The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY.
Yesterday, at twelve o'clock,, the proceedings were resikmed
in Vice-Chancellor Kindersley's Court, before Master in
Chancery llumphry. The Court was crowded. Mr. O'Con-
nor arrived shortly after twelve, and took his seat under-
neath the bench. -
Mr. Roxburgh, counsel for the official manager, proceeded
to examine Mr. O'Connor with reference to the balance-
sheets and accounts, to which he had directed attention on
the occasion of his previous examination, published in the
Daily News and Nortlaera Star, and which he deposed were
the only versions of the company's financial transactions he
could speak to or attest. These accounts had been obtained
and examined by the official manager, who found that they
only exhibited the expenditure'by Mr. O'Connor on account
of the land company, and not the receipts; and, unless Mr.
O'Connor gave some clearer explanation with reference to
particular pecuniary transactions, he should have to charge
him to account seriatim for the whole 112,000/. that had
been received.

Mr. O'Coanor said that the accounts' rendered by. Mr.
Grey, to, the Committee of the Home of Commons gave all
the particulars. Mr. Hayter was the chairman of that
Committee, and when Mr.' Hayter asked him what he (Mr.
O'Connor) considered an impertinent question, taking hold
of him by the coat collar, he said, " Do you mean to address
me in that way, 3ou ruffian," and so saying knocked him
down on the chair.—(Loud laughter )
The Master (impressively)—Mr. O'Connor, on the occa-
sion of your previoui examination before me as judge of this
Court, I was disposed to listen with that patience and for-
bearance which your position as a witness in this inquiry I
thought entitled you to receive,—
Mr. O'Connor—Humph ! A-hem ! I told you that if
Prince Albert had built these cottages—(Laughter
The Master—Hear me, Mr. O'Connor. If you have any-
thing to say I am willing to hear you, provided you address
yourself to me in terms proper to be addressed to a judge, and
in terms relevant to the subject-matter on which you are
being examined, but I will not allow you to stand up
here and make speeches to an audience just as you may be
capriciously inclined.
Mr. O'Connor—Well, then, your Honour, I will behave
myself.—(Laughter.)
Tbe Master—l cannot, for the purpose of this inquiry, take
the accounts of Mr. Grey to the House of Commons in 1848
as conclusive, more patticularly in pecuniary transactions
that have since occurred.
Mr. O'Connor—Mr. Grey reported that the company owed
me 3,400!. Mr. Finlay son, actuary to the National Debt,
reported that it was more than that after five weeks' inves-
tigation of the accounts, and the subsequent accounts are in
the Daily News and Northern Star.
The Master—You have now heard my determination, and
I trust for your own sake you will not again go on rambling
into unnecessary observations.
Mr. O'Connor—l am not rambling at all, it's that barrister
is rambling.—(Laughter.)
The Master—Have you the banker's book? Mr. O'Con-
nor—No ; they've got them. (Mr. O'Connor here turned
round to the Master and whispered.)
The Master,Speak ont, Mr. O'Connor.
Mr. O'Connor—May I go to the House of Commons?—
(Laughter.) Will you let me go? The Master—No, Mr.
O'Connor, I will not.
Mr. O'Connor—Why not? The Master—Because your
attendance is necessary here.
Mr. O'Connor—l suppose I may state to you what I stated
in the House of Commons ?, The Master—No, Mr. O'Connor,
you must go on with your examination, and reserve that for
another occasion. •
Mr. O'Connor—But you see, your Honour, not a farthing
of the money came through my hands. It was all
.paid into
the bank by those who received it.
Mr. Roxburgh—Does the statement in the Daily News
contain a correct account of all the moneys you received
since October, 1848, on account of the company ? Mr. O'Con-
nor—l dare say it does. (Mr. O'Connor here burst out into
an abrupt and rapid extemporaneous statemeat of what he
had done to Mr, Hayter in the House of Commons, followed
by a running fire of effusions, which it was impossible to
stop, as to what O'Connorville and Snig's End might have
been if Prince Albert had, built them, and concluding with
the dedamations•he indulged in the other day against Lords
and Ladies Nincompoop who spoke disparagingly of his
efforts.)
Mr. Roxburgh—Really, Sir, this is about the sixth time
we have had to suffer this infliction.
The Master (emphatically)—Mr. O'Connor, on a previous
occasion I passed over without notice the, many irregular and
improper observUtions you gave vent to. I did so then be-
cause I thought the state you were in might require indul-
gence at the hands of the Court. lam not, however, of that
opinion now, and I warn you that I will not allow of a repe-
tition of this conduct.— (Sensation.)
Mr. O'Connor—Oh dear, oh dear.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Roxburgh—*-Now, Mr. O'Conner, look at your account
in the Daily News.
Mr. O'Connor here took up the Daily News, and for se-
veral minutes surveyed it through his eye-glass.
Mr. Roxburgh—Do you know a man of the name of
Watkins ?,- Mr. 'O'Connor Oh, you're a funny man.
Mr. Roxburgh—Do you see in that account any sum of 1
2001. received by you from Watkins in respect of purchase-
money for a portion of the Great Dodtbrd Estate, not men-
tioned
by you in the Act of Parliament? Mr. O'Connor—
No (turning to the Master). Your Honour, will you :allow
me to go?—(Laughter.) If it is not in the Daily News it is
published in another way. Look in the Northern Star.
- Mr. O'Connor made similar replies to questions having re-
ference to various other sums received by him for land from
other persons, addisig, "_By my soul, I never raw the man
in my life." •
Mr. Roxburgh—We want to know Mr. O'Connor, where
credit is given to the company for all these sums of money.
Mr. O'Connor—There; you,will see it in the books and in
Mr. Grey's report: I will leave it all in the hands of my
profes&iopal advisers. • They are the most, intellectual men,
and I'd trust them with anything, your Honour.
The Master—lf you took the advice of your professional
advisers, Mr. O'Connor, yon would answer these questions
clearly. I cannot take Mr. Grey's account for the purpose
of this inquiry. I must have yours, and if yon think I have
decided wrong you can appeal to a higher court.
Mr. O'Connor—Really, your Honour, I must go out for a
few minutes. Mr. O'Connor here retired outside the court,
and the Master took the opportunity of retiring into the
robing room. In about three minutes Mr. O'Conner re-
turned and exclaimed, " Where is that juggler? "--(Laugh-
ter) - and shaking his fist in a mock menacing style at the
official manager—" I say, Goodchap, you ought to be called
Badchap.— (Loud laughter.) You know very well you are
employed the Government, and the Government are op-
posed to me —( Laughter.) I tell you, all of you, if Prince
Albert had allotted these lands and built these cottages"—
Mr. Marshall Turner and Mr. Chuvery (Mr. O'Connor's
professional advisers) here rose, and the former said, "Do for
God's sake, O'Connor, for mercy's sake, be quiet. There are
many enemies of yours here."
to me.mßnyilGaoddeutaphe,yhaarveeaylloma ybeenenemies.
Mr. O'Connor-1 know. it, Turner. They are all enemies
over tOhhe d
estates?ear,
Mr. O'Connor—Did you juggle them out of any money?
_(Laughter.) Now then have you done with me? I
GI seaoydchap--I have.
oh dear!mr.
must Igo to the House of Conimons. I have got a motion
there.
Mr. Roxburgh then asked some questions relative to the
Land and Labour Bank. Mr. O'Connor—l protested against
its establishment, but, being
failed for 4,0001. Really
to the majority. Was
anfodr
truly
yveryseal suudfferaegxe,amgianvee
mine
proprietor of the bank which had
roost curiously, upon my soul. I don't know what you
mean or what you say. Will you have a pinch of snuff ?
(Loud laughter.) [Mr. O'Connor here raised a green ban-
dannaansl blew his nose 'violently, replacing it with a violent
fling ad a snorting kind of noise, amid loud laughter, in his
hat.] ' •
The Master--,Me. O'Connor, Mr. O'Connor. Mr. O'Con-
nor (sharply)--Sir
The 'Master—l-warn you, Mr. O'Connor, to conduct your-
self as a 'witness under examination. ought to do. Mr.
O'Connor—l spent 2,0001. in travelling to see all the estates,
and charged the company nothing for it.—(Laughter.`
Heigh° ! The company owes. me 7,5061.
The Master—Will you explain how? Mr. O'Connor-

will explain to your Honour how I have been destroyed—
ruined.—(Laughter.) Men that have been located on four
acres of land each for five years, and who got 50/. head
money and loan money, and as much manure as would fill
this court twice, and lived and cultivated it five years, have
not paid a fraction of rent ; while the men located at Great
Dodford, where there was the best land in the world, and
paid froth 601. to 1001. bonus—there, where originally
they could plough the sod for 400 yards like soap, the
land is now like land in a flower-pot, and all the rent paid.
(Laughter.) The ruffians on the four acres have not paid a
farthing of rent, and one day last summer, when I was
down at O'Connorville, at Rickinansworth, from six o'clock
in the morning to six in the evening, I had to roast a beef-
steak with one of the bricklayers on the tongs for my din-
ner that very day. (The ruffians cultivated the land and
collected heaps of manure, but paid no rent. (Mr.
'O'Connor here sat down, apparently much agitated and
affected.),
The Master--,Mr. O'Connor, we can enter into all that an-
other time.
Mr. O'Connor—Your Honour, it 'makes my blood boil—
(Laughter)—it makes my blood boil when 1 think of the
amount of money I have expended, and the time I have
given, to locate these poor men. God d—n their eyes.—
(Sensation, laud laughter, and confusion, during which Mr.
O'Connor was apparently so much affected as to be obliged
to cover his face in his handkerchief and hands. )
The Master—Mr. O'Connor, I shall be obliged to adjourn
this Court, and report your conduct elsewhere. I have not,
and I regret that I have not, power to commit you as a
witness misconducting himself in a most gross manner
towards a court of justice. Had I the power, I would not
hesitate to exercise it immediately.
Mr. O'Connor—Well, your Honour, I will proceed properly.
The:Masfer—On a repetition of such conduct I shall break
up this Court, and report your conduct, which I feel to be a
disgrace to any English Court of Law.—(Applause from the
audience.) Perhaps that will bring you to a proper behaviour.
Mr. O'Connor—I assure your Honour it makes my blood
boil when I think of it.
The Master—lt -is indispenable to examine you on these
h
matters,
t em
toco
an 3,
ascertain, or
froni y
whethero thereu to i.
tis a balance due to you
from
Mr. O'Connor (turning familiarly to the Master, and in an
undertone)—l say—
The Master—l can hear nothing, Mr. O'Connor, privately.
Mr. O'Connor—l've got the spasms.—(Loud laughter.)
Will you let me go? I've got the spasms.
The Master—You can retire into my room.
Mr. O'Connor (painfully)—Let me go entirely. I've got
the spasms.
Mr. Chuvery—l know Mr. O'Connor is in bad health.
Mr. O'Connor (putting his hat on)—I have not eaten a bit
nor slept a wink these last thirteen days, and unfortunately
now I've got the spasms.
The Master (gravely)—Yon state that upon your oath?
Mr. O'Connor—Upon my oath. Let me go.
The Master—Will you be here to-morrow, at twelve? Mr.
O'Connor (in trepidation)—l will. Let me go. I'm very
bad. Oh dear, oh dear !
Mr 4 O'Connor then made his way through the crowd in
courti; got into a cab in the court-yard, and was understood to
tell the. driver to take him to the House of Commons.
After some further proceedings, the Court adjourned at four
o'clock.

SEIZIIEES BT THE COAST-GUARD.—It appears
from a Parliamentary document yesterday printed by order
of the HoUse of Commons, that in the year 1850 the
seizures of brandy by the coast-guard and revenue cruisers
numbered 5,129 13-32 gallons; of whisky, 119 23.32; of
Geneva, 446 31-32 ; of rum, 5 2-32 ; and of wine, 378 12-32 ;
pf tea, 301 b. 12oz. ; of tobacco, 40,1701 b. 130 z.; of cigars,
4511 b. 10oz. ; of snuff, 891 b.; and of soap, 2431 b. The con-
veyance was made in 35 vessels, 57 boats, and one horse
and cart. The smugglers numbered 218 men, nine women,
and six boys.
!..t A GREENHORN INDEED !—SOIDO singular remarks
are attributed to a member of the Canadian Assembly, by
the Halifax Weekly Sun, in the report of a late debate. The
orator commenced by saying that he I,oped the reporters
would correct any blunders, as he was a new speaker, and
continued :—" There are some parts of the country where the
people not only know nothing about railways, but hardly
kno\s, what a nawspaper is. lam a greenhorn at it myself."

NATIONAL DEFENCES..

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Under ordinary circumstances I should, with
all due deference, have adressed myself to his Grace the
Commander-in Chief, on the subject of the following
observations, but the manner in which his Grace's letter
to Sir John Burgoyne was received by the public, and
treated by the Administration, precludes me from the
course; inasmuch as it is highly improbable that the
Duke of Wellington will again take the initiative in re-
commending measures of defence, except indeed such
as are immediately connected with the department over
which his Grace presides.
I turn, therefore, to the public Press, which has al-
ready published many highly interesting nasal and
military discussions, trusting that I shall not be denied
an opportunity of laying my views before my country-
men, and in the hope of at once awakening the atten-
tion of all who are qualified for " the consideration of
such questions," and of impressing upon the minds of
those who are bound to provide for the safety of the
realm the necessity of acting promptly.
The general who vanquished the hest disciplined
armies iu Europe, in many of the most memorable cam-
paigns on record,_ can afford to laugh at being called an
alarmist. But, Sir, those warnings were not uttered
from a feeling of alarm; they were put forth in the
calm and deliberate conviction of the moment, that his
Sovereign and his country were heedlessly exposed to
insult and danger. That warning may
but it has never been qualified; neithernot be repeated,
have the Duke's
sentiments undergone any change.
There is yet time, and let us hasten, with unremitting
diligence, to follow the counsel which his Grace's
loyalty and patriotism urged him to give, and which,
had the spirit of wisdom been in us, would have been
then adopted.
The number of men for the due security of the king-
dom, the proportions of each force, and improvements
in their arms and accoutrements, are all questions of
momentous import, and will doubtless receive mature
and timely consideration, now that so many able minds
aro directed to the serious points at issue; and upon
neither of those do I presume to offer any suggestion.
It is with the vulnerable portions of our Southern
coasts, and upon the dispositions of the forces for their
defence, that my mind has been long engaged; and a
paramount sense of duty to his Sovereign and to his
country, by a soldier who has numbered nearly fifty
years in the service of the Crown, is both my motive
and apology for this address. I will now proceed to
submit the opinions which a careful consideration of the
subject has forced upon me.
Allow me, in the first place, to quote two passages
from the Duke of Wellington's monitory letter. Speak-
ing of steam-power, his Grace says—
" This discovery immediately exposed all parts of the
coasts of these islands, which a vessel could approach at
all, to be approached at all times of the tide, and in all
seasons, by vessels so propelled, from all quarters. We
are in fact assailable."
" I am accustomed to the consideration of these
questions, and have examined and reconnoitred, over
and over again, the whole coast from the North Fore-
land, by Dover, Folkestone, Beachy Head, Brighton,
Arundel, to Selsey Bill, near Portsmouth; and I say,
that, excepting immediately under the fire of Dover
Castle, there is not a spot on the coast on which infantry
might not be thrown on shore, at any time of the tide,
with any wind, and in any weather; and from which
such a body of infantry, ao thrown on shore, would not
find, within the distance of five miles, a road into the
interior of the country, through„the cliffs, practicable for
the march of a body of troops.
His Grace's wonted intuition has in an instant marked
the limits within which we are most assailable; and
while I entirely concur in the policy of making the
strong places, that is strong by comparison, stronger,
yet it is to the weak ones alluded to in the extract last
quoted that lam anxious to direct attention. By all
means let the defences of Sheerness, Dover, Portsmouth,
and Plymouth more particularly, be carefully examined,
and augmented where expedient; but it is not by ap-
proaching fortified towns that wo shall be attacked.
No; an active and enterprising enemy will seek to throw
his troops on our shores precisely where they are easiest
of access, most devoid of protection, nearest to his own
ports, and least distant from our metropolis. To war-
rant a reasonable expectation of success, and without
such an expectation the attempt would be madness,
these conditions seem indispensable. That a combination
of them all is to be found on our South-Eastern coast is
but too apparent to those " accustomed to the considera-
tion of such questions;" neither is it at all difficult for a
military eye to indicate still more precisely than his
Grace has done the points which would probably bo se-
lected for debarkation. Having an intimate knowledge
of the whole line of coast between the North Foreland
and Portsmouth, I do not hesitate plainly to state that
within a few miles of each side of Beachy Head these
points, uniting all the premises, are to be found.
Many valid reasons might easily be assigned for these
opinions, but it would be imprudent to divulge them in a
communication of this nature. Enough has been said,
and I proceed to consider the course to be pursued.
We must occupy Beachy Head by an entrenched
work of considerable extent, and keep the key of the
country in our own hands. "We are not safe;" this
step should be taken forthwith, and Ido earnestly urge
it upon the consideration of her Majesty's Ministers,
believing it to be essentially necessary to the defence of
that coast, eminently conducive to the inviolability of
our shores, and to the security of the kingdom. If we
omit to fortify this remarkable promontory, a dangerous
stronghold is left open to an invading enemy, from which
it would be exceedingly difficult to dislodge him, and
from whence hie might securely await reinforcements.
There is one other position on the south-eastern coast,
and one only, which it appears to me advisable to for-
tify—namely, the high ground behind the town of Rye.
As an advanced post the position is important, and
though of much less consequence than Beachy Head, not
to be neglected.
In addition to these works, it is highly desirable that
the utmost possible progress should be effected in the
formation of the Breakwater at Portland, which will
form an admirable harbour of immense importance for
a steam squadron of observation. I suggest, also, that
the pier now building at Dover be forthwith finished at
its existing length, and the present costly mode of con-
struction discontinued. It is becoming more expensive
daily, owing to increasing depth of water and other
causes, and cannot be carried much farther seaward.
The difficulty should be met at once, and the most
strenuous efforts made to complete the harbour of re-
fuge, on the plan of the Plymouth Sound Breakwater.
With these principal measures in a prudent
augmentation to the army, and progress;
a liberal supply of the
most approved muskets for the soldiers, the public mind
would probably be at ease.
With reference to minor matters, the martens) towers
on the coasts of Sussex and lien; which have been
many years dismantled, should bo put into a state
of defence; batteries established at Brighton and Hest-
tings; the electric telegraph laid down on the South
Coast Railway, and sidings for artillery formed at such
places as the roads on the coast would require.
Beachy Head is of the chalk formation,
but little masonry for revetment
wouldand therefore
be requisite;
the excavation of the ditches and formation of the
the
hicis might be entrusted to
none of our great railway
contractors, who are accustomed
to deep cuttings and
well trimmed slopes, and
would be readily whose organised establish-
mentsand inexpensively put in
motion.
But it is not desirable, at this crisis to leave ourision
measures of defence to the decision of
however eminent his position to
one person,
o
of the ablest officers of artilleryr andta lents. Let a council
engineers be ap-
pointed, and charged with the
duties ofreconnoitering
the coast from the North
Foreland to Selsey Bill, and of
reporting their opinions on the best mode of defending
it. Let their report be laid before the Commander-in-
Chief, and, after it has received such comments as his
Grace might be pleased to offer,
uted authorities for early and remitted to. the consti-
tuted
lam not an alarmist, but itrusty execution. _
against unwelcome intruders, andysudeut bar. my doors
ne-
cessary that the land of my believe
it equally
nativity shall be made safe
against a ruthless and remorseless floe.
I to be, &e.,
I have the h
Colonel
S. H. 'WILLIAMS,
Ramsgate, Jan. 31.
Retired Royal Engineers.

THE PRorr p
- -CTIoNISTS.

TO THE EDITOR _._
Sin.—My attention has been OF THE SUN.
agreed upon at a meeting
of .. tialled to the "declaration
Protection," held in London on tehe Xational Association for
12th of December last,
and recommended by them for the
rious Protectionist Associations throughout
of the va-
rious the country.
Now, , will allow me to tre
space,Sir to offeryou a few observationsspatse upon your valuable
others" to whom the above-mention the "Farmers and
submitted for adoption? There isned "declaration" is
minded, nor a more honest set °jar a more single-
English farmers ; and no land, or men, than the
people, can produce
a more high-minded and honourable class than our
Prote3c7i
landed proprietors; it is this Con • .
vhletion that induces
me to address them to point out
grossly the in-
terested agitators for a return to
would betray
them into a violation of honesty and your.ho°la
These agitators
are for the most part irresponsible and
who by ingratiating themselves into the-faeaPhantish jobbers,
,are vour of " Country
people ' by their pretended patriotismenabled to pawn
the imbecile of their families upon local si
tU:cures, and with-
out expense travel about the country in
pompous cha-
racter of delegates. But to the " declaration, e
(it is too long for
full quotation )—the first clause is an asosefratieo'en that almost all
classes in the country are " in a state
P and dangerous
depression ;" this is a simple statement' and as simply
untrue, and therefore deserves no further comment. The
condition second is to the effect that the " disastrous tie
ion of these
great interests is mainly attributable" to free triai
totally deny that free trade exists, or
has existed \
iin°thiw i
I,s
country, therefore no evils that are felt can be attributable
to that system.
With the third clause I most heartilyconcur, viz., " v e
maintain the inalienable right of
the -
highly-taxed andl
restricted British producer to just protection,,, &c. sco.
Mark the adjective just, but beware of seeking un-
just protection. It is true that the agricultural
producers are " highly-taxed and restricted;" this de-
mands redress and adjustment, but forms
no ground
for desiring an unjust protection the impost on foreign
production sought to be re-established
as the price for which a production ean ,
be urought into a
market, is its true value, irrespective of who produces it.
Now, supposing the home produce . of an article cannot bring
it into the market at this rate, to have a profit; what is the
character of that Legislature which shall say to the consumer,
we know that the worth of this commodity is only 355. per
quarter, but you must have 4
.from our home producers,
and because they cannot furnish You with it at that rate,
for every quarter you purchase from them, you shall
give them over and above its value 25s ? Yet
this is exactly the effect . of
Pprotective imposts,aY one shilling, but
they do not make the foreign producer
compel the home consumer to give t e home producer a sum
of money over and above the worth of the article of com-
merce. If you oblige me to buy from one person an article
f9r 6Q5,, which o,stot4e/ cau faraidl of equal quality A 850,,