The Sun.
London, England, 1837-09-25 00:00:00

IRELAND.

- DUBLIN, SEPT. 23.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE LATE
MURDER AT SLIGO.

The Mail of last night contains what purports to be a
epee'al investigation into the barbarous transaction before a
bench of Mag'eetrates ; but it is only doing justice to our
contemporary to Fti!.e tl.at the Mei/ does not appear to
have identified itsi if wit,t, Qr given tho slightest credence to
the monstrous nrd improbable story which has evident!)
bent' got up by deeper and more designing men than the os-
tensible prosecutor in the case. The following is, the re-
port as it appears in the
.columns of our contemporary :
A special investigation was held at Tubbercorry, county
Sligo, before the following Justices :—James Little, Chief
Ma7istree. county Cavan ; Major O'Hara, John Ffolliott,
Wood, Jos. M. NI-Donnell, and
William S. Trace% James
Charles .1. M•Dermott, ;',,n
:qr. Little, the Chairman, said—We Ilan met here for
the purpose of investigating a matter of the nu.;!!: serious
importance. and one deeply affecting the character of' a
clergyman' of the Roman Catholic persuasion. Mr. Little
addressed the Rev. Mr. Spelman, and said—Mr. Spelman,
if you are. not already aware, it is necessary to apprise
you that you stand charged with being accessary to the
taking away the life of a fellow-creature. The charge
preferred against you is, that you were present, aiding and
abetting, when the deceased Thomas Allen was bound
with cores, in the most cruel manner, with M'Kenzie,
the prosecutor, and violently forced into a waste house,
where their faces were muffled, and from thence carried
away into a wild mountain, and there kept for six suc-
cessive days and nights, without' food, until the deceased
Allen paid thereby the for-reit of his life, from impeiton-
went and the wounds inflicted upon him, M'Kenzie, the
survivor, will detail the particulars of this melancholy case.
The informations were then read, upon which Mr, Little
asked Mr. Spelman if lie had any thing to say in his de-
fence, as he should now have a fair opportunity of doing
so, and having any witnesses examined he might choose to
produce. •
Mr. Spelman then said something which could not be
collected.
Mr. J. M4Donnell said there was a great inconsistency
in the statement of M'Kenzie in his informations now, and
the evidence he gave on the Coroner's inquest ; that then
he swore there were only four men present, and he now
swears against the Rev. Mr. Spelman.
Colonel Perceval said he dissented from Mr. M4Don-
nell's statement, and requested to be sworn, and give his
testimony upon oath.
Colonel Perceval, M.P., sworn—States that *Kenzie
had named five, and not four persons, as having actually
struck him ; that there were many there whom he knew,
but who did not strike him ; NI4 Kenzie made this state-
ment before the Coroner, and he (M'Kenzie) did not men-
tion the names of any of those who did not strike him ;
this circumstance was strongly impressed on his (Colonel
Perceval's) mind, M'Kenzie having told witness of it. when
he went to see him the•day before the inquest, and he then
distinctly stated that Mr. Spelman was present with the
party who maltreated him and Allen.
Mr. Little called upon M'Kenzie to state distinctly what
his charge was against Mr. Spelman, when his informations
were then read :
" County of Sligo, "By James Little, Esq., one of her
to wit. Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said
County.
" The informations of Thomas M'Kenzie, Carowntubber,
in the parish of Achonry, barony of Liney, and county of
Sligo, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, and
examined, seith, that on the 12th day of August last de-
ponent, with the late Thomas Allen, deceased, were em-
ployed on behalf of Mr. Cooper and Colonel Perceval to
conduct a freeholder to Sligo election ; they (deponent and
said Allen) proceeded to where the said freeholder, Edward
Gouldrick, lived, and upon returning back, at Cloonacool, in
said county, deponent and said Allen were met by a riotous
mob of persons, consisting of about thirty, and in a few
minutes afterwards said mob increased to about one
hundred ; when deponent and said Allen first met the said
mob, the car (which conveyed them) was stopped and
seized by one of the mob ; several of them seized deponert
and said Allen, and dragged them out of the car and beat
them severely, among whom deponent recognized Daniel
O'Connor, Denis Preston, two other Prestons, called Paddy
and Dan ; Charles Durkin, O'Connor (thinks Jack is his
name), M'Gretticot, Paddy Tarpy, and his two sons ; the
father said that his (deponent's) head should be cut off;
Jack Wynne and Luke Wynne (his son)—the father
said (deponent) should be murdered long ago ; George
Ormsby and son were of the party ; deponent does
not know the son's name ; Patrick Tuam,
Rochford ; thinks his name is William, and the
Rev. Mr. Spelman, were also of the party ; deponent
would know several others of' the said mob if he saw them
again ; deponent and said Allen were hauled by said mob
into a waste house, were severely beaten, and there remained
for some time; when the said Rev. Mr. Spelman and others
came in to see them ; and Mr. Spelman having examined
their wounds, deponent begged to know if they would be
liberated ; said Mr. Spelman replied they would, towards
evening, and in a few minutes after the said Mr. Spelman
said, "Boys, do your duty" (addressing himself to the
rioters ;) whereupon deponent and said Allen were muffled,
vviat their faces _covered so that they could not see,
and wne also tied, and then further beaten to a merci-
less degree by said mob, and deponent was stabbed several
times in the thigh with a small sharp instrument, and
then dragged c 5 to the mountain, where they, the said
mob, put them into d waste house, and from that into ano-
ther, where they remained during the night ; and towards
daylight deponent anti said Alien loosed themselves and es-
caped a considerable distance, but were taken and dragged
off to the mountain by some of said mob; among those who
took them (deponent and said Allen). deponent recognised
three M'Eutires, two M'Carracks, and Mick Reynolds, of
Leitrim ; knows the persons of M'Entires and 1114Carricks,
but does not know their Christian names ; would know se-
veral of the remainder, if lie saw them again, who muffled
and tied them again, and left them beside a rock or hill for
some time, where they attempted a second escape, but
were re taken, and again dragged back to the mountain,
being muffled and tied as before, and then thrown into a
sated pit, where they (deponent and said Allen) remained
for two days and nights ; being then exhausted from
wounds, fatigue, hunger, and cold, were unable to travel,
but were carried partly, anti partly dragged to another
waste house, where they were discovered by Dominick
Wynne, who, with the assistance of Luke Brennan, brought
them to Tubbercorry on a horse, where hen* sad
Thomas
Allen died from the effects of said outrage, and deponent
with difficulty survived.
Sworn before tne this day of September, 1837."
M'Kenzie being called a second time, Mr. Little ad-
dressed him and said, you have nothing to do but fairly and
honestly state what happened to you or occurred.
Mr. M'Donnell said to witness, you left Mr. Spelman
wholly out of the examinations upon the inquest. I put
the question to you at the time, and you did not charge
him then.
Colonel Perceval here said—M'Kenzie, at the Inquest,
named five who struck him. Among them were two of
the name of O'Connor. He said he was struck by others,
whom he would know if he saw again, but whose names he
did not know, or did not recollect them. There were
many present in the mob who did not strike him. lie
knew some of them, and could name them. There was a
circumstance connected with the case which made him
(Colonel Perceval) recollect well M'Kenzie's testimony,
nameiv, that the day before the Inquest was held,
M'Kenzie told him that the Priest Spelman• was of the
party, but did not strike him. M'Kenzie was not called
upon at the lequtst to name those who did not strike him.
Arthur Parkes, a sub-constable, was then sworn. Recol-
lects. the Nth of last month. Saw Mr. M'Hugh, Parish
Priest, who said there were two men who were greatly beaten
in Clona,lool. Witness then got a car to go for the two men,
who had been nearly killed ; witness and his comrade went
on ; they met a woman and asked her where were the men
who were beaten ; she said they were in Luke Brannan's
house or premises : saw a great gathering of people at
Luke Brannan's door outside ; they were in a row ; saw
them stooping, as if lifting up stones ; the carman swore
s, they are lifting up stones—l'll go no fertlier ;" "don't
be a,:aid,' said witness, " we are with you—drive on ;" he
refused, and would ton go further ; witness took the eel--
bine, and denve the horse throe:eh the crowd, close to the
door ; witness went into the house ; there was a number of
persons in the house ; saw Mr. Spelman in the house,
whispered to two or three men that were in it ; witness
asked " where were the men that were beat ?" " what need
you care," said the man outside the door ; Mr. Spelman
then turned round to witness, and asked " what brought
!slut there ?" and appeared to be very angry at the
" Mr. M'fiugh sent him down o
time • witness replied
see if the men were in need of a doctor at the time ;"
Spelman sa;s4 " Eh ?" and nodded his head, and witness
followed him ; met tvitness's comrade outside thti door,
and asked him the same question—what brougiit him
there?—his con-az:de repheti he eznie on duty ; lie said he
heard men were beat there, and his otliccr ordered bim to
come there, and make the proper report, and Alr,
also bid him come. The mob, or " gathering," was thou
closing in on witness and comrade, and Mr. Spelman said
" Don't be afraid, lads—you shan't be towbed--Only I am

hero, very probably you might be badly treated." Still
witness was not content, and Mr. Spelman said, " don't be
afraid, you shan't be touched—there is no man here who
has more influence than I have in the parish." Witness
said to his comrade, "don't be afraid, I have a gentleman's
word for it." Witness said he knew the whole of the pa, ty,
addressing Mr. Spelman, and another man said, " you don't
'mow me." Witue.s asked Mr. Spelman to see the prisoners,
and he said, I will. He then spoke to two men, and said,
Parkes, neither you nor I will be allowed to see them. The man
then replied to witness, we will not let them go till ihe elec-
non is over. Witness said it was a bad way to treat them ;
they might.be dead before the election was over. Mr. Spel-
man said nothing to it. Mr. Spelman then told witness the
conduct of Allen and M'Kenzie, and said it was in con-
sequence of their shouting and liuzzaing, and - having
struck a man with a pistol, that they were taken, and
'witness said there was a man up, who struck the driver.
of their car with a loaded whip, and witness then drove
off; witness says that if Allen end M'Kenzie were in the
house they must have heard them ; witness was under
the impression that they were in the house at the time,
but since is led to understand they were in the barn, or
back of the stable ; heard from *Kenzie and others in
Cloonacool, that they were in the barn ; parted with Mr.
Spelman, and drove off towards home, and was followed
by a man who said, Mr. Spelman would bring witness aed
comrade word whether the prisoners were in need of a
doctor; Mr. Spelman followed witness, and said he was ex-
amiuing those men, and said they w e:e in need of a doc-
tor ; he described the wounds of each of them, Allen
aria M'Kenzie, and said Allen was more beaten than the
other ; well, said witness, a doctor will not come here,
ceeept we come with him ; Mr. Spelman then said, you
have no business to come here to irritate the people, for
those are a people determined to do their duty ; witness
took his leave and drove off ; the word was---(4 turn out,
turn out," by a great mob, as he, witness, thought to
obstruct them, but they let them pass ; witness and Mr.
M'Hugh got a doctor, vis:, Tut:troy, and Nr. Al‘ Hugh, sent
him on his own horse to visit the men that were beat.'
By Mr. Spehnan—Were you in the house that day ?
I was.
Andrew sub constable, sworn—Says his comrade
parkes was in the house that day. Saw his comrade inside
the door of the house ; witness is sure of this. Thore were
several mobs followed them on the roads. They were
coming from different quarters. They came but a short
distance from Brannan. Thinks there were about 100
about Brannan's, and from 30 to 40 about every door in
the village. The people did use menacing language ; they
said there were two men boat there, and what was that to
them (witnesses)? They would not let them go until after
the *erection was over. Saw the crowd which intimidated
witness and comrade, It was owing to the kindly way in
which witness and he took the people, that they were not
ill treated, and not to the ungentlemanly manner of Mr.
Spelman. Mr. Spelman did address witness in an ungen-
tlemanly manner, he having a whip in his hand, with the
thong of it wound round his wrist, and asked him, in an
angry tone of voice by what authority he came there ?
Witness thinks, from his (Mr. Spelman's) manner, he was
the first in the crowd to obstruct him in his duty until his
comrade Parkes said that Mr. *Hugh sent him there.
Witness said they merely came to make inquiry after the
beaten men. Witness said he had a just right to be afraid
of the mob. Witness stood for a few moments.
Major O'Hara—How long did the whole last? About
fifteen minutes from the time witness got off the ear, or
under it ; at Mr. Spelman's first Appearance he was the
very first man to obstruct him in his duty ; witness told
Mr. Spelman, on his asking him in an angry manner what
brought him there, that he came on duty to find out the
nature of the outrage, and to report it, which, if he did
not do, he would be reported himself; asked Mr. Spelman
would he allow witness to see the prisoners ? Mr. Spel-
man said he did not know could be influence the people to
do so, but would ask leave of them ; some said they would
give him liberty, others said they would not.
Mr. Little—What happened after that ? The crowd
said they would allow no person to see them ; the carman
was getting uneasy, and witness and comrade followed him,
and drove off ; the crowd raised a shout ; after witnesses
drove about twenty or twenty.five perches a man came
after them, and, calling on them to stop, came up, and said,
Mr. Spelman told them to stop, that he had got liberty to
see the prisoners, and would come uack to tell witness and
say whether they had need of a doctor or not ; in about ten
minutes Mr. Spelman came up and two men with him, and
said he had seen the prisoners, that they had several cuts
on their heads, but not mortal ; it, was Mr. Spelman's opi-
nion they were in need of a doctor ; witness said, from the
rumour of the people being beat, a doctor would not come
without the police to protect him ; Mr. Spelman then said,
do not come back here irritating the minds of the people,
for I am certain they are a people that will do their duty ;
witness bid Mr. Spelman good bye, and then drove into
Tubbecorry.
Mr. M'Donnell—Where did you meet Mr. Spelman first?
Four or five yards from Luke Brannan's door ; it was after
Parkes spoke to Mr. Spelman ; witness did not know of
anything to have occurred to change Mr. Spelman's tem-
p.,r or manner from the time Parkes saw him to the time
witness met him.
Mr. M'Donnell then said, Mr. Spelman was kindly dis-
posed towards witness, and asked how witness could recon-
cile his statement now to his former saying concerning the
whip, and his rolling it round his hand, at the time when
Mr. Spelman spoke out, and said, what brought him (wit-
ness there ?—Parkes having replied that Mr. *Hugh sent
hint there—

Mr. Little—Did witness see Mr. Spelman before Parkcs
delivered Mr. M'Hugh's message?—At the same time.
Mr. M Donnell—Did Parkes see Mr. Spelman before
witess (Fife) saw him-?—fle did ; told him that the Rev.
Mr. M'Hugh sent him there.

Mr. M'Donnell to Parkes (who was then called in)—
Do you recollect your answers at the Coroner's Inquest ?
Witness said he was sure Mr. Spelman's influence saved
himself and comrade from being badly treated by the mob ;
the first thing witness saw in Mr. Spelman's conduct was,
asking him in such an angry and passionate manner what
brought you here (twieg beforee' witness could answer him) ;
witness never recollects being in conversation with Mr.
Spelman before that day ; witness cannot say what the con-
sequcece would be only for Mr. Spelman's interference.

Doctor Tuoiny was next examined—His evidence went
to show that Mr. M'Hugh, the parish priest, sent him on
his own mare, and he brought dressings for the wounds of
Allen and M•Kenzie ; that he met Spellman, the Catholic
curate, accompanied him, and endeavoured to get him per-
mitted to see the wounded man, but that a stranger same
to them, and angrily told them that they should not see the
prisoner:, and appeared more hostile to father Spelman than
even to himself.

The species of fruit most abundant in Covent-
garden market on Saturday were. plums, more numerous
than even apples and pears. The prices were unusually
low, ranging from Id. to 3d. per pint. Mushrooms were
plentiful. and rather cheaper than last week. There were
a few walnuts sold at 2s. per hundred. Currants are now
getting scarce ; on Saturday they sold at from 4d. to 6d.
per pint. Onions, cucumbers, turnips, and carrots were
more than usually plentiful, especially the first. There
was a much larger supply of elderberries than last week.

By the Newcastle Improvement Act, the harbour-
master is empowered to visit all steam-boats leaving that
port, and to examine and report the state of the machinery,
to the Mayor, who has the power to call a Jury to
examine into the seaworthiness of the vessel, and, if danger-
ous, to prevent its being used.—Tyne Mercury.
The steam-shin called the Great Western has ar-
rived in the river 'Thames, for the purpose of receiving
her engines. She was built at Bristol by Mr. Pattison,
and measures about 1,320 tons, old tonnage. When first
launched she drew eight feet eight inches water abaft, and
seven feet eight inches water forward ; with GOO tons ( f
coils on board, she draws eleven feet three inches water in
the river Thames, or about eleven feet at sea, which shows
that the displacement of the first two feet four inches
above the light water line is equal to 600 tons, and, as she
may be safely put down to 15 feet water, the next four
feet will displace, at least, 1,200 tons more, making her
total displacement 1,800 tons at the least, which re iy be
thus distributed :-500 tons for machinery ; 800 tons for
fuel ; and the remaining :500 tout for additional stores,
merchandise, and passengers. She has now the greater
part of her stores on board, as cables, anchors, sails, &c.,
which of course leaves nearly the whole 500 tons for mer-
chandise and passengers. She is fitting up in a very com-
modious manner fur the convenience of passengers, The
saloon will be very lofty and airy, and the state rooms
(sleeping cabins) are large and convenient. The paddle
or main beam.' are formed of four pleau; of timber, each
12 or 13 incite; square, confined together at the ends, and
Separated to the distinau of six or saven inches in the
ndidie of their length, on the i‘aino principle as the bow
beams or Mr, Smart. Her size, when teaa. by herself,
does not appear so great as it really is, and it is only wheii
on board, or seen alongside her vessels, whose size is
known, that her magnitude is appreei44,f.l,.., She is nearly
as long as the large steam vessel Victoria, now biiilfhp in
the ricer Thames, but is not so wide nor so deep as that
ifailaTitze,

Animals' Frlcnd Societkl.4di,agtelz?tififzi.tvdi;onvar.:
tion bf 100/, bas, we are glau.
List week its agents caused John Rozear liu°d
Mr. Thompson, at Dover, for cruelty to an ass ; Chan-
cellor's Chelsea omnibus driver, to he fined at Queen's-
square, by Mr. White ; Charles Drake, - Gilbert, and
the cabman, 1,521 ; also the two Kennington omnibus
drivers of Ball and Hedges to be heavily fined, by Messrs.
Trani anal Jeremy, for cruelty to horses with raw necks, and
furious driving,

NATIONAL LOAN FUND.

So numerous have been the projects within the past two
or three years, to which public attention has been directed
through the medium of the press, in the shape of prospec-
tuses., and the representations put forth by Joint-Stock
Companies that we are apt to look with some degree of
suspicion ow each new project which presents itself;
.whi:e
we cautiot conceal our surprise that so few comparatively
should. succeed in obtaining public support. True it is,
that a nominal capital (nominal, in the true sense of the
word) is assumed, a board of direction formed, solicitors'
instructions given, and advice taken, the several- officers
duly installed, and the company may indeed be said to be
constituted in every particular but one--that of the actual
.subs.cription of capital. The many vague speculatious
thus introduced, have from the extravagance, of the ideas
of the projectors, or from their being of a nature calculated
alone for individual enterprise, deterred the public from
joining them, and hence the ill success which has at-
tended their endeavours of inducing the public to em-
bark. This observation, however, will rot apply to
companies formed for working Mines, for Joint-
Stock Bank,, for Railway undertakings, or Assurance
Companies, where individual capital and enterprise
is not co-equal with the importance and magnitude of the
undertaking. In instances of this nature, we find that a
large subscribed capital is indispensable, and a combination
of interests and talent equ Illy necessary to carry out sue-
cessfaVy the objects for which the Association is formed,
and thus, Joint Stock Banks, Railways, Insurance Compa-
nies, and in many instances the working of mines are carried
on by public companies with advantage.
Our attention has been most particularly directed to the
consideration of the subject of the employment of capital
tinder 4 " Joint -Stook" management, front the perusal of
the prospectus of a Company, bearing the title of " The
National Loan Fund, Life Assurance, and Reversionary
Interest Society," with a capital of 500,0001., divided into
50,000 shares, on which a deposit of 2i. per share, or
100,0001. is to be made—thus establishing a large working ca-
pital iu the onset, with powers to inceeese it, as the prospects
of the Company may justify. The advantages attendant
on L:fe Assurance require no comment from us, providing
as they do for those who might otherwise be without pro-
vision, or unable to protect themselves, and this effected by
a comparatively trilling annual payment. Although nume-
rous are the institutions of this nature, and that they have
multiplied of late years, a reference to our columns will
attest—although there is a progressive advancement thus
made, in the observance of prudence and ecenotny
its exercise naturally engenders, we yet find that those who
avail themselves of the advantages form but a small mino-
rity—and to render this mode of investment more popular,
to render its application more general and practicniiy useful
to the middle classes, appears to us to be the object of the
promoters of this Company. It is justly observed, that to
those " who arc uncertain of the future means out of which
to make good the payment of the annual premium, or sub-
ject themselves, with the loss of their policy, to the wort&
cation of having spent their money in vain," obstacles present
themselves, and prevent many who would otherwise gladly
avail themselves of these advantages, apprehensive of their in-
ability, at a future period, to make the required payment neces-
sary for securing the benefit to be derived from the policy. The
proposition of this Company is, to meet the circumstance to
which we have adverted—that of the-inability of the party
to continue the annual payment—wherebyhe would, under
ordinary circumstances, forfeit his interest ; but which, in
this instance, would be available to him, inasmuch, that to
the extent of two-thirds of the amount of premiums paid,
the institution becomes a " Savings Bank." It is not our
province to enter into the details embodied in the prospec-
tus of this Company, as to the peculiar advantages which
from its novel principle are inferred ; our object being
merely to direct the attention of our readers to the import-
ant question of the fitness of the undertaking to the esta-
blishment of a Joint Stock Company. The present ap-
pears to us to be one (the object of which is legitimate)
well calculated to be of use and importance to the com-
munity at large, and as such deserving of encouragement.
We have already occupied more space than we can well
afford, but the subject admits of much being said, and to
which we may have occasion to return on an early occa-
sion.—Muting Journal.

Numerous parties of emigrants from S%vabia hare
lately been passing through Saxony, on their way to Po-
land, where the Government encourages them to settle.
They are in general wretchedly poor ; the only wealth they
carry with them consists of their hands and their—children.

The city of Ghent has now completed its iron rail-
road, which will be opened on the 28th of September. The
section from Louvain to Tirlemont was opened on Thursday.

Among the arrivals at Frankfort are—Monsignore
Capaccini, Under-Secretary of State to the Pope, from
Rome; the reigning Duke and Duchess of Nassau ; the
Duke de Caylus, from Paris, &c.

The University of Leyden has just sustained a great
loss, by the death of M. Van der Eyk, Emeritus Professor
of Natural History.

The paving of Ludgate-hill, on the plan of 'raising
the edge of the stones, instead of laying them down flat,
goes on with great spirit. This mode was first brought
into use on Holborn-hill, some years ago, and has been
found of great assistance to horses in ascending that accli-
vity. The disadvantages attending it are that should an
animal stumble and fall in going down the hill, the sharp
edges of the stones arc sure to cut his knees very severely,
and in frosty weather the ridges are apt to become so many
receptacles of ice, thus greatly increasing the chances of
slipping. The present attempt on Ludgate-hill does not scan
to be so well executed as that in Holborn, as far as regards
strength and durability. We believe Fleet-street is about
to be re-paved on the same principle. The existing pavement
has been down about eight years, and is in many places in
great need of repair.

In consequence of Mr. Fector having lost his elec-
tion for Dover, he refused to give the plate and other prizes
usually given by him, or even to interfere in the matter,
leaving it to Mr. Rice, who succeeds him. Mr. Rice re-
fuses to interfere in the business, and the Dover races are
consequently likely to be discontinued.

The Postmaster-General has granted a day mail to
Chester, which will commence running early next week.
Captain Beechey, R.N., in her Majesty's steam-
vessel African, is now surveying the ports of Donaghadee
and Portpatrick harbour, as well as Lam, Loch Ryan, and
Belfast Lough, for the purpose of giving the Admiralty a
clear notion how those places stand in point of eligibility,
and the fitness of each for a packet station.
STAMP DUTIES ON THE TRANSFER OF SHARES
IN PUBLIC COMPANIES —There can, we think, be no doubt
that the heavy stamp duty on transfers of Stock in public
companies is impolitic, if not extensi‘ely onerous and un-
just. The ad valorem duty on the transfer of shares should
either be altogether done away with, or at least equalized.
The duty at present levied is much higher upon small trans-
fers than upon the lamer ones. Connected with this sub-
ject the Economist of Saturday last has the following re-
marks :—" There are two lights in which the trans!er of
shares in a public company may be viewed. In the first
place, these companies are formed under the common law
of ?artnership, by which persons may join together in any
business, without any written agreement, and A may go
out and B come into the concern in his stead without any
stamp at all ; and the law would recognise the validity of
the arrangement. But if A and B wished to have their
bargain more distinctly defined by a written agreement; that
agreement, to be of any legal use, must be stamped ; and
the stamp required would seem to be the common agree-
ment stamp, which is the same whatever be the value of
the transfer. In the second place, if A sells his interest in
a concern to B, it may be viewed as a transfer of property,
upon which an ad valorem duty is payable ; and the ques-
tion is, whether this latter, though the common practice, is
the one absolutely necessary. From a communication
which we have received, it seems to be the opinion of the
Commissioners of Stamps that all transfers may be made
upon a twenty-five, or at any rate upon a thirty shilling
stamp. We infer that the Commissioners consider that the
agreement stamp is all that is required ; or, at all events,
that the ad ralo.'eni duty does not apply to transfers of this
nature."

The General Steam Navigation Company's packet,
Caledonia, which left London on Sunday, the 11th inst., at
eight o'clock in the morning, anchored at New Werk, in
the Elbe, at eight o'clock on Monday evening, having made
zsel would have gone up to Ham-
burgh the same evening, but owing to the darkness of the
the
been P a
e6fT3egegtce i Id. 1 :36
11 h hours, the most rapid that has ever yet v
o t
night the pilot refused to go up the river before morning,
The cakdonia, whose interior arrangements are of a most
splendid description, is the same vessel which, in the fearful
storm of last ll.icember, owed her preservation to her excel-
lent gsmstruction and the skill of her Captain, at a time
when several ships wyrio wrecked close to her on the Eng-
lish coast. The great exertions made by this C.:Qmpany have
,justified our most sanguine expectations with respect to the
conveyance nf pods us well as of passengers and mails.
The latest advices from Lisbon announce that the
remonstrances of the British Minister had procured the
bei.;:ii.n) of General Bacon ; and that he was, at the time
of their depatturc, 4 a itor4 her IVlljesty's ship _Malabar.
O. W. Brakenbridge, Esq., cr;wen
5:00/. towards building a church at Clcvedon, flea.; 734,
and 4 14Ftb.cr S4TP.pf tnwardp an endowment for the
sii EtQn, Wirt.? joy given tho grquPd for the
site of l and 50h to the building rued,
ot
night, as gr. Sergeant Mereweather
was retpreing from the Wilts Conservative dinner in his
carriage, three men rPtilf4 put uPPn it, and commenced a
furious attack. The servant was ntvah injured by the biolvs
he received, but the Learned Sergeant escaped tititinqs

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL

BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY NIGHT.--Yesterday, the
morning's performances were a new oratorio, by Haeser,
called the T iumph of Faith, and a miscellaneous selection
of sacred music-- Previous to the oratorio, Mendelssohn
performed one of Sebastian Bach's organ fugues with con-
siderable effect. This was announced to take place at the
commencement of the second part, but the time wgs
changed, in order to enable him to leave Birmingham by the
half-past eleven o'clock morning mail for London, on his
route to Leipsic, where he is compelled to be by the end
of this month. The music of the oratorio is light and airy,
and has many prettinesses. The march and chorus in the
second part was a superior piece of composition, and was
listened to by the audience with much delight. Upon the
whole, the oratorio was successful, notwithstanding in some
parts there was a want of originality.
A selection of sacred music followed the oratorio, in which
Grisi, Albertazsi, Clara Novello, and others took part,
Handel's double chorus—" Immortal Lord of earth and
skies," was admirably performed both by the vocalists and
Instrumentalists, and was loudly applauded and encored.
The performances concluded with Handel's concluded with
Handel's chorus—'• God save the. Queen!'
In the evening there was a fancy ball at the Town-hall,
which was well attended. The total receipts of the festival,
it is said, do not amount to so much by a considerable sum
: s upon the last meeting. The reason assigned is—not
t at there has been a less atteru'a Ice,.but that the donations
have not been so great as formerly.