The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-30 00:00:00

they were authorised to de by -time mast parliament. As
objection was raised that there was no evidence of the
platatirs interest in the matter.—The Viee•Chancellor on
this ground dismissed the motion with coati.

JUDGES' CHAMBERS—SERJRANTS' INN.
Before Ur. Baron Puke.
GOMM e. Ross.—IMPORTANT D2C1111014.-111 this MIS
Mr. Baron Parke save judgment on an application of some
importance respecting the discharge of a prisoner.
war
de-
fendant. connected with the Heir-at-Law Society, was be
in the Insolvent Debtors' Court en Wednesday, 22nd nut.,
and his petition was dismissed. Us bad applied under the
protection act, and when outside the court he war arrested
at the suit of the plaintiff, one of the opposing creditors.
An application was made for bis disdurge to the chief com-
missioner, but he declined to interfere, for the want of juris-
diction, and hence the application to a judge at chambers.
The point was argued on Saturday. It was submitted that
the applicant was entitled to return home after attending
court on the hearing of his cue, and in reply it war urged
that inasmuch u the application was a voluntary one the
case came not within the general principle, as his protection
ceased on the dismission of his petition. The question was
considered by his lordship an important one, and he reserved
his opinion to the present occasion.—Mr. Baron Parke now
decided that the defendant was entitled to his discharge ; he
was entitled to protection on his return, after attending the
oemmisaioner. An application was made for costs. His lord-
ship gave costs, on the consent of the plaintiff, binding the
defendant not to bring any action. The defendant was
, ordered to be discharged from Whitecromstreet prison.

SECONDARIES' COURT.
Before Yr. Secondary Pollen
BaneCu OP PROFUSE OF MsARUM!. ORANGE
n. Lavv.—This was an action to recover
ter breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff merges
about 62 years of age, is a widow, and carried on business u
a furniture-dealer in Skinner-street, Bishopegate, and de-
fendant, who is somewhat older, is a commercial traveller.
In June last defendant, through a mutual friend, made Ma-
trimonial overtures to the plaintiff, and on certain terms was
accepted as a suitor. The courtship was carried on through
July, August, and September, and defendant wrote several
affectionate letters to the plaintiff, and actually fixed the day
for the wedding. and gave plaintiff money to pay the regis-
trar's fees, and plaintiff bougnt the wedding dress,
but after
that defendant broke off the connexion. After repeated
applications. which he did not reply to, an action was
brought, and the defendant, in person, pleaded illaem ; hot
should Almighty God be pleased to restore his health and
eye-sight he would then marry the plaintiff. This plea was,
however, objected to and set aside as a nullity, and judgment
' was entered for want of plea. The learned counsel said that
in submitting the question of amount of damages to the jury
he must state that the plaintiff had been induced by the de •
fendant'a promise of marriage, and also the promise of 1001.
(without which she would not have contented to the mar-
, riage), to giv herselfr business, and had thus loot the means
' t
he upporting He, therefore, thought the 1001. and
r te price of the wedding dress ought to be taken into count-
, deration.—The facts were pr-ved, end the jury gave a vee-
r, diet for 201.

WESTMINSTER COUNTY COURT.
Before D. C. Moylan, Fag., Judge.
DAILY v. isitcitoLsoN.—lisowiNo THE EXTENT OF THIS
Cot NTT Cotter.—This was an action brought by the plain-
tiff, a printer, against Mr. Renton Nicholson. "Chief Baron"
of a J udge and Jury Society held at the Garrick's Head,
Baw•street, to recover the amount of a dishonoured cheque.
Mr. Webb, a solicitor, appeared for the plaintiff; the defend.
ant, as usual, not appearing to the process. The plaintiff
stated that he lad done the printing for Mr. Nicholson's
establiAment for some time ; end on the 9th of February
Mr. Niehols3n gave him a cheque on the Commercial Bank
of London in payment. Two dye afterwards he presented
the cheque at the bank for payment, when the clerk wrote
across it that the account was closed. Ile subsequently ap-
plied to Mr. Nicholson upon the subject, when be said he
knew the extent of the County Court, and should 000/4 to no
settlemendge: What did he mean by knowing the ex-
tent of the County Court ?—Plaintitl I suppose that he
knew what steps I should be compelled be take before I
should get my money. and the trouble he could give before
your honour had power to enforce payment ?—Judge How
do you suppose he can pay it ?—Plaintiff He can pay it at
a day's notice if he thinks proper. He carries on a most
flourishing trade, having ten or twelve waiters employed in
his rooms every evening. and can pay it if he liken ; but he
is obstinate about payment, and puts every one off that he
can.—Judge Do you think he can pay it in a week ?
Plaintiff: Oh, yes; io oue day if he thinks proper.—Judge :
Well, ke will be ordered to pay it, with costs, on the sth of
- and for the solicitor's attendance in addition.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON AN AGED MISER.
Yesterday a cennatissian de Jaeatieo inguirendo was
opened at the Guildhall, New Windsor, before Mr. Commis.
&loner Winslow and 18 special jurors, to inquire into the
state of mind of Joseph Chariott, Esq., aged 92, a gentle-
man possessed of funded property to the amount of upwards
of :30.0001.—The commission, which was unopposid, was
taken out at the instance of Catherine Chariott, a maiden
niece of the unfortunate gentleman. It appeared
that Mr. Chariott was born near Reading. He
commenced life in humble circumstances as a carpenter, and
subsequently engaged in building speculations in the neigh-
bourhood of Windsor, which he carried en very suocessfully,
retiring from business about thirty years since, alter amass-
ing vast property. His habits were very penurious, and he
had continued a 'bachelor till the year 1824, being then nearly
70 years of age, when he married ; his wife, however, died
about ten years afterwards, and since, he has been attended
by a housekeeper. Mr. Henry Harrill, of Wind-or, his
solicitor, had managed hie affairs for upwards of fourteen
years, and was cognisant of his penurious habits, to which
his attention was particularly drawn about three years
ago, wken on consulting with the unfortunate gen-
tleman he discovered that he had concealed in has
house in Feaacod-street, Windsor, a large hoard of
gold in sovereigns, filling no leas than five large
picklejars, and amounting to shout 8,0001. This cash Mr.
Darvill, by his direction, placed in the Windsor Bank, and
thence had it transferred to the Bank of England. From
this period his monetary_affairs were conducted under power
of attorney by Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co. of Lon-
don, bankers, and so much was his expenditure below his
income, that from the above period there was an additional
accumulation of nearly 1,6001. Ilia mind bad been
for some years declining, in consequence of his very
advanced age, but within these last six months he
has been very incoherent in his replies to ques-
tions, and now had altogether ceased speaking, except
in disconnected unintelligible mutterings, in fact was alto-
gether imbecile, and totally incapable of managing himself
or his affairs. He was unable either to dress, undress, or
even to feed himself. —At the conclusion of the evidence the
court and jury repaired to the residence of Mr. Chariot*,
that gentleman's infirmities precluding him from leaving his
house. lie was found seated on a sofa in great apparent
calmness, evidently unrufged by the visit of about peeons. In appearance he was a fine hale-looking man, in
plain but neat attire. His manners and replies to the
several questions fully accorded with the foregoing evidence,
and on the return of the court to the Guildhall the jury una-
nimously returned a verdict, dating the unsoundness of
mind from the 29th of September. 1847.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES.—WiDttIeDAY.
Nee PlRA—Beton Mr. Heron Rolfe.
FARRTULL V. RYDER.—BREACH OF PROMISE OF MAK.
inaos.—The plaintiff, Mies Foreignll, was formerly a
resi-
dent of Touted' Park, Liverpool, but now li Manches-
ter. The defendant, Mr. Ryder, is an engraver in the latter
town. The damages were laid at 5001. On the case being
callA upon the senior counsel engaged, Mr. Serjt. Wilkins
end Mr. Martin, Q.C., requested time to confer ; and after a
lengthy consultation, the care, to the disappointment of a
crowded court, was compromised.—A verdict was then given,
by consent, for the plaintiff for 801.
GALLEY, ADMINISTRATRIX, O. TAYLOR.—ACTION ON A
GUARANTEIL—John Taylor, the defendant, undertook to
guarantee, in January, 1842, to the late John Galley, of
whom the plaintiff is administratrix, 3001. for the deo pay-
ment of monies due and future debts that might be incurred
by a person named Milne. Mr. Galley was a cotton mer-
chant, of Manchester, and Milne a cotton spinner, near
Rochdale. Milne dealt with Galley for cotton, end in 1842
had become indebted to him for upwards of 1,000!. Galley
held a mortgage upon a mill to secure any debt which might
become due ; but the debt having become larger than was
secured by the mortgage he said he week' give no further
credit till further security was offered. Mr. Milne accord-
ingly induced two or three of his friends to become guarantee,
and amongst them was Mr. Taylor, who signed for 3001., to be
called for only after all other securities had been realised. In
June, 1842, Mr. Galley died, and there was then due to him
by Milne 1,3241. In September, 1842, Mr. Milne also died,
he being insolvent at the time. The defence was that the
guarantee had only been given on the assurance or statement
that payment would not at any time be required, and that
the document was merely curable for the satisfaction of
some of the bankers with whom Mr. Galley di alt.—Tlic
jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 3001.
SMITH V. COOK.—TRESPABB BY TUE MANCHESTER
CRICKET CLUE.—This was as action brought by Mr. R.
Smith, a farmer, at Stratford, near Manchester, against Mr.
Cook,
'fret tilreettaeol.nt lalArOllC'ebn;ansildenttheered a declarationoei
Ratedekes occupied by the plaintiff, called Trafford Old Faem,
and cut and dug and made boles in it, to the injury of the
defendant, and by an doing had prevented him from having
cows to another close rented by him.—The plaintiff, it ap-
I paired, held the farm under Sir T. Trafford, by a written
agreement, dated 1845, which constituted him a yearly
tenant entitled to bold till be had six months' notice to quit.
In September of the present year the landlord leased the
close in question to the cricket deb for a term of fourteen
years. About the same time a man, on behalf of the club,
l.ad some conversation with Mr. Smith, as to what compee•
cation he would require, and he stated that he would be
willing to abide by the decision of a person named Bannister
residing in the neighbourhood. The latter looked at the
fields, and named the sum of 451., hut to this amount the de-
fendant demurred. On the 15th Nov., to the astonishment of
Smith, half-a-dozen men entered the field to dig it up and
lay drains. They said they had been sent by Mr. Brogden
the railway contractor. lie discharged them, but they re-
turned on the following day, ccompanied by Mr.
Brogden, who produced to Smith a written authority
the
for
his proceedings. The latter remonstrated against
intrusion, and a few days after served a notice of ejectment ;
but it was despised, and the parties still retain possession.—
After the case bad been at length gone into a compromise
was made b -tween the learned counsel, and u verdict taken
v consent fur the plaintiff—damages 301.

- - -
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
Before Mr. derieant edema.
BRUTALITY TO AN INFANT DT ere PARENTS.-IV.
17.
Warren, ''2, and Jane Warren, 27, his wife, were indicted
for assaulting Margaret Werren, their infant daughter.
Marion Brock stated that she kept a school to James
street, Finsbury. About a mouth ago, at the request of
the female prisoner, she took the child in question, a little
girl about two years old, as a scholar. About a week after-
wards she thought something was irritating the child's back,
and on undoing its clothing to see what it was, the child's
person presented a shocking spectacle, being 'wetly covered
with bruises. The female prisoner fetched the child from
school, but wittier said nothing to her then about what she
had teen. Sbe examined the child again soon afterwards, and
found that a great number of fresh bruises had been inflicted,
and when she saw the mother again, she asked her by what
means the bruises had tome there. She said the child was
a very passionate and naughty one, and its flesh became
bruised very easily. On the Monday followieg the child
went to school with a black-eye, and, on witness calling the
mother's attention to that, she said it was the second black-
eye she had had, and hoped she (the child) would be setis
tied—she was very perverse, and was always crying. On the
(elf ming Wednesday the child did not attend school, the
mother accounting for its absence by saying it was ill ; but,
on Thursday, when the child did attend, witness again ex-
amined its person, and, finding that it had been again cruelly
beaten, she proceeded to a surgeon's, who, having examined
it, advised that an application should be made to a police
magistrate. Witness acted upon that advice, and obtained
a warrant against the prisoners.
Several witnesses who heed in the same house as the pet.
sours deposed that they had frequently heard the child
"cream piteously, and the defendants beating it for a quarter
of an hour at a time. One of the witnesses said that on one
occasion the child stopped crying all of a sudden, she believed
in consequence of the mother abutting it up in a cupboard to
prevent the lodgers hearing it scream.
A policeman said he received a warrant for the apprehen-
sion of the prisoners. He took the woman first, and on telling
her the nature of thecharge against her, she said 'bethought
she had a right to treat her own child u she liked. The male
prisoner, when taken, said he, as the child's father, was justified
in correcting it ita he thought proper. Witness examined the
child, and found finger-nail marks on its flesh, which he be-
lieved bad been caused by its being violently pinched.
Altogether the child was in a dreadful state, and
had been most cruelly treated. In consequence of a state-
ment made by the male prisoner before the magistrate,
witness searched a cupboard at their (prisoners') lodging,
when he found a kind of a double-tonged whip, the lashes
having knots tied in them, which he now produced.
A medical gentleman stated that he had examined the
child, and its person was one mass of bruises, which he con-
cord produced. It was then pved that the male prisoner
had admitted before the magistrate having flogged the child
with the cord now before the court.
The male prisoner said in his defence that the child was
perverse, obstinate, and given to screaming, and to cure her
of these habits he had done only what every parent had a
right to do—corrected her.—The witness Brock here brought
the child into court, and said a better-tempered or kinder-
dispmed child did not breathe.
The learned Judge put it to the jury whether the treat-
ment the poor child had received exceeded " due and proper
corvectim. If so, the prisoners wore guilty ;if not, they
ought to be acquitted.—The jury instantly, found both pri-
soners Guilty.—The learned Judge said no jury of English-
men weal.* have arrived at any other conclusion. He had
never in his life heard anything so monstrous as the defence
urged by the prisoners, who could not possibly have con-
ceived that, by brutally treating a child of that tender
age, they could have improved its disposition. The young
woman Brock had acted most raiseworthily, and it was but
fair to say so. 'f he sentence upon each of the prisoners was,
that they be kept to hard labour for two calendar months.—
There was some applause in court when the sentence was
pronounced.—The child was then taken, by order of the
--ert, to St. Luke's Workhouse.

POLICE.—Y ESTERDAY.
GUI LDRALL.—PUBLIC-HOLISE RORBERY.—S. Smith,
F. Jones, and G. IVelkes were again charged with stealing
between 401. and 501„ besides a quantity of jewellery, &c.,
from the lied Lion public-house, King Edward-street, New
gate-strest, and Matilda and Mary Richards with having
tendered a 101. note, part of the proceeds of the robbery.
well knowing it to have been stolen.—Tl' evidence taken
on a former occasion woo very voluminous, but the facts are
these . on Monday, the 20th inst., the male prisoners were
olverved in the tap room of the Red Lion between the hours
ot seven and nine o'clock in the evening, and ehortly after
they were gone it was discovered that a hoz in Mrs. L,lord's
room had been broken open, and a large amount of pro-
perty carried off. On the following day the police
went to Smith's house, and took him and Jones, who also
lived with him, into custody, and when about leaving,
Wilkes came and knocked at the door, inquiring
for the former prisoner, but when asked if Smith was the
man he w anted he replied that he was not, evidently suspect-
ing who the officer was. ,They were conveyed to the station.
house, clod between 141. and 151. wan found on Wilkes. With
respect to the females, it appeared that on Tuesday morning,
between ten and eleven o'clock, the Richardses went to a
Mr. Needham's, a linendraper in Shoreditch, and purchased
goods to the amount of 11. Os. 3d., in payment of which
Matilda (the daughter) tendered a 101. note, and received
the change, at the same time giving a wrong name and ad-
dress. Mr. Needham's foreman, about half an hour after,
teak the note to the Bank of England, where it was imme-
diately stopped as being part of the property stolen from
Mrs. Lloyd on the previous evening. Finding this to be the
case he (the foreman) began to make inquiries, and after a
great deal of trouble he eventually found them out and gave
themintocustody.-0. Baker, of Poplar-row,Old Kent-road,
stated that he was at the Red Lion public-house on the
night of the robbery, and when coming out from the parlour
he observed Smith, about a 'quarter to nine o'clock, come
from the back part of the house in a great hurry and bustle,
and make towards the street, in doing which he knocked up
against witness, The kitchen-stairs and yard were situated
in the back part of the premises from whence the prisoner
came.—Eliza Emily Birehnell, the barmaid, deposed to
seeing the box perfectly safe at about seven o'clock in the
evening, and on going up at nine o'clock to put the child to
end Wilkes going into the taproom,
bed, discovered it broken open, and a part of the contents
strewed about the fie..ol'. In the course of the day she ob-
emp:oyed as charwoman. The other
served Smith, Jones,
Jones baring lived there m potboy until a week previous,
and Smith's wife being
prisoner she knew no ing alx`ut.—The prisoners were then
further remanded; and Mrs. Llo vd's mervants, Jane Walker
and Mary Smi-.h, were plated at the bar, and were also re-
manded
WO RS li 1 P-STREET.—Baw itvoLeb",co.—The magistrate
requested the reporter to acknowledge his slemipt of the fol.
lowing additional subscriptions for the relief Of • Poor widow
n,,med Sophia Barrett, the par:Kuhn of whose r••• were
nobnlly noticed in this paper:—" W.
,', .P.P. " Vies. i ' P.,"
10e it: Postage gluon ." V. D.," 3s. 6d.; J. D. Z,, '104.;

--------'
Lieut.-Colonel Ovens, Cheltenham, 10s.; " IL
" A. P.," Lamiegton, II.; and a 61. Bank of Begat mete
from " A. H.," 21. of which the donor desired sight be
applied to Mrs. Barrett, and the residue to the pewees ell
the poor•tve.
MARYLEBONE.—CHAIteg OF 41,0 BREST •OAIIIIFF 4
ConFonnt. or THS lei Lira OUliliDe.— W. J 0•611,• earptesi
of the Ist Life Guards, who on Monday last was charged with
having broken open a box and stolen therefrom 221., the
property of a pay-serge.ant, was brought up for ye-ezende
nation. The fresh tesumony brotufht forward maters
strengthened the suspicion entertained of the
.preonees
guilt.—Mr. Broughton contented to accept bail for his
further appearance on Monday next ; himself in 1001.,
and two sureties in 1001. each. The prisonerthese , who
was not immediately prepared to comply with condi•
dons, was then locked up.
WESTMINSTER.—Arraen troN A PoLicEmAx.—
11. Holder was charged with having seriously injured a con-
',rabic—Mr, W. E. Howard stated that on the previous
evening he was in Park Walk, Chelsea, wheu hearing the
cries, as he supposed, of a drunken man, he went to the spot
from whence they proceeded, and saw the prisoner struggling
violently with • policeman. They both fell upon the. pave-
ment, the effect of which was that the constable received a
severe blow on the head. The prisoner got up and rim
away, followed by the constable, who overtook him, when
the priserer put his leg between the constable's, and the
latter fell again. The constable appeared to be lifeless, and
witness and others immediately picked him up and con-
veyed him to a doctor's.—A certificate was handed to the
magistrate, et .ting that police-oonstable Edgison had re-
ceived a violent blow on the head, and wee unable to leave
his residence.—The prisoner said that the policeman came
up to where he and a friend were standing with
a deg, and maid, " Walk on with that dog."
He (the accused) replied that the dog would not do anybody
any harm. When the constable kicked the dog, and pushed
him (pris ,ner) into the road, and the dog which he had
been leading with a cord got away. Prisoner asked the con-
stable to let him go after his dog, as it was worth 51. ; when
the policeman replied " d-- your dog ; he's nothing to
me. I've got you, and will take you to the station." Pri-
soner struggled to get away from the constable who had
hold of him, as he did not like to lose his dogun-
fortunately not only lost it, but his hat too.—Mr. Broderip
remanded the prisoner until Monday.
LAMBETH.—ANOTHER KENNINGTON-COMMON MEET-
INO.--A deputation frem the tradesmen of St. Thomasatreet,
Kenninton.common, and the adjacent district, waited upon
Mr. Elliott.g and represented that it wee reported elat a large
meeting of persons calling themselves chartists was intended
to be held on Kenoington-consosoa on Monday next, and as
the probability was that an attempt would be made by the
disorderly who were likely to attend to create disturbances
and destroy property, they, as representing the tradesmen of
the neighbourhood, had called to solicit the aid of a body
of police sufficiently powerful to restrain any tendency to
breaking open, or abstracting property by force, from chops
and houses. Much damage had been done and great loss
ocasioned during the late riots, and they were naturally
anxious to prevent the recurrence of a similar state of things.
—Mr. Elliott said that he had not heard on any certain au-
thority that such a meeting was intended to be held ; hut, in
the event of such being likely to he owned, the commissioners
of police would he communicated with, and a sufficient body
of men sent for the protection of the neighbourhood.
THAMES.—DITCtiIititN AND MARE'S APPRENTICER.—
This case, reported on Tuesday, came on for re-
hearing.—Mr. Bransfield, clerk tr defendants, informed the
magistrate that Mr. Mare was resolved to persist in the
detente—namely, that not having signed the indentures of
the boy Dowling, he was not liable to employ him any
longer. —Mr. Yardley : I must allow the validity of this
defence ; but I again say, advisedly, the proceeding is a moot
discreditable one—The father of the complainant said that
Is. a week had been stopped from the lad's pay to he lodged
(es we understo el) in an apprentice fund.—Mr. Yardley :
By the defence which his been set up the case is taken nut
of my hands. but I must my these boys have been very
cruelly treated. For two years and a half they have been
permitted to look upon themselves as apprentices, and paid
as such. The imperfect indentures which they signed and
paid for have been retained by Mr. Mares agents; and
now, for some purpose which does not appear very credit-
able, they are produced in that imperfect state aid set up as
• defence—Mr. Bransfield : But it would be very hard,
your worship, that Mr. Mare should be saddled with IA
number of boys whom he never sanctioned.—Mr. Yardley ..
Hard ! The hardship in all the other way. The boy swears
that Mr. Mare was present when his indenture was drawn
up ; he keeps it secret for two years and • half ; and now,
when it serves his purpose, he produces it in this imperfect
state, being of little value except as regards his own cha-
racter.—The father : Can we have no redress, sir ?—Mr.
Yardley : None, hut that of which you cannot avail yoursel
f,rsef
namely, proceedings in chancery ; your one tether other pp
to the eunkeience el the defendant.--The father: Can I not
have the indentures I have paid for, then.—Mr. Yarilli s :
1 They are not in my custody. You must apply to Mr. Mare
f r them.—The parties then left, but the clerk afterwards
said to one of the reporters that the indentures wouro-
bably have been perfected " had the case not been pub-
lished."
A VERT DIRTREBSINO CASE.—MT. C. Follett, of Ne. 4,
Sidney-street, Commercial road, East, clerk, whose case was
noticed in the House of Commons on Monday night, and
who, it will be recollected, wet subjected to the treatment of
a felon while ho was incarcerated in the house of correction
for five days, under en execution from the Whitechapel
County Court, for not being able to pay a debt of 21., applied
to Mr. Yardley for relief. The poor man has been for some
time without employment ; he has a wife and six children,
who are in a starving condition, to maintain, and the
degrading treatment to which he was subjected in
the house of correction, because he was unable to
pay • debt of 405., has nearly broken his heart.
He stated to the officers of the :court that his
incarceration in such a place as the house:of correction, and
the fact of his hair and whiskers being cut close, were a bar
to his obtaining employment. He handed one of his cir
oulars, containing an appeal to the public and a statement of
his case, to the magistrate in the first instance, but Mr.
Yardley could not, consistently with the rules of the court, re-
ceive any private application for a subscription while sitting
as a magistrate, and the paper was banded back to him.
Some hours afterwards, Mr. Follett made a public applica-
tion for relief, and said he had not the means of procuring
• meal for himself and his children. Mr. Yardley regretted
that be had no fuads with which he could relieve the appli-
cant, who then left the court, apparently much dejected, ob-
serving that poor debtors who owed a few shillings were
treated worse than the fraudulent who owed thousands.

MONEY MARKET.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The outbreak of hlstilities in Italy, by the advance
of the Sardinian army into Lombardy, and the formal
declaration of war by the King of Sardinia against
Austria, facts of the most important character, first
and foremost made public this morning in customary
course in second and. third editions of the Daily News,
took the City by surprise, for although reports had
been current for the last day or two, and were noticed
in the same paper, that such events had occurred, or
were in progress, yet they were of a vague character,
and, as the dates now testify, were a little premature.
The intelligence had to-day an immediate effect on the
funds, for although a war of which Italy alone would
be the theatre might exercise little influence over
the ordinary current of European affairs and inte-
rests, yet, with the impression too commonly enter-
tained, that, in the actual feverish and unsettled con-
dition of political matters all over the continent, the
first hostile movement of one ante against another
will only be the prelude to more exteuded collisions,
which may issue in a general continental war—for no
one believes that the United Kingdom eau or ought
to be involved—it is not difficult to understand how,
from the sensitiveness of capital, the value of public
securities may come to be affected from a cause of
which the connexion with consequence might seem so
remote. Consols, from 92; declined to 81Z, assisted
by unfavourable reports from Ireland. At the close
of business, however, they recovered to 82, both for
money and account. Exchequer bills, 335. to 355.
premium. India bonds, 13s. to 15s. premium. Bank
stock, for account, 192 to 4.
The account in a late edition of the Daily News, as
received by the Ocean Monarch sailing ship from
Boston, that the treaty of peace with Mexico had
been ratified by the United States senate, caused a
slight movement in Mexican Bonds, which were
quoted rather in advance at 15 to 4. Other foreign
stocks were depressed. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per
Cents. were lower at 39 to 41; the Fours at 59
to 61. Spanish Fives declined to 11! to 12 ; the
Threes, 21! to 2. Passive, 3to Russians were
done as low as 82. Portuguese, 13! to 16. The
dealers and brokers were busy making up for the
account.
'fhe banks are endorsing/a notice on the pass books
of their customers, that on and after the Ist of May,
banking business will close at 4 o'clock in the after-
noon, instead of 5 o'clock, as at present. Thus the
object of the movement among that meritorious class,
the bank clerks, is at length happily accomplished.
From the fact of the suppression of the Council of
Surveillance for the affairs of the French sinking
fund, whose attributions are from henceforward to
merge in the department of finance under the special
direction of the minister himself, a suspicion is enter-
tained that M. Gamier Pages contemplates sooner or
later the confiscation of this fund to the exigencies of
the state, and of course, in that case, its abolition, in
its present shape at least. There is, however, no
sufficient reason to believe in such an intention. The
suppression of a costly species of machinery, like a
body of commissioners, for the performance of a very
simple duty naturally enters within the scope
of those reforms of expenditure the promise
of which was prominectly put forth in the
programme of the policy wltich the finance minis-
ter announced on his instalment in office, and how-
ever circumstances may change dispositions hereafter,
or a change of men bring a change of system, ought
not to be viewed in any other light. The present
minister, indeed, entered into what must be called a