The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 15, 1847.

IRELAND.

llt.isim, Oc-r. 13.

The returns new being furnished by the police ex-
hibit the state of the rural population in a very dis-
tressing light. The census is, of course, incomplete,
but enough has transpired to aggravate an alarm
already sufficiently intense. One case will illustrate
the condition of a very large portion of the country.
It is fetched from a county whose resources are far
greater than the average districts of Ireland—the fer-
tile Tipperary—and may be relied upon as authentic.
The police return comprised a number of townlando,
containing 8,000 acres. Two resident gentlemen occu-
pied between them about 700 acres, and the remainder
was cut up into small holdings. Throughout the entire
district there are not fifty acres of potatoes; and one-
third of the occupiers have not a four-footed beast.
Already there is scarcity. The general food of the
lower description of farmers is the stunted turnip,
which is roasted and eaten with salt—a most unpa-
latable substitute for the potato. Of course, through-
out this extensive waste, rents and taxes have but a
poor chance of liquidation. If matters be thus in the
neighbourhood of the " Golden vein," how stand
they along the barren and uncultivated coast of Con-
naught?
The fast rising distress is about to produce a strong
and unprecedented step on the part of the Roman
catholic bishops. You are aware they anticipate their
usual time of meeting by a month. On Tuesday
next they enter into conclave, and if report speak
truly they will carry their complaints, or rather the
reflections of the popular complaints, to Lord John
Russell, and should the interview not prove satis-
factory, even to the very foot of the throne ! I have
heard it stated that a deputation will first wait on
the premier, passing over the Lord Lieutenant as less
able than willing to give assistance ; and if the reply
of ministers fall short of the heirarchical hopes, the
deputation will then humbly solicit an interview with
Queen Victoria. This is a bold course; and rely on
it that nothing short of the most critical emergency
would influence such sober-minded men to go
on an embassy to London. It is altogether
a most serious business. I may add that
the universal feeling is one of forbearance and
kindness towards the ministry. They have un-
equalled difficulties to vanquish. May they summon
" the stout heart to the steep brae !"
The Mayo gentry once more fall into the ranks,
and harmonise with the government. The Swinford
guardians have addressed the Earl of Clarendon is a
very gratulatory vein, and treated the people of Eng-
land with a full weight of panegyric for their late
unparalleled generosity. Sir W. Somerville, on be-
half of his excellency, replies in a similarly kind
spirit. As to the repayment of advances, he says
the government will proceed with every possible for-
bearance, and with a due regard to the depressed
state of many of the unions in which the poor law is
to be put in operation.
The Court of Exchequer will sit five days at Nisi
Prins next term instead of three. This, however, is
only temporary, and has originated in the heavy
arrear list of records remaining over from preceding
after-sittings.
A deputation from the Irish Fisheries Company lately
organised, had an interview yesterday, with the
Lord Lieutenant. Sir Edward Borough having
stated the objects of the company and the proposed
plan of its operations, the Earl of Clarendon expressed
nis deep interest in the success of such a branch of the
national resources, and accepted with pleasure the
honour of patron. The Marquis of Lansdowne is also
among the number.

DEPUTATION FROM THE COUNTY OF CLARE
TO THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.
This day, at 2 o'clock, a deputation, composed of the High
Sheriff of the county of Clue, Sir L. O'Brien, Burt., M.P.,
Sir E. Fitzgerald, Col. Vandeleur, Capt. Francis M'lsramara,
and William Fitzgerald, Esq , waited on his excellency the
Lord Lieutenant, at the Viceregal-lodge, for the purpose of
presenting the idbwing address
to Y 4 ICIZZLIJIPCT ILUtL CLARCOPON, LORD LI crraugANT AND OE-VIRAL

OVVEZJIAM siazawb.w..
•T IM Mils ear Maar mellow, la tles laws reinnettni
tmeneneen, end to the pertornare of a pia bet unavoidable
*Mg, we lid aselerr Mae Nara sited ea be offir oar anew-
laterahr the sat an lanai gernmeer, her Ire
saleasue teenprersergredisareas
heaver stades area was proonslialdes='eft!
sallerage efthemaiestallaisnelmptreemmurearkience
Wet Masa poilibi be area in what a a angry now
warm ma essmatel leas et amiss et sal M-
a Wham arempera We Mee la inatted
°jot= row faerea the Names calla et ofir ...try
In seemedse with the lam la Ad, wrr a bed es with pro-
lamine raisidipa. lama area, Rh enimetet,:=
ary sea then metraeL Ws de net bell
tie theirmals.-71se taker mi late
In mien of ISM it was the erh mega et ad
Oat by the nevarest in the which
la lamer dr paha of Iriels It bees cam
bred with Moir resseren or In a pair ct wary rase It
have pissed a Male a argot; bet when the swhal
ally 10 ihr omen oil rW4seta.gni when the satire
destitute paha et Mad, My as well es faseiteri. the sled,
the infirm, sad the elgaered. wen thrown this alas re-
name, it In an ear the pram sot pre-
sentreste rmy et Om aresangeer 41•11.11n7 seesesees—others,
whose sole assemad In the reed they arilid—mate fehm
be meals* pad by ths hal peopeary=
whose eserlat bralen or pmt MillndllannllPSlO
not amerft IlyanpweYr of gereaset elan a often,
and net by the arm ft •
Yet, notwitheleadhig the sera, seingehitiVerg=tht
acted, we set eallelpt• thee premineests grail meths hlth
=aphid thalweg fete err shoe new elisafid, left m-
eridiem& men the ordinary BM valid normass a the
eountry.llie tam, we Mee Men told in sa Mal reel, le • area-
rial, that letting werinniaiseed to the seanakerthemperve rert
Judea, whisk arandieg the mai of the May, em
:Wl%area that there works 1611 EN est entihne ea the
et Meta Is the Serena Mask or Mier the 12th of
AusaG 111.:Le tyt:o=tpros:=•tell=l
and area babas who tad meineenign wYL the Lear Rate
AM, nor power to ear Its operation. Seek • seaunialle te be
now used as an mast, should have la Wag to the=
the " extraordinary mane" of the apne alrra Me
these path ed abs &strop= deer has an Mar an
opportunity to q r Withdraw hal we her. le sere that
many of these wee shateedlaraireoademer,
and while untapeeded beam fared en ban Ma were
=rd for Mir easeutim AM we tar mat the
atßate Act, in its 20th scedon, maismanst "Mk'
Mee works, even after the 15th if Amp& gen
that no extraordinary sessions shall be COtillinek DOT verb am-
menced after this date; but it does net suggest that wens tam-
awed bear should not be finished subsequently to the date in
question. But we much miscalculate sour esaellanay, It pee will
new the important question at issue On the name male el • strict
legal interpretation, or of the obscure intasatiM a se sad pestles
menu. We respeedully call on your exeellenny le terns ear proper-
We
ties and future remnant from the evil. ash new sea us.
suggest to your excellency's coneideration the Mary gasses about
being claimed by the landed proprietors of thementry, Ma, in most
eases, would not be sought, or could not be aware, hiel those roe&
been liniahrti, enteral of bleb are calculated, II tells apimod>, to fad-
litatc the internee...es of the country, to dame the svmutural
capabilities of the soli, end to secure advito the properties
through which they run mere then the mom ins
volved. We earnestly all your excs areas to the
renewal of that alarming destitution whkb now treaters the people
of this country, not so much hem a deficient supply of find, se horn
the want of all means for its purchase. We submit the completion of

leers roma would see In , the egad= months et Muter, innhiable
Mem laberrng diode nee semworrolvely
eme= we mit smart, be lb= new= dr
Rend nitroeloYds sermagrenZ Ale emers= they ga-
med our leemed ghee,. Theseendjegy spa emu= les web
17 hall-yeedy =gourmt ; bet =kr 1y pa est, cm the
faith of Mika ems peomememe eon pedelore bad ten men
far me m= Apia the tier rate sat gmeles for Its
itlke a. lir lee= et es poor rale while grand
lon taxa= bib ambadedy wpm the
en see the mown*, at mai *kw =To
Gft randis el =Um end Me tornating. and =
prude= wintio, w dim= game coedit
Der gasaeb d itee.r,l%c
etrien fts. elremmeameore
your esailisay • now I alma d=ory for gale dGogh prommiri, whom men she be amenreale
govommomenglemeu se le gannet georens; neessosty....
to le le =gni m the MINITS osemdm ad bagger
in este room gad by gni l=alase= It Berner= shall
at. Or Us= • semplinase with this, oar respeetful but elm=
andintle.=r rpm eraellenoy to amid the ordinary powers
of the such easy urgently =tem et
your esselleney=rl;esintregeterre tarthwith to arm=
pullammt. regeorlyos isr se neer perisige, &condition &tarp I
eke degingehle End reenempai.
The Led Urger= received the deputation with the
great= senresey, a= catered minutely into a
Rio excellency
did not return the deputation any written reply; all that
occurred was smonly of a conversational nature. Rig excel-
lency, whilst be deplore the wretched state into whickthe
country had ham plienced, held out no hope that the prayer
of the memorial, es tar as related to a loan of money, could
be granted. la bet the present state of monetary affairs in
England precluded the government from recommending
such a course to parliament.—Mr. Redington and Mr. Cony
Connell= were In attendance upon his excellency.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
There are two counties from which we have accounts to-
day, the complexion of which are at once embarrass-
ing and melancholy. The one is Tipperary, the other
Mayo. It is unnecessary to say that Tipperary is that to
which the former is applicable ; Mayo that which justifies
the latter. The conditisn of Tipperary presents one succes-
sion of outrages and robberies of arms and property. Armed
parties are aid to prowl about at night, and intimidation has
proceeded to such a height as to put a stop to local legisla-
tion. There was hardly a single summons decided at'
Nenagh on last Saturday, as the witnesses were afraid to
come in to give evidence. In one place an armed party fired
into a dwelling-house ; in =ether, two met- entered a red-
dance to search for arms. By good luck these were cap-
tured. On one aide we have a house fired over the
sleeping inmates, who happily escaped with life ;
in another, the windows were demolished, but the resist-
ance manifested forbade further violence. A cow is shot on
one macs estate, a horse on another, and a third going out
at night finds the best sheep of his flock under the knife—al
thief deliberately skinning it ; a fourth loses wool and butter
by these leviers of contributions. Such is Tipperary. Mayo
is all physical suffering—the more pitiable because it is borne
with patience so exemplary. It is positively stated that the
few potatoes tilled there have been attacked by the potato
rot, which is making great ravages, and the poor law has not
been, nor can it for many weeks, owing to local circum-
stances, be brought into operation. The district of Ennis,
larger in extent than some Irish counties, is wretched be-
yond even the other portions of the county. There is very
little tillage, so the people were totally without seed
in spring or summer, and the landlords, who,
with one or two exceptions, the local journal de-
scribes as "beggars," were unable to advance them any.
The whole corn ullarfe would perhaps not cover one hundred
acres—so says the Mayo Constitution; and as there is no
labour to be had, the position of the wretched inhabitants
may be easily judged. Already they are reduced to live on
turnip tope, which they boil, and, thickening the water with
a little Indian meal, consume it for food—toe happy if they
have it daily.
On Saturday, IR convicts front Waterford and 47 from
Clonmel entered Cork, and were transmitted thence to the
convict prison in Spike Island. This prison is calculated to
accommodate 400 inmates. There are 1,400 processes and
30 ejectinents for hearing at the present quaver sessions for
Cluumel.

SCOTLAND.
EDINRCROH, OCT. 13.
The town council of Edinburgh has unanimously
resolved that application be made to the Highland
Destitution Fund for repayment, for fever purposes,l
of 4,0001. of the 10,0001. contributed by the city for
the relief of Highland and Irish distress. It is not
very likely that the board will comply with this re-
quest, and it is doubtful if they can legally be com-
pelled to do so. The question, then, recurs, if with
fever raging amongst them the Edinburgh community
should not put their hands anew into their pockets,
in order to adopt such immediate sanitary improve-
ments as the exigency calls for, and not allow the
plague to make head, while an irregular, and probably
fruitless, controversy is being carried on between the
council and destitution boards. Edinburgh is regu-
larly visited by fever, and it had its share of cholera ;
but by neither visitation have its rulers learnt wisdom.
Sixteen years have elapsed since the latter scourge
visited the northern metropolis ; and yet while the
seat of one of the ablest medical schools in the world,
with no manufactures, and with natural advantages
singularly favourably to salubrity, what has
been done during these sixteen years to miti-
gate the severity of the dread Asiatic pestilence should
it again unfortunately visit us ? Incidentally some
improvements have been made, such as builders, for
better investment of money, knocking down old tene-
ments and raising new erections, and capitalists
opening suburban cemeteries. But what direct efforts
have been made to improve the health of the town ?
Have quadrupeds been expelled from dwelling-houses,
or water been coursed down closes which, having
neck-breaking inclinations, are hydraulically. adapted
for spontaneous cleansing? Have piggeries been
cleared away from the Water of Leith, where cholera
first broke forth ; or has the said Water of Leith been
allowed to run in its primeval channel ? Is it not
still a disgusting mass of stagnant putridity, in order
that a few meal-mills may be supplied, and that most
lamely, with motive power ? Is it not the receptacle
of all the filth and sewers of the city, which crowd
upon its surface so pestiferously, that even its natural
volume of water, if allowed to run entirely, would
have to meander turgidly through solid deposits that
something like Ganges momentum could alone in-
fluence? Have inter-mural churchyards been shut up?
Have fever hospitals been opened in airy situations,—in
fine has anything purely and not incidentally sanitary
been done? It is all very well to ask the present
able Lord Provost to remain in office for another year,
in order that the new sanitary bills may be expedited;
but why should not his lordship, and those who sit in
council with him, not have thought of these things
before? There is nothing in the present juncture
that calls for reformation one iota louder than it did
within the last five, ten, or fifteen years. But we are
not grumblers, and are quite alive to the "better late
than never" philosophy. Let the matter now be taken
up earnestly, and we shall be contented. A tithe of
the energy bestowed on theological controversy would
do the whole business.

Fax OF GLASOOW.—The MIS Fay, whole cue has
already been before the police and the public in reference to
the alleged fatal injury and confinement of his wife, has
been apprehended at the instance of the sheriffs' offidals,
and recommitted on the charge of culpable homicide.
PROVINCIAL.

THE MURDER At CARIASLE.—The inquest on
Mary Harlin, who was killed by her husband, a travelling
tinker, was concluded on Friday last, and a verdict of wilful
murder was found against the husb sod, Peter Harlin. The
husband at the time was in gaol, suffering severely from
erysipelas, produced by a blow which it was believed had
been given to him by Charles M'Mianis, another travelling
tinker, in a scuffle to ascertain which was "the better man.'
The symptoms gradually assumed a more dangerous form,
and terminated fatally at twelve o'clock on Saturday,pist
within a week of his wife's death. Two days have since
been (occupied by the coroner in investigating the cause of
Ha fin's death, and the inquiry has resulted in the acquit-
tal of hlldinnis, who was in custody on suspicion of having
inflicted the fatal wound during the hay.
_ STAFFORDEIHRE.

•
CHARGE OP STEALING A BILL OF EXCHANGE FOR
1,0001. AT WEDNlABTRY.—Considerable interest prevailed
at Wolverhampton on Saturday morning to hear the par-
ticulars of the charge of felony which had been preferred
against Mr. Henry Pitt, of the firm of Pitt and Maybury,
Victoria Ironworks, Wednesbury, who had been remanded
from Thursday on a charge of stealing a bill of exchange
for 1,0001. from Mr. Thomas Lee, clerk in the bank of the
Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Banking Company.—H.
Hill, Esq., depend :—I am the manager of the Wolver-
hampton and Staffordshire Banking Company's bank atWol-
verhampton, in this county. On Wednesday, the 6th Oct.
last., I received from London a bill for 1,0001. noted for
non-payment. The bill was dated Liverpool, let of July,
1847, payable three months after date, drawn by Higgins
Brothers, upon Pitt and Maybury, Victoria Works, Wed-
nesbniy, accepted by Pitt and Maybury, at Spooner and
Co's., bankers, London; due the 4th of October instant. The
bill bore the endorsement of " Higgins Brothers," and then
nest " Pro George Jones, John Jones," This bill bad been
received @Atha bank in part liquidation of Mr. 0. Jones's
amount. Having been informed that Higgins Brothers
were insolvent, I adopted the course not unusual at our
establishment of presenting the bill to the acceptors, as it
sometimes happens that the bill has been returned by mis.
take. I directed Mr. T. Lee, one of the clerks in the bank,
to go to Messrs. Pitt and Maybury's and require payment
of the bill. He went and returned without the bill. I then
directed him to get a warrant fur felony against the party
who deprived hint of it. I have not had any communication
with Mr. G. Jones, nor with any one on his behalf respecting
this bill. I say this in consequence of it having been insi-
nuated that I am aiding Mr. 0. Jones in some dispute
between hint and Pitt and Maybury.—Cron-examined
by Mr. Serjeimt Allen, who appeared for prisoner: Mr. G.
Jones keeps an account with our bank. He is a manufac-
turer of inn, and is a man in very good circumstances. I
cannot tell, without the books, the exact day on which this
bill was received in the bank. Mr. George Jones has over.

r drawn his account at the bank. He is sot a partner in the
bank. lam not aware that he has any shares ia the com-
pany. The bill in question came into the beak with others,
from Mr. George Jones in the regular way. lam aot pre-
ps/red to say who brought the bill to the bank. As far 41 my
knowledge extends the bill might have been brought into
the bank by any one else, but I placed it to Mr. George
Jones's it. I have bad no communication with Mr.
Jones respecting the bill from that time to the present mo-
meet.—Mr. Serjeant Allen, addressing the magistrates, said
he supposed there would be no difficulty as to the production
of the books. The article alleged to have been stolen
being a security for money, it was necessary to show, in
order to enable Mr. Hill to appear there as prosecutor,
that the bank became paused of it for a valuable conaide-
I ration. Therefore, he apprehended it was necessary that
the books should be produced.—Mr. Leigh said it was essen-
tial to the prosecution that there should he a property iu the
note and possession. That Mr. Hill had proved possession
could not be doubted.—Mr. Hill : I have myself endorsed
the bill to our bankers in London.—Mr. Leigh : Mr. Hill
' swears that this bill had been paid to the account of one
' Mr. Jones. Does not that make it the property of the bank ?
—Mr. Serjeant Allen : If nothing else appeared, that
would be so; but if he were merely the depositee of the
note which hati been obtained by fraud by Jones, that
would not enable him to prosecute for a felony. Mr.
Hill must establish a property in this note. That he can
only do by showing he has given a consideration for it,
because otherwise he would hare no right to sue en the
note.—Mr. Leigh • Supposing that the clerk at the bank had
neglected to enter up credit Serjeant Allen: All that
Mr. Hill knows of the note is that there was a note endorsed
by Mr. George Jones, and that it was entered to the credit of
Jones, hut by whom it was delivered Mr. Hill cannot say.—
Mr. Hill : It would not appear by the books es to who paid
it into the bank.—Mr. Serous. Allen But we do not know
what would appear unless the books were produced.—Cross-
' examination of Mr. Hill resumed : I have never had aay
conversation with Mr. lone', or with any one on his behalf
relative to a transaction with Mr. Pitt. I have never heard
from Jones that he held a quantity of iron which was to be
delivered to Pitt, for which the bill had been
given, but which iron had never been delivered. I
have been told that Higgins are now insolvents. The
bill was paid into the bank in the regular way. I have
had no communication with any tone on Mr. Jones's behalf.
Mr. Mill added that he might as well state that he bad given
aotice to all the parties of the dishonour of the T.
Lee examined: I am a clerk in the Wolverhampton and
Staffordshire Banking Company's Bank in this town. Mr.
Hill, the manager of the bank, gave me a thousand pound
dishonoured bill, and directed me to present it to Messrs.
Pitt and Maybury. The bill Mr. Hill has been speaking of
is the same bill, and I copied it into a book before I took it.
When I arrived at the Victoria Works, I saw Mr. Pitt and
another person. I exhibited the bill to Mr. Pitt, holding it
in my hand. He came and read it over. I told him it was
dishonoured, and I asked him if be would favour me with the
cash, or the reason why it was returned. Mr. Pitt then said
that Mr. Maybury was about the works and he would send
for him, or he would be in shortly. Mr. Pitt then went out
of the office, and took the poem who was in the office
with him. I put the bill into my pocket before Mr. l'itt
went out. Mr. Pitt returned in a few minutes into the
office. He said he had sent a messenger for Mr. May-
bury, and he would be in shortly. Mr. l'itt then walked
round the desk to where I was standing, and lie then
said, " Let me see, what are the expenses of the bill ? I
suppose we must do something with it when Mr. May-
bury comes in." I took the bill out of my pocket again,
and was in the act of opening it to inform Mr. Pitt what
the expenses were (my eyes being directed to the bill),
when Mr. Pitt made a violent snatch at the bill and
snatched it out of my hands. He then crushed it up in his
hand, and said, " There now, you shall never have that
bill again." It was the same bill that I took to him
by the ditection of Mr. Hill. I said to Mr. Pitt, " Why
so ?" He said, " I have never received value for the bill.
If Mr. Jones will let me have my pig iron, I will pay the
bill." I said to him (advancing towards him) " Then
you say I shall not have the hill. do you ?" He then
rose his arm over me, and said " I'll never part with it,
I'll suffer death first." Mr. Pitt was very much excited,
and I thought he would strike me if I attempted to get the
bill back again. After a short time his passion abated,
and I then told him I should charge him with robbing me.
He said he did not care, he would stand his trial, and
undergo the lash of the law. Mr. Pitt wished me to wait
until Mr. Maybury came, and I did so. In about an
hour after, Mr. Maybury came, and I told hint what my
business was. Mr. Pitt said, " I have taken possession of
the bill, and wish to speak with Mr. Mayburv." They
then left me in the office, rind went out together. In a
few minutes after I followed them to the warehouse. I
there saw Mr. Pitt, Mr. Maybury, mid Mr. George Jelli-
coe. Mr. Jcllicoe said, " You are come about the bill."
I told him I was, and that Mr. Pitt had snatched it out of
my hands. Mr. Pitt was then walking about, and was
within hearing. Mr. Jellicoe said they had been stating
the case to him, and he recommended them to give the bill
up. Mr. Pitt was then only two or three yards from Mr.
Jellicoe. Mr. Jellicoe said that Mr. Pitt was mad, and that
I must not take any notice of him. I said that I must either
have the bill, or Mr. Pitt must go with me to Wolverhamp-
ton, and see if he could arrange it with Mr. Hill. After
some time, Mr. Pitt agreed to go to Wolverhampton with
me. He got his gig and drove me as far u the Blue Pig at
Bilston. He wiehed me to wait till Mr. Maybury arrived.
I demanded the bill, and said I would not wait any longer.
He said he had given the bill to Mr. Maybury.
Mr. Pitt stopped :at the Blue Pig, but a man
drove me part of the way in Mr. Pitt's gig to
Wolverhampton. The bill has never been restored to the bank.
Mr. Serjeant Allen addressed the bench in explanation of the
circumstances under which the bill was given, and stated
that ne consideration hail been received for it by the ac-
ceptors.—Ultimately Mr. Hill rose, and, addressing the
magistrates, said, I think after the lucid explanation which
has been given by the learned serjeant, I shall have no ob-
jectiou (with the sanction of the bench) to take back the bill,
and to be satisfied that Mr. Pitt may have been mistaken in
the matter.—Mr. Serjeant Allen: I am most anxious to
show that, up to this moment, Mr. Pitt has committed no
felony.—Mr. Leigh : Are you prepared to give up the bill
—Mr. Serjeant Allen: I should say certainly yes.—
Mr. Leigh : Will you consult with your client?—
Mr. Serjeant Allen : I do not think it necessary to consult
with him on the subject. I should say it would be highly
improper for him to detain the bill after what has been stated.
—Mr. Leigh : We must have the bill handed up here before
we can come to any decision.—The bill was here produced,
and handed by Serpent Allen to Mr. Leigh. It was identi-
lied by Mr. Leigh, addressing Mr. Hill. said: I
understand that if we should think it can be legally done,
you will withdraw proceedings ?—Mr. Hill : Yes; all I want
is the bill.—Mr. Leigh, addressing Mr. Serjeant Allen,
then said : As you have shown a disposition to shorten
the proceedings, perhaps it would be as well to state
what our impression is, and in what way this inquiry may be
terminated. Ido not entirely go with you in all your ar-
guments as to larceny. If it is proved that this bill is in the
possession of the bank, and they have legal possession of it,
and the bill is taken by violence against the will of the
party holding it, and for the benefit of the party who takes
it, that comes very near the definition of larceny. The
only difference is that the bill is taken in an unusual way.
Usually, when a larceny is committed, there is some con.
ceahnent of fraud, but if a party chooses to set law at de-
fiance, and openly to rob a person on the highway, although
he may be very near other persons, and the party himself
be very respectable, it is very difficult to draw the line
between larceny and that offence. It is a most outrageous
thing for a masts" do ea, but it is possible be may have
done it from hasty temper and mistake as to his rights.—
Mr. Serjeant Allen: If this were an ordinary chattel, un-
doubedly he would not be justified in so taking posses-
sion of it; but the seizing of a paper of this kind is made
larceny by set of parliament. At common law the taking
of this bill would not be a larceny at all; but in order to pro-
vide for this difficulty, a statute has been passed, which, by
special enactment, makes such valuable securities the subject
of larceny, and it accompanies it with certain conditions ; it
must be a bill in which the prosecutor shall have such a
right that it shall be due to him and unsatisfied." Now
this bill would not be "due and unsatisfied "if it were
fraudulently obtained.—Mr. Leigh : It is possible that under
high temper and under exasperated feeling, finding that he
had been made the dupe of interested parties, he may have
violeatly taken the law into his own hands, and subjected
himself to this charge. Although we are inclined to think
that most, indeed all of the ingredients of Limey are to be
found in this case, yet taking into consideration his sta-
tion, the claim of right, and his having been defrauded,
and not having received value for the bill, he may at the
moment have acted in this way from violence of temper.
We are bound to give Mr. Pitt the benefit of every doubt
we may have, and taking into consideration all the cir-
cumstances of the case, we think we may, contiatently
with public justice, and at the request of the prosecutor,
Mr. Hill, on behalf of the bank, consent to the proceed-
ings being foregone, because although we think that the
ingredients of larceny are to be found in this case, Mill it
is such an extraordinary transaction that we are willing to
give every doubt to the party accused. Then it is to be ob-
served that he is very much indebted to the bank. Mr.
Pitt must know the solemn nature of considerations of

this kind. Commercial it would be at ;I end if an
unfortunate party, when called upon to pay a bill, were per-
mitted to snatch it openly and by violence from the hands
of the person presenting it; and it is very possible that
the bank might have taken this view of the cue, and
would not, on the ground of public justice, have been
disposed to forego a praeecution of this kind. Perhaps
Mr. Hill ha well considered this, and as Mr. Hill has come
to the conclusion that he will withdraw the charge, perhaps
we may safely consent to theprosecution being withdrawn :
but really it is a very disgraceful transaction on the part of
Mr. Pitt.—[Mr. Allen: It was very violent, certainly.) He
must know the nature of a bill of exchange, and he has stood
in a very serious position.—Mr. Hill I am quite willing to
make every allowance for the excitement of Mr. Pitt. He
did not seize the bill in the first place, but after consulting
with some one else.—Mr. Leigh. The fact of his doing it
in the open way which has been described makes it possible
that he did it under the influence of strong feelings,
without seriously contemplating the offence which
ho was committing; but I do not know any one
ingredient of felony that sloes not appear in this case.—
Mr. Serjeant Allen : Any claim of right would have justified
him in taking possession of the bill—Mr. Leigh: If it had
been snatched out of the hands of the perton who had de-
frauded him; but he must have known that it came into the
bank in tke regular way. Mr. Serjeant Allen: It resolves
itself into this—tkat he ought to have presumed that the
hank had given consideration. If he ought, then the offence
is complete; but if it ought to have been made apparent to
him that the bank had given consideration, there is no
foundation for the charge.—Kr. Leigh : I have no doubt
that what passed between Mr. T. Lee
.and Mr. Pitt was
enough to thew him that the bank had given
thesensideration.
I Mink we must take it for granted that lrrk did not
omit the most important part of his errand, but if we have

any doubts the magistrate' are bound to giro the party the
benefit of them.—hir. Pitt nu then discharged.

THE FORGERY ON THE DORCHESTER BANK.--
William Willmshurst, wbo had been remanded on the 18th
ult., waion Monday last again brought before the magistrates
at Dorchester. The first case gone into was that of having
forged a letter of credit for 3001., purporting to be from
Messrs. Cocks, Biddulph, and Co., bankers, Charing-cross,
Westminster, and addressed to Messrs. R. and H. Williams,
of Dorchester, Dorset. The first witness called by Mr. Mul-
lens (solicitor to the Bankers' Association), who attended
to prosecute the charge, was Charles Good, clerk to Memrs.
Williams, who deposed that he recollected that a person who
represented himself to be Mr. W. S. Mason, called at the
bank on the 11th of January last. He believed the prisoner
to be the same person ; but his appearance was now consi-
derably altered. He could not swear to him. He ap-
plied for 3001., in compliance with a letter of
credit previously received, and purporting to be from
Messrs. Cocks, Biddulph, and Co. Witness filled up the draft
now produced on Williams, Deacon, and Co. for 2671. 10s.,
and prisoner gave bins a draft en Cocks, Biddulph, and Co.,
for the same amount. Prisoner then requested him to draw
another draft on Cocks, Biddulph, and Co., for 321. 10s. He
did so and prisoner signed it "IV. S. Mason," as it now ap-
peared in the draft produced. Witness gave him, in ex-
change, both notes and cash.—Mr. Morrell, the mvistrate,
inquired if the prisoner had a bat on at the time ?—Witneris
replied he wore a hat and a great-cost.--Mr. Mern.ll then
directed prisoner to put on his hat, great-coat, and spectacles
(blue glass), which he did, and Mr. Good said "That is the
man. lam quite satisfied now."—W. Vickers was the next
witness called by Mr. Mullen', wbo stated he is a clerk to
Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co., bankers, London. That
en the 12th of January the draft now produced for 2671. 10s.
was presented to him for payment, and he gave in exchange
two notes of one hundred pounds each, numbered 54,255 and
54,259, dated July 24, 1846, a fifty pound note, No. 17,219,
dated October 5, 1846, and 171. 10s. in cash. The
person who presented the draft wrote on the back of it
Received, George T. Lee, Poole, Dorset." lie had no re-
collection of the person.—Mr. Mullen" then called It. J.
Sykes, clerk in the issue department of the Bank of England,
who deposed that on the 12th of January last the three
notes now produced were brought to hint to be exchanged
for gold. lie gave gold for them. The address " George
T. Lee, Poole, Dorsetahire," was on each of the rotas when
brought to him at the bank. He could not recognise the
prisoner as the person who brought them.—R. T. Cocks,
one of the partners in the firm of Cock., Biddulph, and Co..
bankers, Charing-cross, Westminster, on looking at the
letter of credit, said it was a forgery ; the signature was not
his, nor that of either of his partners, and that it was not
written nor signed by the authority of the firm—The pri-
soner said he had no question to ask nor anything to say.—
He was told that tie would be fully committed on the charge
of forgery for trial at the next Merck assizes. Ile was also
committed on four other charges.