The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 12, 1861.

Lard C. PAGET mid he was not alluding to that speech,
bet to the speeches he made in 1ei.17 and 1858, when
he called the attention of the house to the build.
2gedof hoe ,of-battle ships. His honoundile friend
them to abstain from the building or conversion
el wooden lint-olhattle ships. Now, it would be impossible,
immastently with their duty to this public aid the safety of
the nary, S., carry out that resolution at the present tune.
Then were four ships now in the docks in process of con-
genial, and as long as these ships were occupying the
derkynon they would not be available for the repair of the
fleet at sea, sad that was the reason why it would be ioex-
pained to agree to the motion, and to give up altogether
the envenoms of wooden lineolhattle ships. Thee ships
would he out of the docks in the present year, and he sin-
cerely homed that so more of them would ie couverted.
New, with regard to the isexpoliency of building any more
weeders ships, there were various arguments used on one
miasma the other. His bon. friend told them that iron
simald be exclusively used in future for the fleet. He was
est prepared, soy did be think that practical naval
M were prepared, to sulecribe to that doctrine. (Hear.)
The feet we• alleged that iron ship were not 6t for distaat
melee, is being ao liable to foul. That was a great defect,
as oaf wet element to the strength of a ship of war was
tan spied and her eambility of carrying. not numemita
belt bisavy vol. Well, iron ships were liable, in warm
eilmetem to foul. and unless they were continually docked
M was hapassele to maiutain their speed. Some mole of
elsowlng than might he ultimate!, arrived at. but accenting
to their pew* lights be thought it very undesirable that
they simeahl give up building wooden ships. He
hisiShore/ore, that that potion of his honour-
.hioadie resolution would be withdrawn. With
raped to the next, be did not know whet his hon.
Mood mama by a vessel with guars on only ono deck.
(Hr. Livelong ince no anewer.) It ell, he supposed that his
boa friend Mid not himself know what he meant.
(laughter.) The third part of the resolution declared the
a y of spending money for the purpose of adept
linglgrilkyanla to iron shipbuilding. In reply to that he
had only to state that the Admiralty had no intention of
She kind. He did not know whether the ship they were
building at Chatham would be cheaper than if it bad been
built by contract ; but this he knew, that it was necessary
to have at least one more ship built under their own
isopectioe, in order that the Admiralty might have
fall opportunity of becoming acquainted with the cost.
To sbow the necessity of this, he might mention that
whilst they were buddies the Warrior it was found neces.
au7 that the size of the porta should be reduced in order
to suit the 100th. Armstrong gun ; but the contracts had
Imes signed far certato diniensims, and thoraces the con.
tractors made fresh demands for every alteration. Since
then they had found that by giving a flatter midship sec-
tion • higher flotation might be attained ; but under coo.
tract so alteration could be made. The hon. baronet
behoved this would limit their contracts for iron ships to
three riven, eaniely, the Thames, timayde, and the Mersey;
hat be could tell the hon. baronet that tome of the
built there had turned out extremely faulty. The
boo. baronet opposite had toll the house
that lie only cuaesehsl iron ship had been laid down
by the late board, and that the recent noes were so slow
that they mast be left behind, and would inevitably be
captured by the enemy. How were the facts I The speed
expected hoot the Warrior was 14 knots. from the
Itesiskace sad Defence (small ships) 1115, and from
the sow drips, the 4,000 toss shim, 1214. He believed
that wry of those vessels thee would pen the greatest
lino-of-battle ship in the only. He nested, therefore,
that the hoed would not agree to this third resolution, but
would leave the matter is the halide al the govern-
ment. Now, various statements had been made with
regard to the French navy ; and his hon. friend, who had
put returned from France, was no doubt relied upon by
Frenchmen as an authority to explain away the delusions
of the people of England respecting French armaments, acd
to tell them that there was in reality no pound for their
alarm. His boa. friend was wring in him figures ; iu
fact, he varied thee, from night to night. In his speech
of a previous eveuiog he said that the French had only 88
ships
Mr. LINDSAY explained that he had quoted a French
return of the efficient ships. On the present occasion he
had given the actual number of steam ships.
Lord O. PAGED maintained that the statements of the
boa. member were totally especially when he
alleged that England bad 22 livoirouthattie ships more than
all the red of the world combined. Of course everything
but deem ships must be put out of the calculation, and
making that deduction he found that we had 67 hereof-
tattle ships building or built, and that the French had 37 ;
Spas, 3; Run* 9 ; Italy, I—making 50 in all. (Hear,
bras.) He admitted that to be a greet superiority. (Cheers.)
Of frigates his bon. (rimed said we had nine more than
TIMES ; but the truth was that Enka lad 52 legatee,
wow sad paddle, sad that ?roam hod 47
his hon. friend and 43. Anothar radamat cl
his boo. friend's was, that nose of the Preach
iron ships would be ready for twenodeehalf years,
He (Lard C. Paget) did sot meth to say that they would be
reedy is Ice, but tine he meant to say, that every one of
the Frame iron ships at present in emcee of coustructioa
maid be got ready in the coarse of the ensuing summer.
The Yeseets, one of the largest, pierced for 52 guns was
very seedy ready for launching. It was true the Platn
wade' thou have to be put oil, but then it was not fair to
say we were making vast preparations, whilst /mace
and other nations were doing nothing. He mein
liked that it was the duty of the government to take
such steps as were necessary for the safety and
dignity of the country. His honourable Need had
neat stated that the French naval estimates W• 211 only
bell the amount of ours ; bat he must remember that we
required to have ship in ovary ma. Oar Navy was is fact,
be might say, frittered away. " Haar. haw," from Mr.
Bright.) The boa. member for cheered, bat
what would he sa... if a cargo Of were
plundered by pirites became there was so ZogelTiMan at
war at bard to protect the Battik merehaetasea ? (Cheers.)
If you would niatataia thew peat fiesta you must be ready
to Ivy the piper. If there was one thing for which the late
hand was to blame it we for allowing the stock of timber
to get so low ; bet that had been since remedied, and now
them was such a stock of timber ou hand as they had not
had for many years. He should not advert to the little
podding reforms in the Admiralty which the boa. member
proposed, but should only say that the personnel cost less
now than when the estimates were only five or six millions
In 14:19, when only :i9,000 men were voted, and the esti-
mates were six millions, there were 5 lords, 16 'omen-
stetter*, 4 secretaries, and 20 clerks at Whitehall, mad IS
beads, and clerks at Somerset-home, asking 264 Meth
vklials. The cost was 102,8011. per annum. In 1861, with
78,2110 rase, and 12112000 S of money, the Admiralty con-
noted of 6 lonia, 2 secretaries, 5 principal officers, sad 47
clerks at Whitehall, with 223 at Sontersethoma, making
283 individuals, at a cod of 94,780 f. True Shan maim
emisiderable number of temporary clerks, bet en there had
been at the former time. His hon. friend had also refined
to the report of the Dockyard Commission, and he (Lord C.
Paget) rust admit the report to be a fair report, but he
could have wished that the commission had stated that no-
thing like malvenatiou was inteodalto be inferred. One meet
intelligent and distuagnished superintendent bed seneetly
requested hint to remove any such inipresion. leery fra-
ilty had been peen to the curnmiseion, and the latter would
never have discovered the blunders of the Admieslty bad they
mot been pointed out. He regretted that their report was so
meagre, but at all events it must be admitted that the Admi-
ralty bad given every facility for going into the aoeooata
The hon gentleman said that the cast of ships at Pem-
broke was at the rate of it 3/. per ton. Lineof-battle ships
amonnted to that rum, but the inference which the hem
gent:lima would draw from the report of the commission
was that the average cost of ships in the navy amounted to
331. memo. Such was sot a fair deduction, foe the ships
built at Pembroke were mostly line-of•battle ships, sad the
rate of 33/. a ton was not a correct average of
the cost no the navy generally. He believed be
had now alluded to most of the points adverted to by hie
hon. friend. Although he entertained every respect for his
judgment in matters of shipbuilding, he sincerely hoped he
would Dot Ares, his motion, which in realit7 would operate
as a vote of censure on the Admiralty which. he (Lard C.
Paget) didnot think they dererved. He thought that the
Admiralty during the past year bud shown army dna,
to correct defects, whether in the deputisest of
the navy or in the manner of keeping Hs No
taunts. He believed he had now gives more aft& is
to the navy then bad been given befor•—(hear, Marl—
sad it was has intention to give such informetion firma time
to time. (Hear, heir.) The desire of the government was
to keep the navy of this country in the position which oar
safety and Interests demanded; but as thin intention would
be aorompauied by einleivoure on the part of the Heard of
Admiralty to combine economy with efficiency, he trusted
the house would not and to the resolutions which had
sow been placed spun the table. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. RENTINCK said it appeared to him that kis hew
Isbell (Mr. Lindsay) took a somewhat singular course, end
that ha relied epos grounds which did out bear out the
eon4usioits at which be bail arrived. With regard to the
Heard of Admiralty he (Mr. Bentiock) believed that it M
was defective it was the duty of the House of Common, to
effect its reconstruction, en that it might perform its fur
glens efficiestly for the benefit of the country ; but say
attempt on the part of the house, such as that pro.
peel by these resolutions, to deal with details which
ought to be left entirely with the executive,
would involve a principle which he could never modiew
The Earl of GIFFORD agreed with the hoc. member for
Sunderland in the first resolution because he thought they
might at least rest fur a year from building any inure skips,
soil he trusted tl.3t the ships now undergoing conversion is
the dockyenle would be the last that would be so treated.
With regard to men ships of war, be was of opinion that ,
seta the government had hail more experience as to those
already constructed they should not give further orders.
Redid not agree with the how member for Suuderland in
the asiond part of the mood resolution, but in the last clams
el therasaution he entirely concurred. He thought it was
mat ospedieet that they should convert Chatham into apiece
hit the esastroction of iron ships.
Ur. CORRY said the first of the resolutions appeared to
hlat to imply that liemothattle ships and frigates built cif
mend were esesid to be stmene&l by iron. He could
eel 111111111 R tint resolution. If the only object
I. betide/ weeds. ships was for the purpose of the defame
of their own shone, he should not feel indisposed to go
along with the boo. member for Sunderland ; but it should
be remembered that a very small portion only were em-
ployed erouod the shuns of this country ; that the vessels
of the largest class were implored for the defence of
Briti-h interests all over the world, and of their colonial
=mile, which *needed to the remotest regions of the

earth, and that any interruption to the commerce with
their dependencies would be &national calamity. (Hear.)
Sir J. PAXTON said he was a strong advocate for iron
v,ssels. As the greatest commercial and manufac-
during people on the face of the earth we must keep pace
with our neighbouin, and if ',niece or any other country
constructed impregnable ships, we must construct ships of
the same, or better material. He admitted the government
had done all in their power to decide this question, but no
government was competent to deal with it. They ought to
take the advice dais greatest practical men in the kingdom
with regard to the construction of the navy. (Hear.)
Captain JERVIS explained his reasons for declining to
vote for the resolutions. He thought the government had
dose well, in the present transition state of iron nasal
architecture, in not altogether abandoning the construction
of wooden ships but feeling their way.
Mr. WHITBREAD answered objections on the subject
of the system of accounts in the dockyards, and regarding
the clam of iron vessels built by the present Board of
Admiralty.
Sir P. SMITH invited that small vessels mart still be
built of wood, and that we were yet in the dark as to
some of the elements of the question what thickness of
iron would make a vessel shot-proof. He wanted to know
what was the minimum of cost as well as of strength.
Mr. DALOLISII suggested that it might be worth while
for the Admiralty to consider whether the large line-of.
battle ships now building might not be coated with iron.
Mr. HORSMAN observed that the reforms recommended
by the royal dockyard commissioners had been pointed out
by Lord C. Paget, when not in office; and, under all the
circumstances, considering that a new spirit seemed to be
pervading the naval department, be thought the time in-
opportune for resolutions which would be regarded as a vote '
of censure upon it.
After some observations by Mr. W. WitAiAits,
Sir J. PABINOTON, with reference to a remark of Mr.
lioreman, said the report of the royal commissioners did '
not uphold the statements made by Lord C. Paget in 1859,
which had proved to be erroneous. He (Sir John) had not
understood clearly from Lord Clarence the intentions of the
Admiralty as to wooden line-of-battle ships. He had stated
that we had f,7 of these ships; but this number must include
these cm the stocks, there being only about 53 afloat. Al.
though he concurred in some portion of the resolution,, they
might be open to misconstruction, and he should be sorry to
take the matter out of the hands of the executive govern.
meet. He gave various explanations regarding the War-
rior and to show the infancy of our knowledge on the sub-
ject of iron ships, confessing that he saw no prospect of
being able to abandon the construction of iron ships..
Mr. FINLAY was of opinion that further experiments
.should be made before the safety of the =gantry twee
intrusted to iron ships.
A (marks were made by Admiral WALcort, and a short
explanation was given by Lord J. RUSSELL In reply to Sir
J. Pakington.
Mr. LINDSAY withdrew his motion.

NEW ZEALAND.
Sir J. TRELAWNY, in calling attention to the subject
of his notice, mid the house might perhaps be aware that
a civil war was now going on in the north lend of New
&eked. Under the treaty of Waitaagi, all the
rights of British subjects were extended to her
Majesty's subjects, the aborigine of New Zealand.
The govenanient, actuated, he believed, by the colonists,
who were anxious to possess more land, proposed to pur
arse it from the natives. Private individuals were not
allowed to buy land themselves from the natives, and when
the government proposed to buy land, they should be
enured that the title by which they acquired it was un-
doubted. That did not appear to be the case in the present
instance, for it appeared that the rights of William King
had been violated, and the consequence was that interne.
eine fends and bloody contests had taken place. It appeared
that there were now 5,000 troops in New Zealand for the
protection of the colonists, and it was uncertain who were
to pay the expenses of • war that arose, as he believed, out
of • gross blunder, and great injustice to the natives. The
hon. baronet concluded by moving • resolution to the effect
that while the house was prepared to contribute all the aid
in its power to the executive to put down rebellion in New
Zealand, yet having regard to the treaty of WaiteeP, it
would rejoice to hex that upon the re-establishment of her
Majesty's authority in that colony the mattes in depute
had been referred to a special commission for investigation.
Mr. FORTESCUE said that the house or the govern-
ment Ind no notice of the melon of the hon. baronet on
this subject, but he was not Mobbed to object to it on that
ground, because the hon. baronet bad made very little out
of the case he undertook to brim( before the house. He ho-
neyed that any person who rend the Oise book with a candid
mind would 0011111 to a diarist orinaiedea from the hon.
baronet. It was tree the bon. baronet represented a small
party in the colony who were opposed to the load govern-
ment, but the fact was that the policy of the government
was supported by a large liaise* of the Chemists there,
of the pees, and some el tl Willowy body themselves.
=bear.) Such was the result air demi= in New
itself, and in proof of that he would refer to the
debates which took place. The bon. baronet 1111111111111 every.
thing that was in dispute. The hon. barest seemed to
think that there was a primal right on the part of • chief
called William King which had bee violated. It war
evident from the facts put forward in the blue hook that no
such right existed.. It was • view imported by Europeans.
All the terms of the treaty of Waitangi had been interpreted
most favourably to the trees, but no such primal right's
the boo. barest contended for wee to be found in that treaty.
Neither Governor Grey gar Governor Fitzroy had ever re.
cognised any such rights on the part of the chiefs of tribes
as ware now attempted to be set up on the part of those
chiefs. Governor G. Browns had resolved to tolerate no
longer the outrageous pretensions of those chiefs—preten-
sions sometime backed up with violence. William King
did sot set up any claim of right, but simply declared that
he would sot allow the Lod to be sold. If he had est u
any slept:ion of right it would have been duly considered,
but it we • simple Assertion of an intention to resist
by fore. That was the governor's position, sod be (Mr.
Foresee) believed it to be a tree statement of the tee
It was said this disputed land title should be decided by an-
other tribunal ; but this question had been decided like
others ; and the idea of resorting to • court of justice could
not be aupported, for the natives of New Zealand were not
subjects Of the Queen. The British law, through want of
fore*, did se exist in New Zealand. Everything hail been
imitated on by negotiation, particularly the gale and purchase
of had, and that was in accordance with a clause in the
treaty of Weitangs. It would he desirable that English
law should extend throughout New Zealand ; and that
feeling was pining pound amoopt the beet of the
tribes. It war unfarttutat• that tech • state of things
should seat between some tribes and the Queen's
'government, but the claim put faith by a party
seder William King could not be allowed. There was only
one wish, viz., that the interests of the natives should be
considered equally with the interests of the colonists. The Givierser st New Zealand deserved the support of
that hones, for his position was an extremely difficult one,
sad he was entirely deprived of those means which Sir
George Grey had at Ids He believed the present
=rhad acted • man of honour, humanity, and
ice as
and he never for one sneeseat would have given
sanction to any interferes°, with the rights of the natives.
The governor, last year, called together • meeting of the
natives. an interesting account of which would be found in
the blue book, and the result of the meeting was that the
governor had acted quite rightly. The motive of oppositios
put forth by a small portion of the natives was a false one,
and only supported by those who wished to set up Willem
King. But it must end fatally to all those who per-
sisted in the course which had been recently fol.
lowed. The policy of those few natives was a short-
sighted one, and could not be sanctioned by those
who desired to uphold the Queen's government. (Hear.)
There was no intention to depart in the smallest degree
frees the treaty. There was such a thing no doubt in a
colony like New Zealed as unscrupulous support of the
white man's pretensions ; but on the other hand, there was
such • thing as morbid advocacy of the 'uprooted rights
of the natives, which was by no means advantageous to
those in whose favour the advocacy was excited. The
government of New Zealand endeavoured to take a omens
between these extreme, to sacrifice neither the rights of
the colonists on the one hand, nor the rights of the natives
on the other, but to observe scrupulously the treaty under
which we held New Zealand, and that being done, to extend
the blessinp of English law to all her Majesty's umbrella in
New Zealand.

Mr. SELWYN observed that, under the treaty of
Waitangi, certain rights of property were reserved to the
natives, sod the question was what these rights wen. It
was the opioion of well-informed Europeans in the colony
that no individual of a tribe could alienate land to
a stranger without the sweat of the tribe collectively,
and the Most of land which was the cause of the
dispute, and the sale of which by the Chief Traria
the governor enforced, was subject to this native law.
He Ninth...a that Governor Browse was a friend of
the antler; but he had yielded to pressure, in direct
eoetraveation, as he (Mr Selwyn) contended, of the ranee-
tire right. unmasked by the treaty. The pies pat for-
ward in justification of the purchase, that the poseasaora
of the land had been emigrated by the Waiketos, and had
therefore het their collective, righta, was overruled by a di.
vision of Governot Fitzroy, who had restored the right.
He disputed the statement of Mr. Fortescue that former
governors nit the colony had aindscted sales in the same
manner.

1;;;IFC. munuras had arrived at a very different
conelusiou from Mr. Selwyn, to same of whose statetnents
he had listened, be said, with astonishment. He main-
tained that Governor Browse had been perfectly justified
in his oonduct, and he exploited the poeitiou of the Teira
tribe, who were subject to the Waikato*. and had no other
right to the block of land, be said, than that of occu-
pation.
Mr. HOPE could not surport the motion ; but he
with Sir Trelawny that there should he some Mt=
that amid investigate these questioi.s.
On the motion of Sir S. M. Piro, the debate was ad-
journed.

MARKETS AND FAIRS (IRELAND).

On the order of the day for going into committee on this
bill.
Br. BUT moved that it be referred to a select commit-
tee, width was assented to by Mr. CARDWILL, after • few
words from one or two hon. member..
The Comity Surveyors (Ireland) Bill was read • second
time.
The Admiralty Court Jurisdiction Bill passed through
committee. _ _ _

The other orders of the day were dispoied of, and the
►ore adjoarsed eta quarter before 2 o clock.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

NEW COURT.
(Were the Common Serpent.)

Joke Robinson Mean, 46, solicitor, was indicted for
embezzling 601. Ils., 311. 55., and 1001., the monies of the
Easters Counties Railway, his masters.
Mr. Sedeant Ballantine and Mr. Tindal Atkinson ap-
Tretifor the company to support the prosecution ; and
.fierieant Parry, with Mr. Metcalf, defended the
prisoner.
The case, which occupied the court the greater part of the
day, rested principally on the investiption of the accounts
of monies received by the prisoner on behalf of the eoinpaay,
which did not disclose any feature of public interest. It ap-
peared that the prisoner, • man of considerable abilities,
sad respectable connexions, was first engaged by the com-
pany, in the year 1853, at • salary of 2001. per annum. He
was engaged as land agent to the company, and was spe-
ohally selected to 1111 that office in comequence of his great
skill and knowledge of parish law and assessments. He
continued in this employment down to the time of his ap-
prehension. Upon the 9th of July, 1856, the directors
raised his salary to 3001. per annum, and amongst
the duties he bad to pedant was that of col-
lecting the rents of diffeyent premien belonging to
the' company, sad pay in all such monies so received.
Another pert of his duty was to examine all claims made
as the company for rates and tame, and certify as to their
sorrectnese. 'the first sum he was charged with embezzling
was one of 1001., paid for the rent of some premises at
Lowestoft. belonging to the company, transmitted by Sir
Edmund Lacon. This sum was not accounted for. On the
6th September he called upon Messrs. Depree and Austin,
who rent premiss of the company, and received from them
00/. lie., which he Limns did not acoouot for. He
again called upon the same fins on the 7th of
December, and was paid on behalf of the com-
pany 311. ss. Upon the day he received this
latter sum be went to a solicitor's office in Mooring.-
street, and paid an amount of 501., being the amount of
debt and caste in an action brought him for recovery
of a butcher's bill. Some having been dis-
covered, the prisoner was given into the custody of William
Heat, one of the officers of the company, and when told
what he was charged with said, "I have received the
money and appropriated it, but not with any felonious
intent. I shall not give any trouble. lam guilty." And
when taken to the Spdal-equare Polemstation repeated the
statement.
In

Mr. Sedee Parry,
Blackburn Owen, secretaryby to the enompanyt , stateMr.d Jthohnat
the prisoner collected about 8,0001, a year for the ooni.
parry. He bad no right to speed amy oi the money so col-
lected for rates, but ought to have paidit to the cashier. He
had never in any way accounted for the three sums named
in the indictment.

—This being—if; came for the prosecution, Mr. Serjeant
Parry objected that the primmer was not either clerk or
servant, and therefore could not be convicted under the
statute for embezzlement. The learned sergeant drew
the attention of the court to the fact that when the prose-
cutors engaged him they knew he was a solicitor, and spe-
cially aecsrsd his services as they would those of any other
profesaional gentleman, to advise and direct them in
matters connected with laims for rates, and the fed of hie
being subsequently called upon to collect rent, did not, in
the absence of any further special instructions, render bins
liable as a clerk or servant.

Mr. Metcalf having been beard on the same aide,
The Common Serjeant, without calling upon Mr. Berjeant
Bal'airtime, decided against the objection.
Mr. Serjeant Parry thereupon addressed the jury, and
ably argued that although the prisoner had not accounted
for particular sums charged against him, there was nothing
to show that he had not paid them in grass, as the accounts,
which were somewhat confused, showed that =OW were
not always paid in one regular manner.
The Common Serjeant heel.* summed up,
The jury retired, and after an absence of about an hoar,
returned a verdict of Guilty, and at the same time recom-
mended him to mercy, on account of his previous position
and good character, and the lag manner in which the ac-
counts wore kept.
Sentence was deferred, other indictments against him m-
aniples for triaL
Garnet Btackneure, 28, -stainer, and George Haddon,
313, packer were redisted, Haddon for stealing 7/111e. weight
of silk, value 501., and ether goods, the property of Henry
Feudal and another, his emeters ; and Bkokinon with fe-
loniously receiving the same, knowing it to be stoke.
Mr. Giffard and Mr. F. H. Lewis appeared few the me-
',ration ; Mr. Metcalf and Kr. Lloyd appeared for the
prisonete.
The facts of this cam, witiolt were very recently given
under the head of Oundhell Polio% were these :—The
prisoner Haddon bad base far many years servant to the
prosecutors, Mann. 'andel and Phillips, the well-knows
silk and Berlin wool merchants, Newesteadreet, and had,
it appeared, been for a long period plundering his
employers of silk braid and beads ol great value.
The robbery was discovered in this manner. Some valuable
puree silk was transmitted to a Mr, Evans, of Birmingham,
from a Jew, named Myers living in Oldatreet,road. Mr.
Evans at once oommunicet:ed with the prosecutors, who im-
mediately pat the matter into the has& of Rinker, one of
the City detectives ; and upon Myers being applied to,
he at once stated he bought it of the prisoner
Blackmore. It was then discovered that an old
men, named Freak, who lived in a cellar, and
existed by making baaketa, was the fatherin•law of Black.
more, and having been engaged on prosecutor's premises to
chop scene wood, had in connemon with Haddon, own-
witted the robberies from time to time. Freak was ori-
ginally charged with the other prisoners, and whilst under
remand and in the cell he committed suicide.
The prosecutors had lost above 1001 be. weight of silk
varying in value from 575. 6d. to 735. per lb., which it ap-
pears was sold at prices varying from 12a. to 225. 6d. per lb.
The fury found the prioare.Ortilty, and Blackmon. was
gardened to 18 mouths' imprisonment, with hard labour,
and Haddam to seven years' penal ',nitride.
The case lasted until nearly 8 o'clock at night.
In the care of Gustave John Parry, the merchant who
was yesterday sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and
bard labour, for having obtained goods within three months
of his bankruptcy, we are requested to state that it was
through the inetrumentality of the solicitor and assignee
that the 1,0001. worth of property was saved. They, upon
information, telegraphed to Geneva, and so secured it for
the creditors.

THE SURREY CONSUMERS GAS COMPANY.
--*--

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday afternoon in the Bridge-house Hotel,
London-bridge ; 'Louth Pocock, Esq., in the chair.
The balmice-sheet and accounts stated inter alia that for
the half-year coding the 31st of December last the gross
rental for the same period had been t 2,7871. 12s. Id., and
the income ariein4 therefrom amounts to 8,2411.17..2d. This
sum, after deducting the necessary charges for interest on the
bond debt and the other expenses, enabled the directors to
recommend that the usual dividend after the rate of 8/. per
cent. per annum for the half-year, clear of income
tax, should be declared, which, if adopted, would
leave a surplus of 2471. 3s. ld. to be carried to
the accounts of unappropriated profits. The report also
referred to the unhappy differences which prevailed at the
board, and which refired the appointment of a committee
of shareholders n in order to settle the terms of the
determination of Mr. contract. The directors con-
curred both in the necessity and appointment, and they had
=y, and by the (secretary acting under their instrue-
I:lorded the committee the fullest information to
guide them in their inquiry, and they were happy to state
that after several conferences and consultations with the
committee they had been enabled to agree with them in the
terms of settlement with Mr. Croll, and in the recommen-
dations for the future management of the company.
The report of the directors was, upon the motion of the
chairman, which was duly seconded, carried.
The report of the committee was next read, which gave a
very favourable account of the manner Mr. Croll had met
the gentlemen of the committee.
The contract entered into between Mr. Croll and the com-
mittee was next read, which appmred to give great manatee-
time to the numerously attended meeting, which terminated
most harmoniously, by the adoption of the report of the
committee, who recommended that 2,5001. should be paid to
Mr. Droll for hie minima sad pleat.
Mr. James Powell was re-elected auditor, and the follow-
lag gentlemen chosea
pima
jartorL:6—;ll.4homas. Pocock,
vrtu Frit;
Lams, Mr. Nicholson, Major Bereafora, Mr. James, Mr.
Clerk, and Mr. Leighton. 101. wee voted to the 7th Surrey
Volunteer Ride Corps for the use of their room, and a vote
of thanks to the chairman sicced the proceedings.

THE AMERICAN CENSUS.

The following official table, just issued from the
Ceases Department at Washington, shows the population
of the United States and Territories, according to the
Seventh Census (1850), and the Eighth Census (1880), re-
spectively :