The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-29 00:00:00

THE NIGHTINGALE FUND.

A public meeting was held this afternoon at Willis's
Rooms, St. James's, to give expression to a general
ft eling that the services of Miss Nightingale, in the hos-
pitals of the East, demand the grateful recognition of the
British people.
There was a very large attendance of the nobility and
gentry, and the proceedings altogether appeared to ex-
c'te the greatest interest. Shortly after two o'clock
the chair was taken by his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge

His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in opening the proceedings,
stated the object for which they had assembled, and then
in glowing language eulogised the invaluable exertions of
Mi-s Nightingale.
The following resolutions were agreed to unani-
mously :-
1. That the noble exertions of Miss Nightingale and her
associates in the hospitals of the East, and the invaluable
services rendered by them to the sick and wounded of the
British forces, demands the grateful recognition of the
British people.
2. That it is desirable to perpetuate the memory of Miss
Nightingale's signal devotion, and to record the gratitude
of the nation, by a testimonial of a substantial character,
and that, as she has expressed her unwillingness to accept
any tribute designed for her own personal advantage, funds
be raised to enable her to establish an Institution for the
training, sus:;enoce, and protection of nurses and hospi--
tal attendants.

3. That to accomplish this object on a scale worthy of
the nation, and honourable to Miss Nightingale, all classes
be invited to contribute.
4. That the sums so collected be vested in trustees, and
applied for the purpose expressed in the second resolution,
in such manner, and under such regulations, as Miss
Nightingale shall from time to time approve ; the sub-
scribers having entire confidence in her experience, energy,
and judgment.
5. That with a view to secure, under all circumstances,
the appropriation of the funds raised, to the purpose ex-
pressed in the second Resolution, Miss Nightingale be re-
quested to name a Council (selected from the Committee)
to co-operate with her ; and who may represent her until
her return to this country ; or in the event of any suspen-
sion of her labours.

6. That a committee be formed to carry into effect these
resolutions ; and that the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and
Mr. S. C. Hall be requested to act as honorary secretaries.

AUSTRALIA-

MELBOURNE, AUG. 29.
The following is the intelligence brought by the
White Star and the Kent :

The Donald M'Kay came into the bay on Sunday the
26th, making rather a long passage of 82 days. She
only adds some intervening details to the later news
which we had previously received ley a vessel from the
.Cape and by another vessel from the Mauritius, bring-
ing the news up to the taking of Kertch, the operationi
in the Sea of Azoff, and the taking of the Mamelon,
which we hope may be confirmed by the White Star
liner of the 20th of June, now daily expected.
There has been a tolerable demand for gold for ship-
ment by the White Star, the price remaining at 31. 16s.
6d. with exchange at par, freight at 4d., and insurance
21 per cent. as before. The quantity of gold cleared at
the Custom-house up to yesterday to the White Star
was 27,793 ounces.
The escorts of last week brought down 43,554 ounces,
making the total this year per escort up to the 24th
inst. 1,275,589 ounces. The shipments are as follows :
Previously reported 1,504,074
Per Tornado to Calcutta 5,419
Per Telegraph to Sydney 4,081
Per Oliver Lang to Liverpool 71,802
Per Bombay to Hong Kong 250

Total 1,585,62t3
Our last week's arrivals were 1,114
Departures 317

797
Addition upon the whole year to the 25th of August,
40,172.
There is a good deal of complaint of want of employ-
ment, but I think less than a month or six weeks since.
At a public meeting held at Prahren last Friday, one
of the members for the county in the chair, it was pro-
posed to memorialise Sir Charles Hotham not to send
home the "appropriate moiety" of the land fund to im-
port more labourers at the present moment, but to
expend it in recommencing the public affairs.
Flour and grain do not give way in price. The various
mills range from 371. to 421., and for seconds 351. to
401. Chilian is 361. Wheat ranges from 15s. to 17s.
per bushel.
The Donald Bl'liay brings news to the effect that
there is a decided renewal of shipmehts to Australia.
Some of our commercial men fear that the shipments
are likely to be to too great an extent. Ido not think
it very likely that such will be the case, because our
prices (except in a few articles) have not risen to an ex-
tent to excite undue speculation. Stocks of piece goods
or "soft goods," as they are called here, are still ►ieavy.
Still I think that in moderation this is a good time to
begin, and I reiterate my opinion that we have before
us a period of prosperous trade.
The Select Committee of the Legislature of Tasmania
is proceeding firmly and consistently with its investiga-
tions into the abuses of the convict department, so far as
the property and interests of the colony are concerned.
They have addressed Sir Henry Young to permit the
officers of the convict department to be examined, but
Sir Henry's answer has not reached us here. I hope
his answer will be favourable ; if otherwise there will be
some very irritating discussions. As I mentioned in
my last, it is very likely to grow into a privilege ques-
tion, the interests of which will extend to the other
colonies, and may even be deemed worthy of attention
at home.

Our Legislature stands prorogued from the 4th Sept.
to Oct. 2, but not for the despatch of business. It is
thought that it will be further prorogued for about a
month or six weeks.

There is a vacancy in the Council for North Bourke,
the county in which Melbourne stands.
MELBOURNE, SEPT. 12.
The Ben Nevis, with the mail of the 20th of June,
has not yet made her appearance. This is her 84th day
out. The Champion of the Seas, the ship of the sth of
July, is considered due, her passage having extended to
69 days.

The reports from the several gold fields as to the suc-
cessful results of quartz-crushing are fully borne out by
the arrivals of the weekly escorts. At the beginning of
last week a gentleman interested in a quartz-crushing
machine at the new diggings of Mount Blackwood
brought down a specimen, the result of one day's work
by a machine lately set up there. It was a lump of
amalgam, weighing 115 ounces, and was purchased by
a gold broker of Melbourne at 74g. per ounce, being
Hotel bears a charmed life ; it was licked by the flames-
but, having only one window on the side nearest the con
flagration, the engines kept it from igniting. The value
of property destroyed is estimated at about 20,0001., of
which nut more than 6,0001. or 7,0001. is covered by
insurance.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

MELBOURNE WHOLESALE PRICES CURRENT.

A rgus-office, Saturday evening.
Trade still continues excessively dull ; excepting a
few transactions for the interior the past week has been
one of even fewer transactions than many of its prede-
cessors. Among other causes for this state of things,
the fact that the banks are taking steps to limit their
credits very considerably stands foremost. An impres-
sion is gradually gaining ground that the number of
firms engaged in trade, especially in the retail branches,
must be gre fitly reduced before anything like a return to
a healthy state of things can be expected. In the mean-
time a want of confidence exists, and, except with
houses of known character and credit, there is little dis-
position on the part of the importers to make other than
cash sales. There have not been many additions to our
stocks, but the fair wind towards the close brought up
one or two general cargoes.
Grain—Scotch oats are firmer, and a disposition is
shown to hold out for higher rates Lin the face of large
quantities now over-due at this port, and of the coming
spring, with its promising supply of green stuffs.
Holders are of opinion that at the present rates ruling
in England exportations thence will entirely cease.
Building Materials—A dulness prevails throughout
this trade. Prioes are nominal for slates, and transac
tions in timber have been for small quantities only. •
Groceries—There have been arrivals (of cane.ll34, but
prices have not given way.
Liquors.—A decline of from 9d. to l.s. per gallon has
taken place in brandy, caused by the receipt of large
parcels from Sydney, and by the fear that the ne-
cessities of some houses in that city will induce them to
make further attempts to realise in this market. Other
spirits are unaltered.
Metals.—The iron-market shows no signs of recovery;
sales are still reported ex ship at rates much below our
quotations.
Sundries.—Sales of English coal have taken place on
the wharf as low as 30s. per ton. There is nothing doing
in drugs.
MELBOURNE LABOUR MARKET, Sept. B.—Want of
employment is still the leading feature of this market.
Alth.ugh many engagements of both male and female
servants are daily taking place there appears to be no
diminution of the number of unemployed. The orders
from the gold-fields for female servants aro on the in-
crease, and good servants are freely accepting a slight
increase of wages over the Melbourne rates.
The Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company con-
tractors are offering Bs. per day for good navvies.

The current rates for the week are as follows :-
With Rations.-Married couples, without families,
from 601. to 901. per annum ; ditto, with families, from
50/. to 701.; gardeners, 451. to 551.; grooms, 401. to 501.;
stockkeepers, 45/. to 601. ; hutkeepers, 251. to 351.; ge-
neral farm servants, 20s. to 255. per week ; ploughmen,
20s. to 255. ; bullock drivers, 20s. to 255. ; do, on the
roads, 255. to 30s. Weekly rations consist of 121 b. beef
or mutton, 101 b. of flour, 21b of sugar, ilb. of tea.
Without Rations-Compositors, ls. 6d. and ls. Bd.
per thousand ; do., by the week, 41. 45. ; pressmen, 51,;
carpenters, Bs. to 12s. per day ; masons, Bs. to 12s. do.;
plasterers 7s. to 11s. do. ; bricklayers, 7s. to lls. do. ;
blacksmiths, 9s. to 12s. do. ; quarrymen, 108. to 12s.
do. ; wood-splitters and fencers, 6s. to Bs. per ton ;
labourers on the roads, 9s. to 10s. per day. Wood,
water, and tents found.
per annum ; female do., 251.
Male cooks, 401. to 50/.
to 301. ; thorough servants, 22/. to 271. ; housemaids,
171. to 221. ; laundresses, 25/. to 351. ; nursemaids, 101.
t) 151.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

QUEEN'S BENCH.
(Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.)
DEPOSIT AND GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY V.

AT RE, JUN.

This was an action brought by the above company to
recover of the defendant, a solicitor, carrying on business
at Bristol, the sum of 2001., and interest for desposit
call, and interest on 200 shares in the above cornFany.
The defendant, amongst other pleas, pleaded fraud on
the part of the company.
Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Baddely were for the
plaintiff, and Mr. M. Smith, Q.C., and Mr. Phipson for
the defendant.
Mr. Sergeant Shee, in stating the case to the jury,
said this company was completely registered under the
provisions of the act, in 1352, and the action was
brought to recover 2001., with interest thereon, in re-
spect of shares in this company, apl,li3d for by the defen-
dant, and allotted to Lim by the company in April, 1854.
In consequence of that allotment the defendant became
liable for 10s. deposit on each share, but which had
never been paid. In July, 1354, he wrote to the secre-
tary of the company, stating it was inconvenient for him
then to take the shares, but he signed the deed of settle-
ment on the 9th of August. In November the direc-
tors made a call of 10s. per share on all shares issued,
but the defendant had refused to pay either the deposit
or call, and the present action was brought to recover
those amounts with interest thereon.

Evidence was then given of the registration of the
deed of settlement, and the defendant's name being re-
gistered on the 9th August, 1855.
Mr. Drylo, the secretary, at Mr. Knox., the ac-
countant, produced the documentary evidence relative
to the application and allotment of the shares, and the
resolution of the directors ordering a call of 108. per
share.

Mr. Smith said the defence to this action was, that the
defendant, on agreeing to take these shares, was de-
ceived in the grossest manner respecting the actual state
of the company by the agents of the company and the
directors. The directors were desirous of obtaining an
office at Bristol, to establish an agency there, and the
defendant having chambers to let, situate in Bridge-
street, Mr. Thomas, the agent, applied to him for them,
and he became the landlord of the company at Bristol.
It would appear that the company was projected in
1851 by a person named Howden, who was thrown out
of the concern, and in 1852 the certificate of complete
registration was obtained. Before that it was repre-
sented there were 5,034 shares subscribed; but, on inves-
tigation, it was found a great number of the persons
named as shareholders were insolvent, and others in-
fants, children of theofficers of the company. The society
commenced business, and at the time when the defendant
was induced to take shares the company was in an in-
solvent state, the receipts of all kinds being insufficient
to meet the expenses. By the powers of the deed, the
original capital was to be 100,0001. in 20,000 shares of
51. each, with permission to increase the capital as re-
quired. Capital being required, the company, in order
to raise it, said it was necessary to create new capital,
in order to increase their loan business ; but so far from
that being the fact, the money was required to clear the
company from its difficulties ; and Mr. Thomas, the
Bristol agent, applied to the defendant to become a
shareholder, representing to him that the company was
a first-rate one, that the directors were men of wealth
and responsibility, and that the shares wore all paid up
in full, and wished him to take 400 shares. He (the
learned couneel) should produce before them in evidence ,
the former manager (Mr. Bevan), now undergoing sen-
tence for embezzlement, who would prove that the
society, at this time, was in a bad state; notwithstand-
ing, he wrote to Mr. Thomas, desiring him to stick to
his friend and get him to take shares, because the com-
pany wanted money, and that if he got him to take
shares he would give him a check for 501., instead of
paying him 201. commission, which would be a very
pretty Christmas-box for him. He begged him not to
fail, and to stick to him. Ultimately the defendant ap-
plied for 200 shares, and after that Bevan went down
to Bristol, saw the defendant, and reiterated to the de-
fendant what Thomas had previously stated with
reference to the flourishing state of the society. The
learned gentleman then referred to a printed report
issued by the company, stating the capital of 100,0001.
to be fully paid up, and that the shares were held by
most respectable persons. He also referred to a
report of a Committee of Directors, drawn up in
' the handwriting of Lord Drumlanrig, appointed to
investigate into the affairs of the company, which
stated the existing difficulties of the company arose
from three causes :—First, that it was a mistake in the
first instance in limiting the subscribed deposit to
10,0001., which ought to have been 20,0001. ; secondly,
that it was unfortunate there was no person in the di-
rectory experienced in the insurance business, and that
consequently the expenditure had been larger in the
management of the concern than it ought to have been.
If 10,000/. were raised, with 2,300 t. money out on loan,
it would clear the company, who owed their hankers
0,5001., and bad other liabilities amounting to 12,0001.,
and that each director should increase hie stake 1,000
shares. The report further alluded to the bankers re-
quiring a material guarantee for the debt owing to them
by the filling up of the share list. The position of the
directors was critical, but by proper management they
might be saved from gettting into a worse position.
After some further remarks on the financial state of the
company, he called

John Ayre, jun., who deposed that he took the
shares, and signed the deed, from the representations of
Mr. Bevan and Mr. Thomas of the flourishing state of
the society and the responsibility of the directors. When
he afterwards found from these persons the true nature
of the society, he repudiated his engagement. He never
had any scrip, nor received any profits. (Laughter.)
Mr. C. W. Bevan, the late manager, deponed that he
was at present undergoing a sentence of 18 months' im-
prisonment, for embezzlement, at the prosecution of the
company. The letter referred to, written to Mr.
Thomas, was in his handwriting. What he told Mr.
Ayre, relative to the stability of the directors and the
flourishing state of the society, was untrue. Many of
them were not first-rate men, nor had they paid up all
on their 500 shares. Many of the persons who
signed the deed were not responsible men. 5,000
shares had been signed for by " stags," on the payment
of 6d. per share. (Laughter.) One of these stags signed
his name twice, once in full, and the other abbreviated.
Some of the-names in the deed were those of persons under
age. There were only from 8,000 to 9,000 shares
paid on at the time to which ho alluded. On one occa-
sion the directors paid back the money paid on 1,000
shares, in consequence of a quarrel between this person,
and Mr. Morgan, and the Board. Mr. Princeps was
stated to be an East India merchant, but he was known
as a "guinea man ;" that was a person who was on boards,
and was paid aguinea forsuch attendance. In April, 1854,
the company owed 15;0001., including money borrowed to
lend again ; the only money available at that time was
5001. cash at their bankers, and the money lent ; there
was no vested property, as stated in one of the financial
statements, and which had been produced. The balance
sheet was made up to meet the public eye. There was,
however, at the time, money in agents' bands. The
report of the committee of directors, in Lord Drumlan-
rig's handwriting, but not signed, witness found after
he left the company, amongst his papers. He did not
purloin it, al had been represented.
Cross-examined—He was tried in July last ; he did
noternbezzlel,B34/.; he was tried for embezzling 38/.; the
directors now believed him innocent. One of the direc-
tors, named Riddle, had informed him that he bad been
outlawed by the Commercal Bank. He did not see
any children sign the deed. He had been visited by the
defendant once in prison and bad also been visited by
the plaintiffs. The defendant had not promised to use
his influence to get him a commutation of sentence, but
Mr. Knox, on the part of the directors, when witness
went to Cheltenham as evidence for them on a trial ,said
the directors would make him a present of borne.
thing handsome if they got a verdict against Mr.
Perks. He had a conversation yesterday with persons
belonging to the company respecting an application for
cammutatton of sentence; he had been told that Mr. Ayre
had promised to use his influence through the member
for Bristol to get a commutation of his sentence, but he
did net believe it, and be told Mr. Knox so at Chelten-
ham.

Lord Campbell—These memorials to members of Par-
liament shock me exceedingly. They are attended with
great mischief.
Mr. Sergeant Shee said he wished there were pains
and penalties attached to them, . and then members of
Parliament would not be so importuned.
Mr. Thomas, the Bristol agent, corroborated the
evidence relative to the representations made to Mr.
Ayre as to the flourishing state of the company. He
wrote in a letter to the company that Mr. Ayre had a
notion he should become a director, and had alluded to
the expenses of the company being great. He suPPosed
his attention must have been called to the expense.
The directory referred to a Bristol board to be estab-
lished.
By Lord Campbell—He believed Bevan
under the authority of the board, notwi was acting
tlinsta T3l,!nterms
strange manner in which he wrote him,usi g
"stick to him," "no humbug," it C.
ceived his 50/. Witness never re-
. _

This was the defendant's case.
[The remainder will be g'en in our last edition.]

CRIMINAL COURt—erhis Day.)

OLD D
Lord C O U
Chiefß T•
Baron.) .
(Before the
CIIARGE Or
R.___ Daniel Lorden, 38, labourer,
was
fobrituhßeDEwilful murder of his wife, Catherine
indicted
Lorden.
The prisoner was also charged with the liKe offence
upon the coroners inquisiticn.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clarke conducted the prosecu-
tion. The
prisoner was defended by Mr. Parry.
It appeare from the opening statement of the learned
counsel for the prosecution that the prisoner had for-
inerly
been a weaver, but had been unable to sup-
port himself by that occupation since Christmas last,
and from that time he had maintained himself
and his family by working as a labourer at the
docks. The prisoner, his wife, a daughter 18 years old,
and two sons, aged respectively 12 and 14 years, occu-
pied a single room in a house in Parliament-court,
near the Artillery-ground, and it appeared they were
in very distressed circumstances and that on the even-
ing of the 17th September a raffle was to take place
at a public-house in the neighbourhood, out of which
the prisoner and his family were to receive
.some
benefit. The prisoner, his wife, his daughter, .
lcin,-,eton,
other of his relations, and a man named Kingston,
b
were at this raffle, and it appeared that . perriesonniZ
was very much intoxicated, and during the
a quarrel took place between him an(01.5
turned out
some of his
wife's relations, and the prisoner w
of the room with considerable violence. The party left

the puhlic•bouse soon after 12 o'clock at night, and it
appeared that Kingst n accompanied the deceased
and her daughter to their hou-e, and they had a pot
of leer at the d-or. At this time the prisoner came
home, and he appeared to be very angry at finding King.
ston with his wife, and he went into hi, own room and
threw a piece of wood out of the window, which struck
Kingston, who challenged the deceased to fight, and he
came down stairs and they had a scuffle together, and
both fell to the ground, The prisoner, after this, went
again into his own house, and it appeared that his con-
duct was so violent that the deceased and his daughter
were afraid to go into their own room, and remained on
the staircase until the morning, when the two eons went
out to their work. The (laughter subsequently went
away, and it appeared that the unhappy deceased
shortly afterwards went into the room where the
prisoner was, and almost immediately afterwards
there were the sounds of a scuffle, and the
deceased was heard several times to shriek out mur•
der. After this had occurred some lodgers in the house
heard the deceased leave her room and go down stairs,
and she was followed by the prisoner, and in a short time
the cries of murder were repeated, and the prisoner was
then heard to leave the house. Very soon after this the
deceased woman was seen in a sitting posture upon the
landing of the staircase, and at first it would seem that
she was thought to be asleep, but it was eventually dis-
covered that she had received a stab or wound in
the throat, and that she was quite dead. It appeared that
immediately after the fatal occurrence had taken place
the prisoner proceeded to the police station and said that
he had come to surrender himself for killing his wife,
and a constable was sent with him to his residence, and
the prisoner then handed to the constable the knife with
which the fatal wound had been inflicted. The prisoner
subsequently made another statement in which he Ad-
mitted that he had stabbed his wife.

The above facts were established by the evidence of
numerous witne3ses, but in the course of the cross-exami-
nation by Mr. Parry it was elicited that the accused
was a woman of most drunken habits, and that she was
in the habit of constantly getting drunk and coming
home late at night, and on these occasions it was her
custom to behave with great violence to the prisoner,
and he bad on several occasions left the house to escape
from her. It also appeared that there was a suspicion
that the deceased was on too intimate terms with
Kingston, and that she had admitted that she had
stayed out all night with him at a coffee shop. It
also appeared that the prisoner was not addicted to
habits of intoxication, but that he was a very hard-
working, industrious man, and that during the time he
was engaged as a weaver he was frequently employed
from 10 in the morning till 12 at night to endeavour to
support his family. It also appeared that upon one oc-
casion during a paroxysm of fury the deceased had bitten
the prisoner on the leg, and he was still suffering from
the injury ho received upon the occasion.
Mr. Parry made an eloquent address to the jury on
behalf of the prisoner, and he urged that although there
was no doubt that the prisoner had caused the death of
his wife, yet that, under the

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—{This Day.)

SOUTHWARK.

SHOP-LITTING.—Mary Brown, a decent-looking fe-
male, far advanced in pregnancy, was brought up charged
with stealing six pieces of silk ribbon from the shop of
Mr. Jones, linendraper, Newington-causeway.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and the
magistrate committed her to the House of Correction
for three months.