The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7, 1867.

whole, and in its several dioceses, benefices, and
parishes, and into the number of the Protestant
I population therein, with a view to alterations
and improvements in the distribution of the
revenue'. This is dangerous ground to get
upon. If it is a scandal that requires re-
dress, that the rector of Urlingford, with a
church population of 30 souls, should have a
revenue of nearly 1,2001. a year, while
the parish of Bangor, with a church po-
pulation of 1,230 souls, has a gross revenue
of 131;/. a year, it is equally a scandal that less
I than a ninth-part of the population of Ireland
should monopolise the ecclesiastical revenues of
the country. That which is an abuse in detail
cannot be right in the mass. The rich church of
a minority ought by its very reason of existence to
be the richest where it is most in a minority.
The principle on which the lesser evil is to be cor-
rected involves logically the removal of the
greater. To transfer the revenues of one pariah
or diocese to another is neither more nor less
confiscation than their total secularisation would
be. The tithes of Urlingford were not intended
to provide spiritual edification for the parish-
ioners of Bangor. They were intended for
the benefit of the people, and those the
Roman Catholic people, of Urlingford only.
Once admit the principle of the equitable distribu-
tion of revenues in proportion to the number and
needs of the population, and judgment is given,
from which there is no appeal, in favour of the
dig-establishment of the Anglican Church in Ire-
land. This conclusion is involved in the terms
of the Royal Commission which has just been
issued, and the logic of facts will nut always halt
behind that of reason and justice.

OUR CONTEMPORARIDI.
(THIS DAY.)

main the natural price, and uit a price driven up by
monopoly or conspiracy.
Having put down all rioting prmptly and sternly, the
Telegraph urges that we bestir ourselves by every possible
means in our power to alleviate the distress of which the
prevalence and the magnitude mesa be denied, and
to which we should not, and cannot, and dare not, turn a
deaf ear. The contrast between the behaviour of all Lan-
(*Aire during the pressure of the cotton famine and that
of Devon now, points to the cause of that contrast —the
fact that, while Lancash;re is educated, Devon is not ; and
tells statesmen, in • voice of authority, that, without •
year's delay, they must take measures for educating the
whole people of England.
The hot hopes that these disturbances in Devonshire
will warn the metropolitan authorities to watch atten-
tively the signs of the times, and to be prepared to deal
with any such proceedings before and not after they have
taken place.

the Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 6.

The Queen and Princess Louise walked out yes-
terday afternoon. Her Majesty ►fterwards drove out,
accompanied by Princess Christian.
The Queen went out this morning accompanied by
Princess Beatrice.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Albert Victor,
Prince George, and Princess Louise, attended by Viacountess
Walden, Lady in Waiting, and Major G. Grey, Equerry in
Waiting, arrived at the Castle this evening at a quarter
before six o'clock, on a visit to her Majesty.
Princess Louise, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington,
drove to the railway station in Windsor, and accompanied
their Royal Highnesses to the Castle.
Her Majesty, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice,
met the Prince and Princess at the entrance, and conducted
their Royal Highnesses to their apartment.
The Marchioness of Ely was in attendance upon her
Majesty.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor-General of Canada.

His Excellency the Russian Ambassador and
Baroness Brunnow have returned to Chesham House after
spending several weeks at Brighton.

The Earl of Dudley is entertaining a shooting
party at Buckenham, Lord Ashburton's seat in Norfolk.

The Countess Dowager of Carnarvon and Lady
Gwendolin Herbert have left Groavenor-street for the
Continent for the winter months.

Lord Elcho, M.P., No left town to join the
party visiting the Earl of Dudley at his shooting quarters
in Norfolk.

We (Herald) understand that Lieutenant-Colonel
Humphery, formerly M.P. for Andover, will shortly be
created a baronet. Lieutenant-Colonel Humphery is the
son of the lato Alderman Humphery, formerly M.P. for
Southwark, and son•in•law of the late William Cubitt,
Esq., who was twice Lord Mayor of London, and who
represented Andover for many years.

LONDON AND SOUTH AFRICAN BANK.
(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors was
held at noon at the London Tavern, Colonel Ifou..trii)
presiding.
The report stated that the net profits for six months
ending the 30th June last amounted to 14,082/. 2a. Bd.,
or, of which the directors had decided to make a
payment of Se. per share, in anticipation of the yearly
dividend, after carrying 4,0001. to the amount held against
losses ou past due bills, and the balance to the next
account.

The balance sheet was as follows :
" Statement of liabilities and assets, London Office and
Branches, June 30, 1867.-Dr.-Liabilities: Capital paid
up, rAO,OOO/. ; circulation-notes and bank post bills,
Bs. 93. ; deposits, 203,2661. 2a. Bd. ; bills payable,
and other liabilities, 109,9111/. 13e. 4d. ; reserve fund,
18,1811. 6s. 3d. ; balance of profit and loss ac-
count, 10,082/. 2s. Bd. ; total-849 3961. 13.. Bd. ;
Cr.-Assets : Specie on hand and caah balances, 86,018/.
13s. 4d. ; hank premises, furniture, fittings, and other
property, 24,0941. 2.. 7d. ; local bills discounted, bills re-
ceivable, government and other securities, 631,650/.98.11rd.;
bills overdue and unpaid, 177.802/. 14s. 93. ; lees, amount
held against losses thereon, 47,209/. 34. od. ; partial Pay-
ments, 21,960/. 3s. 43.-69,1691. 6s. 10d. ; leaving 108,633/.
Is. iid. ; total, 849,396/. 13s. Bd.
" Profit and Loss Account -Dr. : To interest, commis-
aion, and exchange paid, 5,142/. lla. ; to charges for the
half.year, including tent, taxes, and all other expenses, at
head office and branches, 8,3901. 17.. 3d. ; to rebate on
bills not due, 3,331/. 14a. Ild. ; to balance down,
10,0621. 2.. Bd. ; total, 26.9471. ss. 10d. Cr.-
By balance brought forward from December 31,
1866, 670/. 14s. 4d. ; by rebate on bills not due 31st
December, 1866, brought forward 4,2171.4 a. 6d. ; by gross
profit for the half-year ending 30th June, 1867, 26,059/. 7s.
-together 30,276/. Its. 6d. ; less amount reserved against
prat-due bills 4,01.10/.-leaving 26, :161. lls. tid. ; total
26,9471. ss. 10d. /3y balance down 10,0821. 2s. Bd."
The CHAIRMAN observed that as the meeting was merely
an interim one the proprietors would not be asked to adopt
any resolution. The board had been enabled to make the
payment of a small dividend in anticipation of the annual
meeting, and they believed that a careful exami-
nation of the securities and assets justified them
in taking that course. Since the last meeting there had
been a commercial crisis at Natal. That accounted for
the fact that there was an increase in the past-due bill
account; but there was reason to believe that many of
the bills would be paid in full. The bank held collateral
securities of the value of 65,0001., and the manager at
Durban thought that in time the value would be
increased. The same gentleman, who was the new
manager, reported that in his opinion had the instructions
of the directors been carried out most of the past looses
would have been avoided. At the Cape itself there had
been no loss during the half-year and the business was in
a satisfactory position. A reduction in the charges so
the extent of seven or eight thousand a year bad been
effected. Several of the smaller branches had been
closed. The board agreed with the auditors that it was
desirable to transfer the reserve fund to the past-due bill
account. It might be said that the reserve Tund was gone
and it was quite possible that something more would have
to be added in the next two Cr three half years.
In reply to a question,
The CHAIRMAN said 65,000/. was the whole of the
security held against the Natal past-due bill account.
A SHAREHOLDER doubted the policy of paying • divi-
dend under such circumstances. It was possible the
shareholders would still be called upon to Rey calls to
meet Issas.

The CHAIRMAN observed that though that was possible
it was highly improbable. There was good reason to be-
lieve that the landed property held in Natal
would ere long greatly improve in value. He be-
lieved that the capital was substantially safe, and
that if they bad only patience to go on as they
were doing, and pay off liabilities from month to
month, that would prove a much better course
than winding up. The directors would have recommended
a liquidation if they bad believed such a course to be
desirable for the interest of the shareholders. The lia-
bilities had been reduced to such a point that they could
scarcely be increased. The business now was profitable,
and he hoped it would soon be much more so.
Mr. Mlizwan thought the accounts distinctly showed
that there was no reason to apprehend a call, the liabilities
to the public being amply provided for already. The
policy of paying a dividend of 4 per cent. appeared to him
a wise one. Scarcely any gentleman in the management of
his private affairs would think of liquidating a large bad
debt in a single year. He concluded by moving a vote of
thanks to the directors and officers of the bank for the
efficient management of its affairs.
The resolution having been seconded,
A SHAREHOLDER observed that under the charter 110
call could be made in the present position of the bank.
The CHAIRMAN concurred in this view.
The motion of thanks was then unanimously adopted,
and the meeting separated.

Mr. Childers, 31. P., last night addressed his
constituents at Pontefract, the greater portion of his
speech having reference to the debates on the Reform Act.
He referred to the points in which he thought that mea-
sure was unsatisfactory, viz., the county franchise, the re-
distribution of seats, and the compounding clauses, upon
all of which he expressed his opinion that further legisla-
tion would be necessary.

A meeting of Mesas. Bazley and Bright's com-
mittee was held yesterday, to consider what steps should
be taken regarding the vacancy in the representation of
Manchester. Deputations attended from the Reform
Union and Reform League, and among the gentlemen
present there were several of the supporters of Mr. Abel
Heywood's candidature at the last election. It was unani-
mously resolved to ask Mr. Jacob Bright to stand for the
vacant seat.

The result of the revision for the northern
division of the West Riding has at length been ascertained.
It appears that of the new claims made by the representa-
tives of the liberal party 1,038 out of 1,125 were sustained ;
of the oonservative claims, 479 were sustained out of
610 made. From the old list the liberals struck off 516,
and the conservatives 491 ; the result of the revision being
a net liberal gain of 534.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

Sittings in Bceson—(Before the Lord Chief Justice and
Justices Mellor and Lush.)

SULLY C. C,,RRIE.
Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., with whom was Mr. J. 0. Gri!fits,
said this was an action tried at Westminster before the
Lord Chief Justice, for false imprisonment and a malicious
prosecution, when the jury having answered certain
questions put to them by the Lord Chief Justice,
his lordship directed a verdict to be enteredl for
the defendant with leave to the plaintiff to move on
points reserved, to enter the verdict for her for ROI ,
which sum the jury had conditionally assumed
in order to save the expense of a second trial, should the
03011 upset his ruling. The learned counsel moved ac-
cordingly and also for a new trial on the affidavit of the
attorney's clerk who had the conduct of the case. The
plaintiff was cook in the defendant's family, a merchent
in Mincing-lane, having a country residence in Hampshire.
The defendant had given the plaintiff into custody, and in
his plea as he pleaded that a certain person or per-
sons to the defendant unknown had feloniously,
unlawfully, and maliciously administered, or caused
to be administered to certain persons • noxious
poison so as to inflict grievous bodily harm.
snd that the defendant was justified in giving the plaintiff
into custody, as a felony had been committed. It would
appear that the plaintiff cooked some veal for the family,
and that soon after eating it they were taken ill.
The Lord Chief Justice—The veal was divided into two
pmts. One part was roasted and the other was stewed
down for gravy, and afterwards cooked for the family
dinner. The extraordinary part of the case was this, that
those only who partook of the gravy with the roasted veal
were taken ill, and not those who partook of the meat.
Mr. Huddleston said the cook herself was taken ill as
well as other persons in the village.
The Lord Chief Justice—Yes, but with eel, different
symptoms.
Mr. Huddleston said the defendant's case was that
antimony had been administered, and as the act el Pa!lia-
meat drew • distinction in the administration of a noxious
drug, making it in one case • misdemeanour and in the
other a felony, the learned counsel's contention was
that the Lord Chief Justice had wrongly left the ease to
the key so as to bring it within the clause which made it
• felony, and under which plea the defendant was jus-
tified. The learned counsel also moved on the affidavit,
which incorporated several letters which appeared in
the newspapers at the time, stating that it was
the custom of farmers in the west of England
to give calves antimony when they were being fattened,
which would account for the trace of antimony found by Dr.
Letheby in the gravy sent to him for analysts; arid it also
stated that Dr. Taylor, who analysed the intestines of
Byrnes, who died after eating the veal, had reported there
was no antimony in them.
The Lord Chief Justice said that the contention with
regard to the antimony being given to calves, and that,
therefore it might be found in the veal, did not apply
here, because no one was taken ill who ate the veal, but
only these persons who partook of the gravy that was
served up with the roast veal, and with regard to hymen,
he was ill for a long time before he died, and in all posai.
bility the antimony might have passed off in the mean-
time, but might have caused the irritation which he
suffered, he being a 'rely old man, and of which be was said
to have died.

The learned judges all concurred that the Lord Chief
Justice's ruling with regard to the law was correct, and that
the affidavit did not show sufficient grounds for disturb-
ing the verdict. The defendant bad discharged a duty
which everyone owed to society, and there was reason-
able and probable cause for his charging the plaintiff. It
was one of those cases in which an innocent person un-
fortunately suffered from the bona fide conduct of another.
Rule refused.