The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

COURT FOR DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL

CAUSFJ3.
(Before Sir J. P. Wilde.)
HANCOCK V. !KATY.

This extraonlinary case came before the court again this
morning. It will be remembered that it was a suit by
the guardian of • young lady to dissolve her marriage
to the respondent, Mr. Peaty, a clerk in the Bank
of England, on the ground of her madness
at the time the contract was entered into.
Several times during the progress of the case his
lordship suggested an arrangement between the parties,
but it was found impossible to carry this out, and this
morning the further hearing was resumed.
Dr. Spicks addressed the court at some length, arguing
that the insanity of Mrs. Peaty had not been made out,
while

Sir R. Phillimore (tho Queen's Advocate) contended on
behalf of the petitioner that there could be no doubt
whatever, from tho evidence which bad been called, that
)Ira. Peaty was as mad as any lady could be when her
marriage took place.
His lordship said he must postpone his judgment until
he had given the case further consideration.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goo!bum)
IN RE BE.EPIELD.

The bankrupt, an innkeeper, of Newmarket, applied for
his discharge from debts of 859 f., giving up meets returned
at 3.10/.

In answer to the court,

Mr. Worrell, clerk to the official assignee, stated that
only 41. had been recovered.
The solicitor to the assignees said that the bankrupt's
house at Newmarket was expected to produce the amount
above named, but it had not yet been tposed of.
• . .

His Honour, in the absence of opposition, granted the
order.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERICENWELL

THREATENING TO SHOOT AND STAB A PHYSICIAN.

William Meg Lander, aged 13, a ticket collector, re-
siding at 14s, St. James's-street, Pentonville, was charged
before Mr. Cooke with being drunk and threatening to
stab and shoot Henri Pectin, physician and surgeon, of 4,
Penton-street, Pentonville.
The complainant stated that yesterday evening the de-
fendant called at his house in a very excited manner, and
having spoken to him he took up a knife from the table
and attempted to stab him. The defendant hail before
wanted to shoot him, and had made use of threatening
language. He had known the defendant and his wife for
some time, and therefore he did not wish to press the
cluirge harshly against the defendant. All that he
wanted was that he should be bound to keep the peace.
The defendant, in reply to the charge, said that some
time since his wife spoke to him about being divorced, and
he then understood that in the event of a divorce being ob.
Mined the complainant was to marry his wife. He at first
consented to these arrangements, but afterwards he felt
annoyed, and then he did say something to the complain-
ant about a pistol, to show him that be was in earnest, and
did not intend to allow his wife to get a divorce from him.
As for the knife, he saw it on the table, and
might have touched it, but he really had no intention to
stab the complainant or to hurt him in any way. He was
excited, and regretted what he had done.
. .

Mr. (''Doke said that the defendant would have to enter
into hiv own recognisances in the sum of 1001. to keep the
peace and be of good behaviour towards the complainant
and all her Majesty's subjects for the space of twelve
calendar months _ _

The defendant having been bound over, left the court.
MARLBOROUGH STREET.

A CAB-IMIR Ea CHANGED WITH STEALLNU A GENTLEMAN'S

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(THIS WI.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
The private business included 134 bills, mat of a' ich
were read a second time.

FINSBURY ESTATE BILL

Mr. AYRTON moved the second reading of th',. 1 ill.
The bill was not a new one, for it was before the house
last session, the Secretary of State for the Home liep.rr.
ment assenting to the second reading. As he un-
derstood, the representative of the Ecelesi.,stical
Commissioners in that house intended to oppose
the second reading on the present ,Cession. The
estate to which this bill referred was church property. It
now produced 45,0001. a year, and it was certain to yield a
still larger revenue. The estate had been leased to the
corporation of London, and that lease was to esp., :a the
course of the present year. It therefore became a questien
what was to be done with the estate when it COM: into
the hands of the ecclesiastical commissioner,. Thel,l,laid
down by that body was to grant donations and anneal sti-
pendsoutof the ecclesiastical funds provided the in ha lq
of the parishes to which grants were made raised n certain
amount amongst themselves for supplying the auto
of spiritual destitution. He contended that this rule
was unfair to the poor parishes of the metropolis.
The commissioners received more than 48,000/. fie, the
ecclesiastical property in the metropolis, and they .hd not
distribute half that amongst the parishes. T1....7,0t
value of this property was created by the increase of the
metropolis. What he asked for was that half of
received by the ecclesiastical commissioners should 0 I,:t
as u special fund to be applied for the spiritual reii, f of
the poor of the metrolis. (Hear.)
The motion having been seconded.
Mr. HOWM moved that the bill be read a s.cond
time that day six months. He did so as • member the
Ecclesiastical Commis ion, but not as representing that
body. He was not responsible for what had beet done by
the Secretary of State in the last session of parliament.
The real object of the proposition of the hon. geliti,:i.ut
was to deprive the ecclesiastical commission of „bout
30,000/.—for the estate to which he referred was north
he believed, 60,0001. a year--and so far diminish their
ability to relieve the spiritual wants of the country gene-
rally. He denied that the spiritual wants of the metro-
poll* were disregarded. If they had then it would le the
duty of the government to exercise over the con.e.i,siel
that control which they possessed.
Mr. LEEMAN seconded the amendment.

_......__.
[Left sitting.]

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELECTION.
(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

NORTHAMPTON, IVEnNesDAY MORNING.

Mr. Sackville Stopford was returned this morn-
ing without opposition. The proceedings were good.
hinuotued, but noisy.

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.

(THIS PAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was
heLl at noon, at the London Tavern, CoL PEALLSoN in the
choir. . . . . . . . .

The report, which had been previously issued and lab.
fished, having been taken as read,
The CHAIKWAN moved its adoption. He said it con.
tained the substance of all the directors hail to cornmeal..
cote ; and though the dividend was not so good a. he
could have wished, compared with those announced lately
by Dome other companies it was very satisfactory. From
the year 1848 to 1883, he had taken periods of threeyeas
for the purpose of comparison as regarded the dividends.
In the first period ending in 1810 they received an average
of 11. 4s. 10;d. per cent. ; in the second period, 2/. 2.. rid.;
in the third period, 2/. 12s. ; in the fourth period, 3/. sa;
in the fifth period, 31. 10a. ; and in the last period, ending
in 11405, 4/. He hoped they would go on progreving.
The traffic recently showed a great increase in the tonnage
of minerals carried, and a decrease in the amount received
under that bead. That railway afforded an illintra.
thin of the fallacy of measuring the revem:e of
I a railway by the work actually performed. As reonkd
the strikes which had so much affected that
company, he was happy to think that there was
reason to believe that the operativei would not take so
injurious a course in future as they had done in the past.
There was a prospect, too, of improved relations with the
London and North Western Railway Company. Notwitlo
standing a distrust of the company with regard to railway
debentures, he must say he did not believe that there was
any better security for the public than that of go.' lines
in full working. The revenue of that company would lay
off its debenture debt within live years. In the meet
consuls, people were satisfied with a margin of ten per
cent., that is to say, they would lend 81/. on the present
value, and it would take 27 pets to pay off the debt.
(Hear, hear.)
After a short discussion the report was adopted, and
a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. pia annum wade.
dared.

THE NEw NATIONAL GALLEILY.—WO at I.e•
quested to state that the public will be admitted to
view the above designs on Wednesday. Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday, from 10 to 4 o'clock, until
16th March.

Mr. Bertuford Hope, on the second reading of the
Church Rates Abolition Bill, will move " that it be read
a second time upon this day six months."
In the House of Lords, on Monday, Earl
Ruaaell will move, " that there be bd.l before this hom
certain returns connected with the representation of the
people in p Aiament."
A special telegram from London to the Lois
Mercury says:—" The liberal chiefs met to-day to consult
with reference to the government resolutions on reform.
No final resolution was come to, but the deci.l.4l drft of
the opinion of those present was that the phut of the go.
cerement is not worth a serious liscusaion."

• ----- -
Conunenting upon the reform resolutions, the
Afonchour Zzarisiner says—Mr. Disraeli lass furni.le,l the
country with an easy task. " A little less of specio,:•tass
and dishonesty might have baffled us for a week or two.
hut he has cut short all uncertainty, both as re5.0.,1. the
tory Reform Bill and the tory ailuiiiii.tration.- The
Leeds Mircrtry thinks it is a pity "the only dinar)
principle laid down, amidst all this ma,s of
common-place, is one which it is p.rfectly cett.iiti the
People will never accept." The Birani,:do,,, Poo
" If there is no hitch, and if everything is done •1•4 Pik:4
as it can be, the new Reform Bill may come into elfect is
about the month of August in the year NO. An I until
then, the Tory ministers are kind enough to 4:9- thit they
expect to remain in office. Do they 7 We fancy t', :t the
public opinion expressed at the B' ham meeting 114
night followed as it will be by similar meeting, through.
out the country, will make an end of them, their r.,olta•
tious, tl.eir bill, their commission, and all the n•st of it
before the session is a month older."

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIE,,.—TiIi%
ww. issued a return to Parliament of the wieder of
patties registered under the Limited Li..hility Act during
the years 18d4, 186.71, and 18tki, with the amnaut
of capital proposal to be r iad in Aare%
The summary of the return for
1814 : 992 companies were register.,l, with a I,M"iea
capital of T37,4:57,0Ki1. 14s. ; 5 c 1.11 i.... were rego,
tered without nominal capital—total, te.c. 14'n
2111%.01,Alt:/. ; 20 cowponies were regkten4l
companies were registered, with prolmakvi i:.l .4
nominal capital—total, 1,0*3.
registered, with a proposed capitd of 7,;.:09.':2
companies Were registered without uotuii...l c..i.it
765. . .

Mr. Peter Tait, Mayor of Limerick, has sc.
ceptedi as invitation to a public banquet to I.e on the
21st inst., as "some acknowledgment of I:4e
regard entertained for him, and in recignition of Li, ec-
ertions an mayor for the welfare of the city, th, •
benefits he has conferral on it and the people. his :44,4
cent gifts of charity, and unbounded awl gracobil
tally." The requisition is signed by nearly all th..1....hr.,;
men of the city and county, without distinction of p
The banquet is to be given in the Theatre Royal. tie I. ".1
of which will be reserved for ladies.
At the meeting of the 'loyal Gemfrapliii al So-
ciety on Monday evening, bir Eudetick Murchis. t. in the
chair, two papers relating to the 4 Imre otriatoiA ..c.I to
.
the Cascade Mountains near California were real.
first one, by Mr. Hines, described his perilous
Mount Hood, assumed to be highest mountain in North
America, in July last, with a small party. 'rite IMP,' CU
"The Oregon Territory," by Mr. Brown. ile•anibei tie
tract of country on the east of the Casesul, M tttttt [lin% As
sandy and barren, and as contrasting ..trooglt wit. the
more fertile tract on the west towards the Pacific, sel.,,h
is well watered by many streams.
THE NATIONAL EDTCATION SY,TEM.—We have
some reason to believe that no proei.ion for earrYit.'l
Mr. Fortescue's schemes for chani:Mg the rototit to MI
the model schools in the Pish nloc.stion I:•ti.o.t. • a:11
be made. It is probable the whole se.boo sill
9uired into by a royal commission. comp osed of thereiNl•!l
independent men. In case of such un inquiry ••••t
toted, we would suggest that, to nick" it in at.y.
valuable, it must he conducted contidoeti"ll • ^ni'
neases being protected from any tn.)
14,Prehend.—DoUio Zeroing AA d.