The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-21 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

THE
IttGELEY POISONINGS.

TRIAL OF PALMER AT THE CENTRAL

CRIMINAL COURT

FROAI OUR OWN

REPORTER)

SIXTH DAY.

LONDON, TUESDAY.
he court this morning was again densely crowded,
)111:144 large concourse of people were waiting outside,
tot] eager to obtain the slightest information. The
114.:3.1ChiefJustice Campbell, Mr. Baron Alderson, and
'the ustieeCresswell, took their seats upon the bench,and
Prlsoner was immediately placed at the bar. He
4-I)°,,ed extremely pale, his features having a smaller
far eal.anee, and altogether bearing a most anxious and
, expression.
pc, Attorney-General, Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., Mr.
theel,3l, Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Huddleston, appeared for
Grar°l7o ; Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Grove, Q.C., Mr.
1,11; and Mr. Kenealey, appeared for the prisoner.
Die evidence for the prosecution was then resumed.
ether Jackson examined 'by Mr. James: lam a
praii,er of the College of Physicians. I have been in
liaveeuee in India, and for 7,5' years in this country. I
Itud tetanus, both idiopathic and traumatic, my
to India The idiopathic 'is rare in this country, compared
more"gia. It is far ore frequent in India. I have seen
abont
4fatal,ol cases. "traumatic and idiopathic are equally
in The latter class is more frequently found
tale:ll.'fel-", in India, both in natives and Europeans. It
roatk OLace shortly after birth. In infants it is more
atta,:cl in its symptoms of lock jaw than in adults
4111,4 e 4 With the traumatic class of the disease. I have
's
seen premonitory symptoms precede an attack ot

the bill.

Tathic tetanus-
3rd Cam bell • What are they ?
and Witt, P •
°SB A. peculiar expression of the countenance,
jl4, a Peculiar stiffness of the muscles of the head and
IN:. In infants it will prove fatal in from four to eight
daratl*- When it attacks adults from cold, it is of longer
~, I°u, and may last many days—the idiopathic going
118 la all the same grades as the traumatic.
is 4 Bs-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : The patient
ne.,Tub)rtable before the premonitory symptoms come
hl complains of stiffness of the back and front of
iolt-t"ii but may take his food until twelve hours be-
‘t. I.)e
-ring the twelve hours after his attention is
.4
vre draw, to the stiffness of his neck and mouth. I
hi,tr heard of any complaint of want of appetite for
first hours before the attack. I have heard of the
attack coming on in bed. I have known cases of
feu after miscarriage ; there is sometimes a difficulty,
swallnwi .t r s mptoms.
ng, as premont o y y
betw Reexamined by the Attorney-General : The intervals
k0r,,e,e,11 the promonitory symptoms in an infant are not
arid" than six hours; a male adult, from 12 to 24 hours
ttit2°luctinies more. The duration of attack was from
J 4 to ten days. Both symptoms and disease are alike
j le:eh class of tetanus. Death may follow in two days.
attack nut in court to hear the description given of the
tap: Luc). death of Mr. Cook. Tetanus will arise from
e4,11-341'J to cold. I never knew a ease where death
halt a in so short a space of time as from ten minutes to
an hour.
thi... Bergen examined by the Attorney-General :
I I am
.N
" superintendent of the police at Rugeley. ,a as
Co sent at the:inquest on the body of John Parsons
pal', after which I went, upon the 15th of December, to
' pa:let'S house to make a search, I found a quantity of
lir. I had them taken into the drawingroom from
surgery, where I found the principal part of them.
Dartc)°k Some out of Palmer's bedroom. I searched every
n
„ the house, and put all the papers in one place in
e ;:rawingroom, after which I locked the door and put
flour into my pocket. Upon the next day I endea-
-I),red to make a selection from the papers. George
littler was present.
10;'t'l Campbell : Is that the prisoner's brother ?
ittless : It is.
11„ he Attorney-General: And he is an attorney, at
leley
hoWt. Yes. I cannot say whether I gave him
Danl," Of my intention to search the prisoner's house and
1.‘..18' Ile was present part of the time. Inspector
141? and some other gentlemen were there. I first
the a selection of the papers, but afterwards gave up
cieorlaea ; and upon the Tuesday tied them all up.
got g.e Palmer was there upon the Monday, but I can-
ititoßaY that he was upon Tuesday. I put all the papers
Nvhblack leather bag, and took them to Stafford,
am ere I gave them to Captain Hatton. I believe it was
prep the 24th that the bag was again opened in my
tlyZ.ll:e. The papers were then gone through, and
sanalued by Mr. Dean for the prosecution, and he copied
1)4 e I them. During the search which I made of the
rtill:rs I Saw what they all where, and I saw no cheque
C,„,°"ting to bear the signature of Cook drawn upon
40: "etherby. The witness further said, I found no
l
lel litiltlent Purporting to bear the signature of Cook
4fte .4 to bids of exchange. Some of the papers were
wards taken to Mr. G. Palmer. The letters, private
tiqitleilts, and documents selected by Mr. Dean were
delive„:ed to Inspector Crisp, and he was directed to
an, them to that gentleman. The prisoner was
' st"don the night of the 15th of December.
ISlr- Sergeant Shee : The inquest was held at the
toil 14
Arms. There were several meetings, and before it
gas tided more than a fortnight elapsed. The prisoner
lalsarrested by the sheriff on a civil process two or three
hots before the verdict was returned. He was at his
but ju,at Rugeley the whole of the time the inquest lasted .
t 4 am: was not present at it, nor was there any person
Leeut Professionally for him. I did not know there had
Pulice officer previous to the death of Cook in
th,°-`eY; but I heard a person of the name of Field was

the
parry
'enrY Dean attended the inquest on Ann Palmer
t of an insurance company. The first time I
elstnaer, s papers was on the 24th of December, in the
tilq4,°'• Y of the last witness. I selected and classified
Ate They were in a black bag. It was unsealed in my
1 e lllee• Mr. Hatton and another person was present.
114aettlined the whole of the contents of the bag for the
The'rtlse or selecting those papers which were material,
G. paeists a considerable quantity, were returned to Mr.
l'ireth:tilLer• I did not find a cheque upon the Messrs
*ltt,:t°Y, signed by Mr. Cook for £350. I heard the
blit-iss Cheshire examined relative to a certain papers
that Ittlicl not find that paper, or any`other, which stated
clktioilailner had signed a document for Cook's accommo-
„
tOr Ft' 'examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : I knewlnspec-
N firip had been at Rugeley at the time of the inquest.
apsenrn
were solicitors to the Prince of Wales Life Insur-
Lat6,-111ce, and Field went there upon their emrloyment,
kaffr: was at Rugeley only part of a day. He was at
Axis rd for three or four days, but he did not see the
that ter while there. His visit had been preceded by
one :` another officer named Simpson. Simpson I saw
kith Y at Rageley. He went from Rugeley to Stafford
He
*B.l -Yself and Field. He said he had seen Palmer. n
C)t.st retained in our service on the first week in
etcher.
qn i‘lr. t. James : Field was sent down to make en-
tvhol" as to the habits and life of Mr. Walter Palmer, of
at ase death the office had shortly before received notice,
to enquire into the circumstances of a person
Atit."' bfiates, with reference to an insurance on his life.
a bni*psPin, solicitor for Mr. Padwick, said : I produce
Reilti 'Or 4:2,000, which was placed in my hands by that
do etnan to enforce payment from the prisoner's mother.
40110,,"t know whether it is the handwriting of the pri-
th4t.
tile(brstrl. Strawbridge was here called, and he stated
words was in the handwriting of the prisoner.) The
that il
Sarah Palmer " was not in the handwriting of
.£1,0,,,11dY• The bill was due three months after date, but
hand had been paid off, and the bill was placed in my
the
es 'n the 12th of December to enforce the payment of
41,titenlainder. I had not made application for the pay-s
letter of the bill in November myself. I received two
s from
the prisoner.
the 11° letters were here put in and read, and contained
be cheque for £l,OOO, with a request that it might not
presented till the 25th of Nov., and the other related to

a sum of money, £3OO, about which there was some mis.
take about the remittance, ancl in ;which Palmer stated
he would shortly be in London.
Witness continued : I produce a cheque for £1,0(10,
inclosed in the above letter of the 12th, dated the 28th.
I presented it on that day and payment was refused. I
also produce a cheque for £6OO, dated Bth December, in
plisoner's handwriting, payable to Mr. Padwick or
bearer, which was also dishonoured. It was forwarded
in consequence of the cheque of £l,OOO having been dis-
honoured. £l,OOO still remains due on the £2,000 bill.
Execution was issued against the person. The prisoner
was taken on the ca sa.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant ghee : I first saw the
cheque a day or two befOre the date of the 12th.

Re-examined by Mr. James : An action was brought
against the mother for the recovery of the £l,OOO due on

Mr. Bamford, surgeon, of Rugeley, who had been suffer-
ing lately from ill health, which prevented his earlier
examination, having greatly recovered, was led into court
by Mr. Gardner, the solicitor for the prosecution, and
examined by the Attorney-General. He said—l am a
surgeon and apothecary, of Rugeley. I first saw the
deceased Cook on Saturday, 17th November, at the
request of Mr. W. Palmer. He called on me and asked
me to attend a friend of his, who was ill at the Talbot
Hotel. He said he had dined with Cook the day before,
and that he had taken too much champagne. I walked
with Palmer to the Talbot and saw the deceased. I
asked Cook if he had taken too much wine the day before.
He assured me he had taken but two glasses. He was
constantly vomiting, but 1 saw no bile thrown off. I pre-
scribed a saline effervescing draught for the deceased; a
six-ounce mixture.

Lord Campbell said that the witness need not be
examined on this point, because it was stated in his
deposition that had been read to the Court. If it was
persisted in, he must have the whole of the medical wit-
nesses re-examined.

The Attorney-General said he had no intention to go
into it.

Witness examined—On Monday I prescribed and pre-
pared some pills for deceased. The medicine I prepared
on Monday I took myself to the Talbot Arms, and gave it
to the servant maid. I saw her take it up stairs. On Sat-
urday, Sunday. and Monday, I prepared the same sort of
pills for deceased. I saw Palmer on Tuesday morning on
my way down to see the patient. He met me, and I asked
him if he saw Cook the night before. He said he saw him
between nine and ten o'clock, and was with him half an
hour, and requested me not to see deceased that morning to
disturb him. I did not see him then. Between eleven and
one o'clock that day I was met again by Palmer, on my way
to see Cook. He begged I would not go to see Cook, as he
was still quiet, and he did not wish him to be disturbed.
About seven o'clock that night Palmer sent a request to my
house that I would see Cook again. I went and saw him for
the first time on that day. After that, I left the room with
Mr. Jones and Palmer, and had a conversation with him.
Palmer rather wished Cook to have his pills again, and
he walked with me to my house for them ; and stood by me
whilst I prepared them in my surgery. I have strychnia
in a private room, but I keep none in my surgery. Palmer
saw me weigh the ingredients of which the pills were com-
posed. 1 put them in a box, and labelled them " Night
pills—John Parsons Cook," at the request of Palmer.
He took the pills away with him, between seven and eight
o'clock. I never saw Cook again alive. I wrapped the
pills and directions up in a paper, and fastened each
end with sealing-wax. The directions were written
on a paper folded square, placed under the box of pills,
and both were afterwards wrapped in the paper that
was sealed. There was nothing written on the outside
paper. I saw Cook, dead, as near 20 minutes past 12 o'clock
as could be. I learned from Palmer that the deceased had
been dead about five minutes. I found the deceased
stretched out as straight as he could be on his heels and
back of his head and stiff. His arms were in a rigid state
by his side and his fists clenched. I gave it then as my
opinion that the deceased died of apoplexy, and gave a cer-
tificate accordingly. Palmer asked me to fill up the certi-
ficate. I had the form with me. I told Palmer it was his
place to fill up the certificate as Cook was his patient, but
he said he would much rather I did it, and I consented. I
was present at the post morlem examination. After it was
all over Palmer said to me " we ought not to have let that

jar go."

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shea : My house i s
about 200 yards from Palmer's house.
Mr. Thomas Pratt examined by Mr. James : I am a
solicitor, practising in King Street, Mayfair. lam ac-
quainted with the prisoner. I commenced in November,
1853, when I obtained a loan of £l,OOO for him. That
was afterwards paid. In October, 1834, I was employed
by him to make a claim on two policies, bath on the death
of Ann Palmer. I received £5OOO from the Sun, and
£3,000 from the Norwich Union. The money was applied
in payment of three bills amounting to £3,500 or £4,000,
and £2,000 of it was due on acceptances and loans obtained
subsequently to the claims on the policies, the remaining
£1,500 was not applied. In April, 1855, he applied
to me for a loan of £2,000; but he did not state for
what purposes he wanted it. I obtained it on an accept-
ance drawn by himself and accepted by his mother, On
20th November I and my clients held eight bills that I had
discounted for Palmer. I held four of them myself. There
were two others then overdue. The bills are as follows :
June 5, 1854, for three months after date drawn by Mr.
Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer for £5OO, and
endorsed by him ; August 2, 1854, a similar bill for £l,OOO,
payable three months after date; July 22, 1855, for £2,000,
three months after date; July 24, 1855, for £2,000, three
months after the 'date, endorsed by Palmer to Thos. Pratt ;
September 27, 1855, for £l,OOO, for three months after
date ; September 29, 1855, for £2,000, for three months
after date; October 2, 1855, for £2,000, for three
months, indorsed by Palmer to Thomas Pratt; and one,
October 12, 1855, for £2,000, for three months after date.
The whole of the bills purporting to be drawn by Mr.
Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer, payable to the
order of Palmer, and endorsed by him. The whole amounted
to £12,500. £6,000 had been renewed, and would become
due in January ; two bills were only overdue on the 20th
of November for £2,000. One bill for £l,OOO, and another
for £5OO, was held over from month to month, as was the
interest. The interest charged for discounting the bills was
about sixty per cent. In August, 1855, Walter Palmer
died, and I made an application to the Prince of 'Wales'
office for £13,000, the amount of the policy. Sarah Palmer,
as the acceptor of these bills, had frequently been written to
at Rugeley, but no replies were received.
Some letters from Pratt to Palmer were here produced,
which were found by the superintendent of the Stafford
police amongst the prisoner's papers after his arrest, and
during the investigation before the coroner respecting Cook's
death. They related to the overdue bills, and also to the
policy effected on the life of Walter Palmer; also letters from
Palmer to Pratt, in reply to one of which he stated he
had been requested by his mother to reply to the commu-
nication.

Examination continued : Palmer called upon me, and
paid me £270 upon the account of the bills then due. He
said he would send another sum of ,E 250 before the follow-
ing Wednesday, and that he was to pay the principal by
instalments as soon as possible.
Lord Campbell said he was glad to see that the jury were
taking a close note of this part of the evidence, as it would
save him much trouble during the summing up.
A letter of the 28th October was then put in and read.
It runs thus :

" Dear Sir,—l will send you £250. Do not think of the
writs; I will get you the money if I pay £l,OOO for it.
Give me a chance of paying. Do not send to the proctor."
The letter, after referring to some other matters, was
signed " Wm. Palmer."
Upon the 31st of October Pratt wrote to Palmer, to tell
him that in consequence of the promises in that letter,
that with the exception of the writs against the brother
of prisoner, no steps should be taken. The letter pressed
for further payments, and also alluded to the necessity
of further steps being taken about the policy of Walter
Palmer's life. Upon the 6th November I issued writs for
£4,000 upon prisoner and his mother, and sent them
to Mr. Crabb. a solicitor at Rugeley, upon the 6th.
Upon the 10th Palmer called upon me. having written
that be would come. He paid me £3OO upon the 10th.
That sum, with the £5OO, made £BOO. £2OO was de-

ducted for interest, and he was credited £6OO off the
account. I think that I mentioned at that time to
him that the writs had been sent down to Rugeley.
A letter of the 13th was put in and read. It
was from Pratt to Palmer about the prospects of
obtaining the policy, and pressing for the payments.
Upon the 16th November I had another letter promising
£2OO, and upon the next day some one called arid paid me a •
cheque for £2OO. I had another letter, and up m
the following Monday, being the settling day after the
Shrewsbury Itaces, prisoner called and paid me a
sum of £5OO, making in the whole a sum of £1,300
paid up to that day upon account of the £2,000 bill.
Upon the 21st I had another letter from the prisoner.
The letter was put in and read. It stated that Cook
had died, and that prisoner was very much fatigued, and
added, " I must have Polestar again. If any one asks
you about what money Cook has had of you, do not
say anything about it until I see you." Prisoner promised
to send more money upon this. Pratt wrote another
letter upon the 22d, which was put in and read. After
alluding to Cook's death, the writer told Palmer that, as
Cook was dead, he mist see and look about him for the
£5OO bill ; and it also stated that Pratt had sent down the
bill of sale to Crabb.

This letter having been read, the court adjourned for

half an hour.

On resuming, the reading of the letters was continued
One was from witness to Palmer, stating that Messrs.
Weatherby had not honoured Cook's cheque.

Examination continued : On the 24th November I saw
Palmer at my office, when he paid me £lOO, of which x'7s
was to go for the renewal of the £5OO bills. On the 26th
of November Palmer again wrote me not to say anything
to anyone about Cook's affairs. I did not know the
deceased John Parsons Cook. I had a bill of sale upon
two horses of his, called Polestar and Sirius. I never
saw Cook on the subject of that loan; the prisoner
negociated. [Bill of sale produced and read.] The
money advanced amounted to £5OO. I have a letter from
Palmer on the subject of that loan. It is dated the 26th
of August. [Letter read.] It stated that Palmer wanted
£l,OOO by the following Saturday, but it must be at a less
rate of interest than he had been in the habit of paying.
He Was ready to assign the policy upon Walter's life
as:security. Another letter of the 30th of August from
Palmer to witness was read; it stated that Palmer was
coming up to London, and if witness could not advance
money on the policy it must be returned. In this letter
an acceptance of Cook's was enclosed, which Palmer
wished to have negotiated. It was for £500.] I advanced
£375, and a wine warrant on the bill, and sent the money
and warrant to Palmer, at Doncaster. The letter con-
tained £3OO in notes, and a cheque for £375, payable to
Mr. Cook "or order." [This letter was read. It asked
the prisoner, " when shall I see you about the three
£2,000 bills coming due ? " The cheque and wine war-
rant enclosed produced and identified by witness.] The
cheque and the wine warrant sent to Palmer for Cook
were the consideration for the bill of sale. The other
£3OO, which I enclosed in the same letter had nothing to
do with Cook.

Mr. Stevens, father-in-law of the deceased, was here
recalled.

Mr. E. James : Mr. Stevens, look at the endorsement,
on the bill for £375. Is it in the handwriting of Cook ?
Mr. Stevens (looking at the bill) : No.
Mr. E. James : The signature is "J. Parsons Cook."
Mr. Stevens : I never saw him write his name other.
wise than " J. Parsons Cook."

Mr. Strawbridge was then called, and the Attorney-
General directed him to look at the acceptances, and see
if they were in the handwriting of Sarah Palmer, and he
declared that none of the acceptances were in her hand_
writing.

Mr. W. Cheshire : In the month of September last
I was clerk in the National and Provincial Bank, at
Rugeley. Mr. Palmer had an account there, and the
cheque in question was paid into his credit by his groom,
Cockaign.

The cross-examination of Mr. Pratt was then proceeded
with by Mr. Sergeant Shee : Previous to May, 1851, I
had no knowledge of the prisoner. I knew nothing about
Mr. Cook, but I had a sum of money due to Mr. Palmer,
and he wished me to add .Wl9O to it. Mr. Cook never
complained to me by letter, that he did not receive the
mortgage money of the race horses. I had not the
plightest knowledge how Cook and the prisoner stood as
to the winning on the Shrewsbury races.
Mr. John Armshaw : I am an attorney practising at
Rugeley. On 12th Nov. last, I was applied to to enforce
the payment of a debt of £6O by some gentleman in
Rugeley on the 19th of the month. I sent to London for
a writ, and the next morning I went to the prisoner at
his house and he paid me two fifty pound notes. One was
a Bank of England, and the other was a local note. I took
the money to my client, and told him to take a receipt
and settle about the costs.
By Mr. Sergeant Shee : It was about nine o'clock in the

morning.
Mr. John Wallbank : I am a butcher residing. at
Rugeley. I remember the Monday in Shrewsbury race
week. I was fetched to Palmer's house. 1 saw him, and
he said, " Wallbank, I want you to lend me £25." I said,
" doctor, I am very short of money, but I will try and get
it." He said, " do, that's a good fellow, and I'll give it
you on Saturday morning." He said he should receive
some money that day. I met him on the Saturday- morn_
ing, and he paid me the money. I think it was by a
bill.
By Mr. Sergeant Shee : Palmer had lent me money on
occasions when I required it. Palmer's mother lived in
a large house near the church. I have often seen him
visit there.
Mr. John Spilsbury, farmer, residing at Rickerscott : I
have had dealings with Mr. Palmer. On 'Thursday, the
22nd Nov. I called upon him and received payment for a
debt. It was by a x5O Bank of England note. I called
casually that day. I did not have an appointment.
By Mr. Sergeant Shee : That was the only transaction
I had with him.
Mr. Strawbridge, the manager of the bank at Rugeley,
said on the 19th of Nov. his account showed a balance of
.e 0 6s. in his favour. Nothing had been paid in since.
The last payment he had made to his credit was on the
10th Oct. It was £5O.
Mr. Herbert Wright, a solicitor of Birmingham, said I
have known the prisoner since July, 1851. In November
he was indebted to my brother £10,400. We had a bill of
sale on his property ;it was dated May 6, 1855. It was
for £6,500, and comprised bills of Exchange drawn by
Palmer, and purporting to be accepted by Sarah Palmer.
The sum of £2,300 was further advanced, for which
all his personal property, race horses, and also a policy
for £5,000 on his life was taken as a further security.
The bill of sale was subject to redemption. The
whole sum advanced amounted to £10,400. During the
early part of November I was pressing Palmer for
payment. The money was considered to be due on the
first or second week in November, but before the 22nd
of the month we were urging for payment The bill
of sale was put in force after the verdict had been
returned. I neither took nor found any of his papers.
Cross•emamined by Mr. Sergeant Shea : A good deal of
property was taken. I don't think if the interest bad
been forthcoming I should have objected to put off the

seizure.
By the Attorney-General : The bills were discounted at
60 per cent. per annum—(sensation)—and the bills would
not have been renewed under that amount.
Mr. Strawbridge proved that the acceptance to the
whole of these bills were not in the handwriting of Sarah

Palmer.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : I have none of
the handwriting of Mrs. Palmer with me. The imitations
were very faint ones, and I should not pay such if they were
presented at the bank.
A conversation here arose about a witness whose name
was upon the back of the bill of indictment, whom the
Attorney-General said Mr. Sergeant Shee could examine if
he wished.

Mr. Weatherby was called but did rot answer.
The Attorney-General said that perhaps their lordships
would allow him to put a question or two to Mr. Weatherby

in the morning.
Their lordships assented.
Lord Campbell inquired whether Mr. Sergeant Shee
would wish to go on with his case that evening.

Mr. Sergeant Shee said be would prefer commencing to-
morrow. He wished to be allowed to ask Mr Devonshire
whether he was pushed, as described by one of the wit-

nesses, when the post mortem examination on Cook's body

was made

The learned Judges said they attached no importance to

the circumstance,

The Attorney-General said this was the case for the pro.
s-cution, with the exception of the questions he wished to
put to Mr. Weatherby, and which would not occupy a

couple of mibuted.
The court then, at half-past three, adjourned until ten
o'clock to-morrow (this day).
Mr. Henry Mayhew has addressed a letter to the
papers contradicting a statement made by Dr. Taylor,
in his evidence in Palmer's case on Monday, to the effect
that Mr. Mayhew obtained from him a statement con-
cerning the Rugeley poisonings in a surreptitious manner•
Mr. Mayhew states that he had Dr. Taylor's verbal and
written perm'.ssion to publish what he communicated, and
that Dr. Taylor himself corrected the proof of the article
of the publication of which he now complains. Mr.
Mayhew likewise publishes a letter from Mr. S. Edward's,
who was present when the interview between Dr. Taylor
and himself took place, and who wrote the article which
appeared. Mr. Edwards bears out Mr. Mayhew's state-
ment, as to the legitimate use made of Dr. Taylor's infor-
mation.

THE CITY OF LONDON
EDMUND LYONS

AND SIR

On Monday, a general Court of Common Council of the
City of London, was held at the Guildhall, for the pur-
pose of presenting the freedom of the City to Admiral Sir
Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B. Sir Edmund Lyons was
introduced by Mr. Deputy Dakin and Mr. Alderman and
Sheriff Kennedy, and was received with hearty cheers.
Sir John Key (the Chamberlain), in making the pre-
sentation, referred to the many and various claims which
the gallant admiral had upon the regards of his country-
men, observing, further, that in presenting that mark of
respect the court stood forth not as a mere assemblage of
citizens, but as the exponents of public feeling and the
accredited trustees of a great national distinction.
Sir Edmund Lyons addressed the crowded auditory in
nearly the following words :—My Lord Mayor, Mr.
Chamberlain, and gentleinen,—lt would be vain for me to
attempt to express how deeply sensible I am of the distin-
guished honour conferred upon millby goo, whom t am
indeed proud to address ss fellow-citizens. (Cheers.) The
freedom of the city of London, in acknowledgment of ser-
vices rendered to the Sovereign and the country, has ever
been considered a laudable object of ambition by naval
officers. The hopes of arriving at this honour were
awakened in my breast at a very early age by reading,
when a boy, that it had been conferred upon Nelson.
These hopes I have cherished ever since, and now that
they are happily realised, I find that instead of the reality
falling short of the anticipation, as is too often the case,
my feelings of pride and satisfaction are, on the contrary,
unbounded ; for it is indeed a proud thing to receive such
a proof of confidence and good will from the most
enlightened and important commercial body that ever
existed—a body whose influence is beneficially felt not
only at home, but all over the civilised world. (Loud
cheers.) The Chamberlain has done me the honour to
speak in very complimentary terms of my public life. In
zeal for the good of the public service, I yield to no man,
and during the 42 years I have served abroad, in
diplomacy and in the navy, I certainly have coasciel-
tiously performed my duty to the best of my humble
abilities, and I must say that on all occasions I have
been so ably supported by those serving under me as to
render my task comparatively easy, and particularly
during the last three winters in the Black Sea, and on
no occasion more than when the Agamemnon, seconded
by the Sanspareil and London, attacked Fort Constan-
tine. I believe that most of us were at Spithead
last month when the Queen reviewed a fleet, which
for combined grandeur, power, and originality, was
never equalled. (Loud applause.) It was impos-
sible not to be struck with admiration at the exter-
nal appearance of that imposing armament as it presented
1 self to our view—a proof of the marvellous resources of
this country ; and forming, as it did, but a portion of her
Majesty's naval forces, for we have a large fleet in the
Mediterranean, and ships of war in all parts of the world ;
but the admiration so excited is much increased, when we
reflect upon the order, discipline, cheerfulness, and
patriotism that reigned within, and still further increased
by a fact which I have mentioned on more than one ocea-
siel, and which is worthy of being mentioned again and
again, for it will figure in a bright page of our history,
when contrasted with the state of things that existed in
former wars—l allude to the fact of the whole of her
Majesty's fleet being manned by volunteers—(cheers)—
men who came forward of their own free will to serve their
Queen and country. (Cheers.) I fear I have very inade-
quately expressed my feelings of pride in becoming your
fellow citizen, and my gratitude to you for the kind and
handsome manner in which you have received me. This
beautiful box will be handed down as an heir-loom and
preserved by my children and children's children as a
memorial of one of the proudest events of my life.
The whole court rose and cheered the gallant admiral at
the close of his address, arid the Lord Mayor immediately
intimated that the proceedings of the day were at an end.
His Lordship then invited the whole company to lunch

at V the Mansion-house, and entertained them in the
Egyptian llall.

THE OLD BOROUGH GA.OL JOB

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES,

Sir,—As one of the burgesses of Liverpool, feeling a
deep interest in the good and efficient management of
our corporate estate, allow me to thank you for having,
almost alone, taken up the general interest of the tax
payers on the present occasion. Too many of our Press-
men are time-serving, and waiters on Providence, prefer-
ring to " toady " the great, rather than protect those,
whom the chairman of the meeting on Tuesday, at the
Clarendon rooms, rightly pronounced to he disunited
and weak. _

If the burgesses will but do their duty, we then shall
find the council chamber not the place for jobbers, and
certain nameless persons, who have fattened upon the
general interests, would he far less powerful for mischief.
Talk about throwing dirt, indeed ! Some men escape by
sheer impudence, and lead the scent into a wrong
channel by trying to damage those, whose every act, if
carefully examined, would be a censure upon their
own.

Mr. Editor, really honest men must be properly sus
tained by the burgesses, or else how are they to accom-
plish the good for us their mind's wish ?
Mr. Robertson Gladstone is always our friend, and it
would be a thorough disgrace to ourselves if we per-
mited, by our indifference or apathy, such men to be
driven into inaction, by the attacks which have been
made upon him, for defending our cause in the debate
on the proposed sale of land. What right had Mr.
Hornby to ask any gentleman to do what no one would
expect from him? And Mr. Holt, too, only voted for
simply expecting that no action would result from
The burgesses must sustain Mr. Robertson Gladstone,
Are these our friends ?
delay, simply
as his work with the finance committee is only begin-
ning. We must remember a most important question
which no one, save Mr. Gladstone, has had the courage
to call upon them to account for. They have been
twitted in the House of Commons for not being able to
give any satisfactory explanation of the corporate
property, and as they rely upon the ability and
character of their officials, let them prove it, by showing
to all of us the nature and extent of our corporate
estate. If that estate was efficiently managed, I believe
our local rates might, and would, be much reduced.
Let the finance committee show their interested fellow
burgesses that they deserve the post they fill, and then
all will readily accord them their thanks ; but let us
know that they do all they profess, before standing so
very high in their own good opinion. It is very easy to
assume the indignant, but in this age, when so many,
and some high in office, have failed to maintain that
strict integrity, which, previous to the facts becoming
patent to the world, few or none doubted, we are fully
justified in seeking, even from the financial committee,
proofs of their good management. I trust, sir, that you,
if none of the other liberal newspapers do, will not
cease from following up the question. What is our
corporate estate ? and what ought it to be ? I fear I have
been prolix, but my excuse is, my earnestness in the
matter.—l am, yours, &c. JAMES HOBBs.
Liverpool, May 16, 1856.

The Times, in a leading article, says, it has been
determined that Earl Granville, the president of the
council, shall proceed upon an extraordinary mission to
St. Petersburg, on the occasion of the Emperor of
Russia's coronation.

Prince Oscar, of Sweden, arrived at Paris on Monday
evening, at five o'clock. Yesterday (Tuesday) a grand
review was to be held, at which the Emperor of the
French, the Austrian Archduke Maximillian, and Prince
Oscar were to be present.
ESHIPMENTS OF HRANDY.—A disgraceful imposition, in
connexion with shipments of brandy to the Colonies and
elsewhere, is stated to be largely practised. The system
is to buy up empty brandy casks, bearing the brands of
the most noted Cognac houses, and send them from
Hamburg, Antwerp, and other places, to this country, in
transit, wher.ce they are transhipped on board vessels
and hound to Australia, the Cape of Goad Hope, &c.,
where the brands of these Cognac houses are in good
estimation.

The Daily News contains a leading article enumerating
some of the advantages which may arise from the pro-
jected marriage of the heir-presumptive to the crown of
Prussia and the Princess Royal of England. The Court
of Prussia is at present popular in England, and there
are many good reasons why the connection between the
two countries should be cordial and friendly. The grudge
in England is against the King, who has allowed the
Russian party too much sway. Prince Frederick Wil-
liam is thoroughly advised to that party. The power of
Prussia is also the only great Protestant power on the
Continent, and in giving the Princess to the Prussian
Court we shall be doing our best to place it in a position
to become an efficient and safe state.

COUNTY COURT .-YESTERDAY

(BEFORE JOSEPH POLLOCK, ESO, JUDGE.)
Yesterday was the opening day of the second May
court.
ARRANGEMENT OF 13USiNESS.—The following arrange-
ment of the business of the court was made :—Tuesday
(yesterday), fraud summonses, insolvencies, &c. ;
Wednesday (this day), one adjourned case, Slater v.
Power, at ten o'clock, and forty cases at twelve ; Thurs-
day, 159 cases Friday, 148 cases ; Tuesday, 27th inst.,
120 cases; Wednesday, 123 cases • Friday, 64 cases;
making in all, '644 cases to be tried in thit court.
FRAUD SUMMONSES.—A considerable number of fraud
summonses was heard and disposed of. None of the
cases possessed the slightest public interest.

INSOLVENTS.
Robert Scott, grocer. of Richmond-street and Dale-
street, was supported by Mr. Daggers, and opposed by
Mr. Rittson, solicitor, and several creditors in person.
His Honour adjourned the petition sine die without pro-
tection, on the ground that the insolvent had received
goods on credit only a few days before he filed his
petition, which he afterwards sold for less than their

Richard Latham Lupton was opposed by Mr. Hus-
band, on behalf of a loan society. The final order w•as
fixed for the first of August court, ani protection
withheld as regarded the opposing creditors for two
months.

Thomas Willem& was supported by. Mr. Husband, and
unopposed: The insolvent was a shoemaker. The
final order was flied for the first court in :July:

John Brown was supported by Mr. Henly, and
opposed by Mr. Cross. The petition was adjourned for
a week. _

Sohn Turner, butcher, was opposed by Mr. Husband.
An objection was raised by Mr. Husband that the petition
was founded on an affidavit sworn before an incompetent
party. Mr. Gray supported the petition. Hid Honour
said his present opinion was with Mr. Husband, but
that he would look over the statute, and state his
decision in the course of the ensuing week.

Some interpleader eases, of no-public importance,
were also disposed of.
JubGMENT.—AMAN AND ANOTHER V. HOUGHTON AND
ANOTHER.—His Honour gave judgment in this case.
which was for £7O, reduced to .£5O to bring it within
the jurisdiction of the court. The action was for a
defficient quantity of Bilboa chesnuts, sold by the de-
fendant to the plaintiffs. His Honour found the plain-
tiffs entitled to damages to the extent of seven tons at
14s per cwt, instead of seventeen tons, the number
&night.