The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-11 00:00:00

NEGOTIATING AN OFFICE IN THE GIFT OF

ItF.MARKAISLE APPLICATION.

THE INDIA HOUSE.
After the ordinary business had been disposed of on
Tuesiay, at • late period of the day, Mr. Clio keen, the
demister, accompanied by Mr. Lawtord, solicitor to the
East India Company, entered the justice-room of the Man-
sion-house. Mr. Wilkinson, M.l'. for Lambeth, was pre-
sent, and occupied a seat on the bench.
Mr. Clarkson, addressing the Lord Mayor, said—l have
the honour to wait upon your lordship on the part of the
Directors of the East India Company, who revest that
your lordship will be pleased to grant a summons cal ing on
Mr. Norman Wilkinson,a gentleman of great respectability,
carrying on the business of a stockbroker, and residing at
Nuffield, in Surrey, to answer to a charge of misdemeanour
upon two sections of an act of parliament, well known to
myself and a great many others, fur having been concerned
in • negotiation for an office in the gift of the E.,et India
Company. The application is made upon the 3rd and 4th
sections of the 49 Oeo. 111., cap. 126, which provide that
any person selling or bargaining for the sale or purchase of
any office in the gift of this company shall be guilty of a
misdemeanour. Words cannot be larger than those are
for the purpose of preventing not only the sale or purchase
of any office under the spin intment of the East India Com-
pany, but for every negotiation that can be conceived
towards the procuring, by means of money, any such ap-
pointment, or office of any kind whatever. I am here on
the part of the Court of Directors to represent in
effect what has been by them, not only upon
modern occasions, but for many years before, their de-
clared determination to bring to justice, if in their power,
any person or persons whomsoever, be their position what
it may, who shall be found in any degree catering into such
negotiation as is prohibited by this set of parliament, and
without regard to the party by whomsoever they may be
a,t in motion fir the object of procuring place or appoint-
ment under the East India Company. This application hes
arisen out of some suggestiou well known to your lordship.
It fell from an hon. member of the House of Commons,
upon a subject that has occasionally been referred to, and
to which reference has been so general in its quality and
application that although there has been every desire on the
part of the Court of Directors to cause this matter to be
further inquired into in a court of justice, up to this time,
they have never felt themselves in • condition to do so with
effect. It seems that on the 21st of last month an hon.
member of the House of Commons made some observations
to the effect that he was acquainted with a source from
whence there had been a declaration that the office of •
cadetship, or, at all events, some important tildes under the
East India Company, was to be obtained by money; that
the matter was so managed as that it was not very
easy to discover it or to bring it to justice, but
that it was popular—that it was quite notorious,
and that it was as little to be disputed as the feet
that they were then sitting in the House of Commons,
and speaking about it. Ido not know that lam at liberty
to go into the communications that have taken place be-
tween the Court of Directors and persons who hold high
situations for the purpose of bringing this case home to the
pastier, one of whom is now before you; but I know that
in consequence of what transpired the neat day in the
House of Commons, the honourable member who had UMW
this communication was by more than one honourable mess
her of the house appealed to, acd at length he felt himself
at liberty, having ascertained that the person from whom
he derived his information, and who was likewise hinted, a
member of the Ilouse of Commons, had, mace the tinso of
his making the statement, which it appeared was mails
without his knowledge, changed his position so as to enable
him to give such information as he was enabled to give
upon the eslject. lle mentioned the name of the honour.
able member for Lambeth as being the gentleman who had
a communication with • person who professed to be able to
dispose of an office of this description, and with whom it
would not be denied there had been a negotiation upon the
subject—the result of this negotiation, I feel happy to state,
as establishing the respectability undoubtedly of Mr. Nor-
' man Wilkinson, when he found that that negotiation had
for its object the payment of • sum of money ; when
the oath, or dee:seinen, or both, came to he laid be-
fore him, which it became necessary for him to
make upon the subject matter of that office be at once heti-
,
toted ; and indeed I think I ought to say refused any fur-
ther to participate in that negotiation. Bet the question
here is not whether or not he completed the transaction
which Le contemplated, but whether he contemplated doing
it—whether he dealt or negotiated for it, and whether he
agreed fur it subject to that discovery that he made with
regard to the declaration and oath which he was called
icon to make before that negotiation could be completed.
That being so the If:rectors of the East India Company
have thought it right to take the best advice that this
country affords as to the means within their reach of
bringing this matter home to the party to whom this nego-
tiation is principally attributed. I cannot say but them
appears reason to believe that Mr. Wilkinson participated
in this transaction so as to bring himself within the reach
of these clauses, but undoubtedly the principal (Wingless{ '
is the party against whom the directors' object is Is
be levelled, and if it be within the power of the law
to bring that party and any other party concerned
to justice, they feel themselves called upon than
publicly to declare their determination to do so. Usage
these circumstances, having consulted, as I say, and as we II
shall all agree, the highest authorities in the oouatry, this
is the course suggested to be taken before your lordship, ilo
give us the opportunity of commencing this promenade&
We have, therefore, applied here for • summons wises
Mr. Norman Wilkinson, that he may be called epos so
answer that which will resolve itself into • charge wriest
him as to his participation and share in the transaction,
and which, although not resulting in its completion at the
time when he made this discovery, and felt himself at
liberty to withdraw from it, will, as it appears to me, abuse.
dandy bring the charge home to him within the meaning
of the act of parliament. I propose to ask your lordship for
a summons, charging him with unlawfully bargaining with
a swain person, whale name is unknown, for the purchase
Si a certain office, the nature of which is perfectly imma-
terial, because that will be the result of further inquiry, if
your lordship think I have made out a case for granting
the summons, and also to endeavour, by such means as are
in our power, to connect the remaining party with the
Mateenotims who made these offers to Mr. Wilkinson, for
whisk ha has been negotiating. I propose, therefore, to cell
the respectable brother of Mr. Norman Wilkinson, Mr. Wen.
A. Wilkinson, who is member for Lambeth, and to put a few
questions to him upon this subject, with • view to enable
me to ascertain whether there can be any doubt as to the
dare in the transaction which he attributes to his brother.
lir. W. A. Wilkinson,M.P. for Lambeth, was then
WWI, and in answer to questions put to Mm by Mr. Clark-
son, said—l have a brother of the name of Norman Wil-
liams, a stock dealer, in London, and living at Nutfield,
ha dutvey. I remanber the subject matter of a discussion
in the House of Commons, on the night of the 21st ult.,
and also of another discasion at the same plane...sad in
which I participated. on the 22nd. In consequence of a
conversation that I bad with my brother, I made a cam-
mamisatica to the honorable member for Manchester (Mr.
MOO a week or two ago. My brother had a son, whom
he wheal to seed out to India, and, I behave, he wished to
procure soma appointment for him. I think he told me, •
year-and-a-half or two years ago, that he had had an offer
of such an appointment—l so understood him—in the ser-
vice of the East India Company.
Mr. Clarkson—Did you learn from your brother from
whom he had had that offer ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, I did.
/Ir. Clarkson—Will you have the goodness to WI a
his name ?
Mr. Wilkinson—l have first of all to say that Ima or
evadingly unwilling to do anything in any way to oh*
the course of justice, but I consider this to have been • oar
fidential communication from my brother to me. I know
that he feels himself conscientiously bound not to disclose
the name of that party, and as I also feel bound in the
same way not to do so, I must decline the answer to that
question.
Mr. Clarkson—Does your hesitation to give me am
answer arise out of a belief from your part in that coneeter
lion with your brother that the transaction was an Wm-
Int transaction ?
Mr. Wilkinson—My objection arises from the fast that
my brother considers himself bound not to divulge the
name of the party, from having, I believe, said that be would
net do en, and I feel equally bound, as my brother made •
eensmunication of that sort to me which I consider madden-
' dal, not to disclose the name of the party.
Kr. Clarkson—Then if I understand you, at all events,
whatever may be the motive which influences you (and I
am only now referring to you), you decline to answer the
question?
Mr. Wilkinson—l do.
bir. Clash-sue—And you refuse to answer the question
who it is?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, I do. Ido not do Ibis contuma-
ciously. I wish to explain to the court distinctly that Ido
it from a conscientious motive—gropes a feeling or obligation
on the pat of my brother and myself not to divide Ik,

Mr. Clarkson—However, whether I am right or wrong,
you decline to answer the question ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, I think I must take the conse-
quences. I think lam bound in honour not to divulge tho
name. Ido not think I ought to do so.
Mr. Clarkson—Will you be so good as to relate to the
Lord Mayor the substance of the conversation between your-
self and your brother as to this negotiation of his, if be bad
any, fur any situation under the East India Company's
service.

Mr. Wilkinson—Well, it was not in eny particular eon.
venation, but in several conversations, and I cannot charge
myself with a distinct recollection of all the particulars.
I can only give the court a very general impression of what
I understood to take place at the time. Ido not knowv
exactly when the time was. It may have been a year and
a half or two years age. I do not know, but my impres-
sion is that my brother communicated to me.that he had had
an offer made to him of an appointment in the East India
Company's civic,. My impression is that my brother com-
municated to me that he had had an offer from some friend
of his of such an appointment. After that I understood
that he had been given to understand by this party that he
expected something in return fur that appointment. After
that he communicated to me that he had ascertained still
, further that he should be obliged, he found, to sign some
declaration that he bad not given any consideration for
this appointment, and that in consequence of that he had
declined to have anything more to do with it, and that is in
substance all that I know about it.
Mr. Clarkson—l should have thought that Mr. Wil-
kinson would have given us some account of what took
place as to this matter in the House of Commons.
Mr. Wilkinson—l decline to give you any account of
what took place in the House of Commons. I shall stand
upon my privilege there. lam very willing to relate the
transaction as far as I know.
Mr. Clarkson—You say that your brother mentioned his
friend. Was it a friend whom he had known for some
time ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yee.
Mr. Clarkson—For several years ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Several years, I should thick.
Mr. Clarkson—Was it a member of the Direction of the
East India Company ?
Mr. Wilkinson—l do not think I am called upon to answer
that. Ido not want you to get from me indirectly that
which directly I refuse to give you. I do not feel myself
called on to give you any information which may lead you
to the name of this party. Any other information I can
give you lam very willing to give. Wo feel ourselves
bound by a moral obligation not to disclose the name of this
party.
Mr. Clarkson—But you may be bound by a legal oblige.
tinn to do so.
Mr. Wilkinson—Of that I must take the consequences•
The party was not a director of the East India Company.
Mr. Bodkin (who appeared on the part of Mr. Norman
Wilkinson, to watch the proceedings) at this stage of the I
investigation requested the witness in detailing any con-
versations with his brother, not to state conclusions of his
own, but to coo line himself to specific words as far as be
could remember them.
Mr. Clarkson—l do not understand in what capacity my
friend appears here.
Mr. Bodkin-1 am here very legitimately. We have had
notice thatthere was to be au application made for a sum-
mons, and through the courtesy of Mr. Lawford we have
been positively invited to attend.
Mr. Wilkinson further stated that his brother, Mr.
Norman Wilkinson, having communicated to another friend
of his the circumstance of his being in treaty for the ap-
pointment in question, that other friend informed him that
he was doing an illegal act—that he would have to sign a
, declaration at the India-house that he had given no consi-
deration whatever for such an appointment, upon which
he had withdrawn from the negotiation, and declined to
. have anything farther to do in the matter.
Mr. Clarkson—Where was this conversation that you bad
with your brother?
Mr. Wilkinson—ln the City.
Mr. Clarkson then submitted that the alleged offence
having been committed in the City, the jurisdiction of the
Lord Mayor was indisputable.
A summons was then granted.

GREAT FIRE IN GOLDENSQUARE.

Yesterday morning, between twelve and one
o'clock, a fire of alarming magnitude, and destined to
destroy an immense amount of property, broke out on the
extensive premises of Mr. Kirkman, pianoforte-maker, in
Dulaur-place, Broad•street, St. James's. The flames were
not perceived until they shot forth in a body, encircling the
greater portion of the extensive works. The engines of the
Brigade and West of England Office were soon on the spot,
as well as the Royal Society's mimes. The fire-mains in
the neighbourhood having been drawn, a plentiful supply
of water was parzured, and streams of it were distributed
over the blaring pile, without appearing in the least to
abate the fl tines, which speedily communicated to the pre-
mises of Mr. Sibley, a silversmith, the St. Edward's Catholic
Infant Schools, both in Dittoes-place, and also to the pre-
mises of Mr. Lloyd, tailor, No. 85, Peland-street, Mr. Veal,
No. 68, in the same street, Mr. Abbott, No. 57, Mr. Leslie,
carpenter, No 58, and Mr. Lewis, No. 59. The whole of
the West-end was speedily illuminated by the fire,
and thousands of burning fishes, drifted by the
wind, kept falling upon the houses a great distance.
The firemen, under the direction of Moan. Braidwood,
Staples, and Conflation, kept to their work, but in spite of
their exertions the work of destruction continued, and five
hours elapsed before the firemen were masters of the flames.
Three of the firemen of the brigade were so injured by the
falling of a wall that they were obliged to be conveyed to
; their houses.

The following is the official account of the damage and
statement of the insurance offices which will be affected by
the firs:
Aug. 20, 1853.—Called to • fire at 20 minutes past 12
a.m., at the pre.nises of Messrs. Kirkman and Co., piano-
forte makers, Dufour's-plan, Oolden-square ; the follow-
ing is the return :
Datelines-plan. —Mr. Kirkman's workshop's—A large
patient of stock of pianofortes, tools, &c., destroyed ; the
other warehouses and workshops on the aide damaged by
fire and water; two carts and hones saved. All insured
in the Imperial and Westminster Offices.
Nos. 9 and 10. Messrs. Sibley, silversmiths, and Mr
Geary, tailor; the house, ike., of Mr. Sibley, totally con.:
slimed. Not insured. Mr. Osary's property damaged by
fire, water, and removal. Not insured.
Broad-street.—No. 20. Mr. Gould, printer and pub-
lisher, °agents damaged. Insured in the Sun and Royal
Rackange Fire Offices.
Poland-street—No. 00. Mr. .1. Cooke, builder, back
front and workshops behind damaged. and partly eon.

earned by fire and water. Not insured.
No. 69. Mrs. Lewis, private ; at the back of which is a
baptist chapel; roof partly destroyed, and contents, by
fire and water; roof of chapel damaged. Insured is the
Sun, and Globe Offices.
No. M. Mr. George Lesley, carpenter and builder ; back
of workshops, Ac., behind, damaged by fire and water.
Insured in the Defender Office.
N 0.57. Mr. A-thur Abbott, let out in tenements; back
fronts damaged by fire. Not insured.
No. 66. Mr. A. Veale, let oat in tenemeats. Contents
not insured; building in the Law Company.
No. 65. J. Lloyd, tailor ; like damage. Contents in-
sured in the Lancashire and Law Offices.