The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-29 00:00:00

DR. 81223U11T.

A tumour arm very current on Saturday that the
Home Secretary had mat a respite fir the primmer, bat it
had no foundation, sad at pit tie cosseffes s Grid for
Tuesday, the Bth of September. It is time that the solicitor
fee the poisoner, Mr. Humphreys, has made as urgent soli-
' citation to the Seatetary of State to delay the carrying eat
of the canteens, and the ealyrit himself has also addressed
. .

omatiait;tites wing vilify keg to the Henwelhee, In
which he a \Meg of the cense:Ma between Mama
and the damned hay, sad owe elevneeeely amens bib Mao-I
own, but the whole matter I. eUU seder eoneldseetke, and
it ie net lthe/7 that emy decades. eriU be some e, mill the
middle of the week.

The prisoner still cenlinees to eshlbit the same calm and
almost Waimea demeanour that chemeterient him through-
out the whole of the peiqul prtheedinp, and he has
never ceased from protesting his innocence of the crime of
which he the been sourish& On Wednesday; after the day
bad bees formally Dud for the thention, It wee deemed
pendant by the pal authorities abet the clothes be had
worn then to that time, and width were the mate
be had on at the Kiel, should be taken away,
and he wee dressed is the prison garb. This was done
Y a matter of precaution, a. it was thought ha might have
some deadly ingredient concealed about hie own garments.
Nothing of this description, however, Ina Masorete& end
Dr. llmmithret submitted to the changed germente without%
way eragetat, and the only oheervatke be math was to the
edslcti het if he went to Madame Teemed'. in that dew be
leek a thophlitattl, 'The 11. T. WANK% OM
17.1aTe- of .11oreemonger-lane 0.01, communiested to the
prisoner the fact that the sentence wee to be carried out an
the day above named, end he beard the communicatfon
without exhibiting any eradon, bat manly exelaimed, o If
the eentence la carried out, I am a murdered man."

Although the coatrary bee been elated, there is not the
heat doubt that the primate le perfectly well aware of the
excitement that has been occasioned in the public mind by
his case, and of the opinion that prevsile in a good many
quarters in his favour; and he therefore knows that his
may chance of escaping it to make the simpertion of his
innocence. He is evidently a very shrewd, calcu-
lating man ; sad, although It would perhaps be too
much to say that he is citing a part, still it is evident
that, supposing he were guilty, be is too shrewd
not to take advantage of any ciecumatance likely to serve
his are, and it is the opinion of those about him that what-
ever may be the result be would in all probability continue
the protestation of his innocence down perhaps to the very
lest recasant. It is only right, however, to state that the
tended sad Mammals of the pricer, not only at the time
of his canunittal and while he was awaiting his lea, but
also sines his condemnation, bare created a streeg impression
on the minds of the authotitice of the prima that he is
innocent of the crime for which he le condemned to suffer,
In owe of the interviews the prisoner hid with hie brother
he reeds use of the remarkable ezpressioe, " What a strange
fatality, that I should he in this gaol under sentence of
death for a crime of which I set entirely Innocent."
It bee been stated above that during the week Dr.
Smethurst has been engaged in writing a long communication
to the Home Secretary upon the subject of his alleged
offence. In this statement he asserts his entire Innocence,
sad deolsrer that tbc deceased died from natural causes. He
also particularly observes upon the absence of any motive for
his committing such a dreedfal crime, and state. that the
deceased had so much &fraction for him that she would at any
time have called up the mortgage and given him the money,
if he had 'eked her to do so, and be elm urges that the
deceased lady had a contingent interest in a greet dial of
other property, so that his interest would ham been math
strengert in her life than in her death. He also endeavoant
to show that the ciroumstance of his attending upon the

demated la the manner he did, 'applying her with all her
food and medicine, and not allowing any one else to attend
upon bar—all which tams were so strongly urged
against him in support of the charge was la
reality merely the molt of his affection for
the deceased, and he says that during the Bl-
ames of his wife, the real Dirs. Smethurst, ha always
used to wait upon her in the same manner. The primmer
also states, with regard to hie having taken the soap that was
brought by Mies Louisa Banks' for her sister a day or two
before her death, and which she represented he took out of
the bedroom and was beard to stir it on the landing, that all
be did was to take It to the window to cool it, as he did
everything elm that was taken by the deceased, the doctors
who were inattendanosupother directing that she shotddhave
everything cold. It will be remembered that according
to the evidence of Miss Louisa Banks', the decemed's
deter, the moment she Mated this soup, the deceased
vomited, and the inference was that the prisoner left the room
for the purpose of putting some noxious ingredient in it, bat
be welts most solemnly that this was not the owe, and ac-
counts for hie conduct in the manner above Mated. It is
rather a remarkable circumstance that the prisoner does not
appear to have given any explanation of the circumstances
under which the deceased lady oonaented to go through the cere-
mony of marriage with hint, when she must have been aware
that, atalleventa,he was living with another woman who passed
as Kee. Smethurst, and was always regarded as his wife,
and that this bad been the state of things for nearly two
years. There is vary little doubt, however, that when the
first unhappy Intimacy took place between the deceased lady and
the prisoner be smelted he was not married, and that it was
under the impression that ibis was a correct stateareat of
the nature of the connexion that existed between them that
the deceased consented to go and reside with the prisoner,
and it was at her urgent solicitation alone that he con-
gested to the marriage taking place at Battersea-church
under the circumstances stated at the trial. If
this should really have been the case, it is clear that the
prisoner might at say moment have been taken tato custody
for bigamy, end that it would have been utterly impossible
for him to have goes hack to live with his own wife while the
deceased was In existeace.

Dr. Smethurst puma a considerable part of the morning
with the chaplain, and he appears to exhibit a good deal of
religious feeling. lie expressed a desire not to attend the
ordinary chapel service, as he did not wish to be the subject
of the curiosity of the other prisoners, and his request wee at
once complied with.

HOlDDiffii DEATH.—Att inquiry took .
Saturday helm Mr. Wakley, coroner for West Middlesex,
at the residence of Mr. Ballad, surgeon, 10. Southwick-
. plea., Paddington, se to the death of Miss Egg ,teth Gray,
36 yeses of age, which appeared to have taken place under
the most frightfully distressing circumstances. The de-
ceased ie the eldest daughter of Sir Charles Gray, late
Supeass Judge of Calcutta, and it was alleged that she
had been labouring wader an aberration of the mind for the
Wt 10 years, and during the past three years sad a quarter
hod been placed under the ears of Mr. Ballard ad the above
address. At half-past 12 o'clock on Friday mornitig lit
her female attendant, who slept in the same room, was
awake by an miasmal quantity of light, and on getting up
to ascertain the cause leas was horrified at the eight of the
ilimeawl, who was standing in the middle of the room with
her night-dram enveloped in flames. She immediately gave
an alarm, which quickly brought Mr. Ballard to her assist-
um, who with great difficulty extinguished the flames and
by doing which burst hie hands severely. Mr. Ballard,
without delay, sent for Dr. *infield Jones, residing at 33,
Blgin-etreet, who arrived se soon as possible. The unfor-
tunate Lady lingered in great agony for two hours and a
cleaner, when she expired. It Is believed that she quietly
stole out of bed to avoid being sees by her attendant, and
rescind a night-light, white was soppered to here been
away proper security, and having put it on the
foTd in
she stood over it till her dress was destroyed. The jury,
after a lengthened examination of between two and three
hours' duration, came to a determination, in accordance with
the opinion of the coroner, to adjourn the inquest for the
of having a post mortis' examination.
purpose
LATE ATTEMPTED MURDER ON PLAISTOW-
measIL—James Digby. a labourer, was Nought up on
remand on Saturday, before the lifted bench of magietrates,
charged with stabbing John Chard with a clasp-knife on the
night of Monday, the 16th instant, on Plaistow-marsh,
Estee. Tha injured mast who mimed to be in • weak con-
dition hero the effects of the wound in the fairs wee rksiddibw2
at considerable length, from which it sppeared that he and
the prisoner bid had a quarrel on the previous day, when
the latter threatened to thrash" him the tint opportunity,
and on the occasion in question they accidentally met rn the
marsh. The blared man said he did not wieh to punish the
primmer, and hoped the bench would act merrifolly to him.
The chairman said the case was a very aggravated one, and
the prisoner most go to prison to two months, or pay a fine
of 61. and oats. The prisoner was locked. up in default in
Ilford a 0...
CIITSTAL PALAC/Le—HALr-Csowir DAY.—Sututt-
DAY AIIGUST 27.—Affinissiona on Payment, 038 by
onun6 dolmen, 1,155; toted vicars, 2,143,

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SONDON, MONDAY, AUGUIT 99.

Tug Commissioners to inquire lots the state of the
National Defences have now been appointed. Sir
HARRY JONIN represents the Engineers; (nesral
C MERON the English 'nay ; Sir P. ABBOT the
Indian army ; Admiral ELLIOT and Captain HAT the
Navy ; Colonel LETROT the Artillery; and Mr. Fits-
ts l'io,UN the civilians. They are all able men, though
it may be doubted whether Colonel LEFROT is not
rather eminent for the interest which he takes in
Army Education than for a knowledge of Artillery.
The same objection may, perhaps, be made to Oene-
ral CAMERON ; but, alter all, this objection has not
much force; for these Commissioners must be
looked upon rather as judges than as practical mem
to organise a system of defence. Their business will
be to collect and arrange the ideas of those who have
conaidered the subjcct of the Nat'onal I )efences. The
two names we have specially remarked are known
to be persons of excellent common sense, and to a
considerable extent free from those narrow profs,-
&coal prejudices which would prevent a fair appre-
ciation of the problem proposed, or a fair conside-
ration of the various modes of solving it. It is
quite certain that neither the mere soldier nor the
mere sailor is the beet person to consider this subject;
the man who would do so successfully must be some-
thing of a politician ; he must take into account the
questions of finance and the old constitutional doc-
Wass against great standing armies. Mr. Fax-
OVIIIOII is, we presume, the same gentleman who
some years ago acquired some notoriety by what was
called hie system of fortification ; but considering
the way in which he was attacked by the prefer
Mosel Engineers and artillerymen, it is perhaps
somewhat hmardous to place him in a commission
with his antagonists. There is some danger that the
question of National I tefence may degenerate into a
diseassion as to the comparative merits of the so-
called modern against the ancient system of fortifica-
tion ; but we trust that the good sense of the whole
body of Commisioners, and partieularlr the influence
of the odious of the line and of the Navy, will be
salfir.ient to prevent this malt.

Looking to the teems of the Commission, the,
question arise*: Ave they too restricted ? The
inquiry is to be made "into the present state,
coadition, and sufficiency of the fortificatioas ex-1
" lilting for the defence of the kingdom" with
reference to the possibility "of any hostile attack
• being made by foreign enemies both by sea sad
" land." And, again, the Commissioners are directed
" to offer such suggestions as may scam meet as
" (regard being had to the works completed and in
" regress, end to the ordinary somber of oar Royal
*1 Artillery voted by Parliament) will render the
.• United Kingdom in a complete state of defence.",
Now. es in the awe of most other Commissions, its
terms admit of a complete 'elution of the problem of
the matiosal defames, or of a very imperfect solution.
The fortideatimas lit present existing, however smalh
may be amply eallieient to repel 30,000 or 40,000
area, tat utterly iniefficient to repel 200,000 dis•
eiplised tramps. The amber of artillerymen may
be simply sedleisat be man one set of forts, bat utterly
Weariest teems all the forte in the kingdom. The
whets questise really tarns upon the danger which
is supposed to threat= ; and the first thing to be de-
termined is the extent sad character of the attack
which may be made cm ear shores.
The lint questioe, therefore, to which the Coal-
miesiotiere eight to apply themselves is this—
whether the country is really in any danger of as
attack by land. Is it true or is it untrue that the
English fleet will always, and under all circus.
Masses, be able to give aa account of the fleets of the
Powers of Europe, either singly or in corabisationt
la it utterly taipossible that the Preach Best amid
even for three days hare the command of the asanasil,
or are the chances of any European lower making a'
hostile attack upon our fleet so remote that no pee.
vision need be against it? These questions are vita
and lie at the root of the whole matter. If so at-
tempt to attack the English fleet is ever to be made.
or if victory cc our part is certain, then, of mune, a
loading os our shores is impossible, the existing for-
tifications are cot only sufficient but useless, and not
another farthing ought to be spent upon them. If
such be the opinion of the Commissioner, they
ought at once to report their opinion and mom-
maad that sot s single farthing more ought to be
spent upon fortifying either Dover,or Portemouth,er
lievonport.
But if the Commissioners feel reasonable doubts as

to the certain triumph of the British tint, then it will
be their duty to consider the possibility of some
dereiret Power taking advantage of a merely momen-
tary superiority is the Channel to land ma army ea the
Emilia mast. It is hardly possible that any foreign
ruler would be absurd enough to land some 30,000
or 40,000 men ; for it is tolerably certain that they
could inflict no permanent injury on this country.
and they would be destroyed to a man without
accomplishing anything. But it will be the duty of
the Commissioners to consider whether a much larger

force could not be transported to them shores and
landed in perfect safety. We have drawn attention
to the statements of General SHAW KENNEDY en
this subject, and to those of the witnesses front whom
he derives his information—some of them °Moms
who saw the landing in the Crimea—aad

according to their statements it is possible to tran-
sport 200,000 men, and to land them on the English
coast in one long SUMMIT day, if they were not op-
posed. Now, the public will look to the Commis-
sioners' Report in order to see whether it agrees
in these opinion., and if such a landing wen at-
tempted, how it would be met. The Commissioners
might to be prepared to satisfy the public as to
whether a landing on them shores is possible. and
to form some estimate of the number of which as
hostile army may be composed For this purpose
it is of course of the utmost importarins to show the
changes which steam navigation has introducied into
war, and the extent to which the ocean Is now bridged.
The Commissioners will no doubt point out the various

attempts which have hitherto been useacoesefully
made to effect a landing on theme shores, but they will
et the mance time be expected to expnies an opinion as
to whether the circumstances have not now entirely

chanced. To this we meet odd what la been pointed'
eat by Sir Join Suwon's, that sma when oar
lest was victorious in the Channel this emantry
deemed it requisite to have an army 0[610,000 mmi.
If, therefore, the landing of anything like 160,000 or
100,000 is poseible,what means have the Government
grads ementry to meet so great a danger, and (sup-
ring our oacretors were correct in their view) to
'apply the place of those 510,000 men?
Upon the whole it is difficult to see that the report
will be of much value if it simply answers the ques-
tion whether the fortifications aide or about
to be made are not too large far the num-
ber of artillerymen voted by Parliament.
The real question, as has been already stated.
concerns the extent and character of the danger
which threatens this country from foreign invasion.
If 200,000 men succeed in effecting a landing, will
there be say w I. the garrisons of Dover, Ports-
mouth, and Devooport ? Row many days will they
require to push their advances sufficiently near to
enable them to destroy the shipping and the
docks, and perhaps to march to London ? Again, is
any attempt supposed to be made to prevent a land-
ing ?—if so, how many guns are supposed to be em-
ployed on that service? In short, the number of
artillerymen voted by Parliament should not
be allowed to restrict the inquiry into
the general questions submitted to the Commission.
What the public really want to know is, whether
there is reasonable ground to believe that a serious
h ostile descent may be made upon the coast, and
bow that descents to be met. A fair and candid
discussion of this subject, and the development of
some method of meeting the supposed peril will alone
suffice to put an end to those constant panics, which
are not more injurious to the material prosperity
than to the dignity of this country.

tic eteun.
08BORNE, Anitose 27.
Her Majesty and hie Royal Highness the Prince
Cowart, ecoonipenied by their Royal Hishaeasse Prism
Alfred, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Princess Atka,
Prisms Helena, Princess Lou es, and Prbnem Beatrice,
unbaried on board the royal yacht Victimiser! Abet, yew
lerday &ammo. Lady Churchill, the Man. Recent !Mop-
bed, and the equerries were in attendance. Vlsonmt
Palmist= end VIMOJOAS Sydney had the boom of scrota-
playing bar Majesty.

Prises H Cerisi had an audience to deliver his letters of
'mall and le Coaintandeur E. Targioni to deliver hie cre-
dentials as Envoy Erraordinary and Minister Planipotert-
Mary from the King of Naples. Benor Castellanos had an
audience to deliver his credential' as Envoy lisiraordinery
from the republic of Dominica.
Her Majesty, dinner party in the evening included the
Duchess of Heat, Primo, Alfred, and Princess Alias, Pins
and Prisms Letaingest, Lady Ceroliaa Benlngton, lady
8. L. Melville, Viament Palmerston, Vissemat Bydary,
Colonel the Hoe. Sir C. B. Mora, Bir George Coe" end I
Sir J. Clark.

ilbs teed of the Rio' Brigade played daring dinner.
Is Unionising, in bosom of Prince Caneore• birthday,
the royal pato, Wag eit Bawer, were illuminated end a
display et ilremorks teak *en
The Prince di Carted and le Cernseenilear E. T ailed, the
Malian minister, had as Interefew with Lord John Zoissli„
as B•uuday, et rerelprelin.