The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-25 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

A writ de Innalicoinquinndowa;;;Mild at the Roebuck
Tavern, Tornham,reen, before Mr. Commissioner Barlow,
to inquire into the state of mind of Miss Maria Cohinge,
aged 33, daughter of the late Captain Collings, of the Hon.
lime India Company's tervice.—This was one of a duplicate
commission, the subject of the inquiry having a sister, against
whom the comminion has not yet been opened.—The fol-
lowing letter wee placed before the learned commissioner;
Maria and Amelia Ceilings protest against the haste with which the
commission has been got up, tor the purposes of transferring the pro-
perty to the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Einter; and 1 hero to solids •
month's adjournment ere judgment be pronounecd.—l am, &e.,

Mr. Miller, who attended on behtlf of the alleged lunatic,
observed that nothing could be more rational than that letter.
He might remind the court that, in the case of Vesey, the
commission was quashed, in consequence of the adjournment
having been refused.— Mr. Commissioner Barlow said, if she
came here and conducted herself rationally she ought to beat
once liberated ; but it was for the jury to be satisfied by her
conduct and answers when she appeared before them.—Miss
Collings, though requested to be present, refused to attend ;
and the commotion having been read, Mr. Temple said he
appeared in suppor: of the commission, which had been
issued by Mrs. Findlater, in conjunction with her husband.
Mrs. Findlater was the only sister (excepting Amelia) to
the alleged lunatic. Her father was Capt. Collings, of the
Bth Madras Native Infantry, who, in India, had married the
daughter of • Spanish merchant, named Isieunda ; the issue
was four children, a son and three daughters. 'The former ,I
having died, the daughters were, at the death of their father,
sent to England to be educated. Miss Maria Collings and
her sister had been for many years their own mistresses. Mr.
and Mrs. Findlater had resided at Montpellier, in the south
of France ; but, on recently coming to England, they found
the subject of this inquiry, with her sister, inmates of a
lunatic asylum, and felt the necessity of pursuing
this inquiry, for the protection of ler property and
person. In August last, Miss Maria commenced a
correspondence with Mr. Goodman, clerk to the Lord
Mayor of London, and also with Lord ealmerston,
and Lord John Ration, in which letters she declared herself
to be the heiress to the Spanish crown, a descendant of Fer-
dinand VII., calling herself the princess of Bourbon de
Bourbon. She imagined that her mother was aseaseinated
in the island of Guernsey, a delusion which still existed,—Mr.
Goodman, on receipt of the letters, wrote to her friends in
Guernsey, and the result had been some proceedings under
the Cour Royale of Guernsey, called a conseil de female.
The learned counsel here read the letters, which were very
voluminous, and of which we give the following brief
extracts:

The Mows de Bonrhon, lawful demendant of the King of Spain,
tiMegib bee mother, who was Embank de Bourbon. She was
Wok aumbeird In Guernsey. TM Orleans (meaning Louis Phi-
lips) lien beedepped his paw on Guernsey as well as brain. Guern-
sey be. beeemeniriebed by our property, sad her Majesty's subject.
there are sub pleased with their SUCCOR, well knowing they can
carry on their ansuggling. Lf the deed of Quarles IV. can be met
with it weal/ Aswan. But it nia7 be shuffled about like • hone ;
it may Ye egindiln aim, at Hong Long, in the tee-erade, net smou
the gulden leseneAseht mined up with theapurious tea. I have sent
• letter to the prearaler. at Downing-street. Sir John Talbot is one
whose life might be sued, V properly cautioned.
All the letters were signed " Maria Amelia Collings
Bourbon de Bourbon."--Dr. F. Winslow, of Sussex house,
Hammersmith, physician, staid that on Bth December last he
saw Maria Collings at the Manor-house, which belonged to '
Mr. Tithe, and was a hens. for the reception of lunatics.
She said she was entitled to upwards of 100,0001., was re-
lated to the royal family of Spain, the Bourbon family,
which she alleged was generally known by all parties in
Guernsey, where her mother had, in 1828, been cruelly
murdered, aa was also well known, and that Sir William
Collings and Mr. Joseph Collings were at the bottom of it to
get poesesmon of her property. He believed her to be de.
cidedly of unsound mind. In crow-examination by Mr.
Miller, the witness said that it might be poesible, if the lady
had been wrongly informed, to entertain such belief without
their being delusions—Several ether medical gentlemen
gave corroborative testimony, adding that the alleged lunatic
considered she had placed herself under the protection of the
Premier, Lord Palmerston, and the Lord Mayor. She was
the habit of employing herself in reading, working at her
needle, playing on the piano, walking in the gardens, &c. ;
in fact, conversing and acting rationally in all reaped., ex-
cepting as to her delusions.—Francis Findlater deposed
that he married • sister of the alleged lunatic. He had not
heat d from his wife, or any member of the family, that there
was any foundation for supposing that they were related to
thevoyal family of Spain, or entitled to great wealth. Her
mother, as he believed, had died in the East Indies. He
believed the whole were delusions. She had not lived in
Guernsey for years. The entire property of Maria
amounted to about 300/. a year. There was some
other property in the island of Guernsey, where
the trustees resided. It was stated that when Maria
Collings first went to Mr. Tuke's asylum she held forth for
nearly two hours in what is termed " the unknown tongue."
At the conclusion of the evidence, by direction of kis
Honour, the lady was sent for, but she returned a very po-
lite message declining, stating that as the weather was very
cold, and as she wee a lady, the jury ought to visit her. The
court and thejury accordingly repaired to the Manor-house,
and bad an interview with the lady, who received them emir.
unruly. In mpect to her letters, she said it was of no use
her saying anythrng, as whatever she might say would be
regarded as the statement of a Mystic, and would not be re-
ceived as evidence. With respect to the King of the French and
her claims, she had placed her affair. in the hands of Lord J.
Russell, Lord Palmerston, and the Lord Mayor, to whom
she must refer the learned commissioner respecting the island
of Guernsey; her sister and self bad been enable to get in-
formation as to her mother's death. Her sister went there
for the purpose, and received a rummer's to attend befere
the Cour Itoyak : her sister obtained a guard of honour for
the day, and was protected, but afterwards effected her
wept. She objected to her affairs being placed in the hands
of Mr. Findlater. She was as happy and comfortable as she
could be is a lunatic asylum. She concluded by saying that
the inquiry was conducted with too much haste.
The court then returned, and after some discussion the
proceedings were adjourned for a month.

POLICE.-YRWITILDAY.
- - ---- - -

MANSION-HOUBB.—TaniMINVMIO; LONDOH AND
meta CHRISTMAS DINNERL—AIong others charged
with emalin provisions wee a man, who Lad stolenhaart
I=6l fowls, from Leadeahall-market. Before he
1 his prize many yards he went into a public-
st/my *hare he got drunk, and when he came out again
baths market with the box on his head, he was too tipsy
10 NMI under it. The box fell, broke open, and all the
ibwis were scattered en the pavement. The owner came up
sod identified his fowls, and the prisoner was given into
oratedy. The prisoner laid the whole blame of the Whir to
the opidts he had taken.—The Lord Mayor wateesed him
to 14 age isquaisooment, with a amid saiW thaf be Should
Me on potties of the Christssoi kro tamed to Mid of
tha Ossmorrow.—Ai arsar:isgt W•Hwell=
hIRWIIII/2/0/ isnisdibesdpgrita I=ao I.lllllrwL As IS
1.41 that bed Mika a turkey hrlodshgeo in the
wns noololmeil the wad psellisiont sa the
linos dinior.
Ammo= luaus Dirizetwit OP PROPE,Yr•
R. J9aseA was rasassawed dhow ems* why he unlawfully
de hied eight was ot repo, iho of Mr. H. T. Grey,
one at the prosecutors in the Jab ovuledreg ease is the City.

Mr. Booth had advanced 211. en part of the rope to Gardner
tool lialiday, who were convicted at the Central Criminal
Court, Mr. Booth being ignorant that any unfairness had
been used in obtaining it; and Mr. Crosby, for the defendant,
contended that under such circumstances his client ooulei
not properly be said to detain the property unlawfully. Mr.
Broth was, however, willing to give up the rope on the pey-
meat of a moiety of the can advanced.—Mr. Grey said be
only required the sanction of the magistrate to urge to the
proposition.—The Lord Mayor and Alderman Gibbs said,
the mere production of the documents necessary to show
that the persona accused of the fraud had been convicted
at the Central Criminal Court, would cost mere money than
the complainant could gain if the decision were in his favour.
It therefore appeared adviaabO that the offer of Mr. Booth's
solicitor should be accepted, and they would make out an
order accordingly with the view of putting an end to the
difference upon the subject.—Mr. Duke, a tradesman into
whose hands some of the rope had tome, niter having passed
through the hands of others, was also summoned to show
cense for the unlawful detention of the property.—Mr.
Crosby, upon the part of Mr. Duke, said that gentleman
win anxious to give up the rope to which Mr. Gray laid
claim, but he required an indemnification, In order to be
able to answer any claim which might be mode by others
upon any future occasion.—lt being stated that the rope
claimed was not in the City of London, the Lord Mayor and
Alderman Gibbs said they must decline adjudication. If,
however, the rope were brought into the City, the cue might
be again introduced, and they would decide upon its ments.
—This proposition, as well as that made upon the part of
Mr. Booth, appeared to he satisfactory to all concerned.
WORSHIP-STREET. M9RDEHOVS AASAULTS. —J.
Crutehington and J. Kemp were charged with assaulting
and wounding W. Ives, and alto with seriously injuring a
gentleman named Fox end two policemen who took them
into custody.—As the complainant (who was too much in-
Bred to attend) was engaged that morning carting in the
Bethnal-green-road, the prisoners wantonly pushed sgainst
him, and on asking them what they meant, Crutehington
struck him two violent blows in the face. The other pri-
soner wrested his shovel from him, and, greening it with
both hands, struck him with all his forte on the side, and
knocked him senseless to the ground. The prisoners then
walked on, but were followed by some bystanders who had
witnessed the assault, and who pointed them out to police-
man 85 K, who attempted to enure them, but they offered
so much resistance that he was obliged to call for a.wistance,
which was offered by a gentleman named Fox, who hap.
pentad to be pasting, and endeavoured to seize Crutchington,
but was knocked down and kicked in a brutal manner. A
reinforcement of police arrived, end after a protracted
struggle, in which two of the officers were repeatedly
knocked down and seriously butt, the prisoners were ulti-
mately overpowered.—Mr. remauded the prisoners
to await the issue of the man's injuries, and refused to
accept bail.
CHARITT.—Mr. Hammill acknowledged the receipt of 51.
for the poor-box from the Earl of C—, who in the letter in
which the money was enclosed expressed a hope that others
might be induced to " go and do likewise." 51. has also been
sent by " M.A.P.," end two sovereigns from " M.F."
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—As lama CLEROYmex
AND Hie Soya.—The Rev. Mr. Walsh hes only now drawn ,
our attention to a case under the above head, which was
transferred into our columus from a Sunday paper so long
ago ati the Gth inst., end also to a pnragraph which appeared
in Bell's Weekly M edger of the 18th inst., containing a
contradiction of certain points in the report. Mr. Walsh de-
clares that he did not incite his eons to assault the complain-
ant is the rue referred to, by calling to them " Go it, boye—
go and get the poker," and that he did not swear, as averred
in the report, that his eon had not a poker in his hand, and
afterwards admitted he had, but that it was awry little one.
Fonotiroßettne TICKETB.—H. Callaghan, C. M,
A. Collins, M. Hickey, and IV. Smith were charged with hav-
ing defrauded J. BWI•y. Some ladles in Welbeck-street and
the vicinity had farmed themselves into a charitable club, fur
th'- purpose of giving to the deserving poor in the it neighbour-
hood donations of tee, Lugar, meal, bread, &c. These do-
nations were in the form of tickets, to be presented at the
shop of J. Bailey, grocer and general dealer, of 24, Robert-
street, who was authorised to supply the holden of the
tickets with the articles mentioned on the tickets. Recently
it was ascertained that 590 tickets had been presented, prin-
cipally by Irish of the lowest class, all of which were forge-
ries. The prisoners, who were recognised as some of the
parties who lad brought forged orders, were given into
custody. When interrogated, the prisoners gave contra-
dictory accounts of the way they became possessed of the
orders.—Miss Clapp, of Welbeck-street, by whom the order,
were purported to be signed, said all the orders produced
were forgeries.—The priaonerewere sent for trial.
Cwoarry.—The magistrate acknowledged 51., for the poor
box, from E. C."
MARYLEl3ONE.—Crutnere.—The Earl of C— has
forwarded to Mr. Broughton 51. for the poor-box.
WESTMINSTER.—CHARITY.—Mr. Burrell acknow-
ledged the receipt of tit from the Earl of C— for the poor-

SOUTHWARK.—Auxout ROBBERY ET AN ORNIBVE
Dantaa.— E. Knight, driver of a Wellington omnibus,
was finally examined charged with assaulting J. Sale, and
stealing a bottle of wine, the property of Mr. Payne, wine
merchant —Sale said that he was in the employ of Mr. PaTne,
and, on Wednesday afternoon last, he got on the omnibus
which the prisoner was driving, in Gracechurch-street, with
• basket of wine. The prisoner said—" A bottle or two of
them would be a good thing for Christmas." When he got
off and the basket was handed down, he found that a bottle
had been abstracted. No other person being on the trout of
the omnibus but himself and the prisoner, he asked the latter
to give the bottle back. Prisoner said he knew nothing of
it, and threatened to knock him down. While witness was
explaining the matter with the prisoner, he saw the water,-
man leave the omnibus with something wrapped up to I
horse cloth, which he believed to be the wine. He attempted
to follow the wa Lerman, but be was prevented by the prisoner,
who held him back.—The prisoner solemnly declared that
he knew nothing of the bottle. He certainly mentioned
something about having a bottle at Christmas—The magis-
trate committed him for trial.

The magistrate acknowledged the sum of five pounds
from the " Earl of C." through the hands of the Commis-
sioners of Police.
THAMES.—NON-aUPPLY OP LIME-JUICE TO SEAMEN.
—Mr. J. O. Bower, masterof the Margaret West, from Bata-
via, was summoned by 0. 8. Anon, a seaman, charged
with not issuing a daily supply of lime.juice after the crew
had been consuming salt pronsions for 10 days, by which he
had incurred a penalty of 51. for each default.—Complainant
stated that, on the voyage to Batavia, lime juice was only
issued four days before reaching that place, and it was after-
ward. stopped. There was plenty of lime-juice on board.
—The defence was, that the crew preferred grog to lime-
juice, and that when the antiseptic was asked for it was is-
sued,—The men said the grog was good for nothing, and it
was urged that Anion was a water drinker and did not like
tjcilint—rhij;irrHalloranntiotrltasuwtril gltdw.thyetolife
the
rthrite crew r
waskedefoirt
daily, according to act of parliament. He fined the defend-
ant 51. and costa.
HAMMEEBMITH.—CHAarrr.—Mr. Paynter desired
the acknowledgment of the receipt of two bank notes of 51.
each, frem the Earl of C., one for the poor-box of this court,
and the other for the poor hex of the Wandsworth Police
Court.

WANDSWORTH.—CHARITY.—Mr. Paynter eckaow•
!edged the receipt of a amine for ten guinea& from " H.E."
for the poor•boz of this court.

MONEY MARKET.

FRIDAY EVZNINO.
The Bank broker gold 20,0001. Three-and-a-Quarter
per Cents. for the savings banks this morning, which,
in the inactive state of business, with a market rather
heavy, had the effect of depressing the funds much
more than from an operation upon so small a seals
might otherwise have been expected. Consols from
86: to for the opening declined to, and were done
' at, 854, but they subsequently recovered and left off,
as yesterday, 85: to 4. Reduced Threes closed at 841
to 6, having been 854. Three-and-a-Quarter per
Cents. left off 864 to 4, having been as low as 88/.
Appearances seemed in favour of the maintenance, if
not improvement, of prices, from the nature of the
operations, as the dealers who sold heavy stocks for
money bought Consols for time. Long Annuities
were 8,1 to 11-18. Bank Stock, 1884 to 84. Exche-
quer Bills were higher at from 9s. to 12s. premium.
India Bonds, 12s. to 6s. discount.
A few isolated bargains only were reported in the
foreign house, at prices with scarcely any change.
Spanish Fives were 18 to ; the Threes, 30 to
Peetorsees, 22 to 3. Mexican, 171 to 184. Dutch
Two-and-a-Half per Cents. better at 68 to 4 ; the
Fours, 854 to 4.
The transactions in foreign exchange this afternoon
were quite unimportant, as is usually the case on the
eve of the holidays. On Amsterdam the negotiations
were 12.54 to 1; on Rotterdam, 12.54 to 8; on Ant-
werp, 26.5 to 10 ; on Hamburg, 13.15 to / ; on
Frankfort, 1234 to ; on Palls, 25.924 to 26 :
on Vienna, 10.19 to 20; on Leghorn, 3L36 to 40;
on Naples, 39/ to ;on Madrid, 484, all at three
months. On Lisbon, at 80 days, 524.
The Isaac Wright, which arrived at Liverpool
from New York yesterday, brought 64,000 sovereigns.
The Bank of England averages for the week ending
the 18th bait. give, as compared with those of the
wtmeding, the following results
isios £73,308,393
ciesossia isms 17,758,233
retaisesessu 8,763,497
°Um ... —aped* . 8,000,976
Clermumeatessentiss
ouer
bimlbiearlVlmn" 4P.e"
Mime Mika
llowa4by eM atba, edLe 614,704
71m, red s,ooe,4lelateer• 8,026
The notes in the banking department, constituting
the reserve fund for active operations, and anwering
liabilities, stood at 7,651,1401., showing an increase
over the previous return of 1,102,3801. Taking the
specie in the same department into account, the total
reserve hind amounted at the dole to 8,233,1211. In
the incision of this fund, end the decrease of the
"other' eg bal securities, which Whim to diminished
banking Whim, and pr• jests of profile, we have
the Wades at the ammo& et the Beek board yes-
terday la the Muds et *shims* roes.
The adjeurned caeoftg at Ihe aredhors of Coates,
Hillard, mid Co., took VAN trey, Dlr. Dillon, of

Debts
Value

A meeting of the shareholders of the Ayrshire Iron
Company vras held in Glasgow, on Wednesday, when
the affairs of that unfortunate undertaking were, for
the first time, authoritatively announced. The lia-
bilities are u follows :
Debut 221,

_1,179 14 I
15,000 0 0
C 236,719 14 0
to the company t 104872
works.
155,872 9 3

Deficiency £90,1147 4 2
The difficulties of the company appear mainly to
have been occasioned by the purchase of the stock of
the Blair Iron Company, absurdly valued at 200,0001.,
to liquidate which, iron had been purchased on credit,
sold for cash, and the proceeds paid to the Blair Com-
pany. The Ayrshire has claims against the latter for
over-payment, which are to be demanded of its
solvent partners. The Ayrshire is to make a pay-
ment of 10s. per pound on 15th January, to meet
which about 100,0001. has been raised by subscrip-
tion. No failures of Glasgow . shareholders
have yet taken place, and at the meeting
shareholders were urged not to allow themselves to
become insolvent, as the company could prefer claims
that would carry off seven-eighths of their estates,l
and so leave nothing to private creditors. The cre- '
ditors of the company, on being made acquainted
with the intentions of the shareholders, expressed
themselves as being satisfied with them. In Edia.
burgh, the caution to avoid the Gazette has been
made too late, as several shareholders there have been
declared insolvent. Other failures have also taken
place, and more are expected amongst writers to the
signet, accountants, &c., extensively employed as
agents for landed proprietors, who have been in the
habit of borrowing for or lending to their clients.
These casualties tell directly on shopkeepers and
tradesmen, and have caused a stagnation and distrust
exceeding even the panic of 1826.
Advices from Salisbury state that much disappoint-
ment was experienced by the smaller creditors of
Messrs. Brodie's estate, that the next meeting for the
proof of debts should be held in London (13asinghall-
street), instead of Salisbury, as they had been
led to expect at the last meeting. The attend-
since to make proof in London would necessarily
involve parties in considerable expense, and especially
the humbler holders of notes and deposits. On '
inquiry at the late banking offices in Salisbury,l
applicant, were informed that no official person
I would bo down there to take the proof of
debts before the latter end of January, or the
beginning of February. Instead of 10s. in the
pound to be paid promptly, the belief now appears to I
be that not more than 66. will be forthcoming.
At Shaftesbury the creditors appeared to be still,
more annoyed. At the meeting mlled in November
last Mr. King, it is stated, promised to pay 20a
in full in two Instalments of 10.. each. But that gen-
tleman no longer lives in the neighbourhood, and has
left behind property which, it has been discovered on
investigation, is mortgaged to nearly its full value.
HANK OP ENOLAND.—Acrocir for the Week thew Dee. 11.
use
FO be Wood Gonenthent Debt.... 111.016400
Other thoorithe.
Gold Ootn end Bari% kV=

J:24—.3C6-7,96
!Ames DI
Proprietors' Capita] 4.68.3,000
I B
Public Pe.sesiii
3,609,41t1
Como
YW
0 Dent
ehv irllts. Accts.) /81:7477.9,
Bevert-day sad other 856,784

'VARMINT.
(lonanment 514eartUe4
Ilnetud. Dead Ireleft
Annuity) ........ Z 0,908,214
Ot4s,B4curttlea ...... 17.155,336
Note. . .. 7,651.140
Ovid s.id Blllar Coln.. e 81,981

1 -- L 16.389,623 I F36,389,673
Deo. 47.1847. M. MARSHALL. Ohlet Omitir.
INGLIS!' FUND&
_or Ct. Rect. Win: i4l Cowls for Aot, 86e ill e e
Now 35,per Cen., e 64 litet 1"1 13E400. BL. 912 Pr.
Lri f1.167‘ (1".
6th
1".
Dim . 1991r14 IC
Indira Beads. 41.000:6.6 dli.
FORNIG FUNDS.
ii per Cent. Memltlea Bow* 19 SO Houpte. Ct.
eDuleb Isebenee. LI
(i)racA.:ct.M. aelaill. , Ir. II
4 per Ct.6al.to CatbSostee, Ma
Spa CI. Op. Bd., Amt., Dee. 41.161
EXCEIA.NOIIB AND STOCKS ABROAD.

mut. D. 23.
755 &kw 5
trite so ri
is 40 rr) 1
ss "VI
siVI rnt
H se _ se so
lot 61 1/0.44 116.90 111.40 110.00
110$ 10 1116ry.
= 1/N//b.
331
!
'4• imam moms Is:
t
blun% Dim 17.—Tisse pis gosia.fintak=dsriirs per
Oeois. lde • Nothing, I MIL NEM
of IL imbeds. la PPM NO/billlta lb 40-100.

RAILWAY NEWS.
We had an almost general improvement in shams
yesterday, with a fair amount of betimes. But for
this being the eve of the holidays the tranaketions
I would probably hare been on • _larger seals still.
North British, Eaimmn Comtism, North Stafford; and
other lines were much in demand.