The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-01 00:00:00

HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE.

THE STAMP-OFFICE r. CHARLES DICKENS'

JUDGMENT, THIS DAY.

In the Court of Exchequer this morning the Lord
Chief Baron gave the judgment of the court in the import-
ant ease of the Attorney General v. Bradbury and Evans,
relating to the question whether Mr. Dickens' "Household
Narrative " was liable to the Newspaper Stamp Act.
Baron Martin argued at great length against the applica-
tion of the tax to that publication.
Baron Platt followed on the same side, and quoted several
acts of parliament in confirmation of his opinion.
Baron Parke also cited various authorities, and contended
that tho "Household Narrative " wu clearly within the
liability of the stamp tax.
The Lord Chief Baron delivered his opinion at consider-
able length,referrin; to the " Annual Register," magazines,
&r., and pronounced his decided opinion against the appli-
cability of the tax to Mr. Dickens' glou,ehold Narra-
tive."

Verdict for the defendant accordingly.
The court was crowded to excess during the addresses of
the learned judges.

SURREY ADJOURNED SESSIONS.

THIS DAY.

These sessions commenced this morning, at the Session-
house, Newington.caseway, !retort Thomas Puckle, Eq.
chairman, and a full bench of magistrates. The calendar
contained containeds hundred prisoners for trial. among whom 87 are
for felonies, and the remainder fur misdemeanours.

The grand jury having been sworn,
The Chairman, in his address, informed them that the
calendar was much heavier 'at this time of the year than it
was last year, but that was not owing to any increase of
crime, but the alteration of the law which bad recently
taken place, giving magistrates at quarter scssioni the power
of trying a large number of asses, which formerly went to
the assizes and the Central Criminal Court.

FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.
On Thursday evening the annual general meeting
of the menthers and friend.; of the Liverpool Finmeial Re-
form Association wits hell in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-
street.

Shortly after seven o'clock the chair was taken by the
president of the association, Heinen-faux GLAINTONE, Esq.
The CRAW MAN, on taking his seat, was received with
loud and long-continued cheering. As soon as silence wan
restored, he sa,d—Gentlemen, this meeting, strictly speak-
ing, ought to have been held much earlier in the year; and
so far as my own convenience was concerned, might have
taken place in the commencement of last month ; but it oc-
curred to some of the members of the council, with perfect
good taste and right feeling, the full forte of which it was
impossible to overlook, that, as her Majesty was then
about to honour Liverpool ith a visit, the exposure
of the enormities of our financial system, as brought to
light by the etforts of this association, and reported
in the public journals, was not the most fitting
welcome for royalty, however much we have reason to
believe the natural bent of her Majesty's disposition to he
opposed to reekless extravagance and national wrong.
(Cheers.) But although, gentlemen, I have been until
the present year precluded from a very regular at-
tendance of the meetings of the council, which continue
to take place twice in each week, you must not for one
moment imagine that the great work of disseminating the
principles of the Financial Itelorm Association has heca
in any way impeded or neglected; on the contrary, the
cause has been in far more able hands; and it must have
been highly gratifying to those gentlemen, to whom alone
the credit is due, to witness the pmlilie fruits of
their labours in the very general interest excited in various
parts of the kingdom, and in the number of kindred associ-
ations that have, through their exertions, elsewhere been
called into existence. (Loud cheers.) Thus, whilst the
council have refrained from convening public meetings,
affording the reflective mind the opportunity to consider
calmly and dispassionately the statements contained in our
tracts, and to judge tbr themselves whether these things be
so or not, the current of financial reform has been wafted,
by the breeze of popular opinion, in its onward progress to-
wards the great abyss of political truth, just as the deep and
placid but irresistible stream, whose murmuring ripple
echoes the voice of just complaint in its winding course,
visits refreshes, and fertilises, us it glides along the vale
and thei meadow, until it reaches its final destination, and
mixes, at length, with the parent ocean. (Great cheering.)
The conduct of the government, and even parliament itself,
throughout the whole of last session, was much of a piece
with that of preceding years, evincing the same want of
sympathy towards the great mass of the people, who bear
the heat and burthen of the day in the shape of
taxation, that has distinguished them on all occasions. It
is true the window tax has been repealed, but in the act of
removal 11 sort of left-handed blow has been struck by the
imposition of the house tax at the same time. It must be
admitted that there is a sort of dread of financial reformers,
which, if it has not already exercised a salutary effect in
curtailing expenditure., has at least tended to check any
possible attempt to add to the burdens already in existence ;
consequently, it is not to be expected that the members of
this association are regarded with any particular favour,
either by the government or the Howe of Commons.
Thus it has been our lot, 144 it has also been with Mr. Cob
den, Mr. Bright, and some few other members, to be as-
sailed with safety to those who make the attack, in a place
either where it is well known we are not present to answer
for ourselves, or, as was the case with these gentlemen,
where their opponents were too powerful and too numerous
to afford even a fair field for discussion. Through the
great ability and untiring zeal and perseverance of Mr.
Hume, wonderful to my, a committee of the house has at
last been appointed, where the subject of taxation will, it is
to be hoped, undergo a searching inquiry. But from the
present House of Commons, as now constituted,
I fear there is little or nothing to expect.
(Hear, hear.) Even the government appear to be
aware of this evil, and contemplate bringing forward
a further measure of parliamentary reform. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DOUGLAS E. MILNE, the secretary, then read
the report, in which it was stated that the council review of
the system of indirect taxation, with a history of the fiscal
system, was brought ton close, and that it was contemplated
to publish it in a book form with a view to wider circula-
tion.

Mr. A. C. STEWART having moved the adoption of
the report,
Mr. F. BOULT seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. EDWARD BRODRIBB then, in a long and able
address, which was repeatedly cheered, moved the adoption
of the following petition
To the Honourable the Commons of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.
"'The petition of the undersigned bankers, merchants,
traders, and others, inhabitants of the borough of Liverpool.
"Humbly shewcth—That, during the last se-sion of
parliament your honourable house were pleased to order
That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the
present mode of assessing and collecting the income and
Iproperty tax, and to consider whether any other system of
evying the same, so as to render the tax more equitable,
can be adopted.' That the said select committee, on 21st
day of July last, reported to your honourable house
that the committee have determined, considering
the advanced period of the session, and the state
of the business of the house that their proceedings
be now closed; that it is not expedient,: in the present very
incomplete state of the inquiry, to report the evidence to
the house • that, in the opinion of this committee, a com-
mittee shouldi be appointed next session for the purpose of
continuing this inquiry.' That, in reference to the fore-
going, it is the opinion of your petitioners that it is a ques-
' tion requiring serious investigation, whether the present
system of taxation through the customs, excise, stamps,
licenses, and assessed taxes on carriages and servants, does
not press more unequally on the several classes of the com-
munity, and act more injuriously on the general prosperity
of the country at large, than the present income and pro-
perty tax, with all its justly complained of inequalities.
It appears, indeed, to your petitioner*, that an inquiry,
confined solely to the income and property tax, will
be unsatisfactory and incomplete. May it, therefore,
please your honourable house to take the whole sub-
ject into consideration, and to reappoint said select
committee, with instructions to extend the inquiry into the
operation of these various imposts, more especially those of
the customs and excise, in order that a full investigation
should ho made into the nature and operation of direct and
indirect taxation, and how far the burdens of taxation may
be lessened, and the pressure thereof on the commercial
and industrious classes of the country lightened, and the
collection of the amount requisite for the support of the
government and its several establishments be made more
simple, equitable, and cheap than by the existing system. '
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
"Liverpool, Nov. 27, ISM."

IRELAND.

DVALIN, "2:).

It has been arranged that the next annual meeting
and show of the Royal Irish Agricultural Society
shall be held at Galway, provided guarantee be
given that a sum of 5004 shall be supplied from
local resources to meet the expenses. The people of
Galway feel so satisfied that Mr. Wagstaff is pre-
pared to carry out his project of steam communica-
tion between New York and their town, that they
have declined making any inquiries to assure them-
selves further on the subject.
Three more estates came under the hammer yester-
day in the Encumbered Estates Court. These were
the estates of John linden Scott, in the counties of
Clare and Kerry and the city of Line:lick; of Walter
Lawrence, in the counties Galway and Mayo; and of
John W. Bayly, in the county of Tipperary. The
sale of the last-mentioned estate was adjourned on
account of the inadequacy of the biddings; and in the
other properties the majority of the lots were knocked
down at 10, 11, and 12 years' purchase on the valua-
tion ; while other lots, fur which offers amounting to
an equal rate were made, were adjourned by the com-
missioners. The gross sum realised by the day's
sales was 23,855/. Altogether this has been a great
week in the little court in Henrietta-street. Besides
those properties just mentioned, the great estates of
the Earl of Kingston in the county of Limerick, the
estates of Lord Viscount Gort, those of Sir George
Geoid, of Mr. Denroch Purcell, and others, changed
hands this week under the fiat of the commissioners.
The sales of Tuesday last realised 122,0201. ; those of
Thursday, 50,120/.; and those of yesterday, as has
been just stated, 2:1,5.15/. : making a total of iou,s9at.,
a large sum, considering, too, that much the greater
portion of it was Irish capital, for one week's sales.
The amount paid away by the commissioners this
week was 40,330/. ; making in all from the begin-
ning., 1,546,762/.
The -Vitt itin is attempting once more to sound the
feelings of Ireland in the same strain as in 1518,
though it is difficult to imagine that this can be
intended as more than a jest. Certain portentous
possibilities in the womb of 1852 are hinted at, and
the machinery of the Catholic Defence Association is
scoffed at as a thing that is only in the way. The
Nation of this morning delivers itself in the following
style:—
Row the world believes that she (Ireland) is struck down
for evermore. And, to tell the trut:4, it would be strange
if this belief had not some prevalence. Fur the effort made
to relieve the catholic people Irons the last wrong eota-
ndtted against them is iu its latest manifestation so preten-
tious mid yet SO weak a parody on the old mischievous
system of bullying agitation, that it only excites the con-
tempt of those whose raising notice it attracts. It does not
cow England ; it does not thrill Ireland ; it doe,. not even
amuse Europe. It la so hackuied and used up. The
same exploded fallacies are proclaimed to be essen-
tial dogmas of political. faith. The " ever inviolate
loyalty" pledge, the "constitutional lever, ' and the
abomination of " one drop of human blood," might
tickle the devils in all their torments to hear
them solemnly re-enunciated as the doettines of salvation
to a people whom " loyalty" and "constitutional =thin,"
and " peace-preservation," have left le gases :tad vermin.
Where this country alive to the crisis which draws imarer
every hour, and which portends revolutiod to all Europe,
from Birmingham to Naples, from St. retnborough to
Lyons; in which, as wo road the signs of the era, not all
her diplomatic caution can save England trout participa-
tion, as the soldier,pf liberty or the ally of despotism; we
might command our destiny and snatch our withheld
rights. For surely if England be involved in the convul-
sion the ravings of the old higotted ascendancy will be re-
warded with the scourge or the strait waistcoat, and the
violations. of the Titles 11111 pocketed in silence, when the
army will need to be recruited by catholic Irialimen. if
we appreciated the juncture, and were somewhat less en-
thusiastic and profane in our loyal professions; if we pre.
Jeered an ultimatum, and named America as the umpire be-
tween us, and invited some few thousand refugees to return
and witness our friendly negotiation with England, we
rattier think that the year Vi 2 (minus mintbstiy) would ace
a solution of all questions between England and Ire-
land extremely satisfactory Old profitable (to both
countries of course)." • • • a • •
But " France is on fire; Germany conspires; Italy con-
federates; Hungary takes heart; England talks demo-
cracy ; America pledges herself to the trodden nationalities ;
and Ireland—lreland, in her poor-law venture repeats her
catechism, cheers loud roaring impostors, loves her "dar-
ling little Queen" ; and will "see about it the day after the
fair."

Out of a population of 44.571 in the Mailings?
union it has been ahcertained by the relieving officers
that over 24,000 will be entitled to relief uuder the
Medical Charities Act, that is, arc pussd..ssed of no
means to pay for medical attendance themselves.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, DUBLIN.
FRIDAY.
Blltelt V. SOMERVILLE.

Mr. O'Driocoll, on Windt of the p appised to have
the trial of this ease postponed to a later diq than Monday,
and n day fixed for the trial. The chief Justice granted
the application and appointed Friday next for the trial. At
the instance of the plaintiff, summonses have this day been
served on Colonel Browne, the Hun. Major l'ansonhy, the
proprietor of the Ercniny Poll, mid Mr. Michael Staunteei.
An intimation has beck given this day to Mr. Lireh's solici-
tor, to the effect that his excellency the Lord Lieutenant
will be in attendance on whatever day his presence may be
required in court.

SAW filittliteenCe.
COURT OF I.llltElinaNCll.—SVlCapar.
SierimPs• KW two Mweni•srea-Bmeas Loot, X.IXT-
er
11111 •NP •flot etc lr
NT Lien.
Leed he touod in the list of perinns
amassed as ry.eill jurymen the aim. of his d
for all teamed
brother Hama }lards, as Samuel Martin,an
he hewer his own name might be in the list, which was veryl
p
migligirist/y made np. it contained the names:of eeverauma who hail Img ..ace left their residences, and of others
who were dead.
WALTus r. Fgre,c.—Fat-sz Inraiso. . •
In this ease the pi iintiff, who was a labouring man,
sought to rut aver (sups autism in (lamps, against Captain
17,reerie the defendant, an officer in the Koyal Artillery, for
alleged fah. imprioonment. A similar action hail been
hosught by the some plaintiff I.OIIIC time ago against another
siker, bat he del ant obtain a verdict. It appeared that
the plaintiff boil been enlisted on • Sunday evening, and
refused atm-m.llde to j his regiment, when he was taken
into custody and imprisoned as a leverter.
The whole of the ficts were stated in the evidence of
Hosabadier Ilutehinson, of the Artillery, who said—On the
18th of Apel, 11114, I sent Crowe to Sutton, in Suffolk. He
was a gunner in the Artillery. He was to serve • notice on
the plaintiff. Ile return.d with the plaintiff the same •
night to Ipswic', wh"re I was stationed on the recruiting
service.. I g ore Walton a billet. I appointed to meet him
the seat morning. He was to come to any lodgings, but be
did not come. Un the 20th I went, with others, toSattas,
but I could not hod Walton. On the 27th I went again es
Sutton, and took •Walton. Crowe and Deckhouse were
with In, W..ltom was in bed; he would not get op till I
pat a hande•sit on biro. I teak him to Woodbridge, and
then bin dau om-nilus, because he would not walk. I took
him to the horiiiieh magistrates at Ipswich for desertion;
they I, f, rr. d no. to a county magistrate. I then took him
to the tno.itr g till I could had • county magistrate.
Oa the 2thlil tiodc him befoie a county magistrate in Ips-
wich. I did not take him on the 28th, bonuses
the weather was wet. It was not above ten minutes
walk from the pool to the magietrate's. The magistrate at
Ipswich raft era .1 nve to one at Woodbridge, and I took the
plaintiff there and made • charge, and asked for • warrant
of commitaunt, but the magistrate refused to commit him.
I then ad, d him to give me a document that the plaintiff •
might I, di-charged, tut he refused to do that, saying he
did not Law. what to dn. Mr. l'ownall, who appeared far
the presom r, wished me to take the smart money. I told
him I could not comply with his wish, as it wu over the
weal term of four da),. I then took Walton bark to
Ipswich gaol and waited toe further instructions from my
commanding officer. On the let of May the gaoler refused
to keep him, end I took him away to Ipswiehbarrseks on a
charge of ilt,:rtion. Captain Freese was my commanding
officer I had communicated with him before I sent Crowe
with the notice. I had communicated to Captain Freese
that I knew where Walton was. Ile desired me to use
every tzertion to have him apprehended, and to proceed
against him in the oeual way as • deserter. When I
brought lugs to Ipswiib I reported it to Captain Freese,
who was not, however, at that time at Ipswich. I then had
sedan to take hint before • magistrate, to have him com-
mitted. Atter I had been to the magistrate, I reported the
circumstances to Captain Freese, and received instructions
to keehim as a prisoner in the guard-room. Ile remained
18 thereday*. At night he was in the cell. There was no
bed there, but three great coats, and sometimes a cloak
from the 16th Lancers. Ile had a day for maintenance.
Ile rem not allowed to sec his friends ; that is according to
the role of thy service. Sutton is 12 or 13 miles from
Ipswich. I del wit gu to the father's home with my sword
drawl,

The notice I sent was of the usual na-
ton. When Walton came I put the question to him, " Did
you enlist ?" Ile said he did. I asked him why he did not
come on the M delay morning. He said that MS master
pentiadetl him not to come; that as he was enlisted on the
Sunday evening it was not lawful. I asked him if he was
going to he attested. He said he did not know whether ha
would pay smart or be attested. I asked him if he was
free, able, and willing, and he said he was. I asked him
what he had done with the " enlistmgrit money." He said
he spent the money with liaiishouse and uthen. That is
usually the ease. lu the Imoruind he had flown. Mr.
Pownall attended for Walton, and said the enlistment was
sot legs! because it took place on a Sunday, and that
pUZZiCJ the magistrate.
J. Jossea—l was managing clerk to Taylor In 1048,
who was the agent for Mr. Puwuell. I conducted the bun-
new for the habeas corpus. The Loudon costs were
211. 'h. Yd. Al the rusts amounted to 46!. No return was
made to the habeas, but the prisoner was discharged.
Crsoweitaniined—Tin Leaden costs bane been paid.

This was the case fur the plainttlf.
The Attains,'lieneral then comended that, under the
Mutiny Aet, any action which should be brought for any-
thing dun, smiler that act should be brought within six
asenthe. Ilc also squeal that under that act the defendant
was perfectly justified in what hu had dune.
Mr. O M..llcy said that nothing in the act justified the
impriesuutent of the plaintiff without a warrant. Even
supposing the man to hare been a deserter, the only power
leader the art was to take the man before a magistrate. The
jurisdiction was taken Iron the military and given to the
civil power. The defendant could not have supposed he
vs& acting utiiier the Mutiny Act.
Lord Campbell said he was of opinion that this action was
barred by lapse of time, under the 94th sec. of the Mutiny
Let. The act declared that all actions that should be
breaght fee any act done iu pursuance of that act should
be Wrought withiu sic mouths. He abstained from giving
any opinion on this ease as to whether the imprieoument
was legal or illegal. He was not called upon to do so. The
Atturaty -General invited him to du so, but he deelined to
✓apt the invitation, and should leave that fur a future
discretion. It was clear that, in this case, the defendant
Naas* be supposed to have been acting antler this act, and
was lawfully in custody, and hail because liable to military
law. It was only fur military man that the articles of war
✓anted, and the rest of her Majesty's *abject' could not be
affected by them. We bout saying whether Captain Flees'
wee juatitivd in what he did, there could he no doubt that
be believed that he was acting iu the discharge of his duty.
Ile was of opinion that the action could nut be 'sustained.
The plaintiff was then nonsuited.
IIAWIL INS P. LORI. MAI.DEN.—CUIN. Cot.

Si, F. Tka.ger mid that the Attorney-lstneral and him-
self had salved in this eme that the jury should not be
troubled. but that a verdiat ebould be tetra by coast ut for
the plastaufr. with SINN. damage,.

MOUJIT OF COMMON PLEAS.--SATtitliAT.

*mows al Lai Pasta in Noma. i a.a.aa Ma. Rums Caws-

- -
Writ £%D 8 5P1.C1.0.11.11111f.
CHAILLWOUI, V. liaciu.-111/11 RV • Duo.

The declaration eu this INIMI charged that that defendant
had a ferocious dog. prune to bite mankind, which he W.
lowed to go at Tarp , and which bit the plaintiff. 'The
plow were nut guilty, and that the plaiaull had teased
the dog.
The plaintiff was • child shout seven years of age and he
bawl in the name of Ins father, as his neat friend, and the
defendant was u gentleman residing at Clapham. On the
day of the accident two Or the filaintitrs servants went to
the hurler's. and the animal, a spotted carriage dog, fol-
lowed them, but remained 0114011 v the shop. The plaintiff
was in the name street with hi: mother, who went into •
greengrocer's. leaving him in the whilst there he put
aria round the dog's nark, and, as he plated, " went to
bar the deg." The animal, however, did aut return the
khoulitese; but, at the runner'', bit the child severely upon
the arm. The action was found, d upon the in,jury done
upon this seraena. la order to support the uetlaration
entwines were called, who Stahl' that on three previous
screams]. the uvic bad hatter persons without provocation.
The jury found a verdict (u the plaintiff—damagen, 2.W.