The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

is

WWI= having previously aided, that, as naval commissions
are not signed by the menu= as those of the army are, their
lordships can, at any time, dismiss naval °Sure, sod deprive
them of their rack, without trial, ear Memos to the
crown, which is necessary only in military cues;
whilst he denied their lordships could be sued at all, and
upon issue of this writ alleged that the halt pay of all ad-
mirals, captains, lieutenants, and other officers of the Met,
was merely a gift from their lordships, payable or not at
their option, but not reeeverable at law =der any sir-
=materials whatever, althweek certain sums ars annually
voted to each individuals es ere upon the list, as their
half-pay, by the legislators. 11 subsequently appeared, how-
ever, such an action =old be mainiained, as the Admiralty
Solicitor, after requesting time to oonsult counsel, entered
the above recited appearance in the Court of Exchequer. Bet
it is to he regretted that a great public board
have since thought it necessary to apply for a
mouth's time to plead, and obtained fourteen days,
as aiming delay, in trying a ease upon its merits,
which it might have been supposed, after twereively suspend-
ing any ofilost's pay for fillies months, their lordships
would bare been prepared to justify immediately. As this
fighting for time may iodide that the Admiralty
entertains dal de of the validity of the grounds upon which
the money has been withheld, for nothing could have been
easier than to set forth facts, and plead authority—provided
naval halt-pay to all ranks is merely the gratuity from their
lordships, which he represents it to be. A frail tenure, in-
deed, it such ia the dependence for daily bread of the veteran
naval officer. Surely it cannot be that the circumstances of
the lieutenant have been taken into consideration, and delay
*ought to promutiaate litigation and increase expenses.
The matter assumes, however, a *unpick= aspect,
from their lordships having likewise withheld the lieu-
tenant's current quarter's halt-pay, which has nothing to do
with the sum sued for—" 60 long as an action shall be pend-
ing against the Admiralty "—which looks very like an at-
tempt, not only to delay justice, but to cut off the resources
by which it is to be obtained. The Admiralty, in cases
similar to the present, is worthy of the most serious conside-
ration—namely, that upon their lordship' receiving com-
plain= of any cffioer's conduct, without their apprising him.
either of the alleged accusations or the name of his =mow,
a person is despatched front the solicitor's office, to make
merit visits to his house, and inquiries into his life,
habit*, tied even his amour', from servants, neighbours, and
all other sources; and upon such secret reports, without any
opportunity being afforded the officer of refuting all, ged
misconduct or crime, his half pay is at once suspended, or
his name removed from the list of naval officers. This
system has been carried out to the fullest extent in Lieut.
iligginson's ease ; and although he has demonstrated, by
the production of original receipts and letters, that no such
i'ebts were ever contracted by him as those for which his
pay has been suspended for eighteen months, their lordships
now withhold the last quarter due, exclusive of the arrears,
for which this action has been brought, upon the grounds
that they will not entertain any application fur pay, so long
as that action is pending against themselves.
A NAVAL READER.

Fielding's comedy of " The Mute (founded up3n
" L'Avare" of MoLire) was • d here last night in an
abridged for., Farren playing the part of [prepaid, and
Mu. Glover that of Lappet. Although very many years
have elapsed since the last time this piece was performed upon
the Espial) stage, it. merits have become tolerably Lmilier
to play-goers through the original production, which etr•
tainly was not improved by the transmutation from one
language to another. The part of the miser war,
in some respects, such u to justify Mr. Farren's
revival of the piece, fur the character we. sufficiently
sdapfed to his peculiar powers. The scenes in which Leos-
gold and Lapps! era brought prominently forward were
most ably eusadaed by him and Mrs. Glover ; and both
those esteemed favourites were lien to very great advantage.
The amiss of the one character was poluirayed in such a
manner as to amuse without being repulsive, whilst the
ntanceuvriug propenaiti.s of the old honsekee, er w :re worked
out with that pe.uiiar appreciation of humour which
always distinguielies Mrs. Glover's iropersoesions. The
minor parts were played by Miss Adams, Mrs. B irtlett,
Mr. W. Form, jun., lir. H. Butler, and others, and each
coutriouted a fair share towards the mamas of the piece.
There was much applause, as well as laughter througaout,
bat the general effect of the performance wee such as Lei lead
one to think that the management might have selected (ur
revival a comedy more strictly in sisordanee with the taste
and spirit of the parentage.

CLERICAL.
arrr. Rev. D. Conlon le Trinity P. C., Bristol,
dto 0. & B ; value, 4001. ; pats., I. S. thrford, Esq., aud
five trusts's

Annizairv, ran. 4.—Arrourriezwrs.—To PAitonsel—
Commander :T. 0. Forbes. Lieutenant: F. T. Jameson.
Master's F. Townsend. Acting Purser: J.
Twssdis. Midshipmen : It P. Cater, E. C. Rifler, and C.
E. Bushes. Clerk: S. E. Wright. Seatswain: J. Lee.
Carpenter : W. Whitburn. Forint—Navel Cadet : A. H.
Y. Cunningham.
Morsunnre.—Jan 27, at Gibraltar, the st.-sloop Janus.
—29th, at Lisbon: Prince Regent, Commodore Martin, who
hoisted his broad pendant on fearing Gibraltar, and arrived
and took commamd of the sluadron at Lisbon on the 24th,
including the Arrogant, Leander, Tnetis, Hogue, Encounter,
Conflict, and Scourge. The Terrible, Capt. Hope, arrived
at Lisbon un the 28th in five days fr..= Plymouth, with
biscuit for the squadron. The squadron exiact to leave
Lisbon in about ten days on a Cruise.

SPORTING.
TAT fERSALL'B.-MONDAY.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE.
Ito 1 apt Lord Waterbed's Mr John
6to 1 lord Strathmore's 'Rattrap
14 to 1 Mr. Moron to the Chandler (t)
15 to 1 Mr. J. Fort's Knight of Owynne (t)
20 to t Lord Fence ns Little Fanny
25 to 1 Mr_Ceatic as the Grand Lamar, (t)
Mt to 1 Mr. Hashes's Tipperary 8014
LIVERPOOL snits° 0.. .
7 to 2 apt Mr. E. J. Iturta's Ballindad.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKE&
The only bet on this event was 20 to 1 to 10f. eget Ferehlll.
METROPOLITAM HANDICAP.
g to 1 asst Mr. Gralnick.", Cheerful (t freely)
15 tot Mr. Meikkines Snowstorm
111 to I Mr. Murphy's Dough (t)
ti 1 Mr G. Hembrote's black Eagle (t)
20 to 1 t.ord Eglinto's Testator (t)
20 to Mr. C. Peck's Melody (t)
20 to 1 Mr. Gregory's Uamvk (t)
22 to 1 Duke of itichanmerstiuiter (t)
30 to 1 Captain Lowther's klastiludo (t)
All the horses quoted were backed, but Cheerfal only with
any spirit. 6to I could not be at the close.
2,600 GCINEt STAKES.
Sto apt Mr. Bowes Eptrote
10 to • Mr. Pitsiord (t)
CHESTER CIT.
16 to apt Mr. Payee's Olsoes (t Vto 1)
20 to Mr. Merry's Mist Ann
20 to Mr. St. George's Whim colt
25 to Lord Ilowth's Pery.e.thay Ho, (t)
25 to Mr. Ma ikLm's Roland (t ..nll alt 062)
26 to Captain Ilarourt's Ellerdale
40 to Mr. naked's Marriott
40 to Mr. Gregory's Clermont
50 to Mr. Buires's The Knout
50 to 11r.Issao Darya Corkermoath
1,000 to 20 Mr. Colian's Horn of Chase
1,000 to IS Mr. B. Green's Lady Superior (t anal aft offal)
LOA to 15 Lord CUlden't Lodula ally (1,000 to 20 t ouor) •
I,tkA to IS Mr. B. Green's Pelham
The only horses in rt quest were Wanes, the Whim cult,
and Peep-o'•day Boy ; and on them the investments were
aot by any means large.
Ths Augean wan mistakenly included in the semptancee
for this event.

-
DERBY.
15 to art Duke of ILithround's Ghillie Callum (t tto 1)
10 to Mr. W. Edwards ne Dilinghrolte (t)
le to Lord Egliolisn's Knight of Avenel
16 to Mr. Mendaio's The ItaiLr (t 17 to 1)
16 to Lord Zetland's %ninon: t freely)
20 to Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger (t)
23 to Lord Ferlinton's Maaors (t 2$ to I)
3,000 to ; Mr. Lee's Charley (t)
la the e rly part of the aCiernoms 1.450 to 200 was taken
about Mil ie Clium, and 11 to 1 U. SOL asal 12 to 1 to 3001.
laid apt /341ingbr-ke ; B to Ito 731. was aftetwards 1 a
agat the first and 10 to 1 taken to Mancha& about Boling.
broke. Voltipur wu backtd fur all that could be got on
at 16 to 1.
- -

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0 %KS.
IS to 2 art Lord Eglistoris Probity (t)

WARWICK AND LEAMINGTON SPRING
MEETING, 1850.

NOMI/CATIONS FOR TIM TRIAL STAKE/I.—Mr. Stevens's
Knight el Gwynn*. 3 yrs; Mr. Scott's Warwick, own bro-
ther to Yardley, 3 yrs ; Lord Strathmore's Teletheater, 3
yn; Mr. C. Buckley 's Ardsrick, 3 yrs ; Mr. T. Dawson nu
Mark Tapley. 3 yrs ; Mr. Lneas's Eye-the•boye, 3 yrs ; Mr.
W. Monet'. Al,nso, 3 yn ; Mr. B. Green's Osbeldeston.
3 In ; Mr. W. I. Sadler's IVoodsprite, slater to Hind of the
For st, 3 yre : Mr. Merry's Oftolllll, 3 yn ; Mr. Cowper's
The Miner, 4 yrs ; Captain Archdall's Ross Pompon, 3
yrs ; Lord Clitilss's Toner, 3 yrs.
NOMINATIONS FOR TICS TWO-TRAK OLD S . Mr.
T.St 's Bri•annia, Lord Strathmore's Faux Pas, Mr.
Little's Colibri by Sotherstone, Mr. Armstrong's Banker,
Sir J. Hastler's b f by Venison out of Bacchanalian's dam,
Mr. W. I. Sadler's Fringe, Captrin Arcbdall's Quadroon,
Mr. C. Jones's tenths by lou, Mr. Meath's Stafford, Lord
Warwick's Leapyear, Mr. Parker's 'il. Calculator Data E.
0.), Mr. Canidy's Whisper, Mr. Stebb:ng'a The Partridge,
Mr. Merry's Louis Napoleon, Lord Clifdeu's Beaufort.

NAVAL.

THE ADMIRALTY SUED BY A NAVAL OFFICER.
Sia,—Ou the 10th of last month the following entry was
made la the Appearance Book (Latter L), of the Exchequer
of Pleas, Stone-bedding', Chaneery•lans.—Anpenrance
entered -"Lords C samissioners for executing the office of
Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Bri-
tain end Ireland, at the suit of Francis Iligginson,
Enquire." This action is brought against their I..rdenips to
recover 911.65. arrears of half-pay, by the plaintiff, a lieute-
nant in the royal navy. These are the circumstances of the
case :—Lieutenant Francis liiggissoc, en officer of above
thirty six years service, permanently lame, from the effect of
wour de—and one of the officers upon whom the war medal
has been conferred, on the 27th of July, 1848, lee -iced a
letter from the Admirelty,infoeming him thatin consequence
of its having been reported to their lordships that he bad
been espied en certain amours, and bad contracted debts Ice
Gemmed names, which remained unpaid, it was their
lochtlipe intention to cause his name to be struck
on the half-pay list of the eoyal navy. And this, without
previous investigation, Lieut. Higginson being allowed no
upportiani, of rebutting the &ages, or even furnished with
the name of his accuser. In reply, after decorously quefr•
tioning the right of their lordships to interf re with his
private affairs, Lieutenant Higeinaon repudiated the charges
as exaggerated and malicious imputations, and denied the
existence of any such debts. A long correspondence ensued,
and at length the amused officer solicited to be tried by a
court martial, or other tribunal, competent to 'amine wit
nesse. upon oath, to which he offered voluntarily to submit
himself, in ceder to prove the falsehood of the anonymous
allegatims. He offered MA. same time to show, by receipts
and letters is his posessaion, that these charges against him
were without foundation. Their lnedslips, however, had
summer lag suspended Lieutenant Higaineon's half-pa yon
the 24'h of July, 1868, even prior to his having been
informed that any each charges bad been made
against him, which stoppage of pay they persisted
in enforcing after thrilled informed him he could nut be
tried by court-martial upon the themes adverted to. Tin y
ealled spell Lest. Higainson to obtain letters from a rtain
persona named (among whom, as it afterwards proved, was
the accuser himself), specifying that they had severally ern
Lieut. Higx imam, and that be was not the person cou.plained
of. So humiliating a manner of disproving that which
never existed being respectfully objected to by Lieut. Hig.
gloms, their lordships arbitranly °milliard the awe n-iun
of hie halt pay for above fifteen months. They then ordered
him three months' pay, but redirected him to procure such
lenses within three months from thee time upon pain of
their then considering " what measures it might ha necrs-
rry to adopt towards him." Lieut. Higginson submitting
to tharlardships that his doing so would be derogaiory to
his resides, either as ear onion or a gentlemen, tendered
hie resignstius, sport payment of the arrears due to him,
which their lordships declined to receive, but continued
the suspension of his half-pay, thee foreleg a man to continue
services, fur which they refused to pay him. At length
Lieutenant 11 iggiorm, as the 12th of Nov., 1849, having re-
sented a letter from rein leedrips, authorising Dim to sub-
mit the Admiralty correopendewee with him upon this sub-
ject to whomever he might think proper, hid the whole be•
fore legal advisers, who issomusended en melon to be
brought against their lordships, &swell to recover the amount
dee, as to test the veracity of their witnesses on oath--If
such charges, indeed
formed age siEnd of defence, in an
action for money had and received their lordships upon
his eseerat by vote of the llonse of moan—e step, how-
ever, while make* aerate dellbeeatiea, the Admiralty

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1850.