The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 153.

a copy of a minute of chapter to W. effect ; in relation,
indeed, to all the ewes in which the ancient statutable

allowaisces to different paWie;l;s7e LI been hitherto au&
mated. We need scarcely add that if your lordship will
&your us with any suggestions or directions on these sub-
jects we shall gladly receive then.
In concludes, we would again express our deep concern
that these painful discussions should have ever occurred.
We have been accused of harassing the appellant by ex-
pensive and vexatious litigation. On the contrary, we
have moldy followed him, and most reluctantly, into the
courts of law and equity before which he brought us. At
one time, indeed, we sought to recover possession by pro-
cess of law of our schoolroom and the master's house,
which the appellant withheld from us, and, we may add,
even now withholds, as if he had never been removed
from his office,jor were already restored to it; but the pro-
ceedings in that action we suspended W wait the issue of
the main cause.
The oily delay we interposed was by maintaining the ex-
elusive jurisdiction of our visitor. Not that we wished to
impose a painful duty upon your lordship, or desired better
judges than those of Chancery or the Queen's Bench ; but
we were bound in duty to your lordship and to our WM:tee-
*ors, and to all other bodies which have special visitors, to
maintain the visitor's jurisdiction which the founder had
expressly provided for the ready and inexpensive determina-
tion of such questions.
We trust that a period has now been put to a very perai-
cious litigation, which none can have regretted more than'
we have. We may, perhaps, be permitted to state that
although we have been subjected during the last four years
to continual attacks and misrepresentations, we have re-
frained during these proceedings from every reproachful
word, and we are now prepared to act under your lordship's
judgment in its letter and iu spirit.
Signed on behalf of the chapter,
Ozotto• Esstu., Chapter Clerk.
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Rochester.

"CAPTAIN" JOHNSON AND MATRIMONIAL

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Amongst the numerous letters and varied corres-
pondence brought forth by the apprehension and examina-
tion of Captain Johnson, in connexion with the adroit
swindling transactions of that remarkable personage, are the
following, which hare been received by Mrs. Stewart, and
which hare been handed by that lady to her solicitor, Mr.
Sinn.. The letters are given verbatsms, with the exception
of the name and address, but these, for obvious reasons,
ars omitted:

" House Castle, Palverhateh, near
Shrewsbury, Jan. 15, 11153.
" Madam,—Hering seen, a short time since, an adver-
tisement in the Hereford paper of a matrimonial advertise-
ment of en English retired officer, advertising fora wife, I
immediately answered it in behalf of • young lady, and, in
reply, received the enclosed letter, which now I have every
reason to think was written by the person who goes by the
name of Captain Johnson, who was last week brought up
for conspiring with other persons to cheat and defraud you
Kseveral railway shares. I should feel greatly obliged if
pis would favour me by writing a few lines, stating
window the enclosed letter end the advertisement cones-
pat with his handwriting and appearance.
" Ever yours, truly,

" Mn. Stewart, 20, Brunswick-plan, Canonbury-
road, Islington, London."
The following is the advertisement alluded to, which bad
evidently been cut oat of a newspaper, and which was in-
closed with the preceding and following letter-
" Matrimony.—An English retired officer, with a foreign
title, in which his wife would share, is desirous of forming
an alliance with a lady of education and accomplishments.
The gentleman is in the prime of life, and enjoying excel-
lent health; speaks several foreign languages, and is other-
wise highly talented ; travels much in the finest climates of
Europe, and is in the possession of • genteel income. The
lady will be expected to have an adequate fortune ; she
will be treated in every way most affectionately, and ren-
dered as happy as the most ardent mind can desire. Ad-
dress, iu the first instance, by letter, pest free, in the strict-
est confidence, to L. A. F., 13 Frances-street, York-road,
neer Waterloo-road (care of Mr. Miles), London."
(Confidential).
" December 31,1837.
"Dear Madam,—l am in receipt of your letter. It is not
sufficiently explicit, but I have no doubt you will rectify
that point when I shall next have the pleasure of hearing
from yea. I can assure you everything stated in the adver-
tisement is boosofide true. As to sending my picture, it is
at present aleng with uniforms and other valuables in
Paris. In a correspondence of this nature, of course, I am
aware it is necessary to be exceedingly cautions, as there
are many idly disposed persons who write merely to prac-
tice a hoax, although I do not for one moment suspect you
of anything of the kind. With regard to myself, imagine a
young-looking man of 36, fair, middle height, moustacbios,
and a dishing hussar uniform; have been presented and
kissed hands; accomplished, eloquent, and of the kindest
disposition. You will find me disposed to meet you in the
most candid and liberal manner. What do you say to an
interview with the lady? At Paris? London ? or half-way
between this and your present address ? Let me have your
decision and speedily.
" Ever yours faithfully,
FRIEDIRICI Di ••••••••.''
The handwriting and style of this note is decidedly more
mercantile than gentlemanly, and does not resemble in any
way the specimens of his writings that have been put in
during the hearing of the case, but at the same time ft
should be mentioned that the captain could vary his writing
and style in a very surprising manner, so much so that very
, excellent judges could not, on comparing two notes of his,
discover that they had been written by the same hand.

COLLISIONS ON THE LANCASHIRE AND
YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.

On Tuesday two collisions took place on the
Bolton and Preston line of the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway Company, bat fortunately did not result in any
loss of human life. Ia the morning, as • goods train was
standing at the Charley station, on the down line from
Manchester, a coal train came up behind, sad ran into
it with such form as to make considerable havoc
with both trains. Mr. Blackmon, the superintendent at
Manchester, was sent for, and was present during a consi-
derable portion of the day, for the parpese of taking the
most prompt steps to get the rails cleated, to prevent inter-
emptier& to the regular Maio. It appears that the collision
resulted entirely Net the neglect of persons in charge of
the Chorley station ant turning on the proper signal.
Mr. Blackmon was deeding on the platform at the
Claseley statism fa the evmdag, ready to return to Ilan-
ebesesr, whet Ishemilea meshed him that, three quarters
of a mile Ain of Math the express train from Preston
to MaaikmArt bed cart isle a cattle train coming in the
ease Iheellee. The latter etweieted of 19 waggons filled with
MIK sal lie express train, which left Preston at 6 o'clock,
eseeleted of lee grit and second class carriages. It appears
that the cattle train was ascending one of the steeped
on tie Yes, at the time, and had been impeded
retrati pperiasiiet the rails. The exproes train came
Spit it in • very earn of the line, and, consequently,
its conductors mid oat see any great distance in advance,
bet the biter euesewleil he atreetote the train so as to pre-
med tba esibien kaki • severe one. Throe of the cattle
tube were maul, sag six sheep were killed, but in the
mem tab the pmeenness were, some of them, scarcely
omissions se the Asa. lease ladies in • first-class
carriage said they MA cast linti it at all. A gentleman
tumid Dalrymple, trent Marebeeter, who was travelling in
sassing elms earriage, set a Miewekthe latlebeek henembleh
Wakened Ms eye ; and king M a delisele slate Si health,
and anger medical treelms•Lbepsebens hit the sheik sore
severely tbem he etberwfas would have done. Mr. Black-
eners procured the amisteame of • surgeon from Chorley,
sad Mr. Dalrymple, after the train had -been detained about
an hoer, wettable to go on to Manchester by it, and ap.
peered to be defog well. None of the carriages of the ex
press train were *area off the line, nor were they appa-
rently in any way Wend. A strict investigation into the
circumstances by the directors was expected to take place
yesterday.

TEE RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR OXFORD.—The
passengers who were injured by this accident are, with one
exception, progressing favourably. The report at the Rad-
cliffe Infiraoary this afternoon (Wednesday), where nine of
them are still lying, was. that eight were going on well,
bat that the old man, Faulkner, was in a most dangerous
state, so much so, that great fears ars entertained for
his recovery ; the poor man has not spoken since the
accident. He received a serious concussion of the brain.
Thomas Money, who had his cheek, noes, and forehead
eat, and his thigh much injured, has so far recovered as to
be able to leave the Infirmary for his own home in Berk-
shire. Edward Jones, of Marlborough, who Is staying at
the Anchor Inn, near the scene of the accident, is also pro-
gressing favourably, and should he continue to do so until
next week, he will leave Oxford for Marlborough. Kineb,
the guard, against whom a verdict of manslaughter has
been returned by the coroner's jury, is not yet in custody.
WET SEASON Ix 1348.—Accidentally looking into
Holinshed a few days ago, I found that our present unu-
sually wet seams is not without a parallel, indeed much ex-
ceeded ; as on that occasion the harvest mast have been a
complete failure, and dearth and disease consequently en-
sued. Providence, however, has kindly blessed us with an
average harvest; and, exclusive of the disasters attendant
upon storms and floods, I trait we shall escape any
further visitation. I annex an extract of the
in Holinshed :—" In this 22 years [of Edwarrir,
A.D. 1348), from Midsummer to Chnstatasse, for the
more part it continuallie rained, so that there was not one
day and night drie togither, by reason whereof great Bonds ,
bunted,. and the ground therewith was sore corrupted, and
mania anconueniences insued, as great siekenes, and other,
insomuch that in the years following, in France, the people
died wonderfullie in diverse places. In Italic also, and in
mania other countries, as well in the lands of the infidels as
in Christendome, this grieuous mortalitie reigned, to the
great destruction of people. About the end of August,
the like dearth began in diners° places of England, and
espeelallie in London, continuing so for the space of midge
=meths following. And upon that insued great barren-
nesse, as well of the sea as the land, neither of thooyielkl,
be-
ing such plentie of things as before they had done. Whei :
vpon vittels and earns Demme scant and hard to come
—" The Chronicles of Raphaell Holinshed," fol., V3l. 4
p. 378 (Mirk letter).—Frons " Notes and Queries."
MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAY —7'raino for week end.
1 bag Jan. 0, 1833, 1631.; 1852,1801.