The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-06 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF ELIZA ORIMWOOD.

Yesterday afternoon considerable excitement prevailed
in the neighbourhood of the Southwark Police-court, in
consequence of its being known that a foreigner was ap-
prehended by the City Police charged with murdering
Eliza Grimwood, an unfortunate female, at No. 26,
Wellington-terrace, Waterloo-road, on the 26th of May,
1838, and lodged at the Tower-street station of the L
Division of the Metropolitan Police. For some time
prior to the prisoner being brought up the court and
every avenue leading thereto were 'crowded to excess by
persons anxious to hear the evidence. The prisoner was
brought to the court in the custody of Inspector Teague
of the City Police, and Sergeant Romaine, 14 L, and on
being placed in the dock he stated his name to be Peter
Lameachal, aged 43, boot-maker, No. 15, Bishopsgate-
street Without. His stature was about five feet or six.
He was rather shabbily dressed, and his face was
adorned with slovenly moustachios.

It may be in the recollection of some of our readers
that the unfortunate woman Eliza Grimwood met with
her death in a very mysterious manner, and the coroner's
jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some
person or persons unknown. A man named Hubbard,
with whom she cohabited, was taken into custody at the
time, and underwent a number of examinations at Union
Hall, but was eventually discharged. Since then a fo-
reigner was suspected of committing the murder, but no
clue up to the present time has been obtained of the
murderer, although every exertion has been used by the
police to do so.
Mr. Combe to the prisoner—What is your name, and
what nation do you belong to ?
Prisoner— My name is Peter Lameschal, and I am a
Dane.
Mr. Combe—How long have you been in this country ?
Prisoner—l came to England in 1835, and I went to
Copenhagen at the time of the coronation, but returned
again shortly afterwards to this country.
Mr. Combe—Do you know what you are charged
with ?
Prisoner—Yes, and I am surprised at it, as it was
only a word when intoxicated and in a passion with a
drunken woman, who sometimes lived with me.
Mr. Combe to Sergeant Romaine—What is the
evidence against him ?

Ann Jennings, a young woman about 25 years of
age, was put into the witness-box and sworn. She
said—l am a prostitute, and have lived with the prisoner
some years, but I have frequently left him, and the last
time was about seven months ago. When I first knew
him I was on the town, and that was near three years
ago. I lived wholly two years and a half with him, but
he ill-used me so at different times that I was compelled
to leave him.
Mr. Combe—What did the prisoner say about the
murder of Eliza Grimwood ?
Witness—When he was drunk he used to beat me,
and swear that he would serve me as he had served
Eliza Grimwood. He would murder me as he had mur-
dered that unfortunate woman.
Mr. Combe—When did he use those words ?
Witness—When he was drunk and ill-using me.
Mr. Combe—When was the last time ?

Witness----About four months ago ; but I think he
threatened me seven or eight weeks ago, when we
quarrelled.
Mr. Combe—Did you mention what he said to any
one at that time ?

Witness—No, sir. I did not believe anything about
it, and I don't believe it now ; but he beat me very
much.

Mr. Combe—How came he into custody ?
City Police-constable No. 223 saidl received infor-
mation from a Mr. West that Ann Jennings had told
him that the prisoner Was the murderer of Eliza
Grim wood.

Mr. Comhe—Don't you think she was drunk when
she said so ?

Constable—l understand she was sober, and that she
believed it. She had quarrelled with him several times,
and believed it.

William Romaine, police sergeant, 14 L, was next ex-
amined. He said, in consequence of the prisoner being
charged at the Tower-street station with the murder of
Eliza Grim wood, I went by the directions of my super-
intendent, Mr. Evans, into the City, and saw Ann
Jennings at No. 9, Little Arthur•street, Golden-lane.
That was between 11 and 12 yesterday. She tola me
that she had charged the prisoner, but she had never
said any such words. He only had ill-used her, and
threatened to serve her as Eliza Grimwood had been
served.

Mr. Combe asked the City constable what the pri-
soner said when taken into custody
Constable—He said he never killed the woman, and
that he never threatened to kill Jennings.
Mr. Combe—Did you ask the prisoner whether he
ever knew Eliza Grimwood ?

Constable—Yes, I did, sir, and he told me that he
never had any knowledge of the unfortunate woman.

Mr. Combe—ls any one here who knows anything
about the murder ?

Romaine—Goff is in Court, and can give you some
information, as he assisted in the case at the time.

Mr. Combo (to Ann Jennings)—ls what Romaine
has stated the same you tol him ?
Jenning (hesitating)—lie told me that he would serve
me as he did Eliza Grimwood.

Romaine—She told me that he threatened to murder
her, as he had done Eliza Grimwood.

Mr. Combe—That does not prove anything, or that
he himself had committed the murder. It was common
for men, especially foreigners who did not exactly know
our language, to make such expressions, by alluding to
some murder that had taken place years ago. Have
you any evidedce to show that the prisoner was ever ac-
quainted with Eliza Grimwood ?
Henry John Teague, inspeetor of the:City police, said
about two or three weeks ego the female Ann Jen-
nings was in my custody for drunkenness, and it is
customary with us to discharge such persons when
sober without taking them before a magistrate. In
consequence of what I had heard, I then questioned her
and she said that the prisoner had acknowledged to her
that he was the murderer of Eliza Grimwood. I gave
orders to my constables to look after him, and we have
lately tried to find him.

Jenning here admitted that Mr. Teague did question
her in the police station, and that she told him the pri-
soner bad ill-used, and he would serve her as he had
done Eliza Grimwood.

Mr. Teague —Did you not tell me there was some
truth in it ?

Jennings—Yes, I did, and by his usage of me I
thought him quite capable of it.
Mr. Combe to Mr. Teague—Much depends upon the
statement of this woman, if there was anything in it at
all. I have no doubt you may have had an impression
that there was some truth in her statement, as she her-
self believed it. You would not have taken the charge
unless such was the case.

Charles Burgess Goff, formerly a detective officer of
the L division, was next put into the witness box.
He ,said—l recollect the murder of Eliza Grimwood
at 26, Wellington-terrace, Waterloo-road, on the
26th of May, 1833. I went into the house at six
o'clock in the morning, and found her dead on the
floor, with her throat cut. A doctor was called in, and
he pronounced her to have been dead some time. She
was an unfortunate female, and a man named Hub-
bard lived with her. An inquest was held, at which I
was present, and a verdict of wilful murder against
some person or persons was returned. Hubbard was
suspected of having committed the murder, and was in
my custody. After the inquest he was examined before
the magistrates at Union-hall, and• there being no evi-
dence to implicate him he was discharged. It was
ascertained afterwards that a tall foreigner, wrapped up
in a large blue cloak, and wearing very large mous-
ta,cbios, had gone home with her at three o'clock in the
morning from the Strand Theatre. Hubbard has since
died, and I never thought that he was the murderer,
although be was at home all that night.
Mr. Combe—He lived upon her prostitution, did he
not ?

Goff—Yes, he did, sir; and when she brought any
one home with her, he went and slept in the upper part
of the house.

Mr. Combe—There were marks of violence on her
body ?
Goff—Yes, sir. There were stabs in her body
through her stays ; and I examined the room, and found
a pair of men's gloves. The murder was committed by
a foreigner.

Mr.-Combe—ls there any knowledge that the pri-
soner was in England at the time.
Inspector Teague—He was in England then. There
was a cabman who had something to do with the case,
and he could identify the man.
Mr. Combe—l suppose there was a proper descrip-
tion given of the man at the time of the murder. Does
the prisoner tally with that ?
Goff—Not as to height. The description given was
of a tall foreigner. After Hubbard was discharged a
soldier gave himself up to the authorities of Dublin,
and was brought from the latter plaee to this court,
when he underwent an examination, but was discharged,
it being clear that he accused himself to get out of the
army. It could not have been him, as he was too
Young.
Mr. Combe—Then you can't say the prisoner is the
luau /

Goff--/vlest likely
.
William lArZetywaft!' the murderer of Eliza Grimwood?"
words c,,rhabt , Is there any one else who heard the
flings say that he(the ave frequently heard Ann Jen-
lane, City, said—.I I 0 o,o:ttrtaker, residing at 24, Portpool-
nearly a month, anda/vel knuowrdenredthEelipzarisGolinemrwboyods.ight
tozismorrth)
that
tande mhaudrdtehrerdeatEenliezda
____eavio, and that's true.
Grimwood. Jennings
to murderJennings—Yes,
n nin g her,5...... .17. an
ss , lale
did had
Saym
you to see her, and
,i).ut she stopped
Mr. Comte (to West)
hear that ? Are you an acquaintance?
West—l was a perfect stranger tociel:
me in the street, and told me all aboutr
had quarrelled with the prisoner last Saturday
said she
week. I spoke to the constable on the berlartdaY night
just after the prisoner had run after her in Aborout it,
street with a knife. I told the officer, just after Cate-
moved them both on, that the prisoner was reportedhatO
be the murderer of Eliza Grimwood. The constable
said something about it had been heard at the station,
but he did not know the man. I told him he lived with
Jennings, when he went up to her and asked her all
about it. She told us that the prisoner had said to her,
"I'll murcier you as I murdered Eliza Grimwood." On
Sunday I asked the constable whether he had heard
• thin, more. He said he had not, but he had orders
any
to apprehend' the prisoner. Last Saturday I came out
of a house in Fan-street and met the constable, who
told me to meet him at the station on Sunday, but as
we were parting we saw the prisoner about 30 yards off
As soon as he found he was perceived he ran off, but

the constable pursued him and took him to the station
house. That was between 12 and 1.
Jennings was recalled, and said—l have summoned
him several times at Clerkenwell police court when we
lived in Middle-row, Goswell street, but I never spoke
to any of the officers there about the prisoner being the.
murderer of Eliza Grimwood.
West continued—When at the Tower-street police
station on Sunday, she said, when the prisoner asked
her whether it was correct, that it was, and she would
say the same before a magistrate. She also said what
she had uttered was the truth, and nothing but the
truth. The prisoner said it was all false ; he never told
her that he would murder her as he had murdered Eliza
Grimwood.
Mr. Combe—Did he say that at first ?
West—No sir ; not until it was all over.
Prisoner—l never said so ; but I said I would serve
her as the woman Grimwood over the water was. She
gets mad drunk, your worship, and irritates me so, that
she may swear away my life. When she took the sum-
monses out against me, she never attended to them, as
she knew it was all wrong. I am innocent of this serious
charge before God and man.

M. Combe, to Goff—Do you recollect the age of the
foreigner who is supposed to be the murderer ?
Goff—No sir. I don't think any age was mentioned
in the description.
Mr. Combe—lf the police describe a person they ge-
nerally state something about the age. To the Prisoner
—Have you any relations in this country ?
Prisoner—l have not. I came here in 1835, and went
home once and returned again. I know nothing about
this horrid affair.

Mr. Combe, toJennings—When did you last quarrel'?
Jennings—Last Sunday week.
Mr. Combe—How did he keep you ?
Jennings—He never kept me. I kept him and gave
him money. He always gave me a good hiding if I did
not.

Goff here intimated to his worship that all the docu-
ments relative to this mysterious 'murder were in the
hands of the Commissioners of Police, and could be
produced on a future day if the prisoner was remanded.

.
Mr. Combe said—Here's a man living on the prosti-
tution of a female, and they quarrel, when expressions
of that kind come out. If he solfrequently refers to
himself being the murderer of Eliza Grimwood, I can do
no less than have the case further investigated.
Jennings—Your worship, he is always talking about
it in his dreams.

Mr. Combe—That may be, and may look suspicious.
I shall remand him until a future day, to enable the
officers who had the case in hand before to get such do-
cuments as may be wanted, and to make further in-
quiries.

- Mr. Combe called Goff forward, and recommended
him to get the cabman who had been mentioned, on the
next examination, as well as all the documents in the
hands of the Commissioners of Police.

NAVAL, INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 5.

This morning a Board of Admiralty, consisting of Sir
J. Graham, First Lord ; Rear-Admiral M. F. F. Ber-
keley, C.B. ; Rear-Admiral the Hon. R. S. Dundas,
C.B. ; and Captain Milne ; accompanied by Captain Sir
Baldwin Walker, K.C.8., Surveyor of the Navy ; Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Greene, Director of Engineering and
Architectural Works, arrived at the George Hotel on
their annual official visit of inspection to this port and
naval arsenal. They went to the dockyard at 10 50,
when the Admiralty flag was hoisted (on their entrance)
at the dockyard gates. The Board were met by the
Commander-in-Chief, the Rear-Admiral Superintendent,
and all the officers heading the various departments
under them. They first proceeded to the office of Rear-
Admiral Fanshawe, where they transacted business until
half-past one o'clock, when they left for the office of Mr.
Abethell, Master Shipwright, where they mustered the
dockyard employes on their return from dinner, post-
poning the usual half holyday consequent on the mus-
ter until a future day. At three o'clock their Lordships
proceeded to the new smithery, thence to the steam-
basin, steam factory, mast and boat houses, the naval
apprentices' school under the direction of Professor
Rawson, the chemical department under the di-
rection of Mr. W. J. Hay, the ropery, and other
sectional departments of the dockyard. After this
the whole party returned to the George Hotel, and
formed themselves into a Board for the dispatch of offi-
cial business. Mr. Bernal Osborne, M.P., was pre-
vented attending to-day by being compelled to travel in
a contrary direction, and Captain Hamilton, the perma-
nent secretary, we believe, was prevented being present
by some unexpected family bereavement or illness. The
Board dined this evening with Rear-Admiral Superin-
tendent Fanshawe. To-morrow morning they will re-
commence their official inspection, and dine in the even-
ing with Port-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B.
On Wednesday their Lordships will entertain all the
heads of the naval and marine departments, the captains
of the fleet, and Governor of the Garrison, at the George
Hotel, patronising the ball at the Queen's Rooms, Port-
sea, in the evening, in aid of the funds for supporting
the Seamen and Marines' Orphan Schools of this port ;
and on Thursday the First Lord will hold a levee, at
11 a.m., at the Royal Naval College, seeing only those
officers who have not had interviews with him at any of
his levees in town within the last 12 months. Their
Lordships will terminate their visit on Friday.
The Prussian steam-frigate Dantsic, Captain Inde-
beton, arrived at Spithead from the Thames this morn-
ing, and saluted the garrison and the Port-Admiral,
which compliment was acknowledged by the platform
battery and the Victory. The captain came ashore after
anchoring, and was presented by M. Vandenbergb, the
Prussian vice-consul at this port, to the Commander-in-
Chief and Admiral-Superintendent, after which he re-
turned to his ship, and sailed for Constantinople at
5.30 p.m.

We regret to announce the death of an old and will-
known officer—Lieut. Robert O'Brien (1838). He was
an Admiralty agent in the Royal Mail Steam Com-
pany's ships, and died at St. Thomas's on the 14th ult.
Although of good family, poor Lieut. O'Brien was not
of the Parker interest ; consequently, he died a lieu-
tenant, after 18 years' service afloat.
Lieutenant Humphrey Freestun (1812) has accepted
the rank of commander on the retired list of 1830. This
officer entered the navy in 1803 ; was in the Revolu-
tionnaire, 38, in Sir R. Strachan's action in 1805 ; was
in the Defiance, 74, when she had two men killed and
25 wounded at the destruction of three French frigates
under the batteries of Sable d'Olonne in 1809 ; was in
the Lyra at the destruction of an armed vessel and con-
voy under the batteries of Qusberon, and served on
shore at the storming of Fort Cornelis and the reduc-
tion of Java in 1811. He is brother to Colonel Free-
stun, M.P.

SPURTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-MONDAY.

The Leamington Stakes was the only event connected
with the ensuing Warwick meeting that was speculated
upon ; and even on that the two leading favourites ab-
sorbed nearly the whole interest. At 4to 1 and 7 to 2
a good deal of money was invested on both ; the prin-
cipal outlay at the close was 1001. at 7 to 2 about each.
Placid at 10_to 1 was supported with a considerable
show of confidence by two or three parties, and 1,200
to 100 was booked about Terpsichore. The other quo-
tations were only to small sums.

The ST. LEGER.—Nothing definite transpired about
West Australian ; but if it be said that he was nomi-
nally at evens, and that 6 to 5 would have been taken,
his position will, we believe, be correctly indicated.
Sittingbourne and The Reiver were in great demand,
and were heavily backed—the former at 7 to 2, and the
latter at 9 and Bto 1. 5,000 even, "or any part there-
of," offered The Reiver beats Cineas in their places.
The CESAREWITCH.—It Was evident from the com-
mencement of business that Torment had an advancing
tendency; from 1,000 to 25 she quickly reached 1,000 to
30, and was finally backed for 1001. at 25 to 1. Several
investments were made on Nancy at 35, 33, and 30 to
1, and fully 2001. was laid out on Nervous, the odds
opening at 50 to 1, and closing at 40. 1,000 to 20 was
taken seven or eight times about Placid. Pelion was in
force for both Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire, but the
transactions showed that his chance for the latter event
was preferred. Closing prices :
LEAMINGTON STAKES.
7 to 2 agst Mr. Greville's Scarecrow (taken).
7 2 Mr. Bridgman's The Friar (taken).
8 1 Lord Chesterfield's Boarding-school Miss
filly (taken).
8 1 Mr. G. Barton's Little Fawn (taken).
10 1 Mr. W. Palmer's Doubt (taken).
10 1 Mr. Armytage's Placid (taken).
12 1 Mr. Farrance's Terpsichore (taken).
CHAMPAGNE STAKES (DONCASTER).
2 to 1 agst Lord Londesborough's Tadcaster.
ST. LEGER.
Even on Mr. Bowes's West Australian (take 6 to 5).
7 to 2 agst Duke of Bedford's Sittingbourne (taken).
8 1 Lord John Scott's The Reiver (taken).
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
10 to 1 agst Mr. Harrison's Heapy (taken).
15 1 Mr. A. Nichol's Newminster (taken).

CESAREWITCH STARES.
25 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Torment (taken).
30 1 Mr. J. Brown's Nancy (taken).
33 1 Mr. E. R. Clark's Winter (taken).
33 1 Lord Clifden's Pelion (taken).
40 -- 1 Mr. Combe's Nervous (taken).
40 1 Mr. J. M. Stanley's Contentment (tkn).
50 1 Mr. John Scott's Songstress (taken).
50 1 Mr. Armytage's Placid (taken).
50 1 Mr. Greville's Frantic (taken).
50 1 Lord Exeter's Nutpecker (taken).
50 1 Mr. Greville's Muscovite (taken).
50 1 Mr. Greville's Cariboo (taken).
50 1 Mr. Disney's Rosalba (taken).
50 1 - - Mr. T. Parr's Defiance (taken).
66 1 Mr. 'William's Haco (taken).
66 1 Mr. Lupin's Jouvence (taken).
66 1 Mr. R. Walker's Mrs. Birch (taken).
66 1 Lord John Scott's The Reiver (taken)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.
1000 to 30 agst Lord Chfden's Pelion (taken freely).
1000-- 25 Mr. Greville's Invasion (taken).
1000 —2O Mr. Greville's Frantic (taken).

Lieutenant Thomas George Nicholls (1812) has also
accepted the rank of commander on the retired list of
1830. This officer entered the navy in 1801, and served
for ten years continuously during the war. He was in
the long and warmly-contested action with the French
40-gun frigates Renoumme, Clorinde, and Nereide, and
at the capture of the first and last of them.

MANNING THE NAVY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.

Sir,—Much has been said and written during the last
few months on the grave subject of manning our navy.
A committee, formed of the most talented officers in
the service, have compiled a new set of regulations
and scales of pay, which have received the sanction of
Parliament, and are now in force, but are not attended
with the success anticipated by the compiler or the na-
tion. When the circulars have been read on the quarter-
deck they have been received without the least enthu-
siasm by those for whose benefit they were printed ; and
I think without securing to the navy the services of a
single A.B. that would not have entered under the old
scale. It is true that numbers of landsmen have lately
entered, but there never was a scarcity of that class, but
in consequence of the small force that we have kept up
of late years, and the slackness of the merchant marine,
we have always had enough men without resorting to
that class.

1000 20 Mr. Meiklam's The Hatchet (taken).

I have no hesitation in saying that they soon learn to
work the guns under good drills, and in some instances
even become good seamen ; although, now that steam
has done so much for us on the ocean, the former quality
will become the most valuable. Manning the navy is as
much a question of political economy as any other branch
of labour. If a sailor is able to take his services to a bet-
ter paid market he will do so ; he cannot in his present
state be brought to look at the future ; a pension loom-
ing in the distance of 20 or 15 years has no attraction
for him ; he thinks but of the present, and if you
require his services you must pay for them. Three
days sinoe a vessel signed articles in the London Docks
for 51. per month to Port Fairy ; homeward they will
have 101. With such enormous wages abroad can it be
expected that men will join the navy ? because, as I
have already said, they never look to the future, or spe-
culate on the chances of their soon being a depression in
the wages of the merchant marine, which must take
place ere long, as farm servants are now leaving their
ploughs to go in the coasting trade, and, atter a few
voyages, manage to pass muster in the crowd that sign
a vessel's sailing articles.
It is amusing to read the various plans that are im-
mediately to fill our vessels with the best seamen in the
world. One says, " Give Jack his gill of rum again,
and he will serve you." This I trust never to see.
Another says, "Abolish flogging ; it is that punishment
that drives so many of our men to sail under the Ame-
rican flag." A third proposes courts-martial as in the
army ; this is, perhaps, desirable, as I have no doubt
but that many a man has been punished because his cap-
tain's digestion was bad ; but as education is diffused
this degrading punishment will gradually disappear.
After consulting several old sailors on the subject, I find
the cat is much more dreaded than it used to be ; 20
years ago a man took his four dozen as a matter of
course, and there was an end of it ; now, before and
after the punishment, the justice of the sentence is dis-
cussed on the lower deck with as much gravity as if they
were all deeply interested in the affair, and if the offence
is gross the culprit is never spared. In most cases
drunkenness has been the occasion of the crime, and to
eradicate this evil every well wisher of his country
should contribute by every means in his power.—
Yours, &c., A NAVAL OFFICER.
Sept. 2, 1853.

DERBY.
25 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Marley Hill (taken).
25 1 Mr. Bowes's Blight (taken).
1000 —3O Lord Clifden's Alembic (taken).
1000 —25 -- Mr. Bull's Corin (taken).
On THURSDAY NEXT bets on the ST. LEGEB will be
compared.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—Mr. John Hales, the
constructor of railways, well known as contractor for
the line extending from Coalville to Burton-upon-Trent,
was killed a few days ago by falling from a scaffold
erected against his house, called Felcotes-hall, Tun-
bridge Wells.
.He had recently purchased the estate
upon which the mansion stands, and was superintend-
ing the outside repairs when this melancholy accident
took place.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1853.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT.

THE SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY COMPANY
V. THE DIRECTORS OP THE SAID COMPANY AND OTHERS.

The hearing of this case was resumed on Saturday
morning at the Guildhall, Cambridge, the evening sit-
ting on Friday having been principally occupied by the
reading affidavits from the whole of the defendants, and
which denied in toto the allegations of the applicants for
the injunction.

Mr: Rolt was heard for the defendants generally. He,
in a speech of great length, said the course pursued by
the plaintiffs was one which could not fail to create a
feeling of disgust in the minds of all honourable men,
they being, in fact, neither more nor less than the agents
of the London and North-Western Company, who de-
frayed all the expenses of this proceeding. Mr. Rolt
distinctly denied that it was the intention of the de-
fendants to vote at the ensuing meeting for the trust
shares of the company, and contended that his clients
had done nothing more than was their duty, in carrying
out the wishes of the majority of the shareholders of
the company, who were desirous of an alliance with the
Great Western line, in preference to its rival in this
matter, the North- Wes tern .

His Honour, in giving judgment, said the court had
to consider the most important feature in the case, and
the mode in which it was presented. It was presented
as a bill on the part of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Railway Company, to get their directors restrained from
acting, and in another sense from dealing with the pro-
perty of the company, and so effecting a reproduction of
those evils which accrued from the course pursued by
them in 1851. There was no doubt of the company being
entitled to maintain a suit against the directing body for
conduct in contravention of the act of Parliament, or
contrary to the trusts reposed in them ; but that was
not the question, which was, whether the bill should be
sustained if it turned out that a majority of the body of
shareholders were averse to the prosecution of the suit.
The court bad to consider that it might turn out that
the majority of that body were willing to entrust the
management of their affairs to the body impugned by the
bill, and opposed to sustaining the suit. A strong case
must be made out to the court for the institution of a
a suit in the name of the company without a previous
meeting, and it must be shown that the interference of
the court only can prevent mischief which may turn out
irreparable ; but if such a case were once made out, the
court would not allow its arm to be paralysed from
such prevention. On the other hand, the company
might have sustained evils, but not such as in their
judgment were of such a nature as to justify their
voluntary embarkation in a Chancery suit, which
they might be of opinion would not remedy the evils or
prevent their repetition. In this case there could not
be a more monstrous exercise of power by the Court
than in granting an order that the directors should not,
as such, do certain acts which the whole company, with
the exception of two or three members, perhaps, were
willing they should do, and to allow those two or three
members to be successful in using the name of the whole
company for their purposes. The Court would see, be-
fore it committed the company to any proceedings, who
the parties were who were nominally (and perhaps with
the best, though erroneous, intentions) acting on their
behalf, and who thought the directors were not acting
beneficially for the interests of the company. The Court
was thus at once delivered of a great part of the embar-
rassment which it might have felt, owing to the question
of acquiescence by the ceduique trust in the acts of the
trustees. The Court intended to leave entirely open the
question of acquiescence in this suit by the majority of
the company, or their condonation of the past acts of
the board; but what it said in the meantime was, that
unless it could be shown that mischief was likely to
accrue from the non-intervention of the Court, it did
not think that in this state of the i,roceedings it should
make any order whatever, but at the same time could
not help pronouncing a strong condemnation of the con-
duct of Knox. Ile never witnessed a stronger instance of
that double morality said to exist in the minds of some in-
dividuals, that the ends justified the means so long as they
were connected with a corporate body. What Knox had
done was this : he held, in common with others of the
directors, a large number of shares for the benefit of the
company, and anticipating that at aforthcoming meeting of
the company there would be considerable discussion on a
point he was, with others, desirous of athieving, viz.,
the unity of the interests of the Shrewsbury, Birming-
ham, and Great Western Companies. Instead of allow-
ing a just and unbiassed conclusion to be come to by the
bond fide shareholders, he thought it right to allot the
trust shares of the company, ad libitum, to a number of
nominees, who were to use that which was the property
of the company to bring about a result possibly adverse
to the company itself. Anything more flagrant or more
gross could scarcely be conceived ; and the way in which
he had carried out his plan was still more gross. He
never heard of so flagrant a breach of trust as writing
out the names of acceptors and re-transfers in their ab-
sence, and using as one of them that of a boy nine years
of age, and then witnessing these signatures in a feigned
handwriting, showing at once the wish and intention to
deceive, and then alleging in excuse that the London
and Birmingham Company at soma time or other did
• something akin to it, by buying up 1,000 shares in a
company they desired to influence, and then distributing
the shares among their porters. If Knox wished to
follow that example he had not done so, as the London
and Birmingham merely distributed what at any rate was
their own property. After alludingito other facts in the
case, the learned Vice-Chancellor said, the only imme-
diate danger the court was called on to avert was with
regard to the probability of a repetition of the undue
tampering with the shares of the company against
the ensuing meeting. The Solicitor-General had
put this matter in a very proper way, saying that
the opposite party had an object to attain in 1851,
and had had recourse to improper courses to achieve it.
That they had the same object in view now, so that there
was danger of the repetition of those courses. On the
whole, it was tolerably apparent to the Court, though
not conclusive, that all the shares made use of to manu-
facture votes in 1851 had been got back, and were now
in the bands of Mortimer, as the object of the sale to
Mortimer was to cover the transaction of the improper
creation of votes. These shares were disposed of and
gone ; but if they were not, what could the Court do ?
He could not prevent voting on those shares, but scru-
tineers could see to the rejection of votes in respect of
them after they were given. The Court did not think
that the whole body of directors would now do what had
been done in 1851. It was now known what was the
exact number of shares standing in the name of the
company, if these were dealt with in any way it would
be immediately apparent, and the questions would im-
mediately arise, " Where are they ? What has become
of them ?" Another question was whether the Court
thought fit without pledging the company to the suit, to
make the suitors give an undertakingnot to vote in respect
of those shares ; and he should have felt inclined to have
done so but for the use which had been made of the for- 1
mer one—a very improper use—in reporting that it laidthe
parties giving it under an obligation not to require proxies ;
but knowing, as the directors now did, what the views
of the Court were, and what they were likely to be on the
company sanctioning further proceedings in the event of
the use of those shares, he thought this matter might be
left as it stands. He wished it to be understood
that nothing had taken place there to create or aggra-
vate any prejudice by the company against the directors
—that was a question entirely for the next meeting—
the conduct of the directors would be canvassed at the
next election, and he thought it would be most impro-
per if any thing he had said should be brought in. He
was not quite satisfied with the transaction as to the 40
shares each by Walker, Badger, and Emery, but
thought there had been such re-transfer as would pre-
vent their being clearly voted for. Still the Court
could not pass the fact that those shares had been trans-
ferred without any consideration, and if an application
to the Court were made by the whole body of pro-
prietors something might be founded on the dealing in
those shares by those particular proprietors. He should
decline to make any order whatever, and the only ques-
tion remaining was as to costs. Under the circum-
stances, it would be impossible to make the Shrewsbury
and Birmingham Company pay costs, as it could not be
known what course the company would adopt, and it
only remained to be considered whether the costs should
be reserved altogether, or made costs in the cause. The
latter course would probably save two discussions.
The Solicitor-General disclaimed, on the part of his
clients, any knowledge of the statement made with re-
gard to the undertaking.
The costs were made costs in the cause by general
assent, and the Court adjourned.

station of the foreigners, that it mil,ht be possible many
of them were ignorant that gambling was prohibited by
the laws of this country. It was, however, impossible
to believe that all were equally ignorant of the law :
but, giving them the advantage of this doubt, be would
allow it to operate in mitigation of the fine. Instead of
1001., the manager must pay 251., the doorkeeper 51.,
and the players 40s. each.
Shortly after the prisoners were removed to the lock-
up cell, Police-constable King, C 39, applied to Mr.
Hardwick to detain one of the prisoners Charles Ebes-
chulz, on several charges of felony. Mr. Hardwick,
having heard some preliminary evidence in support of
the charges, decided upon remanding the prisoner for
the more serious offence.

All the prisoners are either Frenchmen or Germans.

COLLISIONS IN THE OIIANNEL-FOUNDE.RING
OF THREE VESSELS.

. _
Yesterday intelligence was received of three very seri-
ous collisions having taken place during the very boiste-
rous weather of Saturday—two in the English Channel,
and the other near the mouth of the Thames, which ended
in the loss of as many vessels and the narrow escape of
the several crews. The most serious occurred some miles
off Dungeness light. A fine Greek barque, the Despina,
Gird, commander, which was on a voyage from Marianople
to Antwerp, last from Falmouth, having put in there for
orders, was making her way up Channel on Saturday
evening, the wind blowing strong from the N.E., when
she came in fearful contact with the East India trader
Cambridge, Mr. Wilson, captain, which was bound to
Calcutta from London. The shock is described to have
been of a very severe character. It was quickly ascer-.
tained that the Despina was rapidly filling, and that
there was no chance of saving her, Every effort was then
directed to the preservation of the crew, and the Cam-
bridge was promptly brought to, on board of which the
whole of the unfortunate fellows belonging to the barque
were eventually got. That was scarcely accomplished,
however, before she foundered in deep water, Dunge-
ness bearing S.E., six miles distant. The Cambridge
appeared to have sustained but little if any damage. A
lugger cruising by, she was hailed, and took off the ship-
wrecked crew, and on the following morning they were
landed at Deal. The Cambridge proceeded on her voy-
age. The second disaster happened on the same even-
ing, rather later, lower down the channel, off Beachy
Head. The Benevolent, brig, of Plymouth, Mr. Breece,
bound to Harburg from Cardiff, was pursuing her way
up channel through the squally weather, when she was
run into by a brig, the name of which could not
be ascertained. The crew had most sharp work
to save themselves, as the vessel went down in
a few minutes after she was struck. There was
just time for them to launch the boat and get away be-
fore she foundered ; the hands who were down below
asleep, and who had a most marvellous escape, not
being able to snatch up any clothir g to cover their
nakedness. After several hours' buffeting about in the
boat, they were fortunately picked up by the Hope
lugger, of Deal, and landed near Hastings, although in
an exhausted and very distressed condition. Owing to
the severe weather which prevailed, they were unable
to learn the name of the vessel with which they came
in contact. The third ill-fated craft which suffered was
the Rapid, of Harwich. laden with stones. She was
making her way up to London, when she came in col-
lision with a light collier brig bound north, which is
represented to have gone on without rendering the least
assistance. The crew had barely time to get the boat
off and preserve themselves before she sunk in several
fathoms. The above three losses amount to a consider-
able sum, but they are repotted to have been insured.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

C USTOM-HOUSE-SEPT. 5.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The Angelina, from HaMIMI'
fest ; Jan Hendrick, Bargaurgas and Sheerness ; Aid,
Hercules, Ophelia Mary, Jacobine, and Aurora, Memel ;
Regia, Archangel ; Magnet, Stettin ; Bedlington, Peters-
burg ; Mentor, Dantzic ; Wilhelmine, Archangel ; Pfeil,
Archangel ; Helen, Archangel ; .Badur, Archangel ; Hen-
riette, Archangel ; Eugelina, Archangel ; Sophia Maria,
Archangel ; Maria Johansen, Wismar; Jason, St. Peters-
burg ; Josephine, Riga; Christian, Riga; Temperance flair,
Dantzic; Glommen, Skelleftia ; Delphia, Righ ; Sara, Arch-
angel; Helleclina, Archangel; Blenheim, St. Petersburg ;
Coadzuter, Cronstadt ; Victory, Cronstadt ; Plenty, Cron-
stadt ; Dawson, Cronstadt Palmnagee, Cronstadt ; Robert
Nicol, Cronstadt; Becacberg, Cronstadt; Gifford, Cronstadt;
News, Cronstadt; Ajax, Cronstadt; Accord, Constradt ;
West Kent, Cronstadt ; Ann and Isabel, Cronstadt ;
Martha, Stettin ; Derwent, Petersburg ; Elizabeth and
Sarah, Wyburg ; Drie Broders, Worcum ; Ocean, Dant-
zic ; Kertunnen, Beegenwolde ; Felix, Lisbon ; William,
Dantzic • Minna, Stralsund ; Minerva, Sevartwich ; La
Sotre, Bjorneberg • Sancho Panza, Hamburgh • Enighu-
lon, Riga ; Earl of Fife, Dantzic ; Express, Archangel ;
Wilhelmine, Sevonia, Trouvina, Clara and Herman, Faka,
Juno, Concordia, Carolus, Mercur, Eleanor, John and
Elizabeth, Le Graf Von Schwern, Hoffnung, Varward,
and Marcarem, all ditto ; Constantia, Odensholm ; Laura,
Stettin ; Fortune, Onega ; Hesperus, St. Petersburg;
Superior, Hernosand ; Hoppet, Luisa ; London, Riga ;
Frederick Petersen, Pillau ; Queen, Harlingen ' • Gemini,
Norkoping ; John and James Dantzic ; Meaborgeren,
Christianstadt • Merlin, St. Petersburg ; William Pitt,
Archangel ; Vedai, Dram ; Hoppel, Sundswall ; Bertha,
Riga; Oceanede, Stettin ; Ferdinand, ditto; Louisa,
ditto ; Frederick Wilhelmine, Dantzic, Alga, ditto ;
Minerva, Riga; Caroline, ditto ; Rapid, St. Petersburg ;
Dankbar, Onega ; Fury, Memel • Catherine Ferdinande,
Dantzic ; Anne Margareth, Heisingborg ; Mette Eliza-
beth, Nykiobing ; Johan Carl, Riga ; Minerva, Cadiz ;
Eolus, Wismar ; Othello, Stettin ; Behrend Welhelm,
Archangel; Glance, Cronstadt; Guderane, Thisted •' Hen-
ritte, Dantzic ; Fralette Conapiette, Ismael; GezienaAlida,
Archangel ; Adolph, Riga ; Propitious, Cherbourg ; Cale-
donia, Husum ; Enigheden, Hernosand ; Lamartine,
Stockholm • Anne Margaretha, Dantzic • ' Vesta, ditto ;
Anne Cecilia, Konigsberg; Conqueror, Cephalonia; Jo-
hanna Carolina, Stralsund ; Mansfield, Archangel ; Twe
Zeisters, Lubeck : Johanna, Archangel ; Union, ditto ;
Reichsadler, ditto ; Nordstern, ditto ; Vesta, Dantzic ;
Earl Leicester, Petersburg ; Eglinton, Dantzic ; Isabella,
Lubeck ; Agatherine Catherine, Memel ; Fairy, Dantzic ;
Behrend, Memel ; Betty, Archangel ; Mate*, Kiellerufe,
Memel , Victoria, Rostock ; Caerul Cornelius, St. Peters-
burg • Faedres Minde, Nestved ; Peter, Archangel ; Sods-
kindt, ditto; Anna Maria,Aalborg ; Johanna, Stettin ; Titus,
Dantzic; Laurine Mathilde, ditto; Hanslerly, ditto ; Adolph,
Rostock • Elizabeth, Mulderup ; Truntze, Rusterseel; Ver-
gesmerncht, Wismar; Henrich. Riga • Tar, Gothenburg;
Praceden, Petersburgh ; Caroline, Wismar; Wilhelm,
Marstrund ; Prince Adelbert, Onega ; General Von
Wrangel, Riga ; Carl Johan, do.; Saml. Louis, St. John's,
N.B. ; Alice, Dantzic ; Grief, do. ; Emilie Fredericke, do.;
Fame, do.; Trofashheden, Wismar; Wilhelmine Cathe-
rine, Antwerp ; Duderian, Konigsberg ' Johanna Frede-
rika, Elmshorn ; Hilda, Petersburgh ; Wilhelm Gother-
burg ; Emma Rostoch, Aden • Catherine, Kalax • Star,
Holland, Dram ; Anna, Skeleftia ; Martha Andrea,
wall ; Ellida, Riga; Pres. Von Baren, do. ; Mary Grace,
Petersburgh ; Johanna Christiana, Gothenburg ; Grice
ltepbendorn, Christianstadt • Vesta, Harlingen ; Damee
Simon, Aalborg ; Emma, Archangel ; Transit, ditto ; Ge-
sine Catherine, ditto ; Wilhelmina, ditto; Princess, ditto;
Dependent, ditto ; Frederika and Dora, ditto ; Johann:,
ditto ; Maria, ditto ; Elanore Sophia, ditto ; "Union, Riga;
Margaretha, Darquarel.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Archimedes,
for Naples ; Betsy, Rouen ; Britannia, Geelong ; Charity,
Sierra Leone, &c. ; Jane, Antwerp; Mary, Dunkirk ;
Planter, ditto ; Vedar Thuesing, Christionis ; Frau Mar-
garetha, Hamburg; Priam, Portland Bay.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Lord Petre,
for Mauritius ; Esther, Havre ; Camelia Johanna, Altona ;
George Marsden, Genoa ; Lisbon, St. John's, N.B. ; Duke
of yll, Madras; Burfield Brothers, Dunkirk ; Les Anes,
Rouen ; Mary Ann, Rotterdam ; Bartons, ditto ; Java,
Melbourne ; Sermons, Nepperus, Elsinore and Riga.
LIVERPOOL, Sept. s.—The Royal Mail steamer Africa,
in attempting to take the bar too early yesterday, got
aground, and floated off without apparent injury.
The Fanny, from Barbadoes to Bristol, was spoken
Aug. 21. .

AFRACOUBE.—Arrived the Circassian, from Newport,
for New York, assisted in with loss of foremast head and
one man.

CLYDE, Sept. 4.—The Thos. Hamlin sailed hence Aug.
30, for Port Philip, and has put back leaky.
ARKLOW, Sept. 4 —The Martaban, from Liverpool, to
Melbourne, which got on the Banks, August 31, has got
off, it is supposed without damage.
WYKE ON FOHR, Aug. 31.—The Adeline, from Bremer-
haven to England, has put in with loss of mast and
rudder.

HAMBURG, Sept. 2.—The Elizabeth, from Sunderland
to Hamburg, has been totally lost in the Hever, crew
saved.

DUBLIN, Sept. 4.—The Martaban was spoken at 10 a.m.,
by the Rose (s), arrived here, which took off 70 pasgengers,
and left the vessel at noon, Arklow Rock bearing N.Y.W.,
seven leagues, the wind at the time N.E., with fine weather
and smooth sea. The passengers say the vessel was making
considerable water.