The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER, 25, 185 qA.

every way desirable in obedience to the dictates
of bir-play, of common justice, and of or-
dinary gratitude. It is especially due to
the Cabinet from us, as avowed and fervent
sympathisers with the Free-trade predilections of
her MAJESTY'S Opposition. For, whatever we may
think as to the reasonableness of the resolutions
proposed on the 23d instant by the Hon. CHARLES
VILLIERS, we must in candour allow that Minis-
ters, ever since their advent to power, have never
once, in their official capacity, agitated the atten-
tion of the multitude by the revival of the argu-
ments in favour of Protection. Explicit they may
not have been ; explicit, indeed, they have not
been, in the recognition of the stability, or, ra-
ther, we may even say, of the indestructibility of
the system recently termed " unrestricted competi-
tion"—a recognition not deliberately announced,
in truth, until the appearance of the amendment,

just laid before the House of Commons, by the
Right Hon. the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.

Yet, if they have been silent upon this
head, they have not been so far cul-
pable as to reanimate the long dead, and
now buried, controversy about the merits
or demerits of Protection. Individual supporters
of the DERBY-DISRAELI Ministry have no doubt
wisely enough flung down the gage of battle to
their Free-trade conquerors when standing
during the past general election—before their
respective constituencies. But the Ministry itself,
as a body, has not acted thus petulantly, unwisely,
and unpatriotically. It has strangled all its an-
cient and most fondly-cherished prejudices. It
has scattered to the winds its most beloved and
idolized aspirations. During 1852, from February
to November, it has virtually renounced its old
belief. And now, before the dawn of December,
it has actually abandoned the cause of Agricultu-
ral Protection. Remembering these undeniable
facts, we feel—now that we are in the presence of
this remarkable amendment placed upon the table
of the House of Commons by the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER that some re-
minder to the country of the Ministerial
benefits recently conferred upon the popu-
lation, is absolutely due in common
justice, not to say in common gratitude, to the
members of the DERBY-DISRAELI Government.
We assert thus much distinctly in our capacity as
among the oldest and staunchest advocates of Free
Trade or unrestricted competition. We offer this
rational and honourable tribute in our character
as Liberal Reformers and sympathisers with her
MAJESTY'S Opposition.

Besides the improirements already effected by
the present Ministry—improvements of a com-
mercial, a legal, and a sanitary character--there
are divers others of enormous importance, to the
speedy realization of which its principal members
have solemnly pledged themselves. Conspicuous
among these, as we have before intimated, is the
grand reform contemplated in regard to the
Ecclesiastical Courts—the most detested among the
giant bugbears of our dear friend " David Copper-
field." Added to this, there are those measures of
advancement in reference to Ireland shadowed
forth by the Leaders of the new Administration—
measures the mere anticipation of which would
seem already, to a considerable extent, to have
extracted the sting and diluted the poison pre-
pared against the occupants of the Treasury
Benches, by the compact and sufficiently formid-
able group of the Irish representatives. Changes
are promised to us, moreover, upon matters
affecting national education, as well as others
of a somewhat exhilarating and inspiring nature,
tending to the modification of our system of
finance, and the total reorganization of taxation.
These latter alterations we shall hear more about,
doubtless to-morrow evening, through the medium
of the anxiously-expected Budget of the present
gifted CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. Every-
thing, in short, augurs so favourably as to the re-
forms likely to be obtained from the existing Cabinet,
that we should consider ourselves traitors to the
cause of reform and to the interests of the na-
tional development, if we did not eagerly desire
success to the ingenious and honourable compro-
mise submitted to the candour, to the judgment,
and to the patriotism of the lower branch of the
Legislature, by Viscount PALmEnsTorr—an autho-
rity commanding the respect of all parties, as one
of the most distinguished ornaments of her MA-
JESTY'S Opposition, and one of the most illustrious
Statesmen in the British Parliament.

To the decision of to-night the country is look-
ing forward with an anxious and even painful
solicitude. It is universally felt that upon it
must, in a very- great measure, be dependent the
tranquillity or disturbance, the happiness or the
misery, of the present generation. An insignifi-
cant majority upon a question of such extraor-
dinary magnitude and importance as that now
_ .

lying before the House of Commons, cannot
but prove most disastrous in its consequences, not
only in regard to ourselves, but also, and in a pecu-
liar manner, in regard to the rest of the civilized
races of Christendom. It must leave the matter
at issue still undecided, and by so doing, throw
the seeds of dissension broadcast upon both sides of
the present Parliament. Against the possibility,
rather should we say, indeed, against the proba-
bility, of this calamitous result, the only reasonable
security would seem at this moment to be dis-
coverable in the adoption of the very admirable
compromise suggested late on Tuesday night to the
Commons, by the Noble Lord the Member for
Tiverton. Cordially, therefore, do we trust that
his proposal may be acceded to—in which event,
the indestructibility of the Free-trade system will
have been distinctly proclaimed by the Legisla-
la ture, without her MAJESTY'S Opposition attempt-
ing to extort unnecessary and unpalatable pledges
from statesmen entitled by the difficulties of their
position, not less than by the liberality of their
policy, to a very large amount of popular con-
sideration.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL of Ireland has mani-
festly devoted much time and labour to the im-
portant question which he introduced to the con-
sideration of the House of Commons on Monday
a speech of great clearness and per-
spie evening,
ui ty.
The settlement on a satisfactory foun-
dation, of the complicated relations between land-
lord and tenant, the digest of the numerous,
and, in many cases, conflicting statutes, into one
simple and intelligible code, and the equitable
arrangement of the many fertile sources of dispute
and difference that might arise between the
owner and occupier of the soil, was indeed a task
of no ordinary difficulty, from which the boldest
might have shrunk in dismay. It was unneces-
sary for the Right Hon. Gentleman to speak of
the spirit in which he approached the considera-
tion of this deeply interesting subject. Every
sentiment to which he gave utterance, every prin-
ciple enunciated, proved beyond the possibility of
doubt or misconception, the liberality, generosity,
and impartiality of his views. We say " impar-
tiality," for although the Right Hon. and learned
Gentleman declared that his sympathies were
much more with the industrious tenant than with
the improvident landlord, he unquestionably held
the scales of justice with an equal hand,
not unduly interfering with " the rights" of pro-
perty—but enforcing its " duties," and affording,
at the same time, ample protection to the indus-
trious and improving tenant against the griping
and tyrannical landlord, and to the fair and libe-
ral landlord against the idle and dishonest tenant.
The difficulties that have hitherto impeded the
owner and the occupier—the grievances to which
each was subjected have been carefully investigated,
and; so far as practicable, removed—and almost
every just ground of complaint removed. There
are, it is true, some points in which trivial alte-
rations might, as it appears to us, beneficially be
introduced, but it would be unreasonable to ex-
pect perfection in such a matter ; and Mr. NAPIER
willingly declared, that " Every suggestion which
might hereafter be offered, from whatever quarter
it might come,
th n
would be accepted and considered
e
in the same spiritin which the measure had been
submitted to
is one into Which°lliBe."
The subject, indeed,
NParty feeling should not be
allowed to enter.
matter how deeply opposed
Hon. Gentlemen may ,
teoleetthe general policy of
Ministers, they should not select
a equseiss o
ttieor mnnpinvoswgihdtioiocrahn
the welfare and prosperity of th
is so greatly concerned. Any factious

on such a point would cast the utmost discredit
on the party adopting such a course. Whatever
difference may exist as to details, all must agree
that the measure is far superior to any that has at
any time heretofore been introduced. The toil
and mental labour of the Right Hon. Gentleman
have not been misapplied ; but he will have justly
earned for himself the thanks and gratitude of the
community for his zealous, energetic, and efficient
exertions. As he himself declared, " The man
who was clamorous about rights and negligent of
duties might depreciate his labours. The grind-
ing middleman would dislike, and the factious or
fraudulent tenant heartily condemn them ;" but he
will obtain the approval of every right-minded and
unprejudiced person, and, still better, the appro-
bation of his own conscience—of the still small
voice that will whisper that he has nobly dis-
charged his duty to his suffering country, honestly
endeavouring " to provide a free course to indus-
try, to raise up an obstacle to injustice, and to af-
ford the means of developing effectively the resources
of a land which GOD had blessed, but man had
blighted." This will, indeed, be a rich reward—
an ample recompence—and it will not be with-
held from Mr. NAPIER.

It is impossible within the limits of a single
article to specify the various provisions of the
four new Bills, which, when they receive the
legislative sanction, will constitute a new code of
landlord and tenant law in Ireland. We can,
therefore, only briefly refer to the leading clauses
of the different measures. The object of the first
Bill is " to enable the owners themselves to carry
out improvements for the cultivation of the soil
and the employment of the poor." He did not
ask for a grant of public money for the purpose,
but merely endeavoured to give facilities to pro-
prietors, if unable to provide the money them-
selves, for obtaining it from the Bank of Ireland,
or from private individuals. , These advances
should be made a first charge on the land, and
should be expended on its Improvement, under
the inspection of the Board of Works. Unless the
projected improvement was calculated to re-
pay 6 per cent. on the amount of ex-
penditure, the application would be rejected.
Anything in the shape of improvident specu-
lation anything prejudicial to the rights of
incumbrancers or remainder-men would thus be
avoided. No jobbery would be practicable, but
the real bona fide amelioration of the land would
be effectually provided for. The principal money
should be repaid within 22 years—the interest
being kept down in the interim. Each owner of
a limited estate would thus pay for the improve-
ments in proportion to the time he enjoyed them ;
a far more equitable principle than that which
made the person who held the property for a
single year, pay as much as the man who might
be in possession for more than half a century.
If the proprietor effected the improvements at his
own expense, or paid off the charge within the
stipulated time, the balance remaining due at his
death, i. e., the instalments which had not fallen
due during his life time, would be treated as per-
sonal property which he might dispose of as he
thought proper.
The object of the second Bill is to facilitate
the making, of beneficial leases, and giving com-
pensation for the improvement of lands in Ire-
land. There are at present no less than 60
different statutes giving powers to particular
persons, corporations, &c., for that purpose, but
they were wholly inadequate. Leases under
which large sums had been expended, were but
too frequently broken by remainder-men, and
deep injustice inflicted on those who had invested
their capital and applied their labour on the faith
of their supposed validity. The present measure
aims at the consolidation of these special and
scattered enactments, and the reducing them all to
one plan for giving leasing powers on a uniform
principle. This will chiefly depend on the pur-
pose for which the land is let. Thus a merely
agricultural lease may be granted for 31 years—
a mining lease for 41 years a lease for the
reclamation of waste lands for 61 years, and for
building leases (for public buildings and institu-
tions) for 999 years. This will in a great degree
remove the crying grievance of " entails," and
the placing estates in what is termed " strict
settlement." It was difficult to prohibit parties
from making adequate provisions for their
future families out of the lands of which they
were the absolute owners. Yet such dispositions,
and more particularly the stringent interpretation
of " the leasing powers," were exceedingly pre-
judicial to the interests of the community. The
nominal owner—even if unembarrassed-- could
not do justice, either to himself or to his tenants.
He could not charge his lands for any purpose,
however beneficial—he had no interest in their
future permanent improvement, unless that im-
provement would prove remunerative during his
own lifetime, "he would," as an intelligent and
well-informed writer on the evils arising from the
laws of real property in Ireland truly remarked,
" he would hold it, as his predecessor had held it,
unaltered and unimproved, to transmit it to his
heir clogged with the same restrictions, alike in-
jurious to himself and his country." If this be the
case of the unincumbered owner, how much more
injurious must be the case of the embarrassed
proprietor, whose necessities would compel him
to sacrifice every hope of future improve-
ment to the exigencies of the moment. The
tenant for life of a large tract of coun-
try, with a long rent-roll, but a small in-
come, could not heretofore discharge any of his
duties as a landlord. He was compelled to keep
his tenantry in poverty—his lands wasted and
/unimproved. The contemplated enactment will
enable him, without deteriorating his own con-
dition,
nue
ee tuo
poverty—tot broughtr
avuarpt
or that of his younger children—too fre-
yoinnsenluxualrand abundance, to
necessary sufferings
ing
improve-
ments,
ameliorate the condition of his people, and
provide a pressing demand for the previously un-
employed labour of the vicinity. There are other
and very salutary provisions enabling the owners
at the
codification
and
for limited estates to make arrangements for im-
provements, to which, however, we are unable at
preTshenet
tthir
to refer more
Billaims h particularly.
amendment of the law of landlord and tenant in
Ireland. No less than from 150 to 200 statutes
are ably digested and brought into a convenient
form. The fourth also provides that if an im-
proving tenant should be deprived of his holding
before his improvements were exhausted, he
should be entitled to pecuniary compensation,
although he would not be enabled to claim it if
authorised to retain the occupancy. On the whole,
the new measures are vast improvements on the
existing system, for which the Right Hon. Gentle-
man merits the highest praise. We cannot say
more than that they are worthy to rank side by
side with the admirable scheme of Law Reform so
ably brought forward by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL
of
doubtD that the re-
fER By
Ministry
are far more extensive and comprehensive than
e Ireland.e already There
introduced can
beby no
the
any on the same subjects introduced by their
rivals. Let fair play, then, be given to under-
stand the other matters promised on their behalf.
Let us not doubt or mistrust those who have so
faithfully performed their promises on two
im-
portant points, and who have explicitly and une-
quivocally abandoned the obnoxious principle of
Protection at once and for ever.

ILLNESS OE MR. DISRAELL—We exceedingly regret
to learn that though Mr. Disraeli is attending, as usual,
both to his official and legislative duties, the state of his
health is such as to cause no small uneasiness to his
friends. We understand that at a consultation of his
medical advisers, held yesterday morning,lit was agreed
to impress upon the Right Hon. Gentleman the absolute
necessity of comparative cessation from that close and
continuous application which he has been of late giving
to his ministerial and Parliamentary duties.—Morning
Advertiser.

NEVER DO THINGS BY HALVES.—The leading Ministe-
rial print this morning had no less than six distinct and
separate leading articles, directed to the debate of Tues-
day night.
_ _

ST. DOMINGO.—The Government gazette of St. Do-
mingo (El Eco del Ozama) of the 12th ult. refers to the
advertisement lately put forward in England for a loan
of 750,0001. for that Republic, and states that the pro-
posal was never authorised in the slightest degree. It
adds that the account given of the resources of the
country had at the time been greatly exaggerated, while
the statement was also incorrect of its being at peace
with its neighbours.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool, yesterday, were
estimated at 3,000 bales, all to the trade. The
market closed heavily without alteration in prices.
The sales comprised 2,500 American ; 150 Pernam
and Maranham, at cid. to 71 d. ; 20 Bahia, at bid. ;
40 Egyptian, at 6id. ; and 200 Surat, at 3id. to
4d. per lb.
Railway shares were firm at improved prices.
Accounts from Belgium state that the interest
on the 5 per Cent. Debt is fully expected to be
reduced.

Mr. Capel has received a letter from Senor Bon-
ago, stating that he had transmitted the memorial
in favour of the Certificate Holders to Senor Bravo
Murillo, who had laid the same before the Council
of Ministers, who had decided that no alteration
could be made in the law for the settlement of the
debt of the Ist Aug. 1851.
This letter, of some length, is translated, and
may be seen by any Bond or Certificate Holder at
the office of the Spanish Committee, No. 3, Clem-
ent's-lane, Lombard-street.
The English Stock Market has been duller, and
the quotations are the turn in favour of buyers.
Consols have been 1011 for transfer and account.
There is an impression still that Lord Palmerston's
motion will be accepted by the House, and thus
relieve the Ministry of its difficulty, and allow of
the Budget being brought forward. The New 3i
per Cents. have realised lon ; and the Reduce
3 per Cents. 1001 Bank Stock is firm at 223 ;
and India Stock dull at 275. Exchequer Bills have
been 71s. to 735., and India Bonds 80s. to 83s.
premium.

Foreign Securities have been quieter, generally ;
Spanish 3 per Cents. bring 52k, and the Deferred
25/ ; the Certificates have been 3/ to ; Peru-
vian Deferred have been 621 to 63 ; Grenada De-
ferred is at 11 ; and Brazilian Small are 1011 ;
Venezuela Stock is worth 41 ; the Turkish Loan is
iworth 2k premium
um ; and the Swedish 1i to pre-
mum ; Austrian Bonds are worth 83 ; Belgian 4-1-
per Cents. 98f ; and Dutch 4 per Cents. 97 to
The last week's railway receipts ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :

1852. 1851.
Great Western 219,324 14,353
North Western 49,727 40,166
South Western 11,642 8,564
Brighton
Midland
South Eastern
North Stafford 5,258 5,192
Caledonian
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire
York and North Midland
Newcastle and Berwick

The Railway Share Market has been very good,
and some lines are higher. Caledonians are still
rising, and Aberdeen, East Anglian, and Edin-
burgh and Glasgow are higher. Great Northern,
Oxford and Wolverhampton, North Western, Mid-
land and York and Berwick are scarcely so good.
French Shares are dull and barely so good.
The Gold Mines are very brisk, and in Novean
Monde, Colonial, and one or two others there is a
rise.

The Banks and Steam Companies are less active.
The following is an abstract return of -imports
and exports at Port Adelaide, for the second quar-
ter of 1852

LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF CHANCERY.
(Before the Lords Justices.)
JUDGMENT-MARTIN V. PYCROFT..

Their lordships, upon taking their seats this morning,
gave judgment in this case, which was an appeal from a
decision of the late Vice-Chancellor Sir James Parker.
The plaintiff claimed a specific performance of an agree-
ment, dated the Ist of August, 1849, by which James
Pycroft and his two brothers agreed to lease the Ship
alehouse, in Chichester-rents, to the plaintiff, upon the
same terms as were contained in the lease under which
the premises were then held. The claim stated that it
was further agreed that the plaintiff should pay a pre-
mium of 2001., and asked for a specific performance of
the agreement on the terms of making this payment ;
but the Vice-Chancellor thought that there having been
such an omission from the written agreement, the Court
could not make the decree asked consistently with the
Statute of Frauds. Their lordships expressed an opinion
differing with the Vice-Chancellor upon this latter point.
After going through the case at great length, their lord-
ships stated that the plea set up by Pycroft that he was
drunk when he signed the agreement, was not proved
either by the affidavits put in, or by the viva voce exami-
nation. They were, therefore, of opinion, in conclusion,
that the plaintiff was entitled to a specific performance
of the agreement, and that he was to have the whole of
his costs incurred in the hearing before the Court below,
and those which have arisen during the present term.
Judgment accordingly.

CEINTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Alderson.)

POST-OFFICE ROBBERY.

William Herbert Harrison, who was found guilty yes-
terday of stealing a cheque for 161. out of a letter which
had been entrusted to him as District Postmaster, was
this morning sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with
hard labour.

.T9hannec Connell, aged 20, described in the calendar
as si spinster, was indicted for feloniously applying to
William George Lapham, an infant, five weeks old, a
certain corrosive fluid, with intent to burn him, and to
do him other grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Clarkson conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
Sleigh defended the prisoner.

Mrs. Lapham, the mother, gave the following evidence :
—My husband keeps a barber's shop in Lower Marsh,
Lambeth. In the present month I had a child named
Geo. Wm. Lapham, which died on the sth of the month.
When it died, the prisoner had been in my service about
seven weeks. The child was seven weeks old. On the
20th October, it had a complaint in the chest, and was
attended by a medical man, and it began to recover
shortly afterwards. The prisoner came into my bed-
room on the 20th, and told me my husband wanted me.
I went down stairs and sent her out on an errand. She
was gone two or three minutes. There was an appren-
tice in the house. When she returned, she went straight
up the stairs towards the bedroom in which the child
was sleeping. She came running down in about five
minutes, and said the baby was crying. The apprentice
was not at home at this time. I had left a candle burn-
ing in the bedroom. I ran up stairs directly. The pri-
soner had the candle in her hand when she told me that
the child was crying. I heard the child screaming,
and on going into the bedroom I found it foaming
at the mouth. I wiped its mouth with its bed-
gown. There was a handkerchief round its neck.
The lips were parched, and the whole mouth
inside and out, was white, as if burnt. There were
burns in the handkerchief, and they appeared as if they
had been done by a candle. I said to the prisoner,
" Why, you have burnt the child with a candle !" and
she said she had not. I then said, " You must have
put the candle into its mouth ;" her reply was, " It was
an accident, the candle fell out of the stick." I sent for
Mr. Sewell, surgeon ; his assistant came first. The
child had been nourished by the breast from its birth.
After this it took the breast with difficulty, and this
continued up to its death on the sth of November. I
remember a bottle being shown to me containing some
brown liquid. I had seen it before, on the mantel-piece
of the prisoner's bedroom. The bottle belonged to her.
She had told me that it contained holy water. I noticed
the bottle two or three days before the, 20th of October,
and I missed it on the 19th. It seemed to have a
kind of yellow water in it. No vitriol was ever used
in the house for cleaning the scales, or anything else.
The child wasted very much after the 25th October.

Cross-examined— The prisoner was quite a stranger to
me when she entered my employment.

By the Judge—The prisoner believed in the efficacy
of holy water.

Emma Rose deposed, that she and the apprentices
searched the privy of the house, and discovered two
bottles, one containing a fluid, and both being corked.
John Underwood, the apprentice, corroborated the
evidence of the last witness.

Mr. Sewell, surgeon, Lambeth, said he attended the
child on the evening of the 20th of November, and found
two-thirds of the tongue covered with white fur. The
inside of the right cheek also presented the same appear-
ance, the outside being of a blueish colour. The hand-
kerchief round its neck had several holes in it, but
not so many as now. It was damp, and on
putting his tongue to it, he felt a taste of acid. It
was his opinion then and now that the handkerchief
was burnt by oil of vitriol. The strings of the night-
cap were also burnt by the same acid. He commenced
his attendance on the child on the 10th of Oct., for in-
flammation of the throat, but it was out of danger two or
three days before the 18th, though not quite well. After
the 20th it could never take the breast freely. The ap-
pearance of the tongue gradually wore away, and the
child began to get better, but on the 3d November con-
vulsions came on from increased debility, owing to its
inability to take sufficient nourishment. The adminis-
tration of the acid was a great shock to the system. He
made a post rn,ortem, examination of the body, and it was
his opinion that the immediate cause of death was con-
vulsions, arising from the shock the system nad sustained,
but it was difficult to say positively.

Mr. Baron Alderson said the cause of death was only
a matter of conjecture, and. it would be dangerous to
find the person guilty upon such evidence.

The jury concurred with his Lordship.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder:)

CUTTING AND WOUNDING-COMMITTAL OF A WITNESS

FOR PERJURY.

John Gill, 40, pleaded not guilty to an indictment
charging him with wilfully and feloniously cutting and
wounding Thomas William Orton, a child three years of
age, with intent to disfigure and do him some grievous
bodily harm.
Sarah Fasey Orton, mother of the wounded child and
wife of Richard Orton, 54, Twyford-street, Caledonian-
road, Islington, deposed that the prisoner was a lodger
in the same house, on the evening of the 2d of October,
when he came down to her husband, who had been
charged with indecent conduct towards the prisoner's
daughter, 12 years old, and struck him with an um-
brella,. The charge had been made about a fortnight
before. Witness told her husband to go up stairs and
lock himself in, and he did so. Prisoner struck the wit-
ness on the head, and rushed up stairs after her husband
and tried to break open the door with a poker. Witness
begged him to desist, and not to take the law into his
own hands. When on the top of the stairs, witness saw
his little girl with a cut on the eye, which was bleeding
very much. Witness ecreemed " Murder," when pri-
soner struck her again with a candlestick which he held
in his hand. Prisoner evidently acted from excitement
occasioned by the reported indecency of witness's husband
towards prisoner's daughter. After the assault on the
2d of October, both parties were given into custody,
but the charge of indecency against witness's husband
was dismissed by the magistrate.
Louisa Milton, examined--I went into the house on
the evening of the 2d October in consequence of hear-
ing cries of " Murder." I went on to the landing, and
saw Mrs. Gill giving a candlestick to her husband. The
prisoner only took hold of the candle, and Mrs. Gill left
hold of the candlestick. The candlestick then fell, and
struck Mrs. Orton's little girl on the eye, which bled
very much. The little girl was stooping between prisoner's
legs at the time. I don't know how she came there.
Gill held in his right hand the nob of a large fire-shovel,
with which he was beating in the panels of the door in
which Mr. Orton had locked himself. Some men came
in and dragged Gill away. I then put my hand through
the broken panel and opened the door to let Orton out.
When Orton had got away, Gill said—" Never mind ;
as I can't have the one I want, here's one will do as
well ;" and he then struck the little boy, on the left eye,
with the nob of the fire-shovel, which he still held. No
blood came, but a black liquid ran down his face. The
child fell without cry or motion.

Mr. Ballantyne, for the prosecution, cross-examined
this witness as to whether she had seen the prisoner
strike Mrs. Orton with a candlestick, while on the
stairs ; but her answers were of a very unsatisfactory
nature.

Recorder.—Be cautious.. Did not you see the prisoner
do anything with the brass candlestick to Mrs. Orton ?

Witness.—l did not see him do anything at all to
Mrs. Orton. I was not there then.

Recorder.—Be cautious. I tell you you are in great
danger. I have before me your deposition, as taken
before the magistrate, in which you say, "Before the
blow was struck on the boy, Mrs. Orton was thrown
down stairs." Was it so ?

Witness.—l was not there ; but Mrs. Orton said so.
Recorder. —Was your deposition read to you before
you signed it.
. Witness.--Not that I know of; if it was, there was so
much hurry and flurry that I did not know what I did.
That is my mark.

Recorder.—l caution you again. You say in your
deposition, "I saw the defendant throw Mrs. Orton
from the room door down a flight of stairs."
Witness.—Then if I did, it must have been after that.
Recorder.—Ono more caution, and then you will go
to prison. Did you say the prisoner struck Mrs. Orton
with a brass candlestick ?
Witness.— Yes ; that was before.

Recorder.—'Then why have you been denying this be-
fore the Court ? Stand down. You stand committed.

The witness was then taken into custody.
Mr. G. F. Lane, house surgeon at the Royal Free
Hospital, Gray's-inn-lane, deposed to dressing the wound
inflicted upon the little boy by the nob of the fire-shovel.
He found the wound was about half an inch long, pas-
sing through the iris, so as entirely to destroy the sight.
Mr. Parry, for the defence, endeavoured to show that
the blow was aimed at the father, but fell upon the child;
and that the prisoner acted from an excess of blind fury,
produced by the alleged indecent conduct of Orton to-
wards his daughter.

The Jury found the prisoner Guilty on the main count
of the indictment, and the Court deferred sentence.

SHERIFF'S COURT.
(Before Mr. William Burchell.)
WARDLE V. BEBNAND.-THE WAY TO GET UP A PUBLIC

COMPANY.

This was an action to recover the sum of 161. 16s. for
board and lodging.
Defendant pleaded that he was not indebted.

Mr. Clarkson appeared as counsel for the plaintiff,
and stated the case. It was afterwards proved in evidence
that the plaintiff was a solicitor, and the defendant a
gentleman who described himself as a general broker,
and had projected a public company. From defendant's
representations, plaintiff accepted him as a lodger, to be
boarded and lodged; and he was so to his heart's content,
at all events as happily and comfortably boarded and
lodged as an unmarried man might reasonably expect to
be. He kept out at all hours, had his breakfast in bed, the
chambermaid having additional trouble in attending to
him. On coming down stairs, he had another breakfast,
and not unfrequently he had a glass of brandy and water;
but the plaintiff did not make any complaint about
that. All the plaintiff complained of was, that after
the defendant had turned the temper of a good
servant by having two breakfasts, one in his room and
the other in the parlour, and in the after part of
the day ; whatever time he arrived home, he expected
dinner. The brandy and water might be taken by the
jury as a mere milk-and-water affair ; in fact, it was not
charged for. All the jury had to decide on was whether
the projector of a public company ought to board and
lodge in a respectable locality, after having incurred a
liability to vacate his position as promoter, director, and
as many etceteras as were generally found in bubble
companies, and now turn round, not only repudiating the
child of his fertile imagination as regarded the specula-
tion, but also the two breakfasts, the dinners, and the
brandy and water.

The plaintiff proved the contract between the parties,
but said he would not have boarded and lodged the
defendant for two guineas a week. The place was in a
complete uproar, and in consequence he had to give
defendant notice to quit.
Mary Jones, examined, said that she was chamber-
maid and general servant. She took the breakfast up—
sometimes there were eggs, sometimes eggs and bacon.
Defendant used to take that part of his breakfast in bed,
and then come down to finish. Witness considered this
to be " two breakfasts." Defendant generally came
in at dinner-time—for all hours were dinner-times to
him, although he always said that he had dined in the
City, and only wanted a " snack." Witness never saw
the colour of any coin in defendant's possession, except
one half-crown, which he gave her as a Christmas box.

Evidence, was adduced in support of the minor points.
Defendant was examined and said that he had been
articled to the law, but he gave it up after nine months'
experience. He took up to the line of looking up
public companies. When he went to plaintiff he was
engaged in getting up a company—there were no direc-
tors—there was no necessity for any ; but the company
had been provisionally registered. He did not know
that 501. expenses had been incurred, but he was certain
the Company was never in his own hands, or he would
have done better with it. I don't deny the lodging,
but I deny having had the dinners, and I totally deny
the brandy and water.

Mr. Clarkson—You speak byyour recollection, Having
dined out perhaps you did not take the after glasses into
account ; perhaps your eyes were closed before you got
home.

Mr. Clarkson—We have not yet heard what the em
bryo company was to be called.

Defendant—The Foreign Security.
Mr. Clarkson addressed the jury, and said that it was
preposterous to suppose that a gentleman connected with
a highly respectable firm would have admitted into the
circle of his own family any one but he believed to be a
gentleman ; but it would be inconsistent with common
sense and reason to suppose that he would have accepted
as a lodger any one who was a mere speculator, had he
known it. He knew nothing of defendant, except from
defendant's own representations, which were such as
would have induced any one to trust him with a certain
degree of consideration, and give him credit.
The jury gave an immediate verdict for 161. 16s.

LORD PALMERSTON.—The symbol of eternity is a ser-
pent with its tail in its mouth. Lord Palmerston's pub-
lic life has been so protracted, that he may, with no very
violent figure of speech, be said to have spent a little
eternity in the House of Commons, and to be on that
ground entitled to quarter the serpent with its tail in
its mouth on his Viscountal shield. His conduct on
Tuesday night leaves no doubt on the matter. His
speech was assuredly more redolent of serpentine
wisdom than of dove-like simplicity, and its re-
approximation to the Conservative party gracefully assi-
milated the approaching close of the Viscount's career to
its commencement under the auspices of Sidmouth and
Castlereagh. In the career of Lord Palmerston, the
expanded liberalism which characterised it from 1825 to
1830, tapers off towards the head or beginning through
his complicity in the spy system and Six Acts of 1819,
the corn law of 1815, and the shuffling policy in regard
to Catholic Emancipation under the Percival regime ;
it tapers off towards the tail, till we find him an accom-
plice in the Disraeli shuffle. The " ould serpent" is about
to end where he began,—in self-seeking Toryism.—Daily
Nam

THE SLAVE TRADE.—Viscount Palmerston has ob-
tained a return (yesterdayprinted) of the number of negro
slaves imported into Brazil and Cuba between January
and October last. Between the Ist of January and the
9th of October the number of slaves supposed to have
been landed at Cuba, the date of the last accounts from
the. Havana, was 4,118, consisting of 218 in January,
1,480 in February, 600 in July, and 790 in September,
making 5,088 ; and one-third (1,030) is added to make up
for those respecting the landing of whom intelligence had
not yet been procured. With regard to the importation
into Brazil in the period, it appears by a dispatch from
Mr. Southern, her Majesty's Minister in Brazil, dated
the 11th of June, 1852, that a cargo of negroes was
landed from a schooner called the Palmeira at Traman-
daley, on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul, shortly before
the Ist of May, 1852. The number of those negroes had
not been reported. Mr. Southern states in the dispatch,
"I think it right to add that, during the six months I
have resided at this port, this is the only well authen-
ticated case of the landing of African negroes on the
coast of Brazil." No other importation of African slaves
into Brazil had since been reported. The return was
moved for on the 15th inst., and ordered to be printed
on the 16th (Tuesday).
REPRESENTATION OF MONMOUTHSHIRE.—Captain Ed-
ward Somerset, who was re-elected M.P. for this county
in his absence at the Cape, has sent home an address to
the electors, in acknowledgment of the honour done him.
He dates his address " Fort Beaufort, Frontier, Cape of
Good Hope, Sept. 4, 1852," and he writes—"l am
happy to say that the present aspect of affairs in this
country tends to a speedy cessation of this detestable
war, and that I have every reason to expect that I shall
very shortly be relieved from my duties here, and be
able to return to England and resume my services to
you, as your member—it may be nearly as soon as this
address will reach you." He adds that his best energies
shall be employed in supporting the Derby Administra-
tion, in which he believes he shall be "aiding a Govern-
ment determined to use every effort for the benefit of
the community at large, and particularly in relieving the
agricultural classes of those grievances which they have
borne with such patience and forbearance as to entitle
them to the greatest possible amount of consideration."
The hon. and gallant member has arrived in England,
having travelled by the same vessel (the Propontis) as
his address. _

IYCEI7;ITHEATRE.—The romantic drama of A Chain
of Events, which ran for so many nights last season, has
been revived, with all its beautiful stage effects. Gaspard
is one of those roles in which Charles Mathews is match-
less on our stage, and peculiar commendation is due to
Miss Oliver, who looks exceedingly pretty and interesting
in the neat and becoming costume of the part, for the
natural and impressive manner in which she pourtrays
Therese, the high-minded wife of the duped Michael.
A -MUM out of Window, is a delicious little farce that
no play-goer should omit seeing.