The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-08 00:00:00

COLONIAL

SOCIETY

Yesterday a general meeting of the friends of this
nstitution was held at the Music Hall, Store-street,

Bedford-square, for the purpose of forming a North
London Ladies' Association. The objects of the So-
ciety were advocated by the Hon. and Rev. B. Noel,
the Rev. W. Thompson, the Rev. H. Hughes, the
Rev. H. P. Haughton, the Rev. J. Scott, Major
Head, Capt. Cotton, Montague Bere, Esq., and J. S.
Reynolds, Esq., the Chairman. Major Head made
some statements respecting the religious destitution
of British subjects and emigrants in the Colonies,
particularly in North America, of which he had
been an eye-witness. The Rev. H. Hughes recited
some statistics illustrative of,that destitution. At the
Cape of Good Hope we had, he said, a territory of
128,150 square miles, over which was scattered a popu-
lation of 60,000 souls, for whom not more than three or
four clergymen were provided. In the Mauritius, the
population was upwards of 90,000, and there were only
two clergymen. In Lower Canada the picture was more
appalling, for a population of upwards of 500,000 souls,
in a district of 200,000 square miles, there were not
more than 29 clergymen. The Hon. and Rev. Baptist
Noel stated that the objects of the Society were to assist
those colonists who were desirous of having Clergymen
to maintain them, and to furnish schoolmasters and
school requisites to neglected places. Already the
Society had sent one gentleman to Western Australia,
another to Halifax in Nova Scotia, and another was
about to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope. Oppor-
tunities for exertions of a like nature were daily opening
which could not be embraced for want of adequate funds.
There was an anxious disposition among the British
settlers in the colonies to build Churches and maintain
clergymen, but their poverty rendered them unable to
complete their wishes ; to such a little aid from this
Society would be of incalculable value. New South
Wales an Van Diemen's Land demanded espe-
cial attention ; the Population of those colonies

were perhaps the most destitute of all of religious
instruction, and yet needed it more than all. In
South Australia there was but one church, capable
of holding about 150 persons, and but one clergyman ;
these were situate in Adelaide, the capital, which con-
tains 7,000 souls. In North Australia there was but
one aged chaplain, who confined himself to the prin-
cipal town, the rest of the whole extent of 300 miles
along the coast being left uncured for. Recently,
however, another clergyman had gone thither. The
Society also directed its attention to the religious
wants of British residents on the continent of Europe,
and at the places of resort abroad, where invalids so-
journ for a season.

STORIES OF TORRES VEDRAS

SIR JOHN SCOTT LILLIE.

The only class of French which has ever seemed
to entertain cordial feelings towards us is the mili-
tary, from the recollections of former associations ;
and although the name of Waterloo must ever be
offensive to their ears, there exists a frankness and
candour among soldiers which invariably leads them
to respect the brave.
The lines of Torres Vedras afforded us frequent op-
portunity of cultivating this friendly intercourse, and
the frankness of French prisoners gave us, perhaps, a
better insight into the real state of their society than
we have subsequently observed in their own country.
Rarely did we meet a French officer who did not
express an anxious desire for peace and future
amicable relations, not without boasting of the ex-
pression of Frederick of Prussia—that if " France
and England were united, not a gun should be
find in Europe without their permission."
In these celebrated times there not only did exist
the utmost cordiality between us when meeting
upon neutral ground, but the French seemed on
various occasions to overcome the deadly hate and
revengeful sentiments they entertained towards the
Portuguese. One circumstance of this nature is
worthy of being recorded.
The Ist Battalion of the Lusitanian Legion, af-
terwards the 7th Cacadores, was in front of a French
regiment near the Royal Palace of Ajuda, and be-
tween them were certain windmills, the possession
of which became a point of frequent skirmishes
whenever the French came down to grind their corn.
These unprofitable contests continued for some
time, until both parties, being convinced
of the absurdity, approached each other un-
armed, and came to the mutual understand-

ing that this contest about windmills, which truly
recalled that about Cervantes' crackbrained Knight,
should cease. From that period, until_ the retreat
of Massena, it was found that a friendly interview,
and an exchange of civilities, was far preferable to
the exchange of leaden bullets, which, to many,'ren-
dered the grinding of their daily bread an unneces-
sary process.
It is somewhat strange that long after these

friendly meetings, during—the temporary cessation
of hostilities which took place between our
army and the French on the 29th of July,
1813 in the Pyrenees, while the soldiers of both
countries were scattered together about the fields,
bearing off their respective wounded, and picking
beaus for their messes, several officers and sol-
diers came again m friendly contact with their old
Portuguese friends of Torres Vedras, when many a
hand, which but a few hours before had grasped a
deadly weapon, and made many a former boon com-
panion bite the dust, was now held out in cordial
recollection, until the bugle's loud blast summoned
the temporary friends to renew the work of blood.
It was this regiment (the 7th Cacadores) which
under the command of my Gallant Friend, Sir
John Scott Lillie, was ordered to make an attack

on a formidable French post the following day, oc-
cupied by their former friends, which they carried
in presence of both armies that crowned the sur-
rounding heights, and were looking at the

contest in silent expectation, as no rein-
forcement could have moved to the sup-
port of the brave band in time to save them
from what appeared inevitable destruction. How-
ever, the boldness of the onset was such, that the
enemy fled in confusion and dismay ; and after this
unequal struggle, the Duke of Richmond (then
Earl of March) rode up to their commander, ex-
pressing the Duke of Wellington's high approba-
tion of his battalion, thus reduced to four officers
and one hundred and fifty men.—Millingen's
Stories of Torres Vedras

SUICIDES IN WESTMINSTER.—NOVEMBER.
—The following account of the number of inquests in
cases of suicide, held by Messrs. Gell and Higgs, the
Coroners for Westminster, from the year 1812 to 1831,
inclusive, has been furnished us by the latter gentleman,
it having been compiled from official documents
•
In 1812.-24 1813...26 1814...23 1815.-30
1816...26 1817...17 1818...18 1819...26
18°0...19 1821...20 1822...18 1823...32
1824...21 1825...24 1826...31 1827...26
1828...32 1829...30 1830...28 1831...28

Total, 489, which includes eight cases of felo de se.
The number of men destroying themselves to women is
nearly as three to one, as appears from the return—
there being 359 men to only 130 women. From the
Parliamentary Returns it appears that the population of
Westminster in 1831 was 160,801 ; in 1821, 181,444 ;
and in 1811, 202,891. Mr. Higgs has found, upon ar-
ranging the suicides according to the months in which
they occurred during this aggregate of years, that, con-
trary to the generally received opinion, November was
actually the month of the year in which the least num-
ber of suicides took place. Thus June and July, each
53, 106 ; January, 48 ; March, 46 ; February, 41 ;
December, 39 ; April, 38 ; May, 37 ; October, 35 ;
September, 34 ; August, 33 ; November, 32 ; total,
489. In very many cases the insanity which led to
suicide was the result of intoxication. Mr. Higgs states
that the number of suicides from 1831 to the present
time is in much the same proportion.
TEST OF COUNTERFEIT SOVEREIGNS.-ob-
serve the milling round the edge. If the coin be ge-
nuine, the strokes wall be found perfectly regular ; if
counterfeit, the irregularity of the milling, which is
generally very obvious, will show the fraud.
There is every probability that the Lieutenancy
of Pembrokeshire will be vacant ; Sir John Owen, May
for that county, having by some strange means got into
a situation which will, it is reported, render it impossible
for him to hold his Lieutenancy, his seat in Parliament,
or his estate,—Cheshire Reformer.
Sir John Keane, who has well earned the title
of the Conqueror of Cabool, is brother of Sir Richard
Keane, Vice-Lieutenant of the county of Waterford, a
thorough and consistent Reformer.—Dublin Evening
Post.

CLEARING.—i find that in the little town of
Monasterevan and its vicinity, there have been levelled,
within a very short period, one hundred and fourteen
houses, or cabins, occupied by three hundred and thirty-
eight human beings, the majority of whom, as you may
guess, are Catholic labourers or tradesmen, who are
deprived of their only resting place and thrown house-
less on the world, without a probable chance of obtain-
ing a spot of land on which a hut could be erected, as
the planners of this exterminating system guard as cau-
tiously against the possibility of cabins being built on the
lands as if human beings were a hated and useless in-
cumbrance. The subjoined is confined to the locality
of the town of Monasterevan. Unfortunately the havoc
seems only beginning. Even now a numerous batch in
rural districts are under sentence, and while I write the
pick-axe and crowbar are hard at work.—Letter in the
Pilot.

LAW I

ENCE

COURT OF CHANCERY, Nor. 7.
DATIS V. CLOUGII.
The whole of the day was occupied with the further
arguments in this part-heard case, the question in
which related to the taxation of a solicitor's bill of costs.
The LORD CHANCELLOR postponed giving judgement
The Court did not rise till nearly five o'clock.

BAIL COURT, Nor. 7.
BAKE V. LAW—JOINT STOCK BANKS.
In this case, which was an action against the Imperial
Bank of England at Manchester, and which was tried a
few days ago, Mr. WIGHTMAN now applied for liberty
to enter a suggestion, stating that certain persons were
members of the firm, in order that execution might be
issued against them, pursuant to the provisions of the
Act for regulating copartnership and joint-stock banks
in England. The Act provided that the co-partnership
might be sued in the name of the registered officer, and
the effect was to charge all the registered partners.
The 12th section provided that judgment against the
registered officer should operate against the co-partner-
ship; and the 13th section provided that execution might
issue against any of the members registered at the time of
the contract. There wen no precedents to be found
fOr this application, because no instances had arisen in
which it had been necessary to proceed against members
of joint-stock banks until the present. The affidavits
stated that Mr. Law was the registered officer, and set
forth an authorised copy of the list of members of the
Company. "
His LORDSHIP granted a rule nisi.
THE QUEEN V. THE REV. JOHN PRESTON REYNOLDS.
_ _ .

Sir F. PoLLocx applied to his Lordship on behalf
of the Rev. Thomas Hinde, who had been appointed by
the Bishop of Ely to the readership of the borough of
Bury, for a mandamus against the Rev. John Preston
Reynolds, commanding him to restore the parish books
and the parish chest to the custody and possession of the
said Rev. T. Hinde ; and also to admit him to the pul-
pit of the church, in order that he might perform the
religious duties belonging to the readership. The real
question was whether the Town Council had the right
to appoint to the readership, and whether it was not in-
cumbent on them to have sold the ecclesiastical right to
nominate to this preferment ; and a vacancy having oc-
curred before the sale took place, whether it did not be-
long to the Bishop of the diocese to nominate. Under
an old charter certain lands were granted to the Cor-
poration of Bury, and the appointment was vested in
them. By section 139 of the Municipal Reform Act,
all Corporations having ecclesiastical preferments were
compelled to sell all such preferments as might be in
their gift, the object being undoutbedly to prevent the
unseemliness of a canvass taking place for the sacred
office of a Minister of the Church. The Corporation
of Bury, however, notwithstanding this provision,
abstained from selling the right of nomination ; and a va-
cancy having occurred, the Town Council assembled,
and appointed Mr. Reynolds. On the other hand, the
Bishop of Ely being advised that the nomination rested
with him, appointed the Rev. Mr. Hinde. If there was
any doubt as to the right of the Bishop to appoint, he
(Sir F. Pollock) submitted that it was completely re-
moved by the Ist and 2d Victoria, c. 31, which was
an Act to facilitate the sale of Church patronage. Mr.
Reynolds, with a Committee of the Town Council,
went to the parish church, carried away the iron chest,
containing the registers, &e., took possession of the
keys, and excluded Mr. Hinde, who could not obtain
the custody of the muniments, to which he was entitled
under the 32d Geo. 111., e. 146, c. 5, unless the
Court interfered by mandamus. After the Learned
Gentleman had submitted to the Court several argu-
ments in support of his application,
His LORDSHIP granted a rule to show cause.
THE QUEEN V. THE CORPORATION OF COVENTRY.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved for a rule to show
cause why a mandamus should not be directed to the
Mayor and Common Council of the City of Coventry,
requiring them to execute a bond to Mr. Carter, to
secure to him two annuities to which he was entitled
under the Municipal Reform Act, or compensation for
the loss of his offices as Town Clerk and Clerk to the
Justices. He moved this on the authority of the Bridge-
water and Carmarthen cases.—Rule nisi granted.

His LORDSHIP then proceeded with the Nisi Prius
cases.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Nov. 7.

HOWELL V. BRODIE.-PORTMAN-MARKET (PADDING-
ION.)
This case occupied the greater part of the day. It
was an action of assumpsit for work and labour done,
brought by a builder against the defendant, on ac-
count of the erection of Portman-market. It seems
that a Mr. Thomas Wilson projected the market—the
expense first calculated at about 25,0001., but it was
afterwards found that it would amount to nearer
50,0001. Mr. Brodie embarked in the concern, taking
a share in it, and advancing many thousands for the
expense. Mr. Wilson, a few years ago, became bank-
rupt, and the action was brought to recover the arrears
of the building account—about 3,0001. The verdict
was for defendant. •

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr. Ser-
geant Talfourd) now showed cause against a rule ob-
tained by Mr. Sergeant Wilde for a new trial.
At a late hour the arguments were postponed.
PEARSON V. MILLS.
In this case the rule for a new trial was refused.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Nor. 7.
(Sittings in Banco.)
BLAIN V. DANIELS.
This action was tried before Mr. Baron Maule at the
late Liverpool Assizes, when the Jury returned a ver-
dict for the plaintiff, with 6,0001. damages.
Mr. ALEXANDER now moved for a rule nisi for a new
trial, on the ground that the verdict was against evi-
dence. The plaintiffs were large merchants in Liver-
pool, and they brought their action to recover compen-
sation in damages for neglect on the part of the defen
dant, who had an established Agency House in Canton.
In the early part of 1836 the plaintiffs sent out orders
for large quantities of different kinds of teas to be pur-
chased by the defendant. They were specific in their
orders as to the quality of the teas, and if
they were not to be procured, the defendant
was to remit the amount of money to England
in bills. That year turned out to be a very bad
one in China, and the defendant could not obtain the
qualities of teas ordered. Acting with good faith, and
according to the best of his discretion, he purchased
such teas as he could procure, and sent them over. A
large quantity of it was so bad that the plaintiffs at
once rejected it, and for the balance remaining in the
hands of the defendant they brought the action. The
jury, upon the evidence, were of opinion that the de-
feidant had no right to depart from the strict orders of
the plaintiffs. The Learned Gentleman referred to a
long correspondence between the parties, and contended
that the defendant, upon the whole of it, was acting as
a commission agent, and, if he acted to the best of his
discretion, he was not liable in damages.
The COURT did not think there was any reason for
disturbing the verdict.—Rule refused.
LEWIS V. MYERS.
This was an action arising out of circumstances al-
ready known to the public. The defendant is a surgeon
residing in the neighbourhood of Fitzroy-square, and
was sometime since accused of assisting the wife of a
person named Pow to procure his death by administering
ardent spirits, or other deleterious liquids. The Coro-
ner's Inquest returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder,"
and it appeared that the defendant proceeded to Bou-
logne, and remained there until Mrs. Pow had been
tried and acquitted, when he returned to this country,
and stood his trial at the Old Bailey, where he was
acquitted upon the opening of the case for the prosecu-
tion, without any question having been left to the Jury.
The present action was brought by the person who
acted as attorney for Mrs. Pow, and, as it was alleged,
also for the defendant, for remuneration for his profes-
sional services on the inquest and at the trial. The
plaintiff's bill amounted to 481.25. 2d.
Mr. Platt and Mr. Clarkson appeared for the plaintiff,
and Mr. Miller for the defence.
The principal topic urged for the defendant was, that
the plaintiff was the attorney of Mrs Pow, and had un-
dertaken not to make any claim on the defendant for
services performed for him. In support of this state-
ment, evidence was adduced to show that a sum of 5001.,
or thereabout, belonging to Mrs. Pow, was lodged in
the plaintiff's hands, and that he had deducted the sum
of 2491. for services performed at the inquest and trial.
A person who attended at the inquest also proved that,
upon the defendant's expressing his surprise at finding a
counsel in attendance, the plaintiff said, " It is nothing
to you—you will not have to pay for it ;" or words to
that effect.
The Jury, after some hesitation, returned a verdict for
the defendant.