The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX
JUNCTION.

The third half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in
this company was held at the company's offices, Park-
row, Leeds, on Friday. Mr. Edward Akroyd, the
chairman of the board of directors, presided.
Mr. M. CAwooD, the secretary, read the half-yearly
report of the directors, of which the following are the
chief points :
" The directors have the satisfaction to report that the
construction of the main line and the incidental works is
rapidly progressing, and that the completion thereof for
the purposes of traffic may be anticipated about the spring
of next year. The general abstract of the cash account up
to June 30 showed that the receipts, as per balance sheet
of Dec. 31, 1852, were 32,1361. 14s. 11.; the interest on ac-
count of delayed payment of calls, 851. 3s. ld.; transfer
fees, 103.; interest allowed by Beckett and Co., 1131. 2s.
10d.; prepaid calls 18,6801.; debts owing to the company,
1,6511. 13s. 4d.; making a total of 52,667/. 3s. sd. The pay-
ments as per balance sheet of Dec. 31, 1852, were 14,3101.
6d.; land purchased amounted to 10,1661. 16s. 2d.; deposits
for land to be purchased, 7,1521. ss. 6d.; contractor, on ac-
°exult of making the line, 18,7771.175. 2d. ; engineering ex-
,.
Penges,9oo/.; secretary 's salary, rent of offices, furniture, sta-
teiiTnl.l
and miscellaneous, 4571. lls. 9d. ; bankers' commis-
'Ks. 7d. ; cash in hand, 121. ls. 6d. ; unpaid calls,
Um 12i
gate of 52,4; talance, 6661. Os. 9d. ; making an aggre-
The iuex;,sdin.'n'loving the adoption of the report,
which had been said that the paort before them showed the business
The main line wasone since their last half-yearly meeting.
Yet he do
contractor had hadlirGogressing
overcome
vwe
racgoems
niedifficulty to contend with, in
satisfactorily, though the
consequence of the advancei
ei nthaelsme
of the country.odsiti:llacl
ul
Ipt
iaerst s;
and the shareholders were fortunate
the contractor's capital and enterprise
in having a man of
works. As regarded the Parliamentary
to carry out their
they were more peaceful in the last than
proceedings,
• and, though there was
year , at
otean in the previous
threatened on the part of the Lancashire and opposition
Company, yet their differences had been adjusted Yorkshise
Justed hon-
ourably and satisfactorily to both companies'.
Dr. HEAToN seconded the motion for the d •
a optaon of
the report, and it was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the busi-
ness, at a quarter before one o'clock.

PORTSMOUTH.
On Saturday the ceremony of cutting the first sod, pre-
paratory to commencing the works on this line, took place
at Burton, on the estate of Mr. B. Carter, M.P. Burton
is situated on the intended line a short distance fro, o Pe-
tersfield, being about 20 miles from Godalming, and 12
miles from Havant. The place chosen for cutting the sod is
partly encircled by a steep hill, clothed with verdure,
and well wooded, and is also near the mouth of an in.

tended tunnel to pass through the hill. The directors
and their friends from London were conveyed from the
Waterloo station to Farnham by the South-Western
Railway, and thence by coaches over the road through
a beautiful country a distance of 18 miles. Parties from
Havant and other places also arrived on the ground about
half-past 2 o'clock. A procession, headed by a band of
music, was formed at an old mansion close by, formerly
the residence of Mr. Gibbon, the historian. Numbers
of well-dressed persons were assembled in groups at
various distances on the sloping hill partly surrounding
the spot selected for the ceremony. The procession
having arrived, Mr. F. Mowatt, the chairman of the
company, opened the p-oceedings by congratulating the
spectators on the fine day they had for their work, and
on the certainty of having railway communication
in the district. He said it would form part of a
direct line between London and Portsmouth and
intermediate places, and it would confer great
advantages on the country both in a local and national
point of view, as there was no doubt it would be carried
out to completion. The value of property would be
greatly enhanced in the district, and facilities for trade
which did not now exist would be afforded. The saving
in distance by this line over the present routes between
London and Portsmoutk would be 22 miles, and in time
from three-quarters of an hour to one hour. The bill
had been opposed by the South-Western and Brighton
and South Coast Railway Company, but Parliament
had decided on granting the bill. In accordance with
Mr. Cardwell's clause in the act, the directors had
entered into a bond to pay the whole deposit to the
Crown in case the line should not be completed
within the time specified. (Hear, hear.) The line
would commence by a junction with the South-Western
Railway at G-odalining, and terminate for the present at
Havant on the South Coast line, but it was intended to
apply for powers to extend it to Portsmouth. They
would have a short junction line to the South-Eastern
Railway, so that they would have one terminus at
Waterloo-road and the other at London-bridge. The
South-Western Railway had met them in a most
amicable and friendly spirit. He then read a letter
from the Hon. F. Scott, M.P., the chairman of that
company, apologizing for not being present, and ex-
pressing a desire on the part of the board to afford the
Portsmouth Company every facility in their power for
carrying on and developing the traffic of the district.
(Cheers.)
Mr. ERRINGTON, the engineer, stated that there were
one million and a half of cubic yards of earthwork to be
removed, 100 bridges to be constructed, from 7,000 to
8,000 tons of iron rails and chairs to be laid, and from
2,000 to 3,000 men would be employed for a period of
nearly two years, at the end of which time the line
would be completed. He thought so much labour
could not be performed in the district without doing
some good, and he believed that if the men behaved
well, as they had promised to do, they would be treated
well by the inhabitants of the district. (Hear.) He
could assure them that the works would be commenced
immediately, and would never cease until they were
completed. He then handed the spade to Mr. Bonham
Carter, as the worthiest man to commence the work.
(Cheers.)
Mr. BONHAM CARTER then proceeded to cut the first
sod, amid the cheers of a large concourse of respectable
persons from London, Havant, Petersfield, and other
places, the ringing of the church bells, waving of hand-
kerchiefs and so forth. Having placed a few sods in the
wheelbarrow, he wheeled it to the end of a temporary
platform and tilted the contents on the ground beneath
amid renewed cheers. He said he trusted that the work
would be finished with the same spirit that it had com-
menced. He was convinced that great benefits would
arise to the district from the undertaking. He thought
the visitors from London would see, from the beauty of
the country they had passed through that it was a dis-
trict worth coming to ; and he had no doubt they would
have many new residents among them when the railway
was completed. He had exerted himself very much to
obtain the act, and he most heartily wished the under-
taking every success. (Cheers.)
This concluded the ceremony, and the company re-
tired to marpuees on the ground, where a collation was
prepared, and to which about 480 persons sat down.
Mr. Mowatt presided. The usual loyal and other toasts
were drunk and responded to, including "Success to the
Portsmouth Railway." Mr. Harker was toastmaster,
and the proceedings concluded in a most satisfactory
manner.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 7.
THE SPITHEAD FLEET.

The Blenheim, 60, Captain Henderson, C. 8., returned
from Ireland yesterday morning, and rejoined the fleet.
The Queen, 116, Captain Michell, arrived to-day.
The programme of the review, on Thursday, is offi-
cially what we gave on Saturday. It is feared the St.,
Jean d'Acre, 110, cannot be got up in time from Ply-
mouth. The Lords of the Admiralty have engaged
apartments at the George Hotel for seven members of
the Board (the full number all but one), and will arrive
at Portsmouth on Wednesday, on which day a part of
the fleet will get under weigh (the sailing line-of-battle
ships), or be taken in tow, and drop outside the Knab.
On the following morning the remainder of the fleet (at
Spithead) will " dress ship" early, and prepare to man
yards, salute, &c., on the arrival of the Queen in the
Royal yacht. After the ceremony of receiving the Queen
by a general Royal salute, &c., the steamers will weigh
and follow the Royal yacht in two divisions outside the
Knab, where they will join the other six sail, where
various evolutions will be performed, terminating in a
sham action, under the directions of Vice-Admiral Sir
Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., the Admiral of the Fleet for
the day, whose temporary flag-ship (the Duke of Wel-
lington) it is expected that her Majesty will board, also
that of Rear-Admiral Corry (Agamemnon), and probably
others. After the review the whole will return to Spit-
head. Portsmouth and the surrounding neighbourhood
are filling very fast with visitors, anxious to see this im-
portant marine spectacle ; already the hotels are nearly
all occupied, and private lodgings are at a premium.
Boat accommodation, especially steamers, is daily be-
spoken, and any Thames steamers of good tonnage might
make a good speculation of the trip round to embark the
thousands of holiday strangers, who otherwise, we fear,
will have but little chance of getting a glimpse of the
doings outside Spithead. At present the fleet is moored
thus :

Westward and Port division. Starboard division
Blenheim ... Duke of Wellington ... Banshee
Sidon ••• London ... ... Prince Regent
Odin ••• Agamemnon ... ... Hogue
Leopard .•• Ajax ... ... ... Edinburgh
Vesuvius ... Amphion ... ... Imperieuse
Magicienne Encounter ... ... Arrogant
Valorous ... Desperate ... ... Tribune
Vulture ... -- ... ... Highflyer
Prussian frigate Gefion, 46, and Amazone, 12, to the
eastward.

It is reported that the Neptune, 120, is to make up
her complement by a draught from the Excellent, and
join the fleet at Spithead to-morrow or Tuesday.
By a private letter from the West India squadron,
dated the 21st ult., we learn the courts-martial on the
first lieutenant and engineer of the Medea had not been
held, but were daily expected. Both officers remained
under arrest, and Lieut. Robson, of the flag-ship Cum-
berland, was lent to her to do first lieutenant's duty ad
interim. The Vestal, 26, Captain Thompson, was at
Halifax, preparing to be hove down to repair damage
sustained by taking the ground off Newfoundland. The
Buzzard, 6, Commander Dobbie, had detained a slave
vessel under Spanish colours ; after holding her two
months, she was given up by the judicial authorities,"
not being considered a legal capture ; but this decision
was, it is said, arrived at in a manner the most unique.
There was not an equal number of commissioners to
settle the case, and-so those present tossed up for choice
of decision, and the slave party won the toss.
The Prussian Commodore Schroeder and officers of the
Prussian frigate and corvette went on board the Excel-
lent on Friday to witness practice from that ship.

PLYMOUTH, AUG. 6.
The Avon, steam-vessel, arrived from Portsmouth,
yesterday.
The Scorpion, brig, will be placed in dock on Monday,
preparatory to being put in commission.
The James Watt, 99, screw steam-ship, is ordered to
be put in commission.
The frigate Madagascar was masted yesterday.
Six apprentices to shipwrights were entered in the
Devonport Dockyard to-day.

AUG. 7.

This morning, at 5 o'clock, a paddle-wheel steam-
frigate, under steam and canvas, was observed five or
six miles inside the Eddystone, going up Channel. She
had chequered sides, bore the white ensign on her peak,
and was under three royals, her forecourse hauled up.
Wind light, from the northward.

SHEERNESS, AUG. 6.
The Driver, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, commanded
(pro tem.) by Lieutenant "William E. Fisher, from the
Horatio, bent her sails this morning, ready to proceed
to Spithead to join the squadron there. She is ordered
to leave here at daylight on Monday morning next,
manned from the Horatio.

The Lizard, iron paddle-wheel steam-vessel, com-
manded (pro tem.) by Lieutenant Thomas B. Christopher,
from the Waterloo, is ordered to leave here on Monday
morning next, in company with the Driver, for Spit-
head ; she is manned from the Waterloo.

The Waterloo, 120, Captain the Hon. Montagu Stop-
ford—Vice-Admiral the Hon. %Toscolin Percy, Comman-
der-in-Chief, has struck his flag on board, and proceeded
on Admiralty leave of absence. The Hon. Montagu
Stopford, in command of the Waterloo, has hoisted his
broad pendant as Commodore during the absence of the
Vice-Admiral.

The Monarch, 84.—Captain Charles Hope, Captain-
Superintendent, has proceeded on Admiralty leave of
absence. The Thames (sailing tender to the Monarch)
was taken in tow by the Tribune, and towed to Spit-
head. Mr. Jonathan Aylen, master-attendant, during
the absence of Captain Hope, superintends the duties on
shore, and also the harbour duty afloat.
The Tribune, 30, screw steam-frigate, Captain the
Hon. S. T. Carnegie.—By an extract from a letter from
Spithead we find that, after rounding the Garrison
Point, and proceeding towards the Nore, they took the
Thames, sailing tender to the Monarch, in tow for Spit-
head, and proceeded against a strong head wind at con-
siderably less than full speed, in consequence of the
priming of the boilers, which covered the decks, and
played havoc with the uniforms. This was owing to the
muddy water of the Medway. However, in time this
nuisance abated, and she steadily increased her rate
down the Swin, and at length, when in smooth water,
and losing the wind under the land, did 8.8 knots per
hour, notwithstanding a considerable accumulation of
small coal in the bunkers, ill-adapted for a trial or first
trip. This prevented the steam from being so strong as
it should have been. The following morning, the wind,
altogether light, being favourable, all plain sail to top-
gallantsails was set, and looked very well aloft for new
canvass ; she then did 10 to 101 knots, a short time
after which the wind fell, and as they were approaching
Spithead the sails were taken in, there being no oppor-
tunity of doing anything more than showing the sails to
the breeze fora time. All the exercise is yet to come,
and she promises to be able to play her part. The
steam was never taken off of her from her first start, for
it could not be said that she ever had any start before,
as the engines bad never been adjusted. Her run was
considered very satisfactory.
The Royal George, 120, screw steam-ship, Chief Engi-
neer John R. Closh.—Orden have arrived here to hasten
the fitment of this ship. She is to be masted and rigged
with all possible dispatch, all persons working extra
hours to expedite her completion.
dock yesterday and taken into the fitting basin. She is
3, brigantine, was put out of No. 4
to Thebe Dolphin,mastedand rigged immediately, ready for being
commissioned.

- - Lieutenant 0. Toll, of the Royal Swedish navy, has
this day, by an Admiralty order, visited her Majesty's
dockyard here. Lieutenant Toll leaves here for France
to visit the naval dockyards there.

WOOLWICH, AUG. 6.

APPOINTMENTS.
Commander Matthew Connolly (1853), recently pro-
moted from First Lieutenant of the Phaeton, 50, to the
President, 50, commissioned this day at Chatham.
Lieutenants.—EdmundWebber (1847) to the Dolphin,
3. brigantine, commissioned this day at Sheerness ;
William G. H. Morgan (1848), from the Excellent, gun-
nery ship, at Portsmouth, to the President ; George
Palmer (1853) to the President.
Paymaster Charles Walker (1841) to the President.
Clerks—Henry Campion (1848) to the President ;
Thomas Seccombe (1851) to the President.
Cierks' Assistants—Conrad Douner Collins and Von
Dadelezen to the President.

The Vivid, Dover mail packet, Captain Smithett, has
had her departure from Woolwich postponed until an
early hour to-morrow, and is now placed under orders
to proceed to Portsmouth, to remain there as one of the
royal squadron which will be in attendance on her Ma-
jesty during the grand review of the fleet at Spithead on
Thursday next.
The crew of the Lightning, steam-vessel, a portion of
the crew of the Fisgard, flag-ship at this port, and a
number of the seamen riggers of the dockyard, are under
orders to leave for Sheerness, to navigate and have charge
of the Driver, steam-sloop, of 280 horse power, ordered
to proceed from Sheerness to Portsmouth to be in attend-
ance at the naval review.

The Bloodhound, Lieutenant Commander Henry
Christian, was paid off at this port to-day. The chim-
panzee was purchased and taken away by Mr. Isaacson,
naturalist, Minories—it is said for the purpose of being
sent to Amsterdam.

[AnyEnTisEmENT.J—Fifty Thousand Cures by Du
Barry's Food, without medicine, inconvenience, or ex-
pense (as it saves fifty times its cost in other remedies).—
"Twenty-five years nervousness, constipation, indiges-
tion, and debility, from which I had suffered great
misery, and which no medicine could remove or relieve,
have been effectually cured by Du Barry's Revalenta
Arabica Food in a very short time. W. R. Reeves,
Pool Anthony, Tiverton."—" Eight years' dyspepsia,
nervousness, debility, with cramps, spams, and nausea,
for which my servant had consulted the advice of many
have been effectually removed by Du Barry's delicious
health-restoring food in a very short time. I shall be
happy to answer any inquiries. Rev. John W. Flavell,
Ridlington Rectory, Norfolk."—"Three years' excessive
nervousness, with pains in my neck and left arm, and
general debility, which rendered my life.very miserable,
has been radically removed by Du Barry's health-re-
storing food. Alexs. Stuart, Archdeacon of Ross, Skib-
bereen."—" 50 years' indescribable agony from dys-
pepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatu-
lency, spasms, sickness at the stomach, and vomitings,
has been removed by Du Barry's excellent food. Maria
Jolly, Wortham Ling, near Diss, Norfolk."—Copies of
testimonials of 50,000 cures (including those of Lord
Stuart de Decies, Major-General Thomas King, Drs.
Ure. Shorland, and Harvey) gratis. In canisters, with
full instructions, Ilb., 2s. 9d, ; 2lb., 4s. 6d. ; 51b, lls. ;
121 b., 2°s. ; super-refined, 51b., 225. ; 101 b., 335. The
101 b. and 121 b. carriage free. Barry Du Barry and Co.,
77, Regent-street, London,

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 8, 1853.

THE OBSOURANTISTS IN IRELAND, &c.

( From the Press.)

It is not at all improbable that events now occurring
behind the scenes at Dublin may lead to political con-
sequences of importance.

The National Board of Education has never been po-
pular with the ultramontanists. The system was not
offered by its founder, Lord Derby, as the most perfect
that could be devised in theory, but as the only one
that the State could consistently establish in Ire-
land. To educate the Roman Catholics through the
old Protestant schools was manifestly impossible, espe-
cially after the act of 1829. On the other hand, for the
State to found Roman Catholic schools, and to allot
public money for their separate support, would be
enacting a rule that would, in its working, prove a
lever for overthrowing the Protestant Church, It is
obvious, however, that this is the point that Dr. Cullen
;lid the ultramontanists are aiming to reach. This is
the end to which they are desirous of arriving by cir-
cuitous approaches. They attack Archbishop \Mateley
ostensibly in order to damage the Board ; and, as soon
as they shall have destroyed that, they hope upon its
ruins to erect an ascendancy over educational influences
in Ireland.

Nor are they without hopes of obtaining English
allies in what Lord John Russell would have called,
three years since, "their insolent and insidious" schemes.
On Tuesday last a journal, notorious amongst the daily
press for its scarcely concealed patronage of t heir in-
tention. exults at the approaching obsequies of the
National Board. Its invidious rhetoric was displayed
ir. innuendoes against what it was pleased to call
" colourless Christianity" and " negative religion,"
while it went the length of asserting that the
Board was expiring of " senility." It happens,
indeed, that, owing to deaths and official changes,
the National Board, within the last five years,
has received a reinforcement of several new mem-
bers, amongst others Mr. Murphy (the Master
in Chancery), Sir Thomas Redington, and the
Roman Catholic clergyman, Dean Meyler ; while, in
respect of its efficiency, although it is no more than 23
years old, it has now half a million of children attending
its schools, with nearly six thousand teachers ; and with
this vast machinery it requires for its purposes in the
present session of Parliament a grant of no less than
183,0001.

We notice these imputations upon the efficiency of
the National Board, not, however, for their importance,
but as the symbols of a policy yet unrevealed. For our
part, we believe the choice lies between the system
founded by Lord Derby and Obscurantism. Give up
the national system, and the Obscurantists must triumph.
The Irish Roman Catholics are too poor to build schools
and support teachers. They did not do so when
their country was more prosperous than now,
and it is absurd to suppose that Parliament
would give nearly two hundred thousand pounds
yearly to an Irish educational system presided
over by the priests. At the same time it would
be rash to under-estimate the audacity of the allies of
Cardinal Wiseman in the Cabinet. We may, possibly,
yet hear of the appropriation clause in another shape—
viz., that of separate sectarian education in Ireland, with
the sanction and support of the State. It is not impro-
bable that some plan of the kind is now being elabo-
rated under Cullenian auspices to be advocated in due
course with Gladstonian subtlety. In 1834, at the an-
nouncement of certain propositions, the Whig party was
rent asunder, and Sir James Graham "knows the rea-
son why." He and his' colleagues may require to be re-
freshed as to a similar inquisitive disposition in the public
if they palter with proposals which tend in the same di-
rection.

The proceedings of Thursday in the House of Com-
mons furnished two more instances of the prevailing
disposition on the Ministerial side to play into the
hands of the Obscurantists. In abandoning his motion
for a committee of inquiry on nunneries, the convenient
Member for Bath broke down a no longer useful bridge
of retreat, while he dexterously yielded the prestige of
victory to the ultramontanist allies of his political
friends. In the second instance, Lord John Russell,
however mindful, of the " insolent," conveniently for-
got the " insidious" part of Romish aggression on our
unguarded social machinery, when he strove, by a side
wind, to destroy the law of superstitious uses, by
giving the priestly interest a perpetual exemption from
those provisions of the New Charitable Trusts Bill
which were intended to protect all alike against spiri-
tual or temporal fraud, whether practised by Roman
Catholic death-bed harpies or lax latitudinarian trus-
tees. The noble lord might have regarded this new
" sop" to the spiritual reversionists as an amende, nega-
tive and Whiggish, for some of the superfluous insults
of the Durham letter ; but the amendment of Mr.
Headlam, limiting the operation of the meditated
licence to two years. was adopted by Lord J. Rus-
sell as the sole means of saving his own. Even
this amendment was too subversive of the object of the
Ecclesiastical Titles Act, and of the principle of the
general law relating to charitable trusts, to be permitted ;
and on Sir Frederick Thesiger resisting it "as an ad•
mission that a system was to be applied to Roman
Catholic charities different from that adopted towards
others," there was a very close division (in which, it is
worthy of remark, Lord Palmerston was not available),
resulting in the adoption of this Headlam-on-Russell
rider to the bill by a majority of only eleven. The
effect of the whole affair is to give to the ultramontanist
organisers of the money power of the faith a two years'
licence for their operations. In the case of the Irish
education system, and of conventual establishments,
they are not so fortunate ; being condemned to the
tantalising task of continually watching the fluctuating
tide of public indignation.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—DEVIZES, AUGUST 6.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Talfourd.)

Henry Sprague was charged with having feloniously
sent a letter to Miss Horlock, threatening to kill and
murder the Rev.. Dr. Horlock, at Box, in this county.
Mr. T. W. Saunders and Mr. Phinn appeared for the
prosecution ; Mr. Arney for the defence.
This case excited the greatest interest, as the prisoner
is a medical man, living at Box, and it appears that a
number of threatening letters have from time to time
been sent to Dr. Horlock and different members of his
family, and have caused them great annoyance and some
alarm. From some circumstances which had taken place
suspicion had fallen on the prisoner as being the writer.
The letter set out in the present indictment was in the
following words :
" Miss Horlock,—The evil machinations of the
wicked don't prosper for ever. You and the old damna-
ble doctor set your wicked imaginations to work to op-
press the righteous, but remember, old pills, that the
love of money is the root of all evil ; who oppresses the
widow and the fatherless, who seeks to punish innocent
children ? but go on, hellish demons, for you can't please
us better. Who has the trouble of going to Grosvenor
three times ? who went to the police station ? who went
to the Town-hall ? who has been again yesterday to
Jack Fuller 2 who sent two youngsters the day before ?
ha ! go on, do ; we are ready for you, six against two.
Who will gain, especially when old grudge is in the
scale ? You could not spare anything for a famishing
old man and his family, and you will have to pull out
for law. Fine fun. Why don't you, when you are
generous, employ your own parishioners ? why must you
get half a hundred bonnets from Bath ? You are incar-
nate devils, and the old doctor preaching away as usual ;
why it is abominable ; but you will have it ; you cannot
watch night and day. Pray, can you and the learned
doctor of divinity escape poison ; do you drink water,
or can you live without ? do you eat bread, or can you
live without ? but the sooner you are with your dear old
father Satan the better—there will be no eating there.
The learned venerable Doctor of Box is the pattern of
all clergymen, bishops, and deacons, and an ornament
to his profession, for there never was such a surly, par-
simonious, ugly, filthy, covetous, hypocritical fellow,
except it is his daughter. i(lly. S."

The prisoner pleaded not guilty ; when
Mr. Phinn stated that he had perused the depositions
with much care, and had arrived at the conclusion that
there was not sufficient evidence to bring home the
charge to the prisoner, and, therefore, with his lordship's
concurrence, he should withdraw from the prosecution.
Mr. Justice Talfourd concurred that there was no
sufficient case made out in the depositions against the
prisoner, and he was acquitted accordingly.
He was then indicted for sending a similar letter to
another person.
In this case, also, Mr. Saunders said no evidence
would be offered.

The prisoner was then called on to plead to two in-
dictments for misdemeanour in inciting certain persons
to kill and murder Dr. Horlock. He pleaded not guilty,
and it was arranged that these cases should stand over
until the next assizes.

The prisoner was subsequently admitted to bail.
Thomas Simmons was indicted for feloniously killing
and slaying his wife, Jane Simmons, at Wotton Basset,
on the 2d of August last.
Mr. Arney prosecuted. The prisoner was undefended.
The facts of this case were few and simple, but involved
a very serious charge against the prisoner, who was com-
mitted for murder under the coroner's inquisition, but
was only indicted for manslaughter.
It appeared that the prisoner, who is an agricultural
labourer, was at an harvest-home supper of a Mr.
Priddy, on the night of the 2d of August. He left with
his wife and some others who had been supping there
to go home, their road being along the towing-path of
the canal. The prisoner was rather in liquour. After
they had gone on some distance the prisoner struck his
wife several times, and tried to push her into the water,
but failed to do so. as she caught hold of him round the
neck. A little further on, however, he caught hold of
her and flung her in, and went on. The other persons
pulled her out and took her home. He was next seen
going home, and was heard quarrelling and beating his
wife. She ran into the house of a neighbour. Her hus-
band, however, followed her in, and dragged her out,
and was heard to strike her again. The poor woman,
who was far advanced in pregnancy, again got away
from him into the house, when a violent floodinc, came
on. A midwife and surgeon was sent for, but the poor
creature died in a few minutes ; and the medical man
gave it as his opinion that she died from the effects of a
blow given her on the stomach, of which marks were
found which produced the flood and death. After her
death the prisoner showed the greatest distress of mind.
Mr. Justiee Talfourd having summed up, the jury
found, the prisoner guilty.
Mr. Justice Talfourd then addressed him in a most
feeling manner, commenting on the dreadful nature of
the crime of which he had been convicted, and sentenced
him to be transported for 20 years.