became inefficacious. About three years after
the completion of the Gloucester Penitentiary, the consider-
ation of a national penitentiary in the vicinity of the metro-
polis was resumed, agreeably to the proposal of the late Je-
remy Bentham, Esq., for the erection of a structure on a
large scale for tke confinement and employment of offenders,
and called by him • " Panoptioon." The plan of thisbuild-
ing was laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Trea-
sury by that gentleman, in a paper entitled " A Proposal
far a new and low expensive moue of employing and reform-
ieg_convicts."
The prosecution of Mr. Bentham's project was impeded
by various obstacles, which it is needless to enumerate ; and
it was not until a committee of the House of Commons,
which (in consequence of a motion of Sir Samuel !tomato
upon the subject of penitentiaries, in the moath of June,
1810) was appointed to consider of the expediency of erect-
ing a penitentiary house under the forementionsd acts, had
fully examined Mr. Bentham's plan, that, in accordance
with the recommendation of that committee, the measure ,
was regarded as inexpedient, and finally abandoned. It
must, moreover, be borne in mind that the institution con-
templated by Mr. Bentham was merely a groat manufactory,
without regard being bad either to the penal or moral objects
of a prison.

THE RAILWAY INTEREST IN PARLIAMENT.
The following list of such members of the new
parliament as are prominently connected with railways is
from Herapalles Railway Journal :
Abdy, T. N. (Lyme Regis), Dina-tm of the Lyon end Decoke-co Rail-
way.
Ado& Colonel (Wicklow), Director of the Waterbed aad Dahlia
Hallway.
Adair A.& (Cambridge borough), Director of the fond& and Mier
aatiwa
Akaander, y.
Nathaniel (Antrim county), Director of the &Abet sad
Ballymena Railway.
Amon, Colonel (South Staffordshire), Director of the Labdon sad
North Western Railway.
Attwood, John (Harwich(, Chairman of the Hawk& Railway.
Barium, John (Harwich), Director of the Northern and Eastern
Owinat
Bailey, John -
(Hereforthhire), Chairman of the BlrkeeiMeic UMW
shire, and sftenhke Railway, Its
Baldwin, Charles Barry (Totnes), Director of the 111116s1 Rant
Western Railway.
Barringn, Right Hon. Wm. Koppel (Berke), Deputraelrlnak al
the Gtoreat Western Railway, Director of the Wilts, Seleerset, aid
Weymouth Railway.
Beckett, Wm. (Leeis).
Bell, M. (South Northumberland), Director of the Newcastle and
Carlisle
J. Railway.
-,sow (Dudley), Director of the London and Birmingham
wa
, William (North Eon), Dtd of dos !elm Unita
Railway, and Cabmen of the North Omdlim Vales
Blake, M. J. (Galway)• Director of the Ming fish=Be&
'
w y of Ireland, and Royal Canal
Bowling, Dr. John (Dolton), Directer7ll7=lB/. •
Broadwoosl, 11. (Bridgewater), Dfreallir allat „.
BroTakas.= (Tewlessebury), aatwatitarmy
on the {MacMillan dell
Broadly, H. (East Yorkshire), late Ciders gl 111;liall mg
Railway.
Butler, Pearce Somerset (Kilkenny), Manama ilks Waterielimla
Kilkenny.
Cavendish, lion. G. H. (North Derbyshire), men of the Maas
cluster and Buxton Railway, wenehoster and Llitmin Railway.