The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-13 00:00:00

ROYAL BRITISH BANK.

THIS DAY.

The trial of the directors of the Royal British
Bank ocissabspesd to-day before Lord Campbell, Lord Chief
Julies of England, and a special jury, assembled in the
Coon of Queen's Reach, at Guildhall.
As might be expected from the enormous interests involved
in the raiz of the bank, from the importance of the lame on
which depose& the character mil lib.irty of the gentlemen
Err arrelmeed on a cnininal charge, but who have hitherto
euenpied high positi4lll in society, awl the novelty of suck an
indictment, public attention bee been long directed to, ea it
will doubtless be engrossed by the tri *1 during its program.

With the view of affording greater accommodation to the
hear, the piton end the general public, the court has, by
s dilution of Yr. Secondary Potter, Mr. Under-Sheriff
Mod, sad other civic authorities, undergone considerable
Mlngstions and improvements. The first row assigned to
Qassa's 000U011 has been thrown back so as to afford a larger
guns between it and the bench. In these arrangements
Miry possible attention bee been paid to wars the con-
IPUBWICO and comfort of them who hereto report the proceed-
ings. The Hon. H. Campbell, the aemx-iate of the court,
mid the other officers generally, merit our Lest acknowledg-
ements for the localities they do readily and cheerfully afforded
us in the dischsep of oar duties.
The court WWI apecied tor the sdeolsenn of the public at
ball-pact nine, and from that hour op to the comnirccoment
tithe proceedings it credsally tilled until the entire area
Vero rovored. Thee` wee a very full attendance of the
gentlemen of the long robe—the two drat rows being nearly
entirely filled by the cannel enraged for the prosecution
and the defence. We may here mention • matter which
indwates how mach the Mine involved will depend on docu-
mentary evidence, a room in one of the powers being
nobly appropriated to some hundreds of waive folios, the
appearance of which Inglicatei that they were the books of
the bank. _ .

About half-past nine the several defendants MEW
taco court sad took their seats is the body of the oast, in
front of the Quecit's counsere row. Thy per.ons of many of
Him being unknown to the public their appearance attracted
Very littlegirneral notice, nor was there anything in their
ilesossaottr, during the preliminary formalities, or the opening
statement of counsel, which indicated that they were other
than ordlitsry and disinterested spectators.
Thum are three separate informations filed against all of
Has late directors of the Bank. They are laid against
Humphrey Brown, Edward Eadaile, Henry Donning
Ilfacleod, Loraine de Wolfs Cochrane, Richard Hartley
Kennedy, Willi tro Daniel Owen, John Stipleton, Hugh
hoes Cameron, Lockhart Mum Valiant, and Frederick
Valiant. Ali thee gentlemen, with the exception of Mr.
Cochrane, have surrendered. We may mention that three
Informations hay. been filed, although each charges the same
offence, became some of M., persons named in the different
Informations are not liable with respect to the whole of the
lime for which the others are.

At ten o'clock precisely, with his usual punctititalmilthe
Lied Chief Justice entered the court, accompanied the
Priztce of Wale, who took his seat on the bench i ly
On hie lordship's right. Hie Royal Highness was 'mom-
pealed by his tutor, Yr. Gibbs.
Lord Campbell, on Liking his seat, mid—Before the p,o-
Mardinp c4oomen.e I wish to take an opportunity of ez-
pressing my earnest hope that, while the trial gem on, there
will lee no cowmenie en it in the public journals. Some
'odors hoes expressed an opinion, and have acted upon it,
that during a trial of coneiderable truth tta soosout of it
should appear in the public journals. From that opinion I
entirely dissent. I think that it is desirable that a fall and
'Malta account of the proceedings should appear in
the publie journals, because, in fact, that is an enlargement
of the court indefinitely, and makes the British nation mo-
nomial the trial. But as it would ke inamorata in the court
that any COCILLIWAt• should be made, I think it is improper
fist a journal should make any comments 01% the proceedings
mid the trial it over. The jury ere not secluded, and it is
=niereesreatgthat they shoul
partisan tsnotonbe expi
om mde tor the temp-
It would be lamentable if partite accused should auger from

r_
any attack the,and-any partisan defence which ad&
lead only to retaliation; thereon, I do trust, until the trial
te over, that all comments on the proceedings in publie
tj:l6will be suspended. After the trial is over, all her
Isty's subjects may freely comment on all that may be
aid or done in this court.
The special jury pane was then called over by the sago-
elate.
One gentleman came tinned, and,addressing hia lordabip,
requested to be eteuecl from serving on the jury, on the
ground that he had mitt, d the proioidings in the hank-
Prof the defend:tate, and his mind was therefore pre-
ed. He was accordingly excused.
The following gentlemen were then sworn on the jat y :
John L'we, 10 St. Ssrithin'e-lane, merchant (foreman);
William Dimiciale Child, 8, Finsbury-place South, merchant;
Jonathan Chapman. 9.5, New Broad street, merchant; Tito-
seas Paget, 154, Upper Thames-street, merchant'
William Ripley, 14, Mincing-lane, merchant; WiDlas
Ifielett, 149, Upper Thames-street, merchant; Ammeter
Toulmin, 15, Great St. Helen's, merchant; Beasseent
Hankey, 7. Mincing-lane. merchant; Henry A 6
Bevan. 9. John. street, America-square, merchant ;=
Benjarom Herman, 12, Backleribury, merchant; Malan
Midland, 4, Brickhill-lent,merchant ; and George Handl-
ton Prowl, 11. Lime-street, merchant.
The defendants charged ander the first indictment Wive
then eirt;gaird. They were—Hamphre Brows, Edward
ledaile,lienry Damning Macleod, Kandy
Wheel Daniel Owen, John Stapleton, and High Inns;
Cameron.
The following counsel conducted the ease for the present-
tins on behalf of the Crown :-81r F. Thesiger, Mr. Ather-
ton, Mr. thejeant Bellantine, Kr. Welk, and Mr. Joseph
Brown. Atterseys—Mars. Linklater and Co.
The following harmed gentlemn tormented the de-
fendants

For Mr. Brown-Mr. Huddle** Mr. Kennedy, rid
Mr. Bell. Attonwp—Tucker, Orrin* and Tucker.
For Mr. I. 3s—Mr. Edwin Jams and Mr. *plead.
atairarys—Feadas a* Co.
Far Mr. )) —Kr liegivent Sea and Me. D. D.
Rao& AVarsvp—Waher sad Mews.
For lb. Owea—Mr. Slade, end Kr. Works. After-
saye—Bernes and *mud.
ler dr. S=7;__Sir F. Kelly, Mr. *4l, nod Mr.
FiveldeM sad Newnan.
nerridte. OrewsMe. Digby Nemo* Alkeenye—
Dielerell ad Bees
M. Keeled ves ant repriesaled by esesssi. BDe sell-
dims en Mews. Card* end Ce.
M. Joseph Bre* wed the pleadings. The Set seed
=dictated Ihe *Mehl awn. • the
le tersest that
as raisin d the awdZlr were la • peee-
game cosildea &rig the whole of the pre 1165
sai belt d the set 1566, and for that wpm, In
air to carry owl the cesepireey, to palish a sr/wet of
as slain dal busk le Aware • divided, lies la Set as
dividend ha been wend. Several overt eels were tin
edent, ad thine were sevenil other counts,
=een verylng *etc and,
rid
theYend with &tramline
Sesse=eirlethen.
Mr. bleb Imes requested his kedeltip to dined that
the ellheigini he Se prostration should withdraw.
Lard Cemplie—lat all the witnesses on both sidle ha*
W evert.
Sir F. Meager then roes to address the jurF. He
rid—la discharging his duty on the part of tie
be could not help ex g his great eetiefaction et the
delay that bad taken in the trial of this important ern*
which bad the public mind to calla dews
to a stele proper for deliberate inquiry. While the
events were recent, mot public attention untle
excited, it would hare been next to
to hare prevented • Deity, and therefore unit*
tice, grounded on prejudice. In the present Staley tint
rata of feeling bad paired • hurter pat& WM.- Otber '
proceedings with repeat to beaks bed Messer
near abaregbdic attentien. Tbs seiei the Sigel Bri-
ll& Banksanity wee an kart &tamers ea, and they
*re now be hoped le epperilits terry with that
admen &settee whisk- the of re
err and with that imperially mare was geese-
*Ado of the sibeiniereder of dr iv to an Nor
Lk- seer dives i.. In Istroderrg tie tees to ihelr saw
des be ieald resew to roles limit as drays Its
roll Is • der and re* slorroat dike hole under width
Alteroy-Oomenl bra hi It to be be. dry to di
re peer Irlarrader Is sbeell than its err berry, be
wr afraid, nt their planes end .Melba. The has wens
various sad voluminous, Int they
_weld lead le • dadspoint, and be loped to be =Wed es pew* thee la esilt
• owe* as ad only to conduct the are with fair** bat
to teethe*theei
irrlebmrs. The Iskiesstion wee *
resty—mal claire whisk bed Ls= serseme.
bet It ..a7b eui
4. ens,, °brad smear
derritios, veer sodlekatly air emil =stry
Se purposes al the premed ems It bed bee
ac and bad ben ispeeld ow sod err sea miry or
irk, that the oiler of wityksay esooleted la die iar
listsona of pram eilr to de or imbidel ost, to Is is a
beds! at by oriewil isms. Slat mere to sahlrely
Ciehr dts reset weeder brows rrim
reold mop war dhat delleldea membreder
of poem Is Os pies d brlvidnal or the pudic,
was eadonleeDy a re re erns of
There wee die pase ormeimi or re cdree.e=i7;
act that was ire by gpgismat wad most lereser the elf-
brow wear debt le dr =leer of an Siblerst, al-
though it then agile INN 1111111 by ratt Wielded sepa-
rately, pot withelesileg Ow err morally wag, id
peruse would ant be erdy responsible be titter
The delsodants were director of • joint rock hairy