The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-28 00:00:00

MAIDSTONE ELECTION.

(From our Second Edition of last night.)
(rhoM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The polling commenced this morning at eight o'clock with
great spirit on both sides, and at nine o'clock Mr. Robarts
was at the head of the poll, with every prospect of winning.
Mr. Fector's party, seeing that no time was to be lost, went
into the market, and purchased votes largely at from 101. to
151. per man, the effect of which was to put him considerably
above Mr. Roberts.
The poll closed at four, but as the numbers will not be de-
clared till twelve to-morrow, the precise state at the termina-
tion cannot accurately be known. The majority will be
somewhere about 100 ; and the greatest portion of the con-
stituency have polled.
The bribery was of the most open nature—it, was hardly
attempted to be disguised. A petition to Parliament will
bring out a case seldom equalled, and ample proofs of the ve-
nality of Maidstone can be collected for that purpose.

PRIVATE BILLS IN PARLIAMENT
(YESTERDAY.)

(From our Second Edition of lattt night.)
COMMITTEE ON BILL (WEST SCOTLAND LIST.

Lord WILLIAM BENTINCK in the Chair.
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Bill.--Mr. \Vow), for the
Bill, proceeded to call Mr. J. Miller, engineer of the railroad.
Witness stated that the only deviation on the line proposed
is near to Edinburgh ; the deviation in extent is about a mile :
a diminution of 43,0001. would be the result of such altera-
tion, and a change of terminus.
Mr. JOY addressed the Committee, and objected to the course
pursued by Mr. Wood, in examining first as to alterations,
&c., and in other respects altogether new matter. The Learned
Counsel objected entirely to such a course. It was not right,
inasmuch as this evidence was not taken before his Lordship
and the Committee this year ; and there was no evidence
to prove that this evidence had been correctly printed,
or even that it had been read by many of the Committee.
His Learned Friend was certainly presuming that he could
take all the new as well as the old matter together ; and Mr.
J,)y contended that a new Parliament having been elected since
the last year, the newly elected Members, several of whom
were upon this Committee, could not be supposed to be at all
acquainted with matters relative to the last year's Bill; and yet
his Learned Friend had argued that they were equally well
acquainted with last year's proceedings as with those of this.
Mr. ANDRRWS proceeded to combat the objections, when he
was interrupted by
Mr. FINCH, who recommended that Counsel on each side
should endeavour to agree as to what parts of the evidence
should be read. This would save time.

Mr. ANDREWS then proceeded to contend that the whole
evidence ought to be beard and received—the last year'3
printed evidence (as well as the written evidence of the short
hand writer to the House) being upon the table of the
House for Hon. Members to read if they thought proper.
Mr. Joy replied, contending that if his Learned Friend
succeeded in his aim as to the evidence, it would only prove
that his ability and ingenuity could make that which was bad
and inadmissible evidence, appear as good and admissible.
It was impossible, in short, that evidence, which it was not
proved had been read by the Committee, could now be put in.
The room was then cleared. After which the Chairman
announced that the Counsel were at liberty to proceed, and
that they should call the attention of the Committee to such
points of the evidence of last year as appeared material.
Mr. Miller was then cross-examined by Mr. Joy. Witness
stated that he considered the Company might possibly be in-
duced, under certain circumstances, to decrease the fares on
the railroad, consequently he admitted the income of
the railroad would be deteriorated. The direction of the line
does not approach the property known as " The Lodge." It
crosses over the parish road, at an • elevation of 22 feet and
1 inch, being 18 feet below for passage. A stationary engine
is to be at the terminus, as proposed last year. No
other deviation from the line is intended. The tunnels are a
little extended, to the length of 128 feet. The line runs
through the property of Lord Hopetoun ; the line passes
through his estate at a very deep cutting. The trench is
the same depth as last year. Does not think it would
deteriorate the property, not being nearer Lord Hopetoun's
house than two miles. No •' amenities" are destroyed
by it. Does not agree in the opinion of Mr. Gilpin, viz.,
that "the man who could recommend this cut, did not do his
duty to his neighbour, and could not be a Christian." The
trench runs through Lord Hopetoun's property, for nearly
four miles; the line is generally parallel with a canal running
through the same estate.
Mr. JOY here announced that lie admitted at once the
printed evidence produced to be a true copy of the written
evidence.

Mr. Woon then summed up the evidence of last year and
this year. He did so, he said, with perfect confidence, as the
evidence was thoroughly sifted, and great pains taken to come
at the truth. The Learned Gentleman argued that this evidence
must--having been laid before the House—be considered
conclusive. He then proceeded to extract from the printed
evidence of the report of last year, from which it appeared
that an enormous increase of population, trade, and commerce
had taken place from year to year along the line proposed.
Ho then entered into a detail, wherein he copiously
extracted from the evidence, and strongly urged the import..
ance of the Bill, declaring it to be not only a great desidera-
tum, but an absolute necessity.
The address of the Learned Gentleman took up the time
of the Committee until nearly a quarter before four o'clock,
the usual time for the Speaker's going to prayers.
Adjourned until twelve o'clock next Thursday.

SUB-COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS—(No. 3.)
Mr. AOLIONBY in the Chair.

Belfast Waterworks--(No. 2.)—By adjournment from last
Friday.—Further proof of notices was gone into, after
which it was objected by the opponents to the Bill
that a pipe-tract was not laid down on the plan through
the town of Belfast. Considerable argument ensued there-
upon, and the room was cleared ; after which the Chairman an-
nounced the decision of the Committee, that in this respect the
Standing Orders had been complied with.
Mr. Cubitt was then called to prove further compliance with
the Standing Orders, when it was objected that the height of
embankment of the great Reservoir, although exhibited
upon the section, was not shewn upon the plan.
A discussion, pro and con, ensued upon the point, when,
without the room being cleared, the Committee decided that, in
this respect, the Standing Orders had not been complied with.
Lengthened arguments then took place upon various points
of the Standing Orders, as to the ground and water levels,
the datum line, &c., of the Reservoir ; and also as to the ten
per cent. which had not been deposited, although it had been
offered to Mr. Ley, the clerk of the House, who had refused
to receive it.

The room was cleared, after which it was decided that, upon
the point of the deposit, the Standing Orders had not been
complied with.
The SPEAKER being at prayers, the Committee adjourned
until next Wednesday week at twelve o'clock.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MEDICAL
Pum.—Yesterday an inquest was held at the George, yon-
mouth-street, Seven Dials, on the body of the male infant
child of Jane Batty, a poor married woman living in Mon-
mouth-court, whose death was the result of the non-attend-
ance of a medical pupil attached to Brownlow-street Hospital,
Drury-lane. It appeared that the parents were labotilang
people in very indigent circumstances, having a family of
s-iveral children. On Friday night last the poor woman was
taken in labour, when Mr. Barton, an assistant-surgeon be-
longing to Brownlow-street Hospital, was sent for to attend.
The messenger went twice, stating the urgency of the case ;
hut, notwithstanding, he did not attend, and the result was
that the babe was destroyed in the birth. The jury, after
commenting upon the distressing nature of the case, returned
the following verdict—" That the child came to its death from
suffocation, the mother not having received proper medical at-
tention at its birth ; and the Jury consider that great blame
was attached to Mr. Barton, a medical pupil of Brownlow-
street Hospital, in not attending to the case after having been
twice sent for."

On Monday a dashing blade, who gave his name as
Charles Frederick Armstrong, in the garb of a warrant officer,
with a Mackintosh, riding whip, and other spruce appurte-
nances, was committed by Mr. Postlethwaite to Petworth gaol
to two months' hard labour, for going about the country with
a petition, and obtaining money. under false pretences from the
credulous and unwary. The prisoner was stated to bo the
leader of a gang who were levying contributions upon the
charitably disposed, by means of representing themselves as
shipwrecked mariners, forming part of the crew of the brig
Mary, wrecked off Portland.—Brighton Gazette.
The weather was very severe last week in various
parts of the country. Snow and frost on the Devon bills, and
in Scotland also snow has again fallen and lies deep. The
London mail to Edinburgh has been from three to five hours
behind its time each day.