The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDOIN, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1865.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE SARAH DAVIS.

This bankrupt was described as a domestic servant, of 16,
Cumberland-terrace, Regent's Park, and to-day she came
up to pass her last examination and for the order of dis-
charge. The debts are only £124, all being due to unse-
cured creditors, who are two in number. The first credi-
tor is William Barnard, 116, Marine-parade, Brighton,
lodging-house keeper, for costs £46 158. 10d., and the bank-
rupt says, " Verdict obtained against nie in an action I brought
in the Common Pleas against him for breach of promise of
marriage, and upon which verdict ho obtained a judgment
di July 7th, 1865, for his costs." The other debtor is Mr.
John Webb, solicitor, of 159, Euston-road, who claims
£7B 10s. 10d. as tho balance of his bill of costs as bank-
rupt's solicitor in tho action, after payment by the bank-
rupt of £3O on account. The cause of tho bankruptcy is
stated to be the " want of means to pay, the costs of the

action against Mr. Barnard, and for which he is now
pressing the bankrupt."
Mr. Robertson Griffiths supported the bankrupt, Mr.
William Sikes representing the assignee.
His Honour asked the bankrupt if she had ever been
bankrupt or insolvent before ?
Bankrupt—No, sir.
His Honour remarked that the debts wore only due to
the lawyers in the action, and the bankrupt was discharged.
(Before Mr. Registrar Roche)
IN RE SPICER.

This bankrupt was described as a merchant of Old
Broad-street, and to-day he came up for proof of debts and
choice of assignees. No accounts are yet filed, but the
debts are stated to be heavy, .£25,00 being duo to unse-
cured creditors. The assets depend on the realisation of
consignments to Sydney. Many proofs were made, and a
day named for the next hearing.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

BOW-STREET.

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A PoucEmAN.--John Alfred Ben.
nett, a truss-maker, and Theresa, his wife, were placed be•

. -
fore Mr. Flowers, charged, the former with assaulting
constable 49 F, and the latter with attempting to rescue

the prisoner from custody.
Mr. 17nderhill said ho was an apothecary and kept a shop
in Yore-street, Clare-market. About half-past 1 o'clock
this morning ho was awoke from sleep by hearing a noise,
and ultimately the springing of a constable's rattle in the
street. Ho got up, went to the window, and then went
down into the street, where he found a man struggling with
a constable. He could not say positively the former was
the person, as the gas had been put out, and the place in
which he was standing being very dark, that he had no
opportunity of seeing the man's face. The constable had
hold of the man who was hitting him in the face as hard
as he could with his fist, at the same time a woman (the
prisoner, he believed) was clinging to the skirts of the con-
stable's coat, endeavouring to assist the man to escape, as
it appeared to him. There were some men standing
around, who were inciting the man to kill the constable.

Mr. Flower s—What do you mean by "inciting him."
Witness—By crying out "Kill the —!" The con-
stable was thrown upon the ground, and some men jumped
upon him. At last the man got away, but the constable
took the woman to the station-house.

Samuel Brown, a portmanteau-maker in Vere-street,
corroborated and identified the prisoner as the man who
was fighting with the constable.

Sergeant Lightfoot, of the F Division, stated that the
Constable brought the woman to the station-house, and
witness then went with him to the prisoner's lodgings,
where they took the male prisoner into custody. The
constable had been so much injured, that he had to be
taken to the hospital, where he still remained.
Mr. Flowers said under these circumstances he should
remand the male prisoner without taking bail, but the
female might be released on entering into her own ro-
cognizances to appear that day week.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

CARLISLE AND SILLOTH.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
at Carlisle ; Mr. P. J. Dixon in the chair.

An abstract of the report has appeared in The
Sun.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving He adoption, and the
declaration of a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum on the preference stock, and of 1 per
cent. per annum on the ordinary stock, said that on
former occasions he had had to keep up the spirits
of the shareholders and to ask them look to the
future. On this occasion he had to congratulate
them on the receipt of the first dividend. Ten
years ago Silloth was a barren waste ; now it was
a port of considerable importance, at which mer-
chant vessels of the largest size were able to dis-
charge cargoes ; and first-class steamers were con-
tinually plying between that port and the Irish
coast. They would have.had a dividend before this
if the North-Eastern had given them fair play ; but.
now, by means of the North British, he had confi-
dence that the expectations of this company would
be realized. He urged the merchants present to
give all the traffic they could to the North British,
who deserved the support of the people for the way
in which they were endeavouring to break up cer-
tain monopolies.

Mr. Invirtu seconded the motion, which was
agreed to.

Mr. J. Hope was re-elected director, Mr. R. S.
Dixon was elected in the place of Mr. Parker, who
retired ; and Mr. J. Forster was appointed auditor.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN

SHIRE.

The total expenses of this company's railways
and canals, including rent, tolls, duty, &c., from
July 1 to October 8, amounted to £123,930, as
against £116,673 for the corresponding period of
1864. The proportion of the South Junction re-
ceipts accruing to this company from July 1 to
October 8 amounted to £11,624, as against £11,287
for the corresponding period of 1864, and the ex-
penses to £5,332, as against £5,393.

In the table of traffic receipts which appeared in
The Sun of Saturday, it was stated that the receipts
on the above line for the past week amounted to
£30,357, it should have been £20,357.

Another Joint-Stock Company Scanda

(From the City Correspondent's Article of the Times)

A committee, consisting of Messrs. Edwards, Bevan, and
Cheesewright, formed, with the concurrence of the direc-
tors, to investigate the affairs of "Smith, Knight, and Co.
(Limited),"—a company started some time back, with a
nominal capital of 000,000, to take over the contract
business of that firm—have issued a report, to be submitted
at a meeting on the 26th inst. This document is of an ex-
traordinary discouraging character, and will operate as the
most efficient warning that could be conveyed to investors
in undertakings which involve the purchase of the good-
will and plant of such establishments. It states that the
purchase-money agreed to be paid was £230,000 (£130,000
in cash and bills, and £lOO,OOO in 20,000 shares with
£5 paid), and that it does not appear either that
any balance-shoot of the firm was ever submitted, or that
any valuation was obtained or inventory taken of the
plant and effects until months afterwards. In the opinion
of the committee, the goodwill of the contracts handed
over was worthless, and these contracts, taken as a whole,
were not only unremunerative, but burdensome. It is at
the same time intimated that there have been improper
additional payments to Messrs. Smith and Knight to the
amount of £22,747, and that further sums amounting to
£72,000 have been privately disbursed; Also that two
calls on the shares held by Messrs. Smith and Knight
are in arrear. The committee regard the general cha-
racter of the business with " the greatest alarm," and
add that, to raise money to meet pressing demands, the
most improvident engagements have been made by the
issue of promissory notes and debentures—a prac-
tice, perhaps, at the root of the large dividends,
which some of the companies who direct themselves to that
class of transactions are enabled periodically to declare. A
repetition of such borrowings, the committee believe, "must
infallibly lead to utter ruin, and in the end to every solvent
shareholder being called upon for the full term of liability
of £5O per share." As a set-off, however, against this,
there is the fact that important contracts undertaken by
the company since its formation have been sublet at a profit,
to yield, if they can be depended upon, about £177,500 over
the next three or four years as the works progress. It is
finally remarked that—
" The committee are persuaded that even with this as-
sistance, nothing can save the company unless the share-
holders resolutely intervene at this moment. The committee
are of the decided opinion that no new business should be
undertaken ; that a voluntary liquidation should forthwith
take place, and that the creditors of the company should be
negotiated with to postpone their claims ; that the expenses
of the administration of the company should be cut down,
and that three shareholders and two directors should bo ap-
pointed liquidators. The committee further advise that all
relations of the company with Mr. Smith and Mr. Knight
should cease ; that their 20,000 shares should be at ones
forfeited, and that they should be proceeded against for the
amount of the two calls, as well as the sums improperly re-
ceived by them. It being provided by the articles that Mr.
Knight should hold the office of managing director, with its
benefits for seven years, unless removed by a special resolu-
tion, such special resolution would be necessary to bo passed.
The committee are convinced that it is only in this way that
it will be possible for the holders of the remaining 20,000
shares to recover ultimately a portion of the money they
have invested, after satisfying the claims of the creditors.
In conclusion the committee earnestly recommend that the
shareholders pay up the present call, that they may bo en-
titled to attend and vote at the ensuing meeting."
The entire report seems to have been drawn up with
care and conciseness that diminish the hope of its state-
ments being materially softened by subsequent explana-
tions, especially as it manifests no personally hostile feel-
ing toward the directors, against whom the charge is that
of neglect, and not of general participation in the proceed.
ings of the in onager.

The Parks of London.

Regent's Park, which derives its name from its
having been made during the regency of George IV.,
contains upwards of 400 acres. It and Primrose-hill
—the area of which is 63 acres—are under the care
of Mr. Edwards, chief superintendent. The ground
now occupied by this park was originally known as
“Marylebone Farm and Fields." It was laid out as
a public park in 1812, from designs by Mr. Nash, the
architect, who also built most of the fine terraces by
which it is surrounded. Unlike the other parks, this
contains within its boundaries several handsome
private residences, surrounded by picturesque plea-
sure grounds. Owing to the nature of the soil, and
there being less traffic over it, the grass here gene-
rally looks greener than it does in Hyde Park. It is
let to one person, who takes in sheep from the but-
chers in the neighbourhood. There are 18 or 20 acres
of water on which boats are to be had for hire,
and where angling from the banks is permitted at all
times while the gates are open.
Within the last two or three years, this park has
been greatly improved and embellished by the con-
struction of what are known as the Avenue-gardens
—from the south end of the Broad-walk to Chester-
road, which is opposite Chester-terrace, and leads to
the Botanical Gardens—which have been completed
to the extent of four acres on each side of the walk.

The portion of the park which is bounded by Park-
square Gardens, Chester-road, Chester-terrace, and
the Broad-walk, is now beinglaid out in ornamental
grounds, with kept turf, clumps of evergreens, and
flower beds. There are about six acres in this piece
of park land. Should the weather prove favourable
the whole will be completed by, next spring.

Some years since, it was proposed to make an
equestrian ride from Park-square West, alongside
the Broad-walk, passing Holford-house, and coming
out near what was formerly the Marquis of Hert-
ford's villa. Some of the neighbours and inhabi-
tants of the adjacent and surrounding terraces were
for, and some against, this proposal. Eventually
the authorities decided against it, and 'properly ; for
it would have seriously detracted from the appear-
ance of the park, as well as from its fitness for pedes-
trian exercise and recreation. The want, however,
of a Rotten-row in Regent's Park is felt throughout
a district of considerable extent, and there is a por-
tion of the park which would be improved by being
converted into one. From Glocester-gate, round
St. Catherine's-villa, to Park-square, a gently curved
ride of nearly a mile in extent could easily be de-
signed. It might be made a great improvement on
the present continuous wooden railed circle round
the park, if clumps of shrubs were judiciously planted
at each side.

The Broad-walk is now beginning to present a
grand appearance, from its length, and the height and
beauty which the trees on either side have attained.
From a lioint on the rising ground, south of the
pretty fountain that was erected some time since,
the most favourable view of the hotel at the end of
Portland-place can be obtained ; as, seen from the
place indicated, it looks as if it was built expressly
as a splendid termination to this fine walk.
On Primrose-hill, which is under the same man-
agement as Regent's Park—namely, that of Mr.
Edward's—a new walk has been finished within the
last few weeks, from near the Waterworks reservoir,
in a south-easterly direction, to Albert-terrace, Al-

bert-road. It is about 700 or 800 yards in length.
A couple of those iron works that one sees occa-
sionally near cab-stands in the streets would not be
out of place on Primrose-hill. On the south side
of the hill there is a fine open air gymnasium, which
is more frequented than any other in London. It
is a great pity that some attempt is not made, be-
fore it is too late, to connect Regent's Park with
Hampstead-heath, by means of a carriage drive
which might be brought round the lower parts of
Primrose-hill, through the handsome piece of road,
with the fine old trees on either side of it—from
Belsize Park to Haverstock-hill, and so on to Hamp-
stead. A rather novel suggestion has been made as
to Primrose-hill, which is neither more nor less than
a donkey Rotten-row, with model asses and equip-
ments, and well-dressed, respectable attendants
should be established there. And there is little
doubt that if women and chlidren only were allowed
to ride, the innovation would be highly appreciated
by the majority of the frequenters of Primrose-bill.
In concluding this notice of the two elder parks
and their adjuncts, it may not be out of place to
direct attention to the fact that each of these groups
of park lands is completely surrounded by houses,
so that in one case we have 1,000, and in another
nearly 500 acres of trees, grass, and flowers in the
interior of our immense metropolis, just as are the
squares in other cities and towns. Like the Bois
de Boulogne, the Phoenix-park, of which 1,300
acres are open to the public, is outside the town,
and, as a rule, can only be reached in a carriage, or
on horseback.

Reductions in the United S tates Army.

The Army and Navy Journal of New York con-
tains the following :—" The relics of our once mag-
nificent volunteer armies are still growing fewer and
fewer by daily substractions, and soon the day will
come when a soldier will be as much an object of
curiosity for bystanders, in the streets he traverses,
as in the year 1860. To some of the faster of our
people the diminution of the national forces appears
the slowest thing on record, and they are exces-
sively irritated at the snail's pace at which it pro-
ceeds. But to ordinary mortals reduction of the
army and navy is going on at an astonishing rate,
and the departments take prodigious strides. We
can now all appreciate the extraordinary rapidity
with •which, at the fall of Sumter, North and
South rushed to arms. In a night, the nation
was girded for the contest. Every gun, cutlass,
and pistol was taken down from its resting place.
Every man was alive to the emergency, every
woman was helping to equip the volunteers who
Were ahead afield. Tedious as the raising of troops
then seemed, the speed was really something
miraculous. And so now, nothing is stranger than
the sudden and noiseless melting back into ordinary
life of our vast armies. In some future historian's
view of this great contest, no small part of astonish-
will be expended on the quiet, orderly, and almost
instantaneous dispersion of our troops, when the
object which convoked them had been attained.
Secretary Stanton has returned to the War De-
partment, and, accordingly, increased activity may
be expected in that quarter. Orders were issued
last week for dismantling all the fortifications
around Washington, except Battery Rogers and
Fort Foote, both of which are on the Virginia side
of the Potomac. This will complete the process of
dismantling commenced some time ago. The officers
of General Haskin's staff have been mustered out.

Undoubtedly congress will early provide for an
increase of the regular army. It is stated that its
present maximum force, if fully recruited, would
be about 43,000, of all arms, and that General
Grant is understood to favour a large increase of
the infantry force.

ST. MART'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.—The restoration
of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Broughton-street,
having been lately completed, it was formally reopened on
Sunday morning bythe Right Rev. Dr. Strain. There Was
a large attendance, and a handsome sum was realised by a
special collection made for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of repair. Pontifical high mass was celebrated
by Bishop Strain. The musical portion of the service was
very effective, the music selected being Mozart's No. 12
and "Ave Maria," by Cherubini ; and the "Hallelujah
Chorus," from the "Messiah." Tho choir was consider-
ably augmented for the occasion, and numbered upwards of
30 voices. 'l,:he solo in the "Ave Maria," and the "Et
incarnatus," from the "Credo," were tastefully sung, the
former by the leading soprano of the choir, the latter by a
distinguished amateur. The quartet " Quoniam to Solus"
also deserves to be mentioned as a careful and effective
performance. Tho choral part of tho service, as well as
the grand chorus from the "Messiah," wont, on the whole,
very steadily. Mr. F. W. Bridgman presided at the organ
with his usual ability. The sermon was preached by the
Rev. John NuLk., 0.M.J., of Leith. At the close of his
discourse the rev. gentleman referred to the decorations
which had been made in the church, and alluded in a feel-
ing manner to th 3 accident by which the repairs on the
building became necessary. He also directed attention to
the efforts which were made at the time of the accident by
the bishop and the clergymen of the Church to save life.
They could not forget, too, those who met their death by
accident on that fatal day, and he exhorted the congrega-
tion to "pray to God for the repose of their souls."—
Scotsman.