The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-06 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

QUEEN'S BENCH.—GUILDHALL.
(Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.)

HENDERSON V. THE AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM

PACKET COMPANY.

In this ease, the particulars of which we gave in our
yesterday's impression, the jury returned a verdict for
the plaintiff for 2,7501.

TOPLIS V. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.- RAILWAY

LIABILITY.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff, residing
at Eastwood, near Nottingham, to recover of the de-
fendants compensation for damages sustained in the
delay in the delivery of a pig.
Mr. Quail appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Knowles,
Q.C., and Mr. Unthank for the defendants.

The learned counsel, in opening the case to the jury,
said it was a rare circumstance for a special jury to be
summoned to do posthumous honours to a pig„and as the
animal had gained some notoriety in his native county,
it was necessary he should give them a succinct
account of his history. The " natives" of Nottingham
having denied. it was possible to feed a pig in
London equal to that in their own locality, the plaintiff,
who has a brother living at Notting-hill, determined to
show them it could be done, and, accordingly, sent the
pig to London for that purpose. The pig, which was not
an ordinary grunter, but a remarkable animal, increased
greatly in size under the judicious management of the
brother until it was necessary it should be slaugtered.
The pig was accordingly slaughtered, packed, and
taken to the Great Western Railway station on
Friday, the 7th April, 1854, for transmission to the
plaintiff, but, instead of arriving at its destination
the following day, as it ought to have done,
it did not arrive until five days after, when
it was in such a putrid and decomposed state that the
plaintiff was obliged to bury it. The pig weighed
31cwt. 3 qrs. 16 lb., which, with the expenses of slaughter-
ing, packing, &c., was valued at about 131.
Evidence was given in support of the plaintiff's ease.
Mr. Knowles contended the defendants were not
liable, but the Midland Railway Company, over which
the pig had to pass from Birmingham, where the delay
occurred. The Great Western Railway Company by
their notice only undertook to convey goods beyond the
limits of the company's local destination on certain con-
ditions, which they published at the back of their re-
ceiving notes, which the consigner signed and left with
the company.
Lord Campbell said the jury would have to decide
whether the defendants received the pig in the capacity
of common carriers, or under the special contract relied,
on by them in their defence. If railway companies re-
ceived goods to be carried to any plac3 mentioned in the
address, and undertook to do so they were liable for
what happened beyond the limits of their line as much
as upon it, without which railway traffic could not be
carried on. He must remark on the impropriety
of the mode adopted by railway companies in
publishing their notices at the back of the
receiving note in type so small as to be scarcely read
without the aid of a magnifying glass. The Legislature
had now properly interfered to put an end to such at-
tempts on the part of railway companies to establish
special contracts with their customers.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the
amount claimed.

MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.)
CORN EXCHANGE.
The present arrivals of English wheat, coast% :se and by
'and carriage, have been very moderate. Fresh up to-
day they were trifling, and the show of samples was small.
However, the demand for most kinds was in a sluggish
state, but we have no change to report in Monday's cur-
rency.
The imports of foreign wheat have been only 3,313
quarters. Good heavy qualities sold in retail quantities
at full quotations. Low parcels were doll, but not cheaper.
Floating cargoes realised former terms.
The show of barley was very small, and a good clearance
was effected, at ext7eme rates.
We had a moderate inquiry for malt at last weak's quo-
tations.
The oat trade was firm, and prime heavy samples were
,he turn higher.
Beans, pens, and flour sold on former terms.
ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English .. 981 1,830 10 1,960
Irish .... I 480
Foreign 3,341 12,300 2,630 sks
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended July 5, 1855, made up from the Returns of the
Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales
per Imperial Quarter.
WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. RYE. ) BEANS. PEAS.
75i lid 34s 31 23s 81 , 45s 6d 46s 61 143 s 8d
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGE.
WHEAT. I BARLEY. I OATS. I RYE. 3 BEANS. 3 PEAS.
76s 113 33s 9d 28s 7d 45s 7d 46s 3d 42s Gd
QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Wheat, 84,791 ; Barley, 8,003 ; Oats, 11,724 ; Bye, 139 ; Beans
2,970; Peas, 294 quarters.

Wheat.
1,350

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
The supply of beasts in to-day's market was but mode-
rate. For all kinds we had a steady demand at an ad-
vance in the quotations obtained on Monday of 2d per Sibs,
and a clearance was easily effectid. The best sorts were
worth fully 4s 10d per Blbs. Sheep—the supply of which
was rather limited for the time of year— were in good re-
quest as respects the best kinds, which advanced 2s per
Slbs. Inferior sheep were dull, but not lower. The
highest figure was 5s per Sibs. We had a good inquiry
for lambs at from 2d to 4d per albs more money than on
Monday. Calves were in large supply and steady request
at full quotations. In pigs very little was doing.
Milch cows moved off steadily at from 141. to 191. each,
including their small calf.