The Express.
London, England, 1850-07-17 00:00:00

COAL MARKET.-THIS DAT.

Carr's Hanley, 130. 6L; Edon Main, 14s. 6d.; West
Hardey, 13s. 6d. ; Walls Bad Haswell, 160. 6d.; Wall. Bad
Hatton, 16.. 3d ; Wells Bad Lasabtolo, 13a 9d.; Walls
Bad Stewart's, 16s. 3d. ; Walla Bad Tess, 16s. 33.--Bkips
at 'market, 61.

MARRIAGE BROKERAGE.—At • recent sitting of
the Ipswich County Court, F. K. Eagle, Esq , the judge,
gave judgment ie the cue Id:cohere= et. Beard, which
wes a eking for 31. 10s.' the balance of a sum agreed to
be paid to the plaintiff if he procured the defendant a
" good wife." His honour, quo:ing an authority, observed
that marriage brokerage contracts, which were agreements
whereby a party engaged to give another a remuneration
if he negotiated an advantageous marriage for him, were
void, as tending to introduce matches wnich were ill ad-
vised, and tiot based on mutual affection, and therefore
against public policy. He cited a cue where a party
, agreed to give a lady's maid 1,0001. for the purpose of
bringing about a much between the giver and the sec-
' vanes young mistress. In this instance the Court of
Chancery decided that the agreement was void. His ho.
noer added, that the law, as thus laid down, did not exactly
appli to the present case. For the agreement to be void, it
was doubtful with him whether it must not be a bargain to
bring about a particular marriage. Now, it did not appear
that this was a bargain for a particular match, but to get
the defendant "a good wife." (Laughter.) Therefore
thus was some Mge room for an equitable construction of
the transaction. If it had been the case of o young person
entrapped into a match for a pecuniary advantage, he should
have considered it void ; but as it had been a contract to
procure a nurse rattler than a wife, be thought he might
treat it in that light, end as that hail not been declared
illegal, ho should award the plaintiff thirty shillings more.
(Laughter.) He believed it was admitted on all bands that
the &deadest had got a very good nurse, and upon that
account he ought not to complain of the award. (Renewed
laughter.) Order made accordingly.
CALAMITOUS FIRE AT BRISTOL. —A shocking fire
occurred at Bristol on Monday tight, in the Japan Finishing
Works connected with the extensive Floorcioth Manufactory
of Mum. Hare and Co., which ranks among the lyrist
works of its kind in the world. The mode in which the
disaster °tie, ated remains involved in mystery. After the
workpeople left, at about 6 o'clock, the overseer went over,
as usual, and all was apparently safe, and remained so until
about heel'-put 9 o'clock, when tire was observed iasuieg
from the canteens: remity of the building. An alarm was
speedily given, and the engine belonging to the factory
manned. Messengers were also despatched for the police
end are insurance onspenies engines, which were speedily
on the spot, and watt r being plentiful (the new course
of the River Acne adjoining), great efforts were made
to serest the progress of the are. The stock of the
building was, however, composed of resin, tile, turpentine,
and other combustible materiels, and the flames spread with
such rapidity and fl realms as to excite WWI apprehensions
for the safety of the new goods shed of the Bristol and Exeter
Railway, end the terminus of the Oreat Western Railway,
with its immense wooden reef, both of which were closely
adjacent. The fire was not got under until the building in
which it erigineted was destroyed, and a loss of from 1,5001.
to 2,0001. incurred. The property was not insured, and
formed but a small portion of the extensive works with which
it is moue:dui, sad which, for the sake of lessening the dan-
ger in case of are, are divided into compartments, located at
distances from inch other. The flames could he seen for
miles, and many thousands of persons were attracted to the
WA.

LIEUTENANT GALE and his wife, who ascended on
Mouthy night, in the An Normanty Balloon. from Cm
morne-gardene, desoended is safety en tins *state of B. L.
Matthews, EN , Castle 13sr, near Boling. The gellrst
aeronsut and his lady were received with every attention
and hospitality by Mr. Matthews and the members of his
family.