The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-15 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

(From Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.
The SPEAKER acquainted the house that he had re-
ceived Reports from the Examiner of Recognisances,
stating that the recognisance to the election petitions
respecting the following places were unobjectionable,
viz..-
1

Clonrael.
Carlow.
Youghal (1).
Youghal (2).

Kildare.
Bolton.
Down.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, TUESDAY.
The Queen and Prince, with the Princess Royal and
the Prince of Leiningen, drove out in an open carriage
yesterday afternoon, attended by the Marchioness of
Ely, the Hon. Mary Seymour, and Colonel Bouverie.
Lord Raglan arrived on a visit yesterday, and had the
honour of joining the royal dinner party.

Sir Charles Young (Garter King of Arms) had an in-
terview with the Earl of Derby yesterday, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
Sir James Cochrane had an interview yesterday with
Sir J. Pakington, at the Colonial-office. Lord Mark
Kerr had also an interview with the right hon. baronet.
Colonel Conyers had an interview with Mr. Secretary
Walpole, yesterday, at the Home-office.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.
Dispatches were also received from the Governors of the
Falkland Islands, the Mauritius, and Gibraltar.
Dispatches were sent yesterday to the Governors of
the Australian colonies, the Cape of Good Hope, Mau-
ritius, and New Zealand.

DERBY ELECTION COMMITTEE-(THIS DAY.

The committee re-assembled at half-past eleven o'clock
this morning, after arranging with counsel as to the
course they intended to pursue with the witnesses about
to be examined.

The CHAIRMAN asked if the witnesses ordered to
attend were in readiness ?

Counsel for the petitioners replied in the affirmative.
Mr. COPPOCK then left the room, and brought in Mr.
Frail, who it will be remembered, was stated to have
been too ill to attend during the earlier periods of the
inquiry. The witness who walked with assistance of
crutches, appeared as if he had been suffering not only
for some time, but, indeed, at that moment.
Mr. FRAIL having been accommodated with a chair,
in reply to a preliminary question from the Chairman,
observed that he had nothing to fear from speaking the
whole truth, as his acts had been governed by the purest
motives.

The committee here observed a stranger in the room,
and, upon questioning the party, it appeared that the
Mayor of Derby, who was in conversation with one of
the committee, had had no intention of remaining. The
gentleman accordingly withdrew; but, upon gaining the
corridor, le informed the three messengers having charge
of the doors that some one would be found behind the
screens in rear of the committee table.
An immediate search was made, but no such obtruder
having been discovered, the room was again cleared,
and after a few minutes' consultation on the part of the
committee, counsel and agents were called in, and the
inquiry proceeded under a surveillance that fully equals
the closeness of the Spanish Inquisition.

ROBBERY BY A CLERK.—Yesterday, at the Mary-
iebone Police Court, John Hoskins, clerk to Messrs. Chap-
lin and Home, the well-known carriers, who have extensive
premises at the Camden station of the London and North-
Western Railway, was placed at the bar, before Mr.
Broughton, for re-examination, charged with having car-
ried on a system of plunder to a considerable extent.
Five charges of robbery were clearly substantiated against
the prisoner, who thereupon was fully committed for trial
at the Middlesex sessions.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A GIANT DRAYMAN.—Yesterday,
Mr. Wakley held an inquest at the Crown, Old Saint Pan-
cras-road, touching the death of John Sheppard Hardy, a
drayman, late in the employ of Messrs. Truman, Hanbury,
and Co., the well-known brewers, of Brick-lane. The de-
ceased was a remarkably fine man, standing six feet seven
inches, and weighing 17 stone. The evidence of Mr.
Smellie, the surgeon, 'who performed the autopsy,
went to prove that deceased died ofapoplexy, brought on by
effusion of blood on the brain. The liver was of an un-
usual size ; the heart perfectly bloodless. The jury re-
turned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
ACCIDENT AT JULLIEN'S BAL MASQUE.—Yesterday
morning, towards one o'clock, when the excitement of
Jullien's masked ball was at its height, considerable alarm
was caused by the falling of what was supposed to be the
body of a lady from the upper tier of boxes into the pit.
It was soon discovered that a hoax had been played, and
that the supposed lady was only a " dummy," but of such
a weight as to cause considerable injury to a gentleman
upon whom it fell, and to render him insensible for some
time. Medical aid was obtained, and he was removed in a
cab to his residence. The perpetrator of this silly and
mischievous joke escaped -undetected.
FALSE IMPRISONMENT.—In the Queen's Bench yes-
terday, the case of Isaacs v. Cook was tried. The action
was brought for false imprisonment under these circum-
stances :—On the 27th of July the defendant had an annual
sale of goods, and the plaintiff purchased several lots at
the sale, among which were two oil-stones, or hones, for
setting razors on. He paid for them, and removed them
on the morning of the 28th of July. When he got them
home he exhibited them outside his door for sale. They
continued there about a fortnight. He had written upon
them, " Mr. Cook, Old-street." He did so because he
did not keep any books. On the 13th of August the
defendant stopped at the plaintiff's shop about eleven
o'clock in the day. The plaintiff asked him what
he was looking at. Cook replied he had reason to
look. The plaintiff went into his shop, and in a few
minutes a policeman came, and Mr. Cook stated to the po-
liceman that those two stones had been stolen from his
premises by Isaacs, and he insisted on the policeman taking
him into custody. Isaacs said they had been bought at his
sale, but if he had a better right to them he might take
them away, rather than have a row round the door. Cook,
however, insisted on preferring the charge, and the plain-
tiff' was taken to the police station at Smithfield, and
thence to Guildhall, where ho was discharged, the alderman
directing the policeman to give the stones to the rightful
owner, Mr. Isaacs. Since that time a person with whom
Isaacs had previously had large dealings had refused to deal
with him. He had the name " Diggins " over the door,
which was a nickname his father and grandfather had gone
by. The defendant had put a plea on the record that the
plaintiff had stolen the articles. The jury found a verdict
for the plaintiff ; damages 301.
LYCEUM THEATRE.—A comic drama from the French
was successfully produced here on Monday night, entitled
A Phenomenon in a Smock Frock ; Mr. Charles Mathews
as John Buttercup, the plain-spoken milkman, presented
an amusing bit of personation, his rustic gait and provin-
cial dialect being perfect. The cynical and acrimonious
Sowerberry met with a genial representative in Mr. Frank
Matthews, who fulminated his tirades against the truth-
lessness of society with a good savage relish, quite in
keeping with the bitter irritability of the monomaniac. The
applause at the close was universal. Both the above-
named performers were cordially called" for, and greeted ;
and on the author being called for, the lessee declared the
piece to be by Mr. W. Brough.
ADELAIDE STEAMER.—The departure of the Adelaide
Australian steamer, which was to have taken place to-day
from Plymouth, has been delayed by order of the Admi-
ralty until Thursday the 16th, for the purpose, it is pre.
sumed, of enabling dispatches to be sent to the Cape. in
eceiveedv.eniLnegttemrsail Novtillwbeedniensdatyim. e if
forwarded
tarLt osdhbye just
the Londonr
MELBOURNE STEAMER.—The intelligence received by
the Cape mail regarding the Melbourne Australian steamer
is satisfactory. She left the Tagus on the 21st November,
and arrived, it appears, at St. Vincent on the 29th. The
s
sailing distance between the two places
miles a day. It is
is 1,597 miles, and
her average speed, therefore, was 20
stated also that the passengers had expressed
thesatisfactionthat crew
had behaved well. Sufficient coal would be taken in at St.
Vincent for the run to the Cape.
SINKING OF A RAILWAY ARCH IN THE WESTMINSTER
ROAD.—It has been discovered that the arch of the South
Western Railway, spanning the Westminster-road near the
Marsh-gate, has sunk, owing to the continued and unusual
rain which has fallen for these last ten or twelve weeks.
Men were employed yesterday afternoon in placing strong
girders under. the immense arches on each side, to prevent
any serious accident from occurring while the repairs are
being carried out.
MEETING OF JAMAICA PROPRIETORS.—A meeting of
proprietors and merchants connected with the island of
Jamaica, was held yesterday afternoon at Willis's Rooms,
St. James's, for the purpose of resolving what steps should
be taken with respect to that portion of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer's statement bearing reference to this once
flourishing colony. A memorial to the Earl of Derby on
the subject of the present distress was agreed to, praying
for relief.

BETHLEHEM HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday, Alderman Fare-
brother announced, in the Court of Aldermen, that at the
next court of the governors of the Bethlehem Hospital,
he should move the following resolution :—" That the
court do appoint a day to discuss the accusation made
against the management of the poor insane persons in
Bethlehem Hospital, and to invite the Lunacy Commis-
sioners to attend, that all the medical officers be required
to be present, and that upon that occasion the reporters of
the press be invited to be present."