The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-01 00:00:00

itisaa

wiry. But modern experience has sow.,
necessarytoprotectguileleas tradesmen from design- her Melest7's P",
ols
ing infanta, asinnocentinfantafrom scheming trades- tw,rh r
Star redifft°l
men. It might not be physically safe for a pallid a coroner sad denies that he re _
lOsdtsad
and under-grown shopman to refuse credit for is called the Proenreur Imperial in France, and contends
studs, or a smellin,g-bottle, or a pair of ear-rings, that he la magnifying an office which is moat useful when
to an,
athletic infant of twenty, of known good confined to Its legitimate work, and withheld from rem.
connexions and fortune. It would be offensive to peters with the polite courts.
do so, and in most cases, the infant WOMBWELL
notwithstanding, it would be absurdly over-cau-
tious. Therefore, to protect the tradesmen against
repudiating infants, the judicial interpretation of
the term necessaries has been enlarged so as to
include not only articles requisite for subsistence,
but articles reasonably suited to the rank in life of
the person purchasing or otherwise procuring them.
Tho decisions on this delicate question of fitness
have been very various. It has been decided, in
one case, that a quantity of jewellery, including
a fine gold ring, thirty other rings, a gold watch, and
gold pins, were necessaries to an acquisitive
but parsimonious infant, who had obtained but
did not wish to pay for them. It has been de-
cided that cigars are not necessaries to a healthy
infant ; a judgment which Sir FITZROY KELLY
justifies on the ground that an article which was
unknown in Europe two or three centuries ago
cannot be necessary, except medicinally, to any
man in any condition. He might say the same of
potatoes, which were, we believe, introduced at
I the same time as tobacco, and by the same per-
son, and prove that they have never been ne-
cessaries to any Irishman. This principle would
limit the necessary diet of British infants to acorns
and pig-nuts. Obviously, however, an estimate of
fitness does not admit of being reduced to rule, and
scarcely any one case can form a precedent for any
other. Baron BrumwELL is consistent and
thorough-going in his view. " A pair of
" things called solitaires," costing 25E., cannot be
necessary to any infant, he contends, since " studs
" fit for the purpose, and such as a gentleman may
" well wear, may be bought for a few pence."
If the cunning infants who may take advantage of
Ithe learned Baron's view of the law adopt also his
Icanon of dress, not much harm will be done.
We doubt whether tradesmen will consider the
one or the other more injurious to them.
His lordship urges that if the claim for the
solitaires is good, ear-rings for a male, spec-
tacles for a blind person, or a wild animal—this
last illustration was suggested, we sup-
pose, by some obscure association with the
name WomewEra.—might be accounted necessa-
ries. These absurd illustrations could easily be
varied. But they prove nothing. When once
the line of strict necessity is overpasaed, it is im-
possible to lay down any other rule than that of
the apparent good faith of the seller, and the re-
striction of the value of the articles within the
limits suitable to the known position, connexions,
and presumed fortunes of the purchaser. Wrist
studs for himself, and ear-rings for presentation to
a lady, and a silver-gilt-chased cup for a gentleman,
come within theume category. A man who can afford
to invest 251. in a pair of solitaires for his own
adornment can afford to make a present of a fifteen
guinea cup to a friend, especially if his friend be a
marquis. The ground on which the Court dis-
allowed the latter claim, and allowed the first,
does not, therefore, seem to us valid. since de-
part from the lino of strict necessity, and give
scope to the jury's discretionary estimate of cir-
cumstances and fitness, and there is no alterna-1
tive but to permit them by their verdicts
to protect transactions entered into in
good faith by reputable tradesmen from
evasion by perfidious infants. At present each
verdict of a jury, in a case where the plea of
infancy is allowed, is an 1.. e pont facto sumptuary
law, which acts as a fine on the ono side and a
release for the past on the other, without afford-
ing guidance for the future. If the present system
continues, young men of men of means and family
will be obliged, for the satisfaction of tradesmen,
to carry about with them certificates of their majo-
rity, or, in the case of minors, to explain the
proportion of their purchases to their incomes, and
the use which they intend to make of the articles

order.

ment to back out

• of generalisation.
, he did not throw
the part of govern-
, such as it is.

WlAl'Elift REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

SAWILUT, FligiUkti 1, $ A.M.

I
B T. \ W. 11'8; c--14"." W. 8 'lit
D.
Pairs 77.1;- : —--
- 7 - --
---- 1
&birdies 44 41 W.B.W. 8 7 N.W. ore 0.28 3
Laub 28.08 14 B.W. 710 B.W. rb 0.41 t -
Axdresna 121.011 4i S.W. 811 B.W. el 0.73 8
90100154 1941 W. 1 8 1 B.W. tro 9.99! 8
Cape Clear 90.381 60 W. 1 :0 W.N.W. 03 O.IN 8
Rodidell i 11.89 W. 8 W.B.W. me 0.48 5
=
29,02110, W. tO B.W. r 0.21 4
_.
29.02 80 W.S.W. 9 B.W. oe SU -
Psoasse• -le 10 r 3,1
W.&W. 0 W.S.W. mro o.o^ 7
Bra* ...... 29.881 50 W.S.W. 6 S.W. fm - 6
1•28292.....20.9211101 B.W. 4I B.W. or O. 5
11.thelae.Ply ...I'r.ls:t 551 til.. H 1 B.W. 0 0—,2 l
7.7....--....,:ri , W.8.W... It! 8.W.. orr illt. 'I
Leaden ....SSW 11 M.B.W. 10 1 W.B.W. cm 0.01 -
Tarrooslie.;lll),l9 I B.W. 8 1 W.S.W. o—' 4
Ilearboromb 2287 10 W. 9 1 W.B.W. cro 0.28 5
8510148 WU 111 W.B.W. 10 W.S.W. r 0.32 4
Bruwends b /4988.621 88.88..Ww.. -8 -.. . -_ oo
ffirsiboarg - &W. 6 - 1 - c - -
Lyons 10.37 , St 1 - 1 - 1 - 1

Barometer corrected and redoced to S 2 deg. at am level The
letters r (tieing), f (falling!, s (steady), indicate direction of
motionof the memerywithlu last 14 hours. ThermomeUn exposed
in shade. Extreme force, with its direction duriug last 24 hours.
Z.—cahn. Weather: IL—blue sky ; louds (detached)
IL—hail; L—Ughtning ; m.—mlety ;hazy: ; o.—overcast
(dull); r--rain ; 6.—ukow ; L.—thunder. Rain tall, mow or
hail ;melted). during last 24 bouts. Sea disturbance.
REMARKS.
The barometrical deprenelon reported yesterday evening has
continued. and has assumed very large proportiona. In the
north the diroinulion In the reading has beers to the extent ‘d
nearly nine-tenths of an inch. whilst on our south coast the
decrease. though not so vmd. has exceeded half an Inch. There
Is a difference of nearly two Inches between the readings at
Aberdeen and Lyons. Temperature is very high at all stations,
except in the north and west, where it boo began to decrees, A
very .trong southoventerly wind was reported last evening an
prevailing on the Irish coast ; it has increased to a seven; gale.
which has visited all our coasts, and has not yet abated. At the
western stations the wind ham veered to tho westward. Much
rein has fallen on our north-west coast, where lightning is n•-
ported. The eea is high on the Irish coast and in the Channel.
V. orange were iaxucd last evening.

Latterly a new feature has been added in the
Regent's-park. A plot of ground at the southeast corner
of the Regent's-park, occupying some 10 or 11 acres, and
bounded by three roads on three sides, and the Avenue
Gardens on the fourth, has been laid out after • picturesque
manner. This plot (says the Gardener's Citron ick) pre-
viously a tame, ill-drainedoinhiteresting area, encumbered
in parts with overcrowded groups of young trees, and cot
off from the rest of the park by the roads and avenue just
mentioned, has, by the judicious tbinnirg out of the trees,
by the clever variation of the surface level, and by the
liberal Introduction of groups and masses of ornamental
trees and shrubs, been converted from • desolate waste to
a really pretty bit of landscape scenery.
A few days since a gardener in trenching some
meadow land at Highgate, Middlesex, found • vase con-
taining nearly 7,490 silver coins, consisting of silver pennies
(London, York, Middlesex, Bristol, and Canterbury), groats
and half-groats, halfpennies, Ac. (Irish and Scotch. Vene-
tian and foreign, Teutonic), and two gold coins of Edward
111., also an amber rosary. The coins have been partially
arranged by Mr. Vaux, of the British Museum.
In the Dublin Queen's Bench yesterday. in the
case of Augustine E. Costelloe, the Solicitor-General stated
that in future no fees should be demanded as • condition
precedent to considering whether a fiat should be granted
to a writ of error, the court having expressed an opinion
that the fee was illegal.
A strong feeling of dissatiaraction has been ex-
cited among the people of Kerry by the firm attitude of
loyalty assumed by Bishop Moriarty and some of his
clergy. It is stated that unusual opposition has been
offered to the collection of the annual dues.
Among the recent arrivals in Rome is that of the
celebrated American Federal general, known as '' fighting
Joe Hooker." His wife is in delicate health. The general
himself is recovering from his attack of paralysis a year

ago.
The Pope has granted audience to the Chevalier
Pietro Marietta, and presented a gold medal to him in
sign of his Holiness's satisfaction on receiving the first
volume of the Gospel printed at the Propaganda-office
from the ancient Greek manuscript in the Vatican Library
under the chevalier's direction, and the revisal of Fathers
Vercellone and Cous. This Vatican Cock,: was written
very accurately, apparently in the fourth century, and all
cultivators of sacred erudition were desirous of an edition
of it which should represent the same quality and form of
letter, and the precise number of letters and lines. The
first volume contains the Gospel according toSt. Matthew.
The entire pnblication will extend to six volume', the
last containing notes and dissertations.
An American paper gives the following statistics
of private libraries in the neighbourhood of Boston :--The
library of the late Mr. Everett contains 7,003 vols. ; of the
late Mr. Prescott, the historian, 6,000 vols. ; of the late
Abbot lAIOTNICO, 10,000 vols. ; of the late Daniel Webster,
5,000 vole. ; of the late Thomas Dowse, the learned leather
dresser, 4,000 vols. ; of the late George Livermore, rich in
Bibles and biblical works, 4,000 volc ; of the late Theodore
Parker, 10,000 vols. ;of the pratßufus Choate, 7,000
vole. ;and of Mr. Adams, the American Minister
in England, 18,000 vole.
The Duke of Edinburgh stayed three weeks in
South Australia, and 2003100 people there Lept holiday
during that period to celebrate his visit. Twenty-five
steamers, containing 10,000 persons, escorted hie ship
Galatea up the bay, to Melbourne, in Victoria. 150,000
persons thronged the streets of that city to welcome hiw.
The address of the city to him was presented in the pre-
sence of 30,000 spectators: 11,000 children song the
English National Anthem to him ; a free public banquet
was given to 20,000 persons in the open au in honour of
the royal visit. Hundreds of address; were presented to
the son of the Queen of England, exp German" and
affection. Towns sail villages filled with and
Chinese vied with people of English descent in expressions
of loyalty and attachment towards the Prince and his
mother. Balls, fireworks, and illuminations celebrated the
royal visit, and joy fires blazed on every hill for fifty miles
round. The Galatea was to be escorted up Sydney Bay
by nearly fifty steamers, containing 20,000 persons- The
Prince laid the foundation stone of • public building with
a trowel formed of solid gold, ornamented with precious
stones.-Persona paper.
THE BISHOP OF LONDONS CONFIRMATIONS. -
The annual series of confirmations for the diocese of Lon-
don will be taken this year, in nearly oqual parts, by the
Bishop of London and Bishop Anderson, Chancellor of St.
Paul's Cathedral. The Bishop of London's arrangements
are as follows :-February 19, Christ Church, Newgate-
street ; March 2, St. Pancras ;March 4, St. Maryleoone
parish church ; March 11, Hi
March 15, Spital.
fields ; March 18, Harrow School ; March 25, King's Col-
lege ; March 31, St. Jim's'', Westminster ; April 29, Pop-
lar ;re May 11 s, St. George's, D ; May 10, St.
Andrews,
s,Holborn ; May 13, Islington parish church ;
May 20, Edmonton ; June 15, St. James a, Paddhigton ;
June Pt, Fulham ; June 29, Kensington parish
church ; July 6, St. Luke's, Chelsea ; July 8,
Sunbury ; July 15, Ealing ; July 19, St. Mary's,
Newington-butts ; July 22, Staines ; July 27, West
Hsekne; August 3, Great Stoninore. Bishop Anderson
will bold confirmations as follows :-February 19, St.
Mark's, Clerkenwell, and Bt. George's-in-the-Emit ; Feb.
20, Teddington ; March 31, St. Paul's, Walwortb ; April
1, Stoke Newington aad Hampatead ; April 2. Whiteehspel
and St. Helen's, Bishopsgate ; April 21, Christ Church,
Albany-street, and Wimbledon ; Aril 22, St. Mary's,
ton-square, sod Bt. John's, Hoxton ; April Pi,
=don ; May 12, Bt. Margaret's, Westminster, and
St. Peter's, Pimlioo ; May 13, St. Stephen's. Paddington,
and Holy Trinity, Brampton ; May 14, Islington Chapel
of Ease and St. John's, Kaatish-town ; June 23, St. Paul's,
Ithightebridge, and Ail Souls, Marylebone ; June 24,
Barnes and Isleworth ; June Ti, Hadley. In each of the
mouths of October, November, and December a time and
place for private confirmation will be fixed for any candi-
dates omitted at the general confirmation who are properly
recommended.
LECTURE BY PROFESSOR MAIIRICE.--OH ThlllT-
day evening the Rev. F. D. Maurice, Professor of Moral
Philosophy to this University, delivered a lecture in the
Barnwell Workmen's Hall, on the " Wealth of eveq.
Men." The attendance was not large. The Rev. G. W.
Weldon eseepied the chair. The Professor, in some
emempore revearks, hepressed apes his hearers that there
were sources of wealth possessed by every man, other
then the mere possession of property or fortune. Surely
it was wealth to have the power of right, of bearing, of
convening with one's fellows, sad of retsiaing facts, la..
in one's meager.. He illostisted his organsente, which
were very foamy pat, by goofier( some verses from
Milton, written after he became blind, showing the use he
bad made of his tight when he noisome& it. es depicted
inintlegautsite word-painting. The power el maser, he
by qeMations frees the poetry of Terwidit
which the laureate's powers of emsocey were
played. The lecture was listened to with in
throsigh
out,
had at the close • vote of thanks, on the motion of
the chairman, was warmly someded to Professor Maurice.
--Cambridge Indepradast.

.111
FA 4Ndf .1
v/14ILPR S Y .
it it is u and *sm zoia 4131.114, Isis& cal 4106 LAI
, design_ her Majesty's gaols ; but what is to be the in these
two poor wretches, with " 8.C." burnt into r •ka?
g trader-
'rhe Star differs from Dr. Lankesber on ties functions of T 1
• pallid• co • roner and denies that he representa da Begiand wbst The repot

FEBR 8i73
T
ELLIGEN oho • " er
is this consolation, that
iv ma. 1 syrizi. 1 out 'any hint of a desire on