Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-27 00:00:00

PROBATE BILL

The ATTORN RY-GENERAL moved the second reading of
the Probate and Letters of Administration Bill, which
came down from the Upper House, and entered into an
explanation of its provisions. The general object of the
measure was to establish a General Court of Probate in
London ; to consolidate the Admiralty, Marriage and
Divorce, and Probate Courts, and to divide the country
into districts, which might exercise jurisdiction in cases of
property not exceeding the value of £1,500, the London
court having jurisdiction in all other cases. There were
provisions included allowing compensation to judges whose
offices were proposed to be abolished ; but with regard to
proctors, the learned gentleman explained that, as it was
anticipated that their business would be increased by the
abolition of the Prerogative Court, and the general juris-
diction of the London court, no compensation was proposed
to be given to them.
Mr. HENLEY approved of the principle of the bill, and
seconded the motion. He expressed his satisfaction with
the provision asserting the principle of local jurisdiction
within a fixed limit. The question of compensation was
one of great difficdty, and he recommended it to the calm
and fair consideration of the government.
Mr. Coutza supported the second reading, though he
entertained general objections to details. He objected to
the countrybbeing saddled with a new court, which he
thought unneoessary and, as provided, inefficient, and
advocated the handing over of contentious will cases to
common law.
Mr. ROLT, as one of the members of the Commission,
defended the bill and stated his intention to oppose any
proposition that might be made in committee, at variance
with the recommendations of the commissioners.
Mr. Mums agreed to the bill as a whole, but would
reserve to himself the right to oppose it and its details.
Some further discussion having tsken place, in which
Mr. Walpole, Mr. Keating, Mr. Napier, and other
members took part, the bill was read a second time.
FRAUDULENT TRUSTEES BILL.

The house then went into committee on the Fraudulent
Trustess Bill. The first two clau, es were agreed to, with some
verbal amendments, when the chairman was ordered to
report progress. and the house resumed.
VARIOUS BILLS. _

The Crown, &c., Snits Scotland Bill, the Bankruptcy
and Real Security Scotland Bill, and the Bill Chamber,
Scotland were read a second time.
The Hanley Borough Incorporation Bill, and the Con-
solidated Fund, £8,000,000 bill, were read a third time
and passed,
The evidence upon Oath, (House of Commons) Bill was
withdrawn.

PROBATES IN IRELAND.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland begged leave to
bring in bills to amend the law relating to probate, letters
of administration in Ireland, to enable ecclesiastical per-
sons in Ireland to grant building leases of glebe lands in
certain cases, to abolish the rate known as the East Keet
Wall in Dublin, and make other provisions in lieu thertot
The Rouse adjourned at a quarter past one;

MERSEY CONSERVANCY
AND DOCKS BILL.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

HOUSE OF CO3.ISIONS—FRIDAY, JUNE 26.
The C ,mmittee re-assembled at eleven o'clock ; Sir
JAMES GRAsAm in the chair.

In reply to Sir James Graham, Mr. SitIITTLEWORTH
stated that the amount received for Town Dues on guano
in 1856 was £93 131 9cl, the quantity imported being
22,485 tons, and the charge one penny per ton. The first
entry of guano appeared in the year 1839.
Sir J. GRAHAM asked what was the amount of bonds
originally issued on account of the Birkenhead docks ?
Mr. SH UTTLEWORT : £1,143,000.

Sir J. GRAHAM : Which, of course, is independent of the
£lOO,OOO for the north reserve;
Mr. Saurimnwo.tTit : Yes. There is an existing con-
tract for £123,000 fur deepening the great float, and a
large sum has been expended on subsisting works.
By Mr. PHILLIPS : The bonds are secured on the
borough fund generally. I am told that there has been
an expenditure of £7,000 for the improvement of the outer
walls.

Sir J. Graham : What is the corporate bonded debt ?
Mr. SituTTLEw qtTli : About £1,400,000.

Mr. CALVERT, Q.C., then resumed his address on
behalf of the promoters of the bill, in reply to the case
of the Corporation. He contended that there was a
conflict of interests between the Corporation and the
Dock Estate, and that the Dock Trust had suffered to a
very great extent, in consequence of its connection with
the Corporation. Ho read extracts from the evidence
given before the select committee on the Local Charges
on Shipping Bill, last year, to prove that in erecting the
Landing-stage at George's Pier-head the Dock Trustees
hail acted under compulsion from the Cheshire interest,
and that if the docks had been under the control of an in-
dependent board, the c mces.loa would never have been
made. The stage itself was not required for promoting
the shipping interests of the port.
Sir J. GRAHAIL asked what bad been the cost of the

Landing-stage.
Mr. SEIUTTLENVORTH : It will shortly be completed at
a cost to the Corporation, and not the Dock Trust, of
£130,000.

Mr. CALVERT then adverted to the constitution and
powers of the audit commissioners, and complained that
the Corporation, in the act of 1825 for altering, the con-
stitution of the commission, practically took away all the

important powers which the commission had previously
possessed, by abrogating those owers which were the great
check upon the Corporation in earrying out their project
with regard to the sales of la•nd. The consequence was
this :—When the Act pasted in 1825 the debt of the Dock
Trustees amounted to £664,683, ant in 1851 it had
increased to £4,638,402,
Sir J. GRAHAM : It is now £6,000,000, I believe.
Mr, CALVERT said it was, for there there had been a very
large increase duriniz the last five years. On referring to the
accounts, he found that do vn to 1851, the Trustees had
expended .050,00 in the purchase of land, and only £87,390
of that sum appeared to have been expended prior to
the year 1825. Theexcuse for exercising the veto in respect
of these sales was that therehal bean a mistake in refere❑ce

to the right of the land, bat he wished to remind the com•
mittee that the veto extended much further, and applied to
the mode of assessing the value of the property, as weal as
the title to it. The excuse for exercising the veto applied
oaly to one part, namely, the right to the property, and did
not apply at all to the other. When all the circumstanc s
were carefully considered, he thought the committee
would agree with him that there had been a conflict of
interests between the Corporation and the Dick
Trustees, and that the Corporation would never have
accumulated the large sum of money which he had just
mentioned without having got rid of the power cf
the Audit Commissioners in the first instance. There-
fore, under cover of a bill to explain the powers
of the Commissioaers, the Corporation, without informing
Parliament what their real object was, repealed all the
important powers of the commissioners, conferred upon
them by the acts of Anne and George 111., in order to
check improprieties on the part of the Corporation. The
result had been the enormous expenditure which he
had referred to, which had been paid out of the coffers
of the Dock Trustees into those of the Corporation, to th
advantage of the town and the injury of the port.
SIR J. GRAHAM asked by whom the landing-stage was
maintained.
Mr. CALVERT said it was maintained at the expense of
the Dock Trustees. He did not say for a moment that the
Cirporatiou had done the smallest injustice to the town of
Liverpool, but where the interests of the shipping were
opposed to those of the town, the Corporation had studied
the advantage of the town to the injury of the shipping. It
was a remarkable feet that whenever the Dock Estate
proposed to do anything which was calculated to benefit the
town, no matter whether it was for the benefit of the
shipping or not, the Corporation were never found exercising
their veto. The learned counsel then combatted the asertion
that the Corporation had made munificent gifts to the port,
and pointed out that of these so-called gifts the sum of
£935,000 had been expended on streets which were of no
earthly benefit to the docks, but only benefited the
town. He believed it was necessary that the manage-
ment of the port should be removed from all local pre-
judice, and it was hardly to be supposed that Liverpool
would care as much for the Cheshire side of the Mersey
or for the navigation of the whole of the Mersey as for
the Liverpool side. In point of fact, it had already
been established that the buoys in the Mersey were not
laid down as far as Garston by the Dock Trust, although
ships using that part of the river paid Liverpool Town-
dues. The learned counsel then quoted the evidence of
the late Captain Eldridge, with a view of showing that
for twenty-eight years Liverpool, for ifs own pecuni try
benefit, had deprived the commerce of the country of one
of the finest harbours in the whole of the kingdom, aid
had subjected the shipping to the dangers of the east side
of the river. He then adverted to the sale of land at Bir-
kenhead, and asked what gentleman in the room would
have accepted a fortune on the terms upon which the
Corporation sold that land, if they knew that in one parlour
they sold the land with power to make docks, in another
they were at the very time engrossing a petition to parlia-
ment against the construction of such docks. After such
a flagrant act of dishonesty, could parliament consent to
repose in such a body a trust of this immense importance'
itSir J. GRAHAM said an hon. member wished to know if
there was any distinct allegation in the petition of the Cor-
poration in reference to the Town Dues ?
Mr. CALvnier believed that there was.
Mr. TURING, at the request of Sir James Graham, read
several passages in which the allegations with respect to
title were contained.
Mr. CALVERT thought he had now fully established
that the Corporation, by meddling with matters which
they would have religiously eschewed i❑ a private capa-
city, had disgraced the body to which they belonged.
Looking at the dealings of the Corporation with Birken-
head since the commencement, seeing that they intro-
duced in 1856 a plan which was abortive and contemp-
tible, and which was rejected by the committee after
hearing a single witness ; that they were bound to com-
merce their works in 1856 and had failed to do so ; that
in 1846 they had purchased the land at Birkenhead in
order to prevent Mr. Telford's plan from being carried
out, and that they kept it in their p issession until the
public indignation became too stroll.' for them, and
obliged them to sell it ; and that when they did sell it
they effected the sale on what amounted to a fraud, which,
in a private capacity, they would never have dreamt of.
Considering all these things, he thought the com-
mittee would experience no difficulty in coming at the
conclusion that from the beginning of their career in
connection with Birkenhead down to the present time, the
conduct of the Corporation had been so discreditable that
they were not entitled to consideration. He was not sur-
prised that his learned friend, Mr. Hope Scott, had passed
lightly over these matters. His learned friend knew how
utterly impossible it was to offer an apology, and that was
the real meaning of the attack which had been
made upon the Board of Trade. If he had
adhered to the evidence, his learned friend knew that
he bad an impossible ease, and that the whole conduct
of Liverpool in dealing with Birkenhead had been
contemptible and abominable. He knew that the com-
mittee moat judge of the future by the past ; he knew how
infamous the conduct of his clients had been, and he
knew that the transactions were such that no person in
, r. private capacity would have consented to take part in
I them. There bad been plenty of talent and genius

at Birkenhead, but Liverpool had prevented its develop-
ment. If Mr. Rendel were present he could tell the
committee how be had been thwarted and opposed
from year:to year by Liverpool simply to conciliate the
abominable selfishness of the Corporation of that town,
but most unhappily for the country and for Birkenhe,arl
and its neigboarhood. Mr. Rendel was no more. He
trusted that the efforts which Mr. Reudel had made
would not be forgotten, and that the decision ofa commi tee
would not put the regulations of the Mersey iu the hands
of men who had shown that though they were honest and
honourable tnen in a private capacity, in a public capacity
the temptation of keeping down Birkenhead by any means
whatever was too strong to withstand. Nature had done
much for Birkenhead, and it was the duty of the committee
to step in and prevent Ihe ambition of Liverpool fro -n de-
stroying the Mersey. To do this they must create a body
without the old associations and prejucEcts of Liverp m', an 1
then there would be some prospect that the Mersey would
give to the country the great benefit which it was calcu-
lated to confer, that a fair an I equitable adjustment of
the differences on both sides of the river would be
arrived at, and that the natural advantages of the
port would not be crippled and destroyel for the mere
purpose of favouring the anxiety for accumulating
wealth and importance, which evidently actuated some
of the best men of the Corporation of Liverpo
As regarded the Town-dues, if they were going into
a court of equity to obtain a trust for the benefit of
shipping, the short answer was the Municipal Corp--
rations Act of 1835. But fortunately they were before
exactly the sort of tribunal which could correct the legis-
lative mistake, which he should satisfy the committee had
been committed. In 1692 there were proceedings in the
case of Lancaster by the Liverpool Corporation. and the
6th interrogatory of the plaintiff went to show that there
was an obligation connected with the dues, and tha, that
obligation was to do exactly that which had reference to
1692 corresponded with the keeping of docks. And it was
a common law principle that if tolls or dues were paid,
there was an equivalent given; and when, in the reign of
Anne, dock dues were authorised, the Corporation had
lost sight altogether of the fact that before levying such
dues they ought to have expende 1 the Town-dues.
The CHAIRMAN called the counsel's attention to the fact
that the Town-dues had been the subject of marriage
settlements in the Molyneux family.
Mr. CALVERT did not know the tenor of the marriage
settlements, but it was clear that in every instance the
estate was conveyed for better or for worse, subject to
reductions ; and he contended that only so much of the
dues were the subject of the marriage settlement as were
surplus over and above the amount required to meet and
fulfil the requirements of the port. The property was
subject to an obligation; it was converted into a trust,
but that was a wrong trust. It was a legislative enact.
-meut—the trust should have been one for the benefit of
shipping, not for the benefit of the municipality. The
mistake would properly be corrected by the proceedings
before the committee, and he did say it was high time
that it should be corrected.
The CHAIRMAN : Permit me to ask, is there any statu-
table recognition of the Town-dues, qua Town-dues, other
than the 92nd section of the Municipal Reform Act ?
Mr. CALVERT : I know of none.
Mr. MEREWETHER: By statute, none, with the exception
of saving clauses.
The CHAIRMAN Then the only statutable recognition
is the 92nd secti ,n of the Reform Act.
Mr. MEREWLTHER: Permit me, the anchorage dues—
The CHAIRMAN : Order, I have got my answer.
Mr. CALVERT proceeded to point out the necessity for
immediate legislation on this question, quoting in sup-
port of that view, the report of the Shipping Dues Com:
missioners. He then charged the Dock Trust with neg-
lecting to call evidence before the committee, because
they were afraid of the damning disclosures that would
be wrung from them. As to the pilot question he did
not think it necessary to occupy the time of the com-
mittee, for the bill did not affect the pecuniary position
of that body of men. He very briefly referred to
the question of taxation and represention, and urged
that the local prejudices of the people were so
great it was absolutely necessary to find a cons'ituency
elsewhere ; and who, he asked, would be so eligible as
the Leeds or Manchester manufacturer, whose real and
true interest it was to have the port fully developed.
The learned gentleman then concluded by remarking,
that if Liverpool wished her conduct to be esteemed,
she must emancipate herself from the tics whic'i now
bound her down, and consent to give no further oppo-
sition to a proper scheme for the conservancy of the
river. His learned friend, Mr. Hope Scott, said that
Manchester loved not Liverpool, but what ground had
his learned friend for the assertion. If Manchester was
prosperous, so Liverpool must be similarly prosperous.
If Manchester required the raw material she found it
in the ships of Liverpool, and, on the other 'hand, if
Liverpool required goods for exportation she obtained
them from Manchester. In point of fact, Manchester and
Liverpool were twin towns, twin in their advancement
and in their misfortunes, and so far from their being any
hostility on the part of Manchester against Liverpool, the
committee had seen the anxiety with which Manchester
had endeavoured to avoid collision, in the hope that they
might bring the Corporation of Liverpool to reason. The
learned counsel thanked the committee for the attention
with which they had heard him, and, at the close of his
address,
SIR JAMES GRAHAM, at half-past two o'clock, directed
the committee room to be cleared.
After the committee had deliberated with closed doors,
the parties were re-admitted, and,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said the committee had given the
most patient, the most anxious, and the most dispas-
sionate consideration to this great case. They felt them-
selves greatly relieved with regard to the principle
which it involved in conseqnence of the House having
virtually affirmed the principle by not objecting to the
second reading of the bill. The principles of the bill
were shortly stated in the last clause o: the preamble,
namely—that " it is expedient that the management of
the docks of Liverpool and Birkenhead should he vested
in an independent public body, elected by the persons who
pay the rates, and that all rates and dues levied on
shipping shall be applied for the benefit of the shipping
that frequents the port." The committee had come to
the decision that the preamble was proved, subject to
certain amendments, a copy of which would be submitted
to council on either side.
The committee then adjourned until Monday at twelve
o'clock.

PONTEFRACT ELECTION COMMITTEE.

By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIOAY, JUNE 26 cig
Tue committee met this morning. Mr. Headman in the
chair.
Mr. Oliveira was examined as to alleged payments for a
corrupt purpose made by his agents with his knowledge.
A. lengthened argument took place between the counsel
of both sides, which was of a purely technical character.

ROCHDALE ELECTION CO3ISIITTEE.

By British. and Irish Magnetic Telegraph•

HOUSE OF COMMONS FRIDAY, JUNE 26,

The evidence was proceeded with in respect to the
allegations in the petition of bribery by the agents of the
sitting members.

CAMBRIDGE ELECTION PETITION.

By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, JUNE 26.
Mr. Power resumed and concluded his address on beh&
of the petitioner, Mr. R A. Shafto Adair.

WAREHAM ELECTION PETITION.

By British and Irish Magnetic telegraph.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, JUNE 26.
This committe met this morning in Room No. 18, Mr.
J. Milnes Gaskell in the chair.
Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., Mr. Phinn, Q C., and Mr.
Welsby, appeared for the sitting member; and Mr. Mon-
tague Smith and Mr. Clarke for the petitioners.
The evidence was purely of a local character, as to
boundaries of certain property giving a qualification to a
voter.

MARLBOROUGH ELECTION PETITION.

By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, JUNE 26.
The committee met in Room No. 11, Mr. Monckton
Mines in the chair.
Mr. Edwin James, Q C , Mr. Pickering, Q C., and Mr.
Forsyth, appeared for the sitting member; and Mr. Ed•
ward James for Mr. Bingham Baring.
The inquiry was confined to the examination of wit-
nesses as to property qualification.

MAYO ELECTION COMMETTEE.

By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph..

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FainAT, JUNE 26,

Mr. PRENDERGAST, a retired solicitor, was examined.
He corroborated the evidence given yesterday by Mr.
Routledge, respecting the mob, headed by the Rev. Peter
Conway, attacking Colonel Higgins's voters. The mob
acted under Conway's directions, who spoke to them in
Irish, saying, "WI the curse of GA, and the curse of
the flock, fall upon any one who votes for
Higgins." The witness gave the expressima verba in Irish,
which created 9921 e arctlieement, This language Conway

repeated several times with great solemnity. Joseph
Burke (son of a c.)unty magistrate) was the next witness..
When the voters reached Ballinrobe he saw Peter Con way,
the priest, who spoke to the men, and in a m 'went
Col. Higgin,'s voters were assaulted with stones. Witness
drew a pistol from hls bag and presented it at the priest.
who had a stone in his hand. His reverence then disappeared.
Mr. James French, of Tuani, a landed proprlet,r, gave
evidence respecting the denunciation of Conway at chapel.
He sa.d that " the curse of God would rest upon every man
who voted for Higgins." The last two witxt ,s,cs, in cross-
examination, said they were not, aware of their oxn know-
ledge of any e'ectors hiving been prevente 1 fraiu voting
by reason of violence on intimidation.

CORONER'S INQuESTs.—Yesterday the Coroner' held the
inquests:-Oa the body of Arthur Treviit, ten
ye Irs of age, who was accidentally drowned in a mill-pond
in Rilkoer-street. Verdict accordingly. On, the body of a
child named Conan, aged six years, that was accidentally
smtherrd in a ditch i r Kensington. Vrrdiet accordingly.
Toe Warrington Guardian gives a long aceourit of a
trip from Warrington to Lon fon by the Rev. W Q iekett
and 414 of his parishioners. They were in London fir part
of three days ; saw the chief sights, and returned wit hone a
single mis:i .p. Tae rev. gentleman is the one described a
few years ago as the " Model Carate," in Dickens' House-
hold Words. He was then curate of Christ Church, St.
George's-in-the-fields, London.
RECREATION FOR THE WORXING CLASSES.—Tt will be
pereAved by our advertising columns that a meeting is to
be held to c irry out the above project. Most sincerely do
we wish them God speed. Public amusements- for the
pe iple are much wanted, and though the committee may
meet difficulties is the outset, they will have alt right-
minded men with them, and, no doubt, ultimate success
will crown their darts.
BIRKENHEAD MODEL YACHT CLI7II-.SECOND SKIVING
MATCH OF THE SEASON.—These matches will come oathis
day (Saturday) 27th instant, on which occasion one
of the Woodside Ferry steamers will accomp-iny the
yachts sailing in the matches. The steamer will leave
the Landing-stage, Prince's Pier, at one o'clock, p.m.,
and the Woodside Pier at half-past one. The starting-
print will be north of the Woodside Pier, and the prome-
nade at Woodside Ferry presents one of the best views on
the river for seeing the start, race, and final close of the
same.

MERSEY LINE Or AUSTRA,LIAN PACKETS —The John Line,
of which we have already spoken, belonging to the
" Mersey Line" of Australian packets (Mr. E. Thompson's),
sailed yesteriay. according to the usu )1 punctuality of the
house, with 350 passengers, and a varied ant valuable
cargo of over 1,500 tons, for Melbourne. She was com-
plete in all her departments, and the arrangements gave
general satisfaction to every one on boord. The captain
of this fine ship (Mr. Ray), from his long experience i❑ the
trade, and the high testimonials that he possesses, is a great
favourite ; and from the ship and her urbane commander
a speedy voyage, with the utmost kindness, may Ite ex-
p zoted.
STEAM TO CANADA.—It is stated on good authority that

the Canadian G ivernment has finally entered into an
arrangement with the proprietors of the Montreal ()bean
line of st,Fam-ship, by which they will run every week to
and from Liverpool, ard Quebec or Montreal, in the
summer, and every fortnight to Portland is the winter
season. The subsidy granted by the Canadian Legisla-
ture was £50,000 a year, and we conclude that the
company will at once take means to obtain the additional
vessels necessary to carry out their contract,. which we feel
confident. they will do in the same efficient manner that
has already made their line so popular, and brought so
much credit upon the enterprise of the provincial mer-
cantile community.--Canadian News.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—(One Shilling Day.)—Thurslay,
June 25, 1857.—Admissions oo payment, 6,013; claw, by
seLls-ri tickets,4Bo ; total visitors, 6,493. . .

Despatches from Vera Cruz, dated May 21, state
that the country is arous,:d by tha Spanish invasion,
and extens've prep irations are making to repel the
enemy's force. 25,000 men are organised to meet the
invaders. _

THE FRENCH IN ALGERIA.—A letter from Algiers of the
.sth inst. announces that the Russian Admiril Thlirens.

who anchored in that port in the frigate Vih)rg, has been
invited by Marshal Randon to visit him at his camp at

Souk-al-Arba.

SUDIUMARY PROCEEDINGS BEFORE 3.IAGISTR ATES.—There
is a bill before Parliament, brought forward by the Gtvern-

merit (printed on Thursday), to enable parties to obtain the
opinion of a Superior Court on questions of law, without
appealing to the sessions.

RETURN HOME OP THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE.-

Tne Grand D Constantine reached St. Petersburg on
the 15th, on his return from 11s tour in Western Europe.
He will assume the direction of the government during the
approachinz absence from the capital of the Emperor
Alexander. _ _

ANOTIIER4 PLOT AGAINST THE FRENCH EMPEROR.—It is
rumoured in Paris that, in con,equenee of the discovery

of a plot connected, more or fess, with the present
election movement, four Italians have been arrested. The
plot is slid to Le of a most serious nature. Papers and
fire-arms have been found on the prisoners.

THZ ORIENTAL CHURCH.-Out Of the 10,000..000 Chris-
tians of the Oriental Church in European Turkey, it is
computed that only 1,00!),000 are Greeks ; of the rest,
4,000,000 are Routnans, in Moldavia and allachia, less
than 1,000,000 Armenians, and all the rest are either
Slaves by race, or have become Slavonians in the course of
time. In this number the Bulgarians are rather more than
3,000,000,
PROJECTED MERTING OF THE SOVEREIGNF*, OF AUSTRIA
AND PEADVIA.—" We learn that the Emperor Francis
Joseph," says a letter from Vienna, in the German
Journal of Frankfort, " proceed to Toplifz at the
commencement of July, to visit the King of Prussit, with
whom be will remain two or three days. Count de Blot
and d. de Manteuffel will accompany their sovereig, and
important political questions will in all probablity-oe dis-
cussed."

A KING AMONG SCHOLARS.-The Academia della Crusca,
Florence, held au extraordinary sitting on the 14th, to
celebrate the arrival of its correspondent, the Kiel!, of
Saxony. His Majesty honoured the sitting with his
presence, in company with the Grand Duke and the here-
ditary rince of Tuscany. The President, in an appro-
priate address, did justice to the King's metrical transl it ion
of Dante, and to the Grand Duke for his splendid edition
of the poems of Cosmo the Magnificent, and the arranging
of the works of the great Galileo.
DER.kRTURE OF THE CONNAUGHT RINGERS FOR INDIA.
—The '•'8t1; Regiment left Aldershott on Thursday
f)r Portsmouth, to await transports to convey them to
Calcutta. They will embark about the Bth July, and
evious to their embarkation will be presented with new
colours.. The old colours, which accomp viied the regi-
ment throughout the Crimea, are to be placed in Galway
Church, so that the principal town of Connaught
may contain a memorial of the achievements of the
famous regiment whose gallant career forms one of the
proudest associations of the province with which it is
Pentified.
THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE KING OF NAPLES.

The report that an attempt hatl been made by a collier on
the life of the King of N Ties is not generally credited.
A Naples correspondent gives the following as what he
believes to be the true version of the stor ;—" About
560 soldiers have been congediali at Gaeta. According to
the usual practice these should have received fifteen days'
pay above what was due to them ; but it was withhe'd by
their superior. Irritated, they waited for his Majesty,
whom they surrounded, and to whom they presented their
complaints. The King ordered them, to retire, and pro-
mised redress, but immediately after they were put under
arrest ; not, however, until the police had been well pelted
with stones, and the military called in."
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION.—The London correspon-
dent of the Mail says—The sucass and permanence of the
principle of competitive open. examination, as applied to
the scientific branch of the military service, has been
placed beyond all doubt by the examination which com-
menced on the 20th instant, at Burlington House. At this
examination 120 candidates have presented themselves
from all parts of the United Kingdom; and, as there are
only thirty cadetships to be divided amongst them, the
competition will be very severe, and none admittedto the
Royal Artillery and Engineers but those endowed by Pro-
vidence with talents of a high order. It is understood that
twenty-four of the candidates, or one-fifth of the whole,
were educated in Trinity College, Dublin.
SUICIDE OF AN, ITALIAN iN YORK.—On Monday last, an
inquest was held at the York Union Workhouse, before
J. Weod, Esq., on view of the body of an Italian, who
came to York as a nrivate in the Anglo-Italian Legion. A
few months ago, the deceased, who was twenty-three years
of age, attempted to destroy himself by opening a vein in
his left arm, after which he was removed to the workhouse,
where he has remained till the present occasion, ap-
parently labouring under great depression of mind arising,
it is supposed, from his absence from his native country
and friends. On Sunday night, he appears to have arisen,
and having dressed himself with great care proceeded to
the wasbhouse, where he hanged himself with a clothes
line, which be had previously soaped in order that the
noose might slip with greater celerity. The rope he had
secured to a beam, and in this position he was ft:.lnd in
the morning. 110 had left a letter behind him iu Italian,
to the effect that he, wretched as he was, had done this of
his own free will, and by his prayers, with the permission
of Jesus Christ, who before had prevented him from carry-
ing out his suicidal intentions. The jury returned a verdict
that the deceased had banged himself, being at the timei
an unsonq ;}ate of mind,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--YZSTEB.DAY.

LIVERPOOL
BEFORE MR. DIA.NSFIELD.

SERIOIIS ABSAIILT.—Anne Murray, the wife of a sailor,
was elarged with having vielen,ly assaulted a Mrs. Anne
Cooper, by striking her a violent blow on the head with a
tin-can. The piriies resided in the same house, in
Bevington-place. The comp' inant's husband is a
pensioner, and Thursday being a festival day amongst the
pensioners. they all got beery," and, when under the
" info nce" of the aforesaid beer, a row was created,
when the assault was committed, the wound being of rather
a serious description. The prisoner was remanded for a
week.

AN AFFECTIONATE MOTEIER.—A woman, named Sarah
Neville, who resides in Clement-street, was charged with
having beaten her child most brutally. Ihe prisoner was
drunk, and whilst in that state she b=at the child most
unmercifully, for which she was sent to gaol for a month.
Atonic DRlNK.—Margaret Moss, the wife of a beer-
house keener, in Slate-street, was charged with annoying
him, and' for being drunk and disorderly. Mr. Dodd
appeared for complainant, and de'ailed a sad history of the
prisoner's proceedings for the last five years, which arose
from her incorrigible drunken habits. He was obliged to
lock her up for being drunk and disorderly. She was fined
Ss, and his worship advised her husband to allow her
something weekly, and if she annoyed him then, he would
inflict a heavy penalty on her.
►SHOT ROBBERY.—John Sullivan, and Margaret Cross,
were brought up by officer Lees, charged on suspicion of
being concerned in a rohbrry that took place on T:tessday
night, in the shop of Mr. Brown, watchmaker, Renshaw-
street. Mr. Block was for the prisoner Sullivan. It
appeared that about nice o'clock on Tuesday evening, some
one entered the shop, and stole a gold and silver watch and
chain. A sort of Mr. Brown's proved that he saw the
mate prisoner leaving the :=hop, and on 10-iking inside, dis-
covered that the watches were gone. The value of the
watches was £lB. Tne male prisoner was sent for trial,
and the girl was discharged, as the evidence was not
sufficient to c invict her

THE FINE ARTS.—.lfargaret Fisher, was charged by
Mary Tinzirti, a broker, living in Mann-street. The
prisoner was in the habit of calling at complainant's
shop, and fur several months' past, the latter
missed a great variety of articles, such as pots,
pans, kettles, tea thing, and the like, and the last things
the took were two pictures—the death of " Toro Moody,"
and another "work of art" in the shape of a likeness of a
mother and her sin. A large glantity of article•s belong-
ing to complainant were found in the prisoner's place.
Mr. Cobb was for the prisoner, and cross-examined the
prosecutrix at great length, and contended that his client
had purchased the goods. The prisoner was discharged.
A BILLIARD " PLAYER "—A young man, named W.
H. James, was remanded on a charge of having stolen
some billiard balls from several billiardroorns in town,
Manchester, and Burr. The prisoner was dressed as one
of the confraternity known as " fast young men."
In re 'sat ERW4OD.—Ia this case, the details of which have
appeared in oar paper on two or three occasions, Mr.
M'Donnell. barrister, appeared for the prisoner, and asked
for a postponement, on the ground of the absence of a
material witness. After some discussion, it was agreed to
adjourn the further hearing of the case to Monday. The
goods seized by the police, in th s meantime, to be given up
to Messrs. Isherwood and Clegg.

LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY C OURT.-Yz STERDAY.