The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-15 00:00:00

FOREIGN MINER,

Cobre Copper, 26
Port Philip, 1*

BANKS.
4:lra and Ilissterman's, lim., 125/.
alliance (Lim.). 33
Ditto, issued at 20 pm., 23/
Australasia,
Ditto, new, 71/
British and Californian, lira., 5
European Bank, lira., in 14
Hindustan, thina, and J apanalim.), 25
Imperial Ottoman, 16/
London Bank of Mexico and S. America, lim., 8/
London Joint Stock, 46
Metropolitan and Provincial Bank, lira., ts
Standard of British South Africa, lira., 334:

DOCKS.

London and St. Katbarine, 65
MISCELLANEOUS.
Anglo-Mexican Mint, 161
City of London Real Property, lirn.,'2l
Credit Fonder and Mobilier of England,
Ditto, new,
Egyptian Corn. and Trading, Ihn., 411
International Financial Society, Um., 6
International i.and Credit. lim., 51
A ational Dincount Company, Rm., 141
Thames and Mersey Marine (Insurance), lim.,

GAS COMPANIES.—A Parliamentary return just
issued gives an account of the affairs of gas compa-
nies established by act of Parliament. The return shows
that, whatever their gas may be, their profits are good.
Although it is generally supplied at a lower rate now than
a few years ago, yet the'dividend paid in 1863, the latest
year in the return, was very commonly 10 per cent., and
in several instances companies have begun paying 3 or 4
per cent. more as back dividends, to bring up the payment
in their earlier years to the 10 per cent. The charge for
gas in London is returned as generally 4s. Gd. per 1,000
cubic feet, but where it is specified that cannel is supplied
the charge for that is Gs. The rates of charge range be-
tween 3s. and 4s. in various parts of the north of England,
and in Leicestershire, Derby, and Bristol ; and, on the
other hand, the rates in many towns are equal to or exceed
those of London-6s. 3d. at Bury St. Edmund's, 7s. at
Warwick.

THE PATENT OFFICE SCANDAL.—Yesterday after..
noon, the Lords' Committee appointed to inquire into the
defalcations of Mr. Edmunds, met to arrange their futuro
course of proceeding. It was agreed that the committee
should hold its deliberations in private.

A letter from Italy announces that a high law
authority at the Court of Catanzaro was lately
carried off with all his family by brigands, but that
the carabincers, sent immediately in pursuit, suc-
ceeded in rescuing them.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT I LAW INT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS DAY.
The SPEAKER did not take the chair till 25 minutes
past 12.

PETITIONS.

Mr. Cox presented a petition in favour of the opening of
the British Museum and other public institutions on Sun-
days ; also another from certain Indian officers, praying
for a redress of their grievances.
Mr. LEFETRE presented a petition in favour of the bill
for amending the law of libel.
RIOTS IN IRELAND.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH said to-morrow he would ask a
question whether certain observations of an Irish judge that
certain Roman Catholics who had taken part in a riot
should be prosecuted, while the Protestants were allowed
to escapa, had come to the knowledge of tho Government,
and whether they intended to take measures for tho im-
partial administration of justico in Ireland.
PUBLIC-HOUSES ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr. COX said ho should postpone proceeding with this
bill, which stood on the paper for to-morrow, until that
day week.

JURIES IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL.

Sir C. O'LOUGHLIN moved the second reading of the

bill, the object of which was to settle the law at present in
existence with regard to the powers of the judge to dis-
charge in criminal cases when they were unable to agree to
a verdict. One of the enactments of the bill was to enable
judges to order refreshment to a jury after they had retired
to consider their verdict. At present the jury were locked
up without meat, drink, or other refreshment, fire and
candle light excepted. This he considered the remains of
a very barbarous law, and if anything could show the ne-
cessity for such a change as he proposed he had read in one
of the newspapers lately that at a trial during the present
assizes a jury was locked up for 30 hours without refresh-
ment. Another amendment he proposed was that juries
in cases of felony should be allowed to separate, as was
now allowed in cases of misdemeanour; and he further
proposed to enable judges to discharge juries before evi-
dence, and to postpone a trial. There were other clauses
in the bill declaring that a judge might discharge a jury in
case of illness of one of the jurors, which he believed was
the law at present, but he also proposed that the judge
should have the power to discharge a jury without giving
their verdict after they had been. detained together for a
reasonable time. There were various other matters of
detail which could be dealt with in committee, and he was
firmly of opinion that if the bill became law a great im-
provement in the system at present in existence would be
the result.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opposed the bill on the

gaound that it was merely declaratory of the existing law,
and also because he considered it a piece of unnecessary
legislation. He further• opposed the measure because the
Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench and the Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas were unfavourable to it.

There was, however, one part of it which he approved,
and that was the allowing juries, after they had
been locked up, a certain amount of refreshment
in civil as well as criminal cases, but that could be
effected by the introduction of another short bill.
He highly objected to the power being given to the judge
to discharge prisoners where sufficient evidence was not
produced. It would be no doubt very convenient where
any Government or other trial broke down to make an
application to the judge to discharge the jury, and thus
enable the prosecutors to try the case again, but he consi-
dered such a proposal open to very grave constitutional
objections, and he for one was opposed to such a pro-
ceeding. The bill, on the whole, was so full of
objections that he, trusted his learned friend would not
press it to a second reading, but that he would
withdraw it and introduce another measure of a more
limited extent, one.giving the power to the judge to order
refreshment to juries whilst considering their verdict.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH thought that common juries wore
treated in a very unfair and unjust manner. They were
at present locked up for hours without any kind of refresh-
ment, in addition to which they were generally persons
engaged in trade, and, in fact, were the only persons en-
gaged in trying a cause who received no remuneration for
their services. It was comparatively but a short time that
prosecutors and witnesses were paid their expenses, and
he supposed these matters were only to be arrived at by
degrees ; but he hoped the day was not far distant when
common jurors would be paid like other people for their
trouble, loss, and the inconvenience to which they were
put to on serving on juries.

Mr. LONGFIELD counselled his friend to withdraw
he bill, after what had fallen for the Solicitor-General.

Sir C. O'LOUGHLIN assented to the suggestion, and
,he bill was withdrawn.

METROPOLITAN MAIN DRAINAGE EXTENSION

BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
CHELSEA BRIDGE.

Sir J. SHELLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to
abolish the toll taken for foot passengers passing over or
on Chelsea Bridge.
The bill was brought in and read a first time.
SPIRIT DUTIES..

Mr. PEEL moved for a copy of report of 33oard of In-
land Revenue to the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury,
dated Feb. 28, 1865, regarding the rate of the spirit duty.
—Ordered.
The house then adjourned.

(This Day.)

COURT OP BANKRUPTCY.
IN RE MATTEEWS--TITE MULLER REWARD.

Upon enquiry this morning it has been ascertained that
as yet no communication has been addressed to the officials
of the Court of Bankruptcy upon the subject of the £lOO
received by Mr. Beard (as attorney to the assignees under
the estate) from the Government. Mr. Beard has ad-
dressed letters to Messrs. Robarts and Co., and to the North
London Railway Company, and this morning a reply was
received from the secretary to the railway company. It
sets forth that the matter would be submitted to Sir R.
Mayne, and upon his decision the company will act. It is
the intention of the assignees to hold the money for the
present until some questions are settled, and the day for
next examination being Friday, the 17th instant at 12
o'clock.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--This Day.

-~-

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST A SCHOOL As-
SISTANT.—John Hughes, described as a school assistant of
the Model Lodging-house, Westminster, charged with
grossly assaulting a servant to W. Dolby, engraver, of
the Regent's-quadrant, was again brought before Mr.
Tyt Whitt.

Mr. Lewis, sen., of Ely-place, appeared to-day for the
prosecution.

Emma Delany, servant to Mr. Dolby, having proved the
disgraceful conduct of the prisoner,
Sergeant Shillingford, 4 C, proved going to Tom's Coffee-
house, Holborn, and being there told the prisoner for the
past two years had been in the habit of having letters
directed to him there in the name of the "Rev. J. Hughes."
He also saw the prisoner on the afternoon of Saturday
last speaking to a man under the colonnade of the County
Fire-office, the man being one complained of as following
Mr. Dolby about for several nights.
The case was adjourned at the request of the prisoner,
who wished to call a witness from Tom's coffee-house.

Edwin Frost, waiter at Tom's coffee-house, said he re-
collected seeing the prisoner at the coffee-house at half-past
four on Friday last, and the witness Delany said the offence
was committed,b3tween three and four.

In answer to .11r:, Lewis, the witness said the prisoner
sometimes *ore a poncho, but he did not notice his dress
on Friday last. He could, however, swear he had 'a black
coat and trousers. The prisoner was in the habit of com-
ing to their house regularly and leaving about 7 o'clock.
Police-constable Malcolm Hunter, 45 C, proved seeing
the prisoner on Friday last about half-past 3 o'clock cross-
ing Regent-circus. Tho prisoner wore a poncho cape and
leather leggings. It was a wet•day.
Mr. Lewis said that was his case, and he asked that the
prisoner might be dealt with at once.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said he confessed he had no doubt abou

the matter on the previous occasion ; but as the prisoner
wished the case adjourned for the production of the waiter
from the coffee-house, he felt bound to accede to the re-
quest. He did not believe a word the waiter had stated as
to the time the prisoner was at the coffee-house. The
young woman had given her evidence in a fair way,
and it was confirmed to-day by the constable, who
saw the prisoner near the spot at the time the young
woman stated. He did not believe the waiter at all. He
should commit the prisoner who was one of these mis-
chievous men about town, and who, being educated, made
the matter worse—to three months' hard labour.
Mr. Lewis applied for and obtained a summons against
a man who has been following Mr. Dolby about the streets
and annoying him in consequence of his strenuous exer-
tions to put down the foreign prostitute nuisance in
Regent-street.