The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29, 1867.

nearest precedent was that of the Persian war.
The adoption of the resolution would not make
India a shilling poorer. What it u.,uld do would
be to withdraw from India a portion of her avail-
able force. There was in India a necessary margin
of disposable force which, if not wanted for India,
might be sent elsewhere with a solemn pledge to
India that if wanted in India they must return
thither. If a committee were appointed to inquire
into the distribution of the charge of the army and
navy between England and India, his impression
was that more would have to be charged to India
and less to England.
Mr. LANG: thought the proposal a perfectly fair
one.

Mr. OSBORNE supported the resolution in the
' interest of the English taxpayer. He said :
I shall not stand long between the house and the noble
lord, whom nobody will hear with greater pleasure than
myself on a subject in respect to which he is peculiarly
fitted from his information to speak. (Hear, hear.) Bat
I think it impossible, sitting in the vicinity of the right
hon. gentleman below me (Mr. Laing), who I think repre-
sents the Aulic Council, but scarcely the British tax-
peyer—(laughter)-to remain altogether silent. I lis-
tened with great interest to the speech of the Secre-
tary of State for India. It was a large speech,
great—almost too great—in its proportions—(a laugh)—
bonne if it proved anything it proved too much. It went
to this, that England is over-taxed, that we have to pay
more than our just proportion, while India, instead of
being only called upon to pay 300,0001., ought to pay half
the cost of the expedition at least. According to the
showing of the right hon. baronet and of the right hon.
member for South Lancashire, it is the British, not the
Indian taxpayer who has cause to complain. Now this
requires to be narrowly looked into. The right hon. gen-
tleman the Secretary for India states that since the
Chinese war we have taken the whole charge of the Indian
nary off their hands. Well, then, I say if that be the
ease we are legislating directly against the British tax-
payer and in favour of the Indian portion of our fellow
countrymen. But, said the right hon. gentleman the
member for Wick, it may be the design of Providence. He
wound up his extraordinary speech by an appeal to Provi-
dence. (A laugh.) And the idea he has of Provident*
seems to be that this country is to be charged by
Providence a sum of 3,000,0001. of money in
order to keep the Bombay army in wind.
(Much laughter.) The great financial reformer the
representative of the British taxpayer, tells the House
of Cemnsees that it is necessary to give the young blood of
India seep, and to keep the Bombay army in wind.
(Renewed laughter.) I say that if this house is to be per-
suaded into voting money for the purpose, of maintain-
, ing Indian prestige and to keep the Bombay army in wind,
we are abrogating our duty members of parliament and
guardians of the public purse. (Hear, hear.) I can now
, understand all that was said by the right hon. baronet
' the Secretary of State when he spoke of the enthusiasm of
the Bombay officers. It appears to me that this war has
been got up by • olivine of officers at Bombay—(oh,
oh)--&stractcd by ennui and anxious for active service.
Sir, I think this debate has been allowed to go by the
board with too much ease. The Blue-book gives
as little or no information. The right honourable
baronet has acknowledged with churning frankness
that he has laid nothing but • cart load of rubbish before
as. I do not advise my honourable friend the member
for Cambridge—(" Brighton")—the member for Brighton
and Pretence of Cambridge to go to a division. The sum
is a small one, 300,000/., but the principle is a great one.
lam not prepared to say that India ought not tocontribute
her share to this expenditure. Therefore, in the face of
these declarations, I shall not be able as I intended to give
my support to the hon. member for Brighton, and I shall
advise him next session to move for a committee on this
subject. (A laugh.) I think the right hon. gentleman the
member for South laneanshire was rather unfortunate in
one allusion which he made. If I understood him rightly
he said that the real parallel to this expedition was the
parallel of the Persian war of 1857. Did I understand the
right hon gentleman to say that?
Mr. GLADSTONE—I said nearer than any other.
Mr. OSBORNE—WiII be on the parallel! What
happened in the Persian war? Wh77 sir, in the Persian
war of 1857 the member for Sheffield came down to this
house in the month of July and moved a direct vote of
censure upon her Majesty's government for having gone to
war without the consent of parliament. (Hear.) And what
happened on that occasion ? The strongest speech made
on that occasion was made by my right hon. friend the
member for South lencashire, who mane one of a minority
of 38 condemning government for going to war without
the consent of parliament. (Hear, hear.) I do not say
that I go so far sa my right hon. friend on this occasion.
(Laughter.) I think that both aides of the house may say
with rented to this miserable affair of Abyssinia, " Brother,
brother, we are both in the wrong." (" Hear, hear," and
laughter.) But having said that I hope they will keep a
strict watch upon the money which I fear is already being
wasted. (Hear, hear.) Monstrous waste, I fear, has
occurred in the purchase of three males—)" hear, hear,"
and laughter)—and monstrous waste, I fear, by looking at
this Blue book, is occurring elsewhere. This I do say,that
I hope the House of Commons will set its face absolutely
going fiLtrm:reeely. the
ng thrernsbtyou of %reit
;Ind. (Laughter and cheers.)

Lord CRANBORNE protested against the motives
which had been assigned forthis war. It was wicked
to go to war to produce an effect on the imagination
of certain persons.
He believed the nation generally consented to gointo this
war for one very clear and distinct object. An envoy
was employed on England's behalf to go on a service of
danger ; in that service of danger he had been imprisoned
and matreated, and by every principle of honour it was
England's duty to see him safe through it. (Hear.) When
there was a principle of honour in question, when a man
of honour representing an honourable nation who desired
to carry the principles in which we believed into effect,
was detained a prisoner in Abyssinia, it was de-
grading to be perpetually parading before the face
of Europe all these wretched considerations about the
effect we should have upon the minds of populations in
this or that part of the East, or the way in which we
should maintain that mysterious something which some
people were pleased to call prestige. (Hear, hear.) He
confessed he heard no part of his bon. friend's speech with
more pleasure than that in which he made an attack upon
that time-honoured word, and he wished by com-
mon consent they could banish from the parlia-
mentary vocabulary that word which bad so unfortunate en
etymological connection with deceit. (Hear, hear.) But
when we said there was • great Indian interest in this war,
even on that low ground of the impression it produced
on other people, let us, in justice to the populations of
India, remember that the main effect that would
have taken place if we had not rescued these captives
would have been to endanger in barbarous courts and half
civilised countries the lives of English travellers and am-
bassadors. (Cheers.) That no doubt would be • very
frightful evil, which no one would wish to underrate, but
let them not call it • strictly Indian interest. (Hear,
hear.) It was as much an imperial interest as
anything they could name. (lieu, hear.) At
all events, the superficial injustice of the course
they were now proposing to pursue lay in this
that when we employed English troops upon an Indii
duty—as for instance, in the matter of the mutiny—we
made India pay every farthing of their pay from the
moment they landed on the Indian shore, but when we
employed Indian troops upon an imperial duty we mid
that India should pay them. (Hear, hear.) He did not
mean to differ much from the conclusion of the hon. gen-
tleman who had just sat down that the matter was small,
and that it was not worth while to call for • division upon
a point of "detail." (Hear, hear.) The evil, if evil there
were in the course now taken by the government, was in
esoence an evil more from the point of view of England
than of India. It was perfectly true that India would not
beans penny the poorer by what we were calling upon her
to do ; the only thing that would happen to her would be
' that she would be less nears. She would have a smaller
garrison during the time that this expedition was going on.
What, then, was the guarantee that that want of security
should not pass into a real danger? The guarantee was,
as he understood it, just this—that the Governor-General
had received authority to raise any troops that be might
think necessary, and charge them to the English ex-
chequer. It therefore depended entirely upon the cha-
racter of the Governor-General whether that measure was
one of safety or of danger. He had such confidence in the
stern mould in which Sir John Lawrence was made, that
he did not believe he would be affected by the smiles or the
frowns of any ministry, and he was quite certain that if
the Governor-General of India needed the raising of more
troops, he would raise them in a moment. He did not
fear any danger practically as resulting from the present
step, but he did fear this as a precedent. (Cheers.) He
did not like the idea of India being looked upon as a kind
of English barrack in oriental seas, from which we might
draw without paying for them any amount of troops we
might require. (Hear, hear.) It was bad for England,
because it was always bad for assn etc have thatcheek upon
the temptation to engage in little wars which could only
be controlled by the necessity of paving for them—(hear,
hear)—but it was very bail for India, because if there
was a weak or a timid, or a too facile governor-gene-
ral of that country, at a time of any similar
operation, we might have India seriously denuded
of troops in order to lent imperial interests, and
there would be this precedent to prevent them from cen-
suring any of the officers engaged in such conduct. (Hear,
bear.) The precedent of the Persian war had been men-
tioned. and it was applicable in more respects than
one. The moment the mutiny broke out, part of the
troops that should have been guarding India were absent
on the Persian war. (Haar, hear.) That was a warning
which we ought to lay to heart. If the garrison that we
kept) in India was, small Indian authorities assured us, ne-
cessary for maintaining that country in securityand peace,
that garrison ought not to be rashly diminished. (Hear.)
If it were too large, and India could for any length of time
conveniently mare these troops, then;the Indian population
ought not to be unnecessarily taxed. His right hon. friend
told them that this was but for a short time. The right
hon. gentleman was a man of sanguine mind—(a laugh)—
and great prophetic powers. But when once these troops
got into Abyssinia no one could say when they would get
out of it (Hear, hear.) He had thought it right to make
this protest in order to prevent such a step pulsing too

much without notice, or he might say passing with too
much of concurrence, considering the concurrence it had
received from the present government and the right hon.
gentleman opposite (Mr. Gladstone). Still he concurred
with the member for N ottinghsan ( kir. Osborne) in expressing
the hope that the member forßrighton would not divide. He
was very anxious that in this matter, whatever criticism
he might pass upon the subordinate measures which the
government might take, there should not seem to be any
want of unanimity in the heartiness with which they sup-
ported the crown in the action it had taken. (Hear, hear.)
They all of them—at least, the mass of them—agreedi in
the thorough justice and necessity of this war, and the
more heartily they supported the WWII in carrying it out,
the more thoroughly would they effect its object. (Cheers.)

- . •
Colonel SYKES protested against the arguments
of Lord Cranborne.

On a division the resolution was carried by 198
to 23.

The Metropolitan Streets Act Amendment Bill
having gone into committee,
Mr. D. HARDY said there were objections entertained
by some hon. members against the alterations proposed.
He had considered those objections, and with a view to
meet them he would move a proviso to the clause to the
effect that the space between the footpath and the car-
riage way should be omitted from the operation of the
clause, so that it would be left open to the Metropolitan
Board of Works to decide what sbould be done when these
spaces should form part of the public roads.

Sir G. BOWYERsaid be had undertaken the cause of
the oostermoogers and not that of the shopkeepers, who
having votes would be well taken care of. (Laughter.) He
thought the coetermongen ought to be excluded from the
act of last session, for if not their industry would be
destroyed. He objected to the act because it cave to Sir
R. Mayne and to Colonel Frazer in their jurisdictions un-
limited and arbitrary power. He knew that there wee
antagonism between the coetermongers and the shop-
keepers, because the latter felt that the former might un-
dersell them, but he supported the principle of free trade
in its largest sense, and if the ooetermongers could sell for
lees profit than the shopkeepers it would be for the good
of the public. He thought that the thoroughfares of Lon-
don ought to be open to all persons both
for traffic and for trade, and that all persons
ought to have liberty to pursue their callings.
The effect of this bill would be to destroy the means of
living of 50,000 people, and in doing so it would increase
the poor rates and possibly throw some of the unemployed
into the criminal chase.. What he proposed was to repeal
the 6th clause of the act of last Darien, and to leave the
remainder of the subject for future consideration.,
Mr. AYRTON pointed out that the proposal of the
Secretary of State would leave all the open spaces in front
of houses under the control of the police, who could,
if they chose, place a competing tradesman in the front
of every shop. He would, in fact, place the whole
trading community under the control of the police.
He did not see the necessity for the powers granted under
the act, and In his opinion the only way of dealing satis-
factorily with the question was to adopt the course pre-
pared by the hon. member for Dundalk, and to repeal the
clause.

Mr. HARDY said he could not agree with the hon.
member for the Tower Herniate. The sixth clause of the
act of 1867 was intended to apply to cases where goods
were exposed for sale opposite to shops ; hot it was found
that if strictly enforced, the effect would be to interfere in-
juriously with a very large number of itinerant salesmen,
whose business it was not intended to interfere with at all.
The Metropolitan Police Act gave power to the police to
interfere in cases of wilful obstruction ; but this was far
from satisfactory, and it was now proposed to give a dis-
cretion to the police commissioners, whose object would be
simply to regulate the street traflio in the manner that
would be most conducive to the general convenience of
the public.
Mr. LOCKE thought that great inoonvenience would
result from the adoption of the proposition submitted on
behalf of the government, inasmuch as the effect of it
would be that the commissioners of police would be called
upon to point out the places where, whether they liked
them or not, hawkers of goods would be compelled to take
their stand. He thought that the law as it stood was
more satisfactory the& it would be under the proposed
alteration.

After a few words from Mr. 0. BENTINCI(,
Sir R. PALMER observed that, aooorcling to the right
hoe. gentleman the Home Secretary, the 6th clause of the
act of last year was not intended to apply to costermongers
and street hawkers ; and the right bon. gentleman ap
peared to be taking advantage of this occasion to put the
whole of that clams under the direction of the police. For
his own part, in passing through such thoroughfares as
Great Portland-street, which were crowded by these
people, he bad been struck at once with the total absence
of disorder, and at the same time with the great con-
venience which they seemed to be to large numbers of the
poor. He should therefore support the amendment.
(Cheers.)
Mr. D. BROMLEY said the eostermongers were the
camp followers of the poor. Indeed, but for them he
hardly knew how the poor of London were to be fed at all.
He considered that they had a far greater vested right
than those processions which we bad latterly seen in our
streets ; and he hoped the right hon. gentleman would
take care they were not harshly treated.
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought the advantage of repealing
the 6th clause over the plan of the right hon. gentleman
was obvious. It would restore the law to what it was ;
and then if a householder did not object he might have a
oostermonger before his door, but if he did object he
might have the costerrnonger removed. (Hear, hear.)
11r. HARDY said that if the 6th clause were repealed
he should withdraw the bill. It seemed to be forgotten
that that clause extended to other people besides water-
mongers—to persons who placed goods in the struts and
created a great nuisance to the public. He was not pro-
posing to regulate or put down the trade of the colter-
mongers, he merely proposed to provide that the 6th
clause should not apply to it, provided that those who
followed that trade complied with the rules of the police.
Sir G. BOWYER remonstrated with the right hon. gen-
tleman on his declaration, and hoped he would reconsider
it ; for what his bill proposed to do was to place a large
and industrious section of the public under the absolute
control of a single man.
Colonel KNOX said that some regulations were abso-
lutely necessary, and he regretted that when something
was proposed which would have the effect of relieving the
streets of obstructions it should be opposed by the metro-
politan members. It was almost impossible to get through
the crowded streets at present. They must trust the
Secretary of State with these mitten. If there was a
wrong it was immediately rectified. He hoped gentlemen
would support the Secretary of State in carrying this
clause, which was simply intended to remedy an oversight.
Mr. AYRTON said that what the metropolitan mem-
bers wished was that crude meavures should not be
adopted. The material point was this. There was •
clause in the act of parliament which all admitted to be
wrong, but the provision proposed by the government was
not a clear one. He advocated the repeal of the clause
and the bringing up of a new one. He quite concurred
with the principle of the clause suggested, that a trades-
men should not avail himself of the privilege of
loading or unloading of his goods on the foot-
way for the purpose of exposing his goods for sale.
There was already a provision to deal with such cases.
To pass • particular clause entitling costermongers to •
privilege not possessed by others would be unjust. He
was autent to leave the matter tinder the general police
law against obstructions. The simple mode of dealing
with the matter was to bring up a new clause.
Mr. CANDLISH suggested to the Home Secretary
simply to strike out the two last lines in the clues,
which would leave the costermongers and street hawkers
precisely where they were before the passing of the act of
last session.
The house then divided:
For Sir G. Bowyer's amendment 3O
Against
The amendment of Mr. Hardy was then put from the
chair.

Mr. GOSCHEN eked whether the Home Secretary
would introduce a provision requiring the regulations
framed by the police authorities to be laid before parlia-
ment.

HARDY was understood to answer in the negative.
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS said a notion prevailed that
costermongers would not be able to carry on their business
without a license.

Mr. HARDY said he had never heard of any such notion,
and the friends of the coaterroongers had not objected to
the clause.

The amendment sou then agreed to.
Claim 2 was also agreed to.
Mr. Alderman LAN FENCE moved the addition of a
clause repealing sections 17 and 26 in the acs of last ses-
sion, being the clauses which referred to hackney carriages.
He complained of the weight of taxation imposed upon the
proprietors of cabs, and urged that the requisition to carry
lamps was an additional impost, which they were unable
to bear. This was not the time to add additional taxation
upon the cab proprietors when they had to compete with
omnibuses the underground railway, and steamboats,
none of which were so heavily taxed.
Sir J. FERGUSSON said they were not just now
seeking to legislate with respect to cabs. He opposed the
motion, believing that there had been much exaggeration
with regard to the cost of one lamp for each of these
vehicles.

Mr. LOCKE had been informed that inpoint of fact there
was no place when the lamps could be fixed on four.
wheeled cabs.

The clause WRII then negatived without • division, and
the bill passed through committee.
Colonel TAYLOR mentioned that on the loot division
the numbers returned as 63 ought to have been 73.
The Sale of Reversion• Bill wa• read a second
time.

Bills were introduced by Mr. Stacpoole to provide
for the apportionment of Grand Jury Cess between
Landlord and Tenant in Ireland ; by Mr. J. A.
Smith for further Regulating the Sale of Fermented
and Distilled Liquors on Sunday in England and
Wales ; by Mr. Gladstone for the Abolition of
Compulsory Church Rates ; and by Sir C.
o.Loghlen to Amend the Law relating to the Pay-
ment of Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes
falling due on Bank Holidays.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes to one o'clock.

lite *Waif finue.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.--Nov. 28.

After Term Nisi Prim Sittings at Westaniuster.—(Before
the Lord Chief Justice and a Special Jary.)
ABMOLON STATHAM.

The Lord Chief ..lusiiceTalteiOUr report left, eddreued
the jury, who, after ten minutes' consideration, returned
a verdict for the defendant on both points.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—Nov. 28.

Sittings at Nisi Prins in lliddlesex.—(Before Mr. Justice
Smith and a Special Jury.)

WHITBREAD r. FRANCIS.
This was an action to recover damage* for an alleged
libel which had been published in the Athenmunt. The
only plea upon the record was " Not Guilty."
Sir George Honyman, Q.C., and Mr. Crompton appeared
for the plaintiff ; and Mr. George Denman, Q. and
Mi. Gaits for the defendant.

The plaintiff, )fir. Wm. initbread, was one of the
managing partners of the great brewery in Beech-street,
and he wee also treasurer of the Finsbury Dispensary. He
undertook this office in 1864, when his partner, who until
then had been treasurer, became ill. In 1862. Mr. Samp-
son Low published a work called "A Handbook to the
Charities of London ; " and in 1867 he reprinted that work
and appended to it " The Book of Charities of Lon-
don." A series of six articles were published in
the AtAencrum in 1867, in the style of a review
of these work', and in one of these the follow-
ing passage conned :—" The Finsbury Dispensary
in Woodbridge•street, Clerkenwell, is another wretched
hole, dirty, squalid, and we should fear very indifferently
conducted. Mr. Low mentions that the report and cub
statement of this institution are not forthcoming, and an
officer of a corresponding institution observed to us signifi-
cantly that he should like to see them. This dispensary
was established in 1780, and is situated in the densest part
of the dense parish of Clerkenwell, and ought to be the
means of conferring immense benefits on the poor around
it. There might be no limits to the usefulness of such a
dispensary, or to the favour it enjoyed from the public if
properly worked. But both the Finsbury institution and
the public fall far below the level which inch institutions
ought to reach." The inuendo in the declaration alleged
that the meaning of this statement was that the poor had
not received the benefit which they should have received
in consequence of the improper conduct of the plaintiff as
treasurer.

Mr. Whitbread, the plaintiff, was called, and he stated
that the object of the institution was to supply the poor
with medicines and medical attendance without any pay-
ment, and it was chiefly supported by voluntary contribu-
tions. He made all payments and received all moneys,
and kept proper accounts. At the end of the year he
prepared a balance-sheet, which was audited, and after-
wards laid before the general meeting, which was attended
by governors and others, and sometimes by local reporters.
The reports were printed every second year and circulated.
The place was not wretched, dirty, or squalid, but well
conducted, and he believed that no charity did more good
to the poor for its income.
In crow-examination, he said that they acted upon the
mple of paying their medical officers liberally, believ-
that course to be the best. They spent 9061. in
, and only 911. in drags ; but they got their drugs
very cheap, and the most expensive drugs were given when
necessary.
Mr. Maguire, the rector of Clerkenwell, and other
neighbounrg clergymen, spoke to the admirable way in
which the dispensary was conducted, and the great benefits
it conferred on the poor.
Mr. Denman submitted that the plaintiff had made
out no case, inasmuch as there was no personal attack
upon him, his name not even being mentioned.
Mr. Justice Smith said that nodoribt great license should
be allowed in commenting upon quasi public institutions,
but the question was whether this particular article went
beyond the line. He thought that there was evidence
for the jury that this was an attack upon the treuurer.
Mr. Denman addressed the ry for the defenee, and
stated that the articles In the Atilencrem were
written by Mr. Hall, a barrister of many years'
standing ; his motive in doing so was a most benevo-
lent one, and the object he sought moat useful.,
He wrote after having expended great labour in making
inquiries and visiting the places be described, and after
having visited and made inquiries as to the institution
in question, he wrote the paragraph complained of, honestly
believing that the facts justified him in writing as he
did. Under these circumstances he submitted to the
jui7 that they would not be justified in finding that Mr.
Hely wrote maliciously, and he lidded that it was never
intended to convey the impression that there was any-
thing improper in reference to the accounts.
Mr. W. Taylor Hely said that be was called to the bar
in 1849, and had been largely connected with charitable
institutions, especially those of London. He believed that
he and his brother had raised as much as 2,000,000 f. for
charitable purposes. When he engaged to write the
articles it was arranged that he should write in the
interests of the charities themselves, and that be should
visit the places he wrote about. He visited, he believed,
every dispensary in London, certainly every one he wrote
about. On the 20th February be visited the Finsbury
Dispensary. He got there about half-past ten, and it was
then closed. When he knocked a very diminutive, dirty
girl opened the door. The floor of the patients' waiting-
room was miserably dirty, and the walla were also dirty.
The plane where the medians was dispensed was in a simi-
lar state. The place was not nearly large enough for the
number of patients who went there. He 'eked the girl if
he could see anybody connected with the institution, but
could not find anybody, and was referred to Mr. Morland,
the secretary, for a report. Mr. Morland was not
at home, and he could not obtain a report. He then
went to the Metropolitan Dispensary, in Fore-street,
and in the course of conversation mentioned that he had
been to the Finsbury Dispensary, and asked how
he could get a report of it. The secretary said he could
not tell him, and, shaking his head, added, that he should
like to see is. In Mr. Low's book it was stated, in refer-
ence to the Finsbury Dispensary, " The report and cash
statement are not published for last year," and this same
statement was made in editions published in other years.
All he saw and heard as to the institution led him to the
belief that it was well managed. When he wrote the ar-
ticle he did not know that Mr. Whitbread was connected
with the institution.

Crowexamined—Re now knew that the clispenatry
busincee ooromenoed at 11 o'clock.

iii.it;tTorliziti,lllsirn;i4 up, said that it was to
be regretted that this case had to be decided by a jury, but
now it became their duty to say whether, in Vasir opinion,
the paragraph complained of was defamatory and libellous
in the sense imputed in the declaration.
The jury retired to consider their verdict, and after an
absence of three hours they found for the plaintiff—
damsges, 20/.

would not let them. He looked the door, and walked away
along the rank towards the first cab, when the prisoners
followed him up, and Donovon struck him a tremendous
blow on the side of the head, which felled him to the
ground. While he was down he was violently samba
and his hand very much injured, but how he could not
tell. The polio, saved him from further illtreatinent.
Fownes, the other cabman, saw Donavon follow Waldron
and knock him down, and heard Underwood say, " Let him
have it, Flirt, give him one of your properones." " Flirt "
I was the name Donavon went by, end he was a prize-
fighter. Witness then interfered, and said, "Do you
want to kill the man?' when Underwood said, " Oh, I can
give it to you," and struck him • blow which knocked
him down on the back of his head on the pavement. He
was stunned by the fall, and when he came to he found
himself inside a shop opposite the cab-rank. His mouth
was cut inside from the force of the kick he received in
the face. _ _

The prisoners said they were drunk.
Alderman Causton said it wise a brutal and unprovoked
assault. They appeared to be a pair of ruffuuss, one of
whom was a fighting man, who would assault everybody,
and it was cowartlly in the extreme to kick a man while he
was on the ground. He should send each of them to prison
for two months with hard labour.

The prisoners seemed utonnded at the sentence.

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES.
The usual meeting of magistrates of the county
of Middlesex was held yesterday at the Sessions.house
Clerkenwell-green, for the transaction of county burliness'.
Mr. Henry Pownall, chairman of the bench, presided, and
there was a very full attendance of magistrates. Mr.
Nicholson, clerk of the peace, read the report of the com-
mittee of accounts and general purposes, which amongst.
other matters alluded to the inquest that was held
Lankester on the body of Elizabeth Stainsby, whosettb,
it was alleged, was caused by the impure air of the Metro-
politan Railway. It was stated that 101. had been charged
by Dr. Lankester on account of Professor Rogers,
of the London University Hospital, for examine-
nations and attendance on three occasions at the
adjourned inquests held on Elizabeth Stainsby.
Now the committee, having taken the opinion of counsel
some years ago, had no power to allow any such sum not
named in the schedule of fees set down by act of parlia-
ment, and therefore they deducted from the charge, on
behalf of Professor Rogers, the sum of Ti,.eaving it 3/.
only, and asked the court to sanction that disallowance.
He also mentioned incidentally that Dr. Lankeeter's ac-
counts generally were higher when compared with those of
Mr. Humphreys, and that the coroners' charges cost the
county annually a sum of not less than 12,0001., which was
I a very serious item in the county expenditure. He moved
that the sum of 10/., included in Dr. Lenkester's account
for the services of Professor Bogen, Professor of Toxi-
cology at the London University Hospital, at the
inquest held on the body of Elizabeth Stainsby, be not
allowed. The motion was put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Nicholson read the report from the committee ap-
pointed by the court on the 15th of August to consider the
question of resuming the transportation of criminals. The
committee report that it is most desirable that in all cases
of criminals convicted of daring crimes accompanied by
violence they should suffer a portion of the penal servi-
tude sentence here, and then if not disqualified should be
transported to Western Australia, or some other suitable
place, for the remainder of their terms ; that transporta-
tion for long periods is most advisable is all cases of cri-
minals convicted at quarter sessions or assizes of felo-
nious offences who have been previously convicted two or
more times ; that in all cases of criminals sentenced for
brutal violence,
the di of their duty, their particular:Lai:l:women and children and
constables acting sen-
tencein should be accompanied one or more floggings
that the system of tickets of leave be wholly abandoned;
that Western Australia is able and desirous to receive
from 1,000 to 1,500 convicts annually, where convict
labour can be made productive, and where there is oppor-
tunity afforded the convict of reform in character which
in the mother country is not the ease. The report will
be taken into consideration on the next county day. On
the motion of Mr. Glossop the sum of 1,5001. was autho-
rised to be expended in providing at Faiths= workshops
and stores for the instruction of boys as tailors, shoe-
makers, carpenters, smiths, painters, and drummers. The
other buainesa was disposed of and the court adjourned.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.—A Court of Com-
mon Council was held yesterday, as which the Lord
Mayor (Alderman Allen i presided. Upon the motion of
Deputy Tegg, the court unanimously agreed to a vote of
2501. in aid of the Mansion-house Fund for the relief of
the sufferers by the late terrible hurricane in the West
Indies. Mr. T. Rudkin, the chairman of the markets com-
mittee, brought up • report baying reference to the com-
munications that had taken place between that committee
and the Lords of Privy Council upon the subject of the bill
proposed to be brought in by the government for the
erection of a new market in the metropolis to be specially
devoted to the slaughtering of foreign cattle. He believed
that the government had not yet fully made up their
minds as to what oourse they intended to pursue in the
matter, and therefore he proposed that the committee should
be empowered to continue their conference' with the
government upon the subject, and, if necessary, to °o-
verate with them. This suggestion led to some discus-
sion, but it was ultimately acted upon. Mr. R. Dresser
Rogers presented a petition from delegates rep esenting
several parishes in the metropolis relative to the supply of
gas, which after some discussion was referred to the gene-
ral gas committee to oon alder and report. Mr. J. Richardson
then brought forward a motion, of which he had given no-
tice, to the effect that • letter written by Mr. Beal, the
secretary of the Municipal Reform Association, to the
editors of the different London newspaper', stating that
the corporation of London were not opposed to the bills
introduced by Mr. J. B. Mill into the House of Commons
ducendthwatmisupbpterett,tbhuent
them, contained
thlco.nt=;ntubeythwaetrwe !are-
contrary to the fact, and that the corporation of London
had never given any authority for such statements being
made. This motion gave rise to a long and angry discus-
sion, but it wee in eubsteace adopted end the court ad-
journed.
MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL COMPANY.—The
seventeenth ordinary general meeting of shareholders of
this company was held yesterday at the offices Queen-
street-place ; Mr. Jas. Thompson in the chair. The report
of the directors, which bas been published, was taken as
read. In moving its adoption, the Chairman said that
the whole attention of the board had since the Let meet-
ing been devoted to construction, in which some progress
had been made, although delay had been occasioned by the
requirement of the government to remeasure the whole of
the works. That remeaauremeut had been now com-
pleted, and no further delay would arise from this cause.
The necessity of reorganising the engineering staff bad
likewise impeded but in • short time all the
rs office engaged won d be in India, andevery effort would be
made to press forward the work,. He then described in
detail the progress of the canal and of the irrigation works
generally, as explained in the report, adding that the en-
gineer was of opinion that within another year
water would be brought into the Koondaie valley, and
Iprovisions made for irrigating the whole of that extensive
district. The board had determined upon reducing the
size of the locks on the canal to save expense and time,
but the proposed change had not yet been sanctioned by
the government, whose consulting engineer had doubts
whether the smaller looks would be sufficient for the great
traffic he expected would ultimately come upon the canal.
The services of Mr. Brunton had been secured with the
view of constructing a telegraph along the canal, and that
gentleman, who had constructed allgthe telegraphs for the
Madras government, was now on his way to India. He
next referred to the recommendations of the government
engineer, the collector of Bellary, and other government
officials, that the company 'should construct the Upper and
ILower Bellary sections from Wallourupoor to Kar-
-1 moot' ISO miles, upon the usual terms of guri.
rantee, and read the estimate of the Madras
Board of Revenue that this portion of the project would
pay 10 per cent. The decision of the government had not
yet been received, but it might be soon expected. At pre-
sent only one-fourteenth of the district was under soil cul-
tivation, the other thirteen-fourteenths being entirely
dependent upon the rainfall, and consequently much less
valuable, both in the returns to the ryot, and the rent
paid to the landowner. The railways having shown that
all such works were profitable, there was now less objection
to the extension of guarantee' than formerly, and as it
would be inconvenient that in the present heavily bur-
dened state of Indian finance they should be carried out
by the government, there was every reason to suppose that
the decision of the government would be favourable. The
Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., seconded the motion, which,
after a few words from Mr. Jones, was carried. The
directors and auditor retiring by rotation were re-elected,
and the usual compliment to the chairman and directors
concluded the business.

MONT CSNIB RAILWAY COMPANY (LIMITED).
An extraordinary general meeting of this company was
held on the 26th inst. at the Westminster Palace Hotel,
Westminster; his Grace the Duke of Sutherland, K.G.,
in the chair. Mr. Walter J. Cutbill, the secretary, bay-
ing read the notice convening the meeting, then read the
report, which stated that the object of the meeting was
for the purpose of increasinc the bond capital of the 'com-
pany to 202,6001., and of raising the rate of interest there-
on from 7to 10 per cent. per annum. It also stated that
the line is now completed with the exception of the St.
Miehel's station, but the service could not be commenced
at once, owing to some of the engines not having been
sufficiently tested, and part of the materials of which they
were constructed having proved of inferior quality. The
company ware therefore unable to open the line at present,
but expected to do so very shortly. The report having
been adopted, the chairman proposed resolutions forcarry-
ins out the object of the meeting, which were carried
unanimously.
CuVeisL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAY.
THUMIDAY, Noe. 28.—Adminnaan on payment, 540 ;
ditto by awes tickets. 1,278. Total visitors, 1,818.
JIRALTH lIIIITORAD BY DU BASALT'S FOOD TO THE
' &IMAM. WM. lunge, and hirer k old and young, curimtarls:
indlgeetion),oonstipation, Mantua', acidity, he
ineuralgia, kriteria, palpitation, sleeplessness, debility, wasting,
cough, asthma, firer; consumption, low spirits. 80,000 annual
cures which had resisted all medicines, including that of his
Holiness the Pope—Tins, at Is. ltd.: lib , Oa ad.: 111 Th..
3Db., 40a—Da Barry and Co., 77, Regent-quadrant, London
also at 61, Oracechureh-street : e, Cheapslde : 63 mud 130, Word.
sten.t ; and alpacas and chendsta—tAdvertisement.]

MARKETS.

TALLOW.—Taciumar Mvatinto.—The market wax qu
w. iet
to-der. »pot, 42a ed. January to March, 43a.: March.
litt.; April to Joao, 4.1 a : December. Ma ed. to 4M 3d.

LACE AND HOSlZlLY.—.surrinonan, Noy. YE—We are
glad at last to be able to MIDOWICO a break In the monotony
which hat characterised our reports on the lace trade during
the last mouth or two. There is a very alight amendment is
the home departments. Several American and German buyers
have been placing orders a little more freely, especially for
fancy articles. A better Inquiry for plain and cotton goods hi
shortly expected. Prices are
about the same with a tendency
of greater autumn All breaches of the hosiery trade are flat
and little if any Improvement either for home use or for ship.
ping is expected before Christmas. Yarns have lidded a little
in price with a fiat demand.—" Nottingham Journal."

COTTON.—Larntrooa, huv. ft.—Market still very irre-
gular. Estimated sales to-day 10.000 bales, including 2,000
speculation and export. 3,000 American, 6d. to 103 ; mo
71d. to 8/d. ; 100 Nersaham. BjilL2tlo
liatelo and Bahia, 7 to 7141. ; 160 &o. 7141- 400
eld. to 14d.: 6.450 Surat, 4d. to 7141. Itadras,..=
6}d.: Bengal, Sdntle, &a 4141. to bid. Fair Moller* aeg,
fair Oomrawuttee, Id. ; fair Amick tild. ; lair Bengal, 444. ;
fair Egyptian. 9d.: fair Parnam, nd.; middling Bowels, 11d. ;
middling Orleans. 744.

WOOL AND WOESTED.—Iia&DruItD, Nov. 413.—There Is no
appreciable change for the better la the wool market today,
dome staplen report that they have sold a few lots of the most
choice sorts of wool, and have bees able to get their own prim;
but these are quite exceptional transactions. The ammepue
quantity of woof changing hands is very small. A good sign la
that prig es are rather more steady. There is no Improvement in
worsted yarn, either for home or the continent. Continental
manufacturers, la the absence of a demand for America, are
quite as lnactive as the maaufacturers here, U not more so, and
the result Is an absence of demand for worsted yarns. Pries
are not Innen changed, although there are many spinners who
would be glad to make a concession to meet the buyer. There ie
the same dulness in pieces. There is no visible improvement la
any department of the trade. The business done in the born
trade la very small. Merchants are picking up lots from stock.
as they are generally able to do erttbunt giving orders. Few
orders are placed by the German merchants. Business in
goods is especially fiat. Such budgies' ea Is done Is mostly in
fancy goods. torn French buyers have been In the market, but
they have not operated to any large extent. Prices are without
change.

CORN.—Bram !Notch. Nov. 38.—At this dare market there
eras a short supply of wheat from the tanners, bat to make sales
Is. per quarter less had to be taken, foe both Inglis!' end foreign.
Barley Is. per quarter cheaper. Oats, beans, and peas held for
tot mar prier.

Diving, NOV. 28.—We had a very poor trade for wheat to-
day, and a good deal left on hind at the close of business. We
cannot, however, quote prima lower, last week's rates being ob-
tained in nearly every case, and for really prime samples of.
more money was given. The supply of barley was large, but the
greater part was of inferior quality, and for low class samples
there was scanely any demand. In fact, the trade altogether
was very dull, and, except for the beat aorta, there was a raise.
non of from is. to io a quarter. In other articles then was
little or no change. Best white wheat, 36a to 30s di.; best red
ditto, 355. to 36e,; new ditto, 36u to 36a dd.: barley, eta to
441. 6d.; berm, Yrs. to 275.; oats, 25a. to 27a.; pew, 21a. to 265.;
vetches, 24a to 2R: rye, 19s. to 215.; line Boar, Mi. to 00a.; beet
seconds,6oa to 625.

ANCEIMITIII. Nov. 28.—Our market this morning WM rather
'tenderly attended. English wheat met a slow sus.~ at a
reduction of Ia per quarter, and foreign 3d. per cents/ Far
flour there was no Inquiry, and we quote prkes ed. to la par
rick lower. In oats or oatmeal there was no material ch
Egyptian beans declined Is. per quarter, while other sortsaZA
steady. Indian corn was the turn cheaper.
- -

Nzwatut, Nov. n.—Wheat came tolerably to market, and
with a quiet demand late rates were scarcely realised. Barley
was sparingly represented and late currencies were readily ob-
tained. Of outs the &ably was fair—prices aa before. Not
many beans on offer, full prices were made. Peas at late
rates.

NEWBraT, Nur. 28.—We had a large quantity of wheat this
day, but few sales effected, at a reduction of la. to 3a upon last
week's rate*. Barley In good supply, but little buotaess dose at
is. leis money. Oats Is. lower. Betas sad peas unchanged In
value.

lintuannott, Nov. 27—As compared with last week, wheat
was 45. down on top, and 7d. down on average. Beriey was
ett down on top, and ltd. down on average. Oats were 6d. up on
top, and Is. ad. down on average. Beans were ad. down on top,
and b. 7d. down on average. Wheat, Ha to 811. ; barley, Us.
to gla.6d. ; oats, Ma. to Ns. ; beans, Ma. to Ha

CATTLL—BIRMTIO9•II, NOV. 28.—We received • good
supply of all ►lnds of stock oa offer this day ; the geseral de-
mand hely. Beef. UK to 7d per lb.: mutton, sdd. to 7d.: veal,
ed. to 7td. per lb. • bacon pigs, as. to as. ad. per stogie ; porket,
ad. fo Ps.

BRISTOL, NOT. tB.—We bad a very large supply of beef at our
market to-day, Including, however, a very moderate show of
Irish cattle, numbering scarcely 100. There was a good demand
for anything of a superior quality, bat indifferent descriptions
hung on hand. Best samples realised from torn. to 06s. per cwt.,
and In a few instances a trifle more money ; and secondary de-
scriptions ranged from kit to em, per cwt. There wu a very
full supply of sheep with a brisk active trade. Despite the
active trade, however, low prices stillprevalled, and beet wethers
sold at from dd. to aid. per lb., while ewes and indifferent
samples changed hands at from bid. per lb. The supply of store
cattle was rather short, the consignments from Ireland number-
ing only about 700. Trade remains very quiet, but most of the
things on offer changed hands before the market closed. The
supply of pigs was rather short, and the trade In consequence
was a trifle more brisk. fkareely anything doing in hones.
NOTTINONAN, Nov. 17.—we had a short supply of besets and
sheep, and prices tot both were in advance of those of last
week, best quality of the former selling from in. to as. ed. end
second quality from h. to 80. par stone. illre, the show of
which was equal to the demand, realised . to 7d. per lb.:
best quality and inferior sorts from tad. to led. Peal sold at 70.
lb. lip were again plentifiti, potions making from Os. to da. St
and bacon pigs from as. 9d. to Oa 3d. Stock at martet
haute, 310 ; sheep, 736: iikP. 14. . . .

_ _
laminimon, Nov. 27.—The number of cattle this morning was
297, bang 47 lees than on this day se'nnight. The demand was
good, and last week's prices were maintained. Top price, Is. ;
current, 84. 6d. to Is. 9d. ; middllbg and Inferior, Ti to 8a per
atone. The number of sheep was 6,031, being 957 lees than
last week. The demand being good, the sales effected were at
price shout equal to those obtained last market. Hest mutton.
6+d. to 7d. ; ewes, sd. to 6d. per lb. Fed pigs brought 5a to 6s.
per stone ; sir to eight weeks old ditto, 6.. Od. to 10e. • head.